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

Correlations between the adaptive capacity in Bucovina of Limousine cows and the nutritional quality of the milk

The Limousine breed is spread on all continents in 64 countries, and Romania will be the 65th country in which it is trying to adapt this breed of cattle. Limousine is currently ranked No. 1 in England and is highly regarded in other countries, including France, No. 2, Canada, No. 2, Italy, and the United States. 3rd place. The main objective of this project is to observe the adaptability of the Limousine breed to the geo-meteorological conditions recorded in northern Romania, the Bukovina region. The aim of the paper is to evaluate from a nutritional qualitative point of view the raw milk obtained from this breed. The investigations were carried out to establish the degree of freshness, integrity and we monitored some physical-chemical and hygienic parameters of the raw material milk. Sampling was done directly from the collection vessels after milking and filtration mainly in the hot season, and their processing was done in the Food Control Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Iasi, where a number of 38 milk samples were processed. Following the analysis of the samples, a number of 8 samples were inadequate in terms of organoleptic examination and integrity. Deviations from the organoleptic characteristics of the parameters of appearance, color, smell, and taste represented a percentage of 21.05%. The determinations of the Physico-chemical parameters were classified as inappropriate a number of 10 samples which represents a percentage of 26.31% of the total samples collected

Observations on the effectiveness of post-operative administration of nutrients and fluids in dogs and cats

It is estimated that thousands of surgeries are taking place in dogs and cats every year. Today, major trauma associated with operations is minimal due to modern techniques, but nevertheless, the patient's body requires a recovery period, and nutrition is one of the important elements that can speed up the process of healing in many ways, by providing the necessary protein and energy to the body. Pain relief as well as balancing the body after surgery, especially in serious situations, is important for the patient's well-being and comfort, as they contribute to its faster and more effective recovery. The postoperative period in animals requires special attention to the pursuit of the operated patient and the immediate treatment of possible imbalances and complications that may occur. Pain, hypothermia, shock, vomiting, nerve phenomena (excessive vocalizations) are the main phenomena that unspeakable patients manifest in the postoperative period. The mechanisms for the production and maintenance of nocyceps are multiple, tolerance for pain is an individual parameter in relation to the age, gender, terrain and mental state of the patient. Because around postoperative care there is a multitude of opinions and controversies from the owners, sometimes even veterinarians, it was necessary that through this study we make known the benefits of specialized care and the need for permanent monitoring of the patient within the first 72 hours after surgery, by administering drug therapy to reduce pain, relieve the patient, as well as to support large functions

The importance of implementing a HACCP plan in food service operations and restaurants

The European Union has shown that the post-industrial market economy has led to the production of food products above the level of consumer needs in the member states. This development has generated new types of issues, due to the production of food at industrial scale. In order to cope with food and nutrition illnesses and to restore consumer confidence in food safety, the European Commission has launched a series of new legislative amendments on food safety (Marin V. et al, 2007). The Good Hygiene Practices Guide in restaurants establishes, according to the legislation in force, a set of rules referring to the part of food hygiene, which must be followed and applied in restaurants. Potential risks of contamination of food and/or beverages are identified in these plans and a series of measures are developed to prevent these risks. The plan also includes the hygiene rules that must be observed by the employees and the kitchen staff. Operators operating in the field of food must guarantee for its products, comply with the legislative requirements and permanently implement these requirements, in order to release for consumption safe products for the final consumer. The purpose of this paper is to keep in mind the scope of this study focusing on the storage, handling, processing and distribution of all products, including the cooked product to be consumed. Thus, all biological, chemical or physical hazards that may occur during the cooking process of the product are taken into account. The HACCP team will ensure that all foodstuffs used in the preparation of cooked products comply with food safety legislation

Diagnostic methods and therapeutic options in dog skin allergies – a short review

Allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the body, which occurs after the contact with various substances that the immune system considers foreign and acts against them. Like humans, dogs can be allergic to various substances which, when inhaled or absorbed through the skin, airways or gastrointestinal tract, stimulate the immune system by releasing histamine that induces inflammation, erythema, edema and itching. It is considered that all the cases of allergies, whether low, moderate or severe, are genetic in nature. Dogs that become allergic to drugs, vaccines, food, dust, pollen, fleas, various household substances, etc., are "genetically programmed" to have an immune system capable of producing an allergic reaction. The allergic reaction is not due to medication, biological products, food or the environment, but it is considered to be a genetic trait inherited from parents. Because there are different types of allergies and many conditions that can cause skin problems in dogs, the symptoms they present differ from one allergy to another, from one patient to another, requiring both diagnosis and treatment to be made differential for each type of allergy and for each individual. The symptoms of allergic reactions can be diagnosed through allergic tests (intradermal or blood tests), the individual removal of allergens from the dog's living environment (in case of parasitic allergy), or by reagent therapy. Fighting allergies involves the use of antihistamines, antiinflammatory corticosteroids, topical antipruritic substances, leukotrienes inhibitors, as well as various plant extracts with antiallergic effect

Psycho-Motor Skills in Swimming Among Children: Gender Differences

Psychomotricity is a broad term that encompasses different approaches to bodily action to support children and adolescents to reach their highest motor and cognitive potential. The aim of the study was to highlight gender differences in the manifestation of psychomotor behaviors in 8–9-year-old children who practice sports swimming. The subjects (N=52, 26 males, 26 females) are children aged 8.0-9.11 years (M = 8.80; SD = ±0.65) who practice swimming in one of the swimming pools of a city in Romania. They were tested, using specific instruments, to assess the level of manual dexterity, body schema, hand laterality, body balance, body balance on water/buoyancy, general coordination. For four of the variables (manual dexterity, body schema, hand laterality and spatial orientation) no statistically significant differences were found, while for the other three (body balance, body balance on water and general coordination) statistically significant differences were recorded. The results indicate differences between the two genders, girls in this age group who practice swimming having more developed psychomotor skills compared to boys.</em

Interaction Effects of Cultivars and Nutrition on Quality and Yield of Tomato

Tomato is considered the most important vegetable crop worldwide. Improving the nutritional value of fruits must be based on sustainable production in terms of varieties and fertilization management. This study aimed to improve the nutritional value (total soluble solids, acidity, lycopene, β-carotene, polyphenols, macro and microelements) of two tomato varieties (‘Cristal’ and ‘Siriana’) under three fertilization types (NPK chemical fertilizer, chicken manure and biological fertilizer with microorganisms) for the greenhouse. Primary metabolism compounds do not vary significantly according to the type of fertilizer used. The results for the antioxidant compounds showed a better effect of biological fertilization compared to chemical fertilizer and control unfertilized. Thus, the antioxidant activity was improved by 28% compared to chemical fertilization, the lycopene content by 36% and β-carotene by 96%, respectively. The tomato fruits from the local cultivar (‘Siriana’) are richer in nutritional compounds such as rutin, regardless of the type of fertilization, which denotes a good ability to adapt to crop conditions. Tomato cultivars reacted positively to microbiological fertilization compared to chemical, thus producing nutritious fruits under sustainable management. Tomato fruits were richer in the quality of microelement contents

Enhancing the nutritional value of sweet pepper through sustainable fertilization management

IntroductionThe need for healthy foods has become a major concern in our modern world, as the global population continues to grow and environmental challenges intensify. In response to these challenges, researchers have started to explore a range of sustainable solutions, including organic farming practices, precision agriculture, and the development and testing of innovative biofertilizers. Consistent with these ideas come the aim of this study, which sets out to give new insights into the cultivation of two sweet pepper cultivars with economic and nutritional importance in Romania.MethodsTwo sweet pepper cultivars (Blancina and Brillant), chemically (Nutrifine®), organically (Orgevit®) and biologically (Micoseed®) fertilized were cultivated over the course of two years (2019 and 2020), between April and October, in high-tunnel, by following a split-plot design with three replications. Production parameters (number of fruits, fruit weight, yield), proximate composition (water content, dry matter, total soluble solids, acidity, ash), the content of phytonutrients (polyphenols, lycopene, β-carotene, antioxidant activity), phytochemical composition (phenolic compounds) and minerals (macro- and micro-elements) were analyzed in order to determine the impact of fertilization on the quality of sweet peppers.ResultsThe results showed that the biological and organic fertilizations had a significant positive impact on most of the parameters analyzed, starting with yield and continuing with acidity, phytonutrient content (total phenolic content, lycopene, β-carotene), antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition (chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin and isoquercetin). Only in the case of mineral content, the chemical treatment gave better results compared with the organic and biological fertilizers.ConclusionOverall, this study provides valuable information on the potential of organic and biological fertilizers to enhance the nutritional value of sweet peppers from Blancina F1 and Brillant F1 cultivars, paving the way for subsequent research aimed at achieving superior quality and increased yields

Understanding dual career views of European university athletes: The more than gold project focus groups

Previous studies have found that student-athletes (S-As) have difficulties in achieving dual career (DC) success. However, no studies have analysed the opinion of the S-As on the functioning of DC with a qualitative methodology. The aim of the present work was to collect the opinions of elite university S-As in relation to DC policy adopted by their academic institutions in different European countries. In total, 77 athletes (F = 35, M = 42; age range: 20-25 years) participated in 15 national face-to-face focus groups in five different countries, to discuss aspects that higher education institutes should implement in relation to: 1) the athletes' needs; 2) assistance/tutorship: 2) curricula requirements; 3) financial support; 4) logistic support; 5) social support; and 6) dual career policies. Fifty of the athletes competed in individual sports and twenty-seven team sports. Of them, 57 was enrolled at undergraduate, 17 was enrolled in a master and 3 in a PhD. The athletes were presented with 13 open-ended questions one by one, and were ensured freedom to interact. All the discussions were recorded. After this, a general discussion took place in which the participants identified and agreed on a final list of statements from their focus group deemed to be relevant to DC athletes as university students. Then, at a consensus meeting, the findings were combined, repetitions were eliminated, and fragmented statements were condensed into broader ones. A final list of 31 statements, organized in six related content units, were identified in relation to the athletes' needs (n = 5), assistance/tutorship (n = 5), curricula requirements (n = 4), financial support (n = 4), logistic support (n = 4), social support (n = 6), and DC policies (n = 3), respectively. In conclusion, this cross-national qualitative research study synthesized the S-As views about their needs and the most relevant DC policies and provisions that higher education institutes should provide to ensure them with positive academic experiences towards the achievement of a degree

Physician-Patient Relationship in Current Cosmetic Surgery Demands More than Mere Respect for Patient Autonomy&mdash;Is It Time for the Anti-Paternalistic Model?

The ethical framework of cosmetic surgery is distinct from the one associated with clinical medicine. This distinctiveness has led to significant difficulties in conceptualizing the physician-patient relationship (PPR), as most models have been developed specifically for the latter. The purpose of this article is to show that the PPR in cosmetic surgery can be better described through a distinct approach that we name the anti-paternalistic model of the PPR, and we will briefly present the differences between it and autonomy-based models. We will analyze the principle of non-interference, the variable degree of autonomy of both the patient and the physician within this relationship, the handling of the relevant information, the principle of beneficence as satisfaction, the difficulties regarding the informed consent, the algorithm allowing for the refusal of the procedure, and children-related issues. Based on this analysis, we will show that an anti-paternalistic model of the PPR is preferable to an autonomy-based one, as it allows for better clarification of the underlying ethical issues involved in cosmetic surgery