58 research outputs found
Mitigation of electroencephalographic and cardiovascular responses to castration in Bos indicus bulls following the administration of either lidocaine or meloxicam
Objective
To investigate the mitigating effects of administration of local or systemic meloxicam on the electroencephalographic (EEG) and cardiovascular responses during surgical castration of Bos indicus bull calves.
Study design
Prospective, randomized, experimental study.
Animals
Thirty-six 6â8 month-old Bos indicus bull calves, with a mean ± standard deviation weight of 237 ± 19 kg.
Methods
Animals were randomly allocated to three groups of 12 (group L, 260 mg of 2% lidocaine subcutaneously and intratesticularly 5 minutes prior to castration; group M, 0.5 mg kgâ1 of meloxicam subcutaneously 30 minutes prior to castration; group C, no pre-operative analgesia administered). Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with halothane (0.9â1.1%) in oxygen. Electroencephalogram, heart rate (HR) and mean blood pressure (MAP) were recorded for 300 seconds prior to (baseline, B) and from the start of surgery (first testicle incision, T1). HR and MAP were compared at 10 second intervals for 90 seconds from the start of T1. Median frequency (F50), spectral edge frequency (F95) and total power of the EEG (Ptot) were analysed using area under the curve comparing T1 to B.
Results
All EEG variables were significantly different between B and T1 (p †0.0001). No differences in F50 were found between groups during T1 (p = 0.6491). F95 and Ptot were significantly different between group L and groups C and M during T1 (p = 0.0005 and 0.0163, respectively). There were transient significant changes in HR and MAP in groups L and M compared to group C during the 20â50 second periods.
Conclusions
The EEG changes indicate nociceptive responses in all three groups during surgical castration, greater in group L compared to groups C and M. Both analgesics attenuated the peracute cardiovascular response. Lidocaine and meloxicam administered prior to castration attenuated these responses in Bos indicus bull calves.
Clinical relevance
These findings provide support for the pre-operative administration of lidocaine and potentially meloxicam for castration in Bos indicus bull calves
Saliva Neurofilament Light Chain Is Not a Diagnostic Biomarker for Neurodegeneration in a Mixed Memory Clinic Population
Neurodegeneration and axonal injury result in an increasing release of neurofilament light
chain (NfL) into bodily fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Numerous
studies have shown that NfL levels in CSF and blood are increased in neurodegenerative
disorders and monitor neurodegeneration. Saliva is an easily accessible biofluid that
could be utilized as a biofluid measurement of Alzheimerâs disease (AD) biomarkers. In
this study, for the first time, salivary NfL was measured and compared to plasma NfL in a
consecutive cohort of patients referred to cognitive assessments. In two mixed memory
clinic cohorts, saliva samples were taken from 152 patients, AD (n = 49), mild cognitive
impairment (MCI) (n = 47), non-AD (n = 56), and also 17 healthy controls. In addition,
135 also had a matching plasma sample. All saliva and plasma samples were analyzed
for NfL, and the association between saliva and plasma NfL and CSF levels of total tau
(t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and beta amyloid 1â42 (Ab42) were investigated. In
total, 162/169 had quantifiable levels of salivary NfL by single molecule array (Simoa).
No statistically significant differences were found in salivary NfL concentration across
the diagnostic groups, but as expected, significant increases were found for plasma
NfL in dementia cases (P < 0.0001). There was no association between saliva and
plasma NfL levels. Furthermore, saliva NfL did not correlate with CSF Ab42, p-tau,
or tau concentrations. In conclusion, NfL is detectable in saliva but does not reflect
neurodegeneration in the brain
EquiFACS: the Equine Facial Action Coding System
Although previous studies of horses have investigated their facial expressions in specific contexts, e.g. pain, until now there has been no methodology available that documents all the possible facial movements of the horse and provides a way to record all potential facial configurations. This is essential for an objective description of horse facial expressions across a range of contexts that reflect different emotional states. Facial Action Coding Systems (FACS) provide a systematic methodology of identifying and coding facial expressions on the basis of underlying facial musculature and muscle movement. FACS are anatomically based and document all possible facial movements rather than a configuration of movements associated with a particular situation. Consequently, FACS can be applied as a tool for a wide range of research questions. We developed FACS for the domestic horse (Equus caballus) through anatomical investigation of the underlying musculature and subsequent analysis of naturally occurring behaviour captured on high quality video. Discrete facial movements were identified and described in terms of the underlying muscle contractions, in correspondence with previous FACS systems. The reliability of others to be able to learn this system (EquiFACS) and consistently code behavioural sequences was highâand this included people with no previous experience of horses. A wide range of facial movements were identified, including many that are also seen in primates and other domestic animals (dogs and cats). EquiFACS provides a method that can now be used to document the facial movements associated with different social contexts and thus to address questions relevant to understanding social cognition and comparative psychology, as well as informing current veterinary and animal welfare practices
Analysis of behaviours observed during mechanical nociceptive threshold testing in donkeys and horses
Does calcium channel blockade and beta-adrenergic blockade affect platelet function and fibrinolysis to a varying degree?
Beneficial effect of isradipine on the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in mild hypertension
Effect of spirapril and hydrochlorothiazide on platelet function and euglobulin clot lysis time in patients with mild hypertension
Effect of Spirapril and Hydrochlorothiazide on Platelet Function and Euglobulin Clot Lysis Time in Patients with Mild Hypertension
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