Topical 1% Nalbuphine on corneal sensivity and epitheilization after experimental lamellar keratectomy in rabbits

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of topical 1% nalbuphine on corneal sensitivity and re-epithelialization, after lamellar keratectomy in rabbits. All protocols were approved by the Animal Care Comission of São Paulo State University (Protocol 028793-08) and were conducted in accordance with the Institutional Animal Committee and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) statement for the use of animals in research. Surgeries were performed on the left eye (Nalbuphine Group) and on the right eye (Control Group). Two groups were formed (n=10) and corneas received either 30µl of 1% nalbuphine (NG) or 30µl of 0,9% saline (CG). Treatments occurred at 7, 11, 15 and 19 hours. After the surgery, the corneas were stained with fluorescein and photographed daily; corneal touch threshold (CTT) was assessed with Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer, at 7 and 19 hours, 20 minutes after treatments. Data were statistically compared with repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test, and T test (P0.05); however, a higher area under the curve for both parameters was observed in the NG (2771), in comparison to CG (2164). Topical 1% nalbuphine did not change significantly corneal sensitivity and re-epithelialization, after experimental lamellar keratectomy in rabbits.Avaliaram-se os efeitos da nalbufina 1% sobre o limiar de sensibilidade corneal (LSC) e a epitelização corneal em coelhos submetidos à ceratectomia lamelar unilateral. Os procedimentos foram aprovados pela Comissão de Ética no Uso de Animais da Faculdade de Ciências Agrarias e Veterinárias da Universidade Estadual Paulista (Protocolo no 028793-08), de acordo com as normas do Institutional Animal Committee and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Conceberam-se dois grupos (n=10) e os olhos foram tratados com 30µl de Nalbufina 1% (Olho esquerdo - GN) ou com 30µl de solução salina (Olho direito - GC), às 7, 11, 15 e 19 horas das ceratectomias unilaterais, até sua reepitelização. O limiar de sensibilidade corneal (LSC) foi avaliado 20 minutos após cada tratamento, 48 horas antes e depois da ceratectomia a intervalos regulares de 12 horas (7 e 19 horas) com estesiômetro de Cochet-Bonnet. Após a realização da cirurgia, diariamente, as córneas foram coradas com fluoresceína e registradas em fotos digitais para mensuração em software Image-J. A normalidade dos dados foi avaliada ao teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov. O limiar de sensibilidade e a área ulcerada foram comparados ao teste de Bonferroni, após ANOVA de medias repetidas (P0,05), todavia, constatou-se maior área sob a curva, relativamente ao LSC, no GN (2771), comparativamente ao GC (2164). O tempo médio±DP de reepitelização no GN foi de 7,40±0,47 dias e de 8,90±0,31 dias no GC, não havendo diferença significativa entre os grupos (P=0,11). Como conclusão, tem-se que o uso tópico de nalbufina 1% não alterou significativamente o limiar de sensibilidade e a reepitelização corneais em coelhos submetidos a ceratectomia lamelar experimental

Considerations about ocular neoplasia of dogs and cats

Primary and secondary neoplasia of dogs and cats may assume several different forms. Clinical signs are varied, and are manifest in accordance with the diseased tissue. The present article aims to review clinical and pathophysiologic aspects of frequent neoplasms that affect by the eye and the adnexal ocular structures of dogs and cats

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Dinâmica do acúmulo de matéria seca em pastagens de Tifton 85 sob pastejo Dry matter accumulation dynamics in grazed Tifton 85 bermudagrass swards

O acúmulo de forragem é o resultado líquido de dois processos concomitantes e antagônicos: o crescimento e a senescência e morte de tecidos. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o processo de produção de forragem através do estudo de seus componentes; crescimento e senescência. Os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro condições de pasto caracterizadas pelas alturas de 5, 10, 15 e 20 cm, mantidas constante através do pastejo por ovinos em regime de lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Foram avaliadas as seguintes respostas: alongamento de hastes, alongamento de folhas, senescência, filocrono e o número de folhas por perfilho. Os resultados revelaram um padrão estacional de produção de forragem, com as maiores taxas de crescimento e senescência sendo observadas nas alturas de pasto mais altas (15 e 20 cm). O filocrono variou com a época do ano e com a altura de pasto, revelando uma alta associação com variações em temperatura do ar, disponibilidade de água no solo e índice de área foliar do pasto. As alturas de 15 e 20 cm resultaram na maior produção de matéria seca. Os mesmos princípios e relações originalmente descritos para plantas forrageiras de clima temperado são válidos para plantas tropicais dentro do contexto das limitações fisiológicas e de ambiente inerentes para cada condição.<br>Herbage dry matter accumulation from forage plants results from the balance between growth and senescence. Agronomic practices may influence both processes in different ways and, therefore, alter the quantitative and qualitative patterns of dry matter production. This study aimed at evaluating the process of dry matter accumulation through measurements of growth and senescence. Experimental treatments corresponded to four sward state conditions (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm of sward surface height - SSH) generated by sheep grazing under continuous stocking and variable stocking rate. The experimental design was a complete randomised block, with four treatments and four replicates. Pasture responses evaluated were: stem elongation, leaf lamina elongation, senescence, phyllochron and number of leaves per tiller. The results showed a seasonal pattern of herbage production with the highest growth and senescence rates observed at the highest SSH studied (15 and 20 cm). Phyllochron varied according to time of the year and SSH, revealing an intimate relationship with air temperature variation, soil water availability and sward leaf area index. SSH of 15 and 20 cm resulted in the highest dry matter production. The same principles and relationships originally described for herbage accumulation in temperate grass pasture species are valid for tropical areas within the framework of the physiological and environmental constraints inherent to each condition

Níveis nutricionais de cálcio e de fósforo disponível para aves de reposição leves e semipesadas de 7 a 12 semanas de idade Nutritional levels of calcium and available phosphorus for white-egg pullets and brown-egg pullets from 7 to 12 weeks of age

Foram realizados quatro experimentos, dois com aves leves e dois com aves semipesadas, em duas diferentes fases - crescimento (7 a 12 semanas de idade) - e produção de ovos (20 a 28 semanas de idade) , com o objetivo de determinar as exigências e os efeitos dos níveis de cálcio e de fósforo disponível na produção. Durante a fase de 13 a 19 semanas, as aves foram identificadas por tratamento e submetidas à ração comercial única. Utilizou-se para cada experimento um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco níveis de cálcio (0,60; 0,70; 0,80; 0,90 e 1,00%) ou cinco níveis de fósforo disponível (0,25; 0,30; 0,35; 0,40 e 0,45%), quatro repetições e 16 aves/ UE para a fase de crescimento e 8 aves/ UE para a fase de produção. As características avaliadas para a fase de crescimento foram ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, resistência óssea, cinza e cálcio (experimentos de cálcio) ou fósforo ósseo (experimentos de fósforo disponível), enquanto para a fase de produção de ovos foram avaliados consumo de ração, produção de ovos, peso médio dos ovos, massa de ovo e conversão alimentar (g de ração/g de ovo e kg de ração/dúzia de ovo). Foram estimadas exigências de cálcio de 0,834% ou 406 mg/ ave/ dia para aves leves e de 0,815% ou 440 mg/ave/dia para aves semipesadas e para fósforo disponível, de 0,411% ou 200 mg/ave/dia para aves leves e de 0,361% ou 184 mg/ave/dia para aves semipesadas.<br>Four experiments were carried out using white-egg pullets and brown-egg pullets in two different phases, growth phase (7 to 12 age weeks) and production phase (20 to 28 age weeks), with objective to determine requirements of calcium and available phosphorus and the effects of levels calcium e available phosphorus in production. Chickens from 13 to 19 weeks age were identified for treatment and fed only commercial diet. For each experiment, the chickens were allotted in a completely randomized design with five calcium levels (0.60, 0.70, 0.80, 0.90, and 1.00%) or five level available phosphorus (0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, and 0.45%), four replicates and 16 pullets/EU for the growth phase and 8 chickens/EU for the production phase. The characteristics evaluated for the growth phase were weight gain, feed intake, feed: gain ratio, bone resistance, ash and bone calcium (calcium experiments) or bone phosphorus (experiments phosphorus), while for the egg production phase were evaluated ration consumption, eggs production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion (g ration/g egg and kg of ration/dozen of egg). Calcium requirements of 0.834% or 406 mg/pullets/day for white egg pullets and 0.815% or 440 mg/pullets/day for brown eggs pullets were estimated and for available phosphorus, requirements of 0.411% or 200 mg/pullets/day for white egg pullets and 0.361% or 184 mg/pullets/day for brown eggs pullets were estimated