Pharmacoclinical observations on the evolution of cardiovascular variables and acid-base balance under the combination of acepromazine-morphine in dog

The paper investigated the intensity of the main cardiorespiratory values, which were modified in the case of acepromazine-morphine anaesthesia in dog. The study was carried out on 16 dogs, in which the tension of blood gases was checked. The level of sedations was measured by taking into consideration the awareness degree and how long they were able to keep their lateral position. The sedation degree was present at a rate of 23% after using acepromazine (0.4 kg/kc; level 1), 89% after injecting intravenously the morphine (0.02 mg/kc; level 2) and of 100%, after 0.2 mg/kc morphine, which did not produce significant statistical modifications on the values of hemodynamic function. Our experiments have shown that the dose interval, comprised between 0.2 and 0.5 mg/kc of acepromazine, combined with 0.02-0.2 mg/kc morphine, proved to have satisfying effect

Evaluation of etomidate and alfentanyl in dog anaesthesia

The use of etomidate for short periods of anaesthesia (e.g. biopsy, skin suture, radiography) was related both to its short duration of action and the absence of significant side-effects. It was rapidly metabolized by liver in inactive metabolites, and its pharmaco-kinetics characteristics recommended it for continuous perfusion or intravenously. In dog, alfentanyl was used to diminish the induction dose of intravenous anaesthesia, although it may be the cause of a few minutes apnea. The aim of this study was to monitor the course of anaesthesia, using a combination of etomidate and alfentanyl

Alternative methods of therapy in articular disorders in dogs and cats

Alternative medicine has no clear definition, consistent and universally accepted, but most often is defined as all products, practices and healthcare systems that are not part of conventional medical system. Complementary medicine or medicine called unconventional, alternative medicine can help treat various diseases where conventional medicine does not offer solutions. Joint diseases, particularly chronic ones, requires a long therapy with anti- inflammatory drugs, often resulting in the occurrence of secondary reactions, which require cessation of therapy, leaving the patient with pain and physical discomfort. For the most efficient and rapid recovery of locomotor or joint functions, it is recommended to apply alternative methods. In most cases of joint diseases, alternative medicine is not used alone, but together with allopathic medicine, conventional treatments to increase the efficiency and represents the combination of the most effective practices and methods of traditional medicine with conventional medicine

Pegylation of phenothiazine – A synthetic route towards potent anticancer drugs

Introduction Cancer is a big challenge of the 21 century, whose defeat requires efficient antitumor drugs. Objectives The paper aims to investigate the synergistic effect of two structural building blocks, phenothiazine and poly(ethylene glycol), towards efficient antitumor drugs. Methods Two PEGylated phenothiazine derivatives were synthetized by attaching poly(ethylene glycol) of 550 Da to the nitrogen atom of phenothiazine by ether or ester linkage. Their antitumor activity has been investigated on five human tumour lines and a mouse tumor line as well, by determination of IC50. The in vivo toxicity was determined by measuring the LD50 in BALB/c mice by the sequential method and the in vivo antitumor potential was measured by the tumours growth test. The antitumor mechanism was investigated by complexation studies of zinc and magnesium ions characteristic to the farnesyltransferase enzyme, by studies of self-aggregation in the cells proximity and by investigation of the antitumor properties of the acid species resulted by enzymatic cleavage of the PEGylated derivatives. Results The two compounds showed antitumor activity, with IC50 against mouse colon carcinoma cell line comparable with that of the traditional antitumor drugs 5-Fluorouracil and doxorubicin. The phenothiazine PEGylation resulted in a significant toxicity diminishing, the LD50 in BALB/c mice increasing from 952.38 up to 1450 mg/kg, in phenothiazine equivalents. Both compounds inflicted a 92% inhibition of the tumour growth for doses much smaller than LD50. The investigation of the possible tumour inhibition mechanism suggested the nanoaggregate formation and the cleavage of ester bonds as key factors for the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and biocompatibility improvement. Conclusion Phenothiazine and PEG building blocks have a synergetic effect working for both tumour growth inhibition and biocompatibility improvement. All these findings recommend the PEGylated phenothiazine derivatives as a valuable workbench for a next generation of antitumor drugs

Prevalence, economic impact and therapeutic efficacy in acute infectious pododermatitis in sheep

This study assessed seasonal incidence, economic losses, the efficacy of therapeutic protocols, the recovery time of affected animals and specific prophylactic measures applied to sheep with acute infectious pododermatitis. The studies were conducted over a period of 12 months in 3 different sheep farms from private units in the same area. The results of the study showed an increased incidence of the disease in all 3 farms, with an average of 26.94% of the sheep flock. The incidence of the disease was increased in the months of April-May-June-July and September-October (30%), when there were heavy rains. The high morbidity led to economic losses through the decrease in milk production by approximately 30% and the decrease in the weight of the sheep by 10.58% (4.2 kg) of their normal weight. The therapeutic protocol applied locally as well as parenterally, combined with a foot bath with 10% zinc sulphate solution, were effective in treating acute infectious pododermatitis of sheep. The average recovery time (days) was approximately the same in the three groups of sheep (5.25 ± 0.68 days for cases with moderate diseases and 10.2 ± 0.22 for cases with severe diseases)

Short Review on the Biological Activity of Cyclodextrin-Drug Inclusion Complexes Applicable in Veterinary Therapy

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a family of carrier molecules used to improve the pharmacokinetic parameters of therapeutic molecules. These cyclic oligosaccharides have medical and pharmaceutical applications by being able to form inclusion complexes with molecules that are poorly soluble in water. The benefits of these complexes are directed towards improving the chemical and biological properties—i.e., solubility, bioavailability, stability, non-toxicity and shelf life of drug molecules. Since the 1960s, the first inclusion complexes used in therapeutics were those with α-, β- and γ-CD, which proved their usefulness, but had certain degrees of particularly renal toxicity. Currently, to correct these deficiencies, β-CD derivatives are most frequently used, such as sulfobutylether-β-CD, hydroxypropyl-β-CD, etc. Therefore, it is of interest to bring to the attention of those interested the diversity of current and potential future clinical applications of inclusion complexes in veterinary medicine and to present the contribution of these inclusion complexes in improving drug efficacy. The most important biological activities of β-CD complexed molecules in the veterinary field are summarized in this short review

Development and characterisation of microporous biomimetic scaffolds loaded with magnetic nanoparticles as bone repairing material

Fine-tuning of the scaffolds structural features for bone tissue engineering can be an efficient approach to regulate the specific response of the osteoblasts. Here, we loaded magnetic nanoparticles aka superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) into 3D composite scaffolds based on biological macromolecules (chitosan, collagen, hyaluronic acid) and calcium phosphates for potential applications in bone regeneration, using a biomimetic approach. We assessed the effects of organic (chitosan/collagen/hyaluronic acid) and inorganic (calcium phosphates, SPIONs) phase over the final features of the magnetic scaffolds (MS). Mechanical properties, magnetic susceptibility and biological fluids retention are strongly dependent on the final composition of MS and within the recommended range for application in bone regeneration. The MS architecture/pore size can be made bespoken through changes of the final organic/inorganic ratio. The scaffolds undertake mild degradation as the presence of inorganic components hinders the enzyme catalytic activity. In vitro studies indicated that osteoblasts (SaOS-2) on MS9 had similar cell behaviour activity in comparison with the TCP control. In vivo data showed an evident development of integration and resorption of the MS composites with low inflammation activity. Current findings suggest that the combination of SPIONs into 3D composite scaffolds can be a promising toolkit for bone regeneration

Antibacterial Polysiloxane Polymers and Coatings for Cochlear Implants

Within this study, new materials were synthesized and characterized based on polysiloxane modified with different ratios of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) and crosslinked via UV-assisted thiol-ene addition, in order to obtain efficient membranes able to resist bacterial adherence and biofilm formation. These membranes were subjected to in vitro testing for microbial adherence against S. pneumoniae using standardized tests. WISTAR rats were implanted for 4 weeks with crosslinked siloxane samples without and with NAC. A set of physical characterization methods was employed to assess the chemical structure and morphological aspects of the new synthetized materials before and after contact with the microbiological medium

Magnetic Nanoemulsions for the Intra-Articular Delivery of Ascorbic Acid and Dexamethasone

(1) Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint degenerative disease that currently has no cure. Limitations in the development of innovative disease modifying therapies are related to the complexity of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. In addition, there is the unmet need for efficient drug delivery methods. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been proposed as an efficient modality for the delivery of bioactive molecules within OA joints, limiting the side effects associated with systemic delivery. We previously demonstrated MNP’s role in increasing cell proliferation and chondrogenesis. In the design of intra-articular therapies for OA, the combined NE-MNP delivery system could provide increased stability and biological effect. (2) Proprietary Fe3O4 MNPs formulated as oil-in-water (O/W) magneto nanoemulsions (MNEs) containing ascorbic acid and dexamethasone were tested for size, stability, magnetic properties, and in vitro biocompatibility with human primary adipose mesenchymal cells (ADSC), cell mobility, and chondrogenesis. In vivo biocompatibility was tested after systemic administration in mice. (3) We report high MNE colloidal stability, magnetic properties, and excellent in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility. By increasing ADSC migration potential and chondrogenesis, MNE carrying dexamethasone and ascorbic acid could reduce OA symptoms while protecting the cartilage layer

Antibacterial and Antifungal Silver Nanoparticles with Tunable Size Embedded in Various Cellulose-Based Matrices

The aim of this study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using cellulose derivatives and to evaluate their antimicrobial potential. As effective reducing and stabilizing agents for AgNPs, cellulose derivatives, such as hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), methylcellulose (MC), ethylcellulose (EC), and cellulose acetate (CA), were used. Their ability to reduce silver ions as well as the size of the resulting AgNPs were compared. The formation and stability of the reduced AgNPs in the solution were monitored using UV-Vis analysis. The size, morphology, and charge of the AgNPs were evaluated. We found that, when using cellulosic derivatives, AgNPs with sizes ranging from 17 to 89 nm and different stabilities were obtained. The parameters, such as size and ζ potential indicate the stability of AgNPs, with AgNPs-CA and AgNPs-HPC being considered more stable than AgNPs-EC and AgNPs-MC since they show higher ζ potential values. In addition, the AgNPs showed antimicrobial activity against all reference strains and clinical isolates. MIC values between 0.0312 and 0.125 mM had a bactericidal effect on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The fungicidal effect was obtained at a MIC value of 0.125 mM. These results may provide rational support in the design of medical gauze products, including gauze pads, rolls, and sponges