68 research outputs found
Efficacy of carprofen on conception rates in lactating dairy cows after subcutaneous or intrauterine administration at the time of breeding
Manipulation of the reproductive tract can cause inflammatory processes in the
endometrium and release of cytokines and prostaglandins. It has been shown
that PGF2α has direct negative effects on embryonic survival and development.
Treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen lysinate,
flunixin meglumine) might improve pregnancy rates after embryo transfer in
recipient heifers. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the
effect of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug on reproductive performance in
lactating dairy cows when administered at the time of first-service artificial
insemination (AI) based on the hypothesis that uterine manipulation during AI
might be similarly intense compared with embryo transfer in its effect on
prostaglandin release. A total of 970 cows (333 primiparous and 637
multiparous) from 17 Holstein dairy farms were enrolled. On the day of first
AI, cows were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Cows of group 1
received 1.4 mg/kg of body weight (BW) of carprofen subcutaneously immediately
after AI (SC group). In group 2, 1.4 mg/kg of BW of carprofen was administered
into the uterus using a sterile disposable catheter 12 to 24 h after AI (IU
group). Animals of group 3 remained as untreated controls. First AI conception
rate was similar for the SC group (42.2%) compared with the untreated control
group (45.1%). A binary logistic regression model for the odds of conception
at first AI revealed a negative effect of an intrauterine administration of
carprofen on conception rate (38.3%). Cows allocated to the IU group had a
lower likelihood of being pregnant within 200 d in milk than cows in the
control group. In summary, subcutaneous treatment with the nonsteroidal
antiinflammatory drug carprofen at the time of AI did not influence conception
rate, whereas an intrauterine administration of carprofen 12 to 24 h after
first AI had a negative effect on first-service conception rate in lactating
dairy cows
Revisited: Therapeutic and toxic blood concentrations of more than 1100 drugs and other xenobiotics.
In order to assess the significance of drug/substance levels measured in intensive care medicine and clinical and forensic toxicology as well as for therapeutic drug monitoring, it is essential that a comprehensive collection of data is readily available. We revisited and expanded our 2012 compilation of therapeutic and toxic plasma concentration ranges as well as half-lives of now more than 1100 drugs and other xenobiotics.Data have been abstracted from original papers, text books, and previous compilations and have been completed with data collected in our own forensic and clinical toxicology laboratories. We compiled the data presented in the table and the corresponding annotations over the past 30+ years. A previous compilation was completely double-checked, revised, and updated, if necessary. In addition, more than 200 substances, especially drugs who have been introduced since 2012 to the market as well as illegal drugs and other xenobiotics which became known to cause intoxications were added. We carefully referenced all data. Moreover, the annotations providing details were updated and revised, when necessary.For more than 1100 drugs and other xenobiotics, therapeutic ("normal") and, if data was available, toxic, and comatose-fatal plasma/blood concentrations as well as elimination half-lives were compiled in a table.In case of intoxications, the blood concentration of the substance and/or metabolite better predicts the clinical severity of the case when compared to the assumed amount and time of ingestion. Comparing and contrasting the clinical case against the data provided, including the half-life, may support the decision for or against further intensive care. In addition, the data provided are useful for the therapeutic monitoring of pharmacotherapies, to facilitate the diagnostic assessment and monitoring of acute and chronic intoxications as well as to support forensic and clinical expert opinions
Determination of ceftiofur derivatives in serum, endometrial tissue, and lochia in puerperal dairy cows after subcutaneous administration of ceftiofur crystalline free acid
Puerperal uterine infections are often associated with decreased reproductive
performance in dairy cows. Routine treatment protocols include the systemic
administration of antibiotics. Antibiotic drugs, however, should be
administered daily over at least 5 d. The objective of this study was to
determine concentrations of ceftiofur derivatives in serum, endometrial
tissue, and lochia after subcutaneous administration of ceftiofur crystalline
free acid in 6 clinically healthy puerperal dairy cows with normal
parturition. Samples were taken immediately before treatment, 2 h after, and
then every 24 h over a 7-d period. Concentrations of ceftiofur derivatives
were quantified using an HPLC assay. In serum and endometrial tissue,
ceftiofur derivatives could be detected above the reported minimum drug
concentrations required to inhibit relevant pathogens such as Escherichia coli
and Arcanobacterium pyogenes over a 7-d period. Concentrations of
desfuroylceftiofuracetamide at 5 d after administration of ceftiofur
crystalline free acid were 1.21±0.61 μg/mL in serum, 0.86±0.61 μg/mg in
endometrial tissue, and 0.96±1.15 μg/mL in lochia. In lochia, mean
concentrations of ceftiofur derivatives also remained above the minimal
inhibitory concentration of relevant pathogens, but showed greater variations
between cows
Glucose concentration in capillary blood of dairy cows obtained by a minimally invasive lancet technique and determined with three different hand-held devices
Background Dairy cows have a massive demand for glucose at the onset of
lactation. A poor adaption to this period leads to an excessive negative
energy balance with an increased risk for ketosis and impaired animal health
and production. Besides the measurement of ketones, analysing the glucose
concentration in blood is reported as helpful instrument for diagnosis and
differentiation of ketosis. Monitoring metabolic parameters requires multiple
blood sampling. In other species, new blood sampling techniques have been
introduced in which small amounts of blood are rapidly analysed using
electronic hand-held devices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the
suitability of capillary blood for blood glucose measurement in dairy cows
using the hand-held devices FreeStyle Precision (FSP, Abbott), GlucoMen LX
Plus (GLX, A. Menarini) and the WellionVet GLUCO CALEA, (WGC, MED TRUST). In
total, 240 capillary blood samples were obtained from dry and fresh lactating
Holstein-Friesian cows. Blood was collected from the skin of the exterior
vulva by using a lancet. For method comparison, additional blood samples were
taken from a coccygeal vessel and analyzed in a laboratory. Glucose
concentrations measured by a standard laboratory method were defined as the
criterion standard. Results The Pearson correlation coefficients between the
glucose concentrations analyzed in capillary blood with the devices and the
reference were 73 % for the FSP, 81 % for the GLX and 41 % for the WGC. Bland-
Altman plots showed biases of −18.8 mg/dL for the FSP, -11.2 mg/dL for the GLX
and +20.82 mg/dL for the WGC. The optimized threshold determined by a Receiver
Operating Characteristics analysis to detect hyperglycemia using the FSP was
43 mg/dL with a sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of 76 and 80 %. Using
the GLX and WGC optimized thresholds were 49 mg/dL (Se = 92 %, Sp = 85 %) and
95 mg/dL (Se = 39 %, Sp = 92 %). Conclusions The results of this study
demonstrate good performance characteristics for the GLX and moderate for the
FSP to detect hyperglycemia in dairy cows using capillary blood. With the
study settings, the WGC was not suitable for determination of glucose
concentrations
Helium poisoning: new procedure for sampling and analysis.
An increasing number of suicidal asphyxiation with a plastic bag with inert gases, and in particular helium (He), have been reported from numerous countries over the last decade. These cases are differently managed and lead to different and variable interpretations. Based on the 12 last cases analysed in the laboratory and on the review of the most recent literature about this topic, updated autopsy guidelines for sampling have been proposed regarding to the samples choice and analytical challenges required by the gaseous state of this substance. Biological samples from airways (lungs lobe) followed by brain and cardiac blood are the best matrices to take during the autopsy to diagnose He exposure. Gaseous samples from trachea, pulmonary bronchi, gastric and cardiac areas are also recommended as alternative samples. The anatomical site of sampling must be carefully detailed, and to this end, forensic imaging constitutes a beneficial tool. Even if He detection is sufficient to conclude to He exposure, He concentrations in samples may be related to He exposure conditions (duration, breathing rate, etc.). A quantification in biological samples could be helpful to document more precisely the case. He concentrations in gaseous samples are reported up to 6.0 μmol/mL (tracheal gas), 2.4 μmol/mL (pulmonary gas), 0.64 μmol/mL (cardiac gas) and 12 μmol/mL (gastric gas). He concentrations in solid/liquid samples are reported up to 28 μmol/g (lungs) and 0.03 μmol/g (cardiac blood). The other matrices usually sampled during autopsy such as urine, peripheral blood, liver, fat matter and kidney appear as not relevant
Identification and characterization of dairy cows with different backfat thickness antepartum in relation to postpartum loss of backfat thickness: a cluster analytic approach
The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize the interindividual variation in the relationship between antepartum (ap) backfat thickness (BFT) and subsequent BFT loss during early lactation in a large dairy herd using cluster analysis; (2) to compare the serum concentrations of metabolites (nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate), metabolic hormones (leptin and adiponectin), and an inflammatory marker (haptoglobin) among the respective clusters; and (3) to compare lactation performance and uterine health status in the different clusters. An additional objective was (4) to investigate differences in these serum variables and in milk yield of overconditioned (OC) cows that differed in the extent of BFT loss. Using data from a large study of 1,709 multiparous Holstein cows, we first selected those animals from which serum samples and BFT results (mm) were available at d 25 (±10) ap and d 31 (±3 d) postpartum (pp). The remaining 713 cows (parity of 2 to 7) were then subjected to cluster analysis: different approaches based on the BFT of the cows were performed. K-means (unsupervised machine learning algorithm) clustering based on BFT-ap alone identified 5 clusters: lean (5–8 mm BFT, n = 50), normal (9–12 mm, n = 206), slightly fat (SF; 13–16 mm, n = 203), just fat (JF; 16–22 mm, n = 193), and very fat (VF; 23–43 mm, n = 61). Clustering by difference between BFT-ap and BFT-pp (ΔBFT) also revealed 5 clusters: extreme loss (17–23 mm ΔBFT, n = 16), moderate loss (9–15 mm, n = 119), little loss (4–8 mm, n = 326), no loss (0–3 mm, n = 203), and gain (−8 to −1 mm, n = 51). Based on the blood variables measured, our results confirm that cows with greater BFT losses had higher lipid mobilization and ketogenesis than cows with less BFT loss. The serum variables of cows that gained BFT did not differ from normal cows. Milk yield was affected by the BFT-ap cluster, but not by the ΔBFT cluster. Cows categorized as VF had lesser milk yield than other clusters. We further compared the OC cows that had little or no BFT loss (i.e., 2% of VF, 12% of JF, and 31% of SF, OC-no loss, n = 85) with the OC cows that lost BFT (OC-loss, n = 135). Both NEFA and BHB pp concentrations and milk yield were greater in OC-loss cows compared with the OC-no loss cows. The serum concentration of leptin ap was greater in OC-loss than in the OC-no loss cows. Overall, OC cows lost more BFT than normal or lean cows. However, those OC cows with a smaller loss of BFT produced less milk than OC cows with greater losses
Opioid tolerance in methadone maintenance treatment: comparison of methadone and levomethadone in long-term treatment
Monitoramento e conservação genética de populações naturais de Prochilodus lineatus dos rios Pardo, Mogi-Guaçu e Tietê, São Paulo
Short communication: Repeatability of β-hydroxybutyrate measurements in capillary blood obtained from the external vulvar skin
Automated classification of a Calf’s feeding state based on data collected by active sensors with 3D-accelerometer
The paper deals with the problem of time series classification for the feeding state of calves by means of features evaluated for acceleration real-time data sets. The eartags equipped with an active sensor were developed for location and animal activity identification. Video records synchronized with a sensor data were collected from three calves. After the data preprocessing including the reconstruction of lost information, filtering and frequency stabilization, new time series were used to develop a machine-learning algorithm with equidistant and non-equidistant time series segmentation method based on a modified Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic. The proposed classification method has achieved a good recognition quality for the feeding state with a best overall accuracy of approximately 94%. Thus this methodology is useful in identifying the feeding state and we may expect the possibility to generalize it to the multi-state case as well. The further improvement of the algorithm is a subject of our future research. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG
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