Three combinations of clonidine in association with tiletamine-zolazepam for anaesthesia induction in rats: evaluation of reflexes and pain sensibility

The aim of this study was to assess the combination of tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil 20\uae) with three different doses of clonidine for general anaesthesia induction in rats submitted to vascular microsurgery. The evaluation of anaesthetic and analgesic effects was performed in 30 Wistar rats randomly divided into three groups and induced with Zoletil 20 [90 mg/kg Intraperitoneal (IP)] associated with three different doses of clonidine (60\u201390\u2013120 \u3bcg/kg IP). Four clinical parameters were evaluated after induction: loss of righting reflex, voluntary movement, the pedal withdrawal response, and pain sensitivity tested by pinching the tail. The combination of Zoletil with 90 and 120 \u3bcg/kg of clonidine provided a surgical anaesthesia; however, 90 \u3bcg/kg of clonidine provided the most rapid anaesthesia induction, as confirmed by data obtained by clinical evaluation of the loss of the pedal withdrawal response and the absence of the tail pinch response. The increase in dose of clonidine did not lead to a more rapid action of the \u3b12 agonist, probably due to achievement of a dose-dependent plateau

What impact can hospitalization environment produce on the ANS functioning in patients with Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome?–24-hour monitoring

Objectives: Studies showed that the recovery of patients with Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) is also correlated to the recovery of circadian rhythms. In this study, we observed the correlations between patients with UWS biometrical and ambient parameters. Methods: A dedicated monitoring system was realized to record and correlate the level of noise and luminosity with biometric Heart Rate (HR), Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Breath Rate (BR) parameters. Eleven patients with UWS were recruited and monitored for 13 ± 7 days. Correlation of ambient and biometric parameters was analyzed by Spearman’s test. Wilcoxon’s test was used to compare the biometric parameters in two different moments of daily activity in the rehabilitation unit (night and day). Patients showed a moderate negative or positive correlation between biometric and ambient parameters. Results: Significant differences between night and morning (0.0001 \u3c p ≤ 0.001) were found for HR, HRV and BR in seven, five and four patients, respectively, at Wilcoxon’s test. HR and BR were higher during the night while HRV was lower. Conclusion: In patients with UWS, lower HRV and higher HR and BR during the night might be indicative of interference in sleep/wake cycles. The modifications of the environment surrounding the patient due to the unit procedures of the staff and/or some interaction modalities of the relatives may have an effect on residual endogenous mechanisms of self-regulation. However, differences between night and day in the biometrical parameters are not necessarily linked to the changes in the environment care unit