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

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)

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

Evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of the two substances used in otitis externa in dogs

Otitis externa is about 20% of diseases in dogs. Correct evaluation of the type of otitis is a very important and essential in successful management of this disease. Study was conducted on a total of 36 dogs with specific signs of otitis externa, examined and selected according to strict criteria in two private medical offices. Diagnostic methods used clinical examination, otoscopic exam and complementary cytological examination on ear secretions. Cytological examination revealed cultures of Malassezia pachydermatis, Staphylococcus spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The objective of the study it was the two comparative assessment topical antimicrobials selected by the same composition of active substances used in the treatment of otitis externa and otitis media of dogs - Easotic® and Mitex®. Easotic administered in the form of sprays, spray daily (1 ml) for 5 days, and Mitex administered in the form of drops, 3-5 drops of 2 times/day, a period that varied between 7-10 days. Throughout the study was evaluated the efficacy, following the elimination of ear secretion by decreasing the number of microorganisms, eliminate erythema and pain sensitivity. The results revealed a beneficial therapeutic effect under the action both of substances, but it was advantage Easotic treatment because of the ease of administration, the short period of use and quick efficacy

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

Cumulative Prognostic Score Predicting Mortality in Patients Older Than 80 Years Admitted to the ICU.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a scoring system model that predicts mortality within 30 days of admission of patients older than 80 years admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A total of 306 ICUs from 24 European countries. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults admitted to European ICUs (N = 3730; median age = 84 years [interquartile range = 81-87 y]; 51.8% male). MEASUREMENTS: Overall, 24 variables available during ICU admission were included as potential predictive variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Model sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: The 30-day-mortality was 1562 (41.9%). In multivariable analysis, these variables were selected as independent predictors of mortality: age, sex, ICU admission diagnosis, Clinical Frailty Scale, Sequential Organ Failure Score, invasive mechanical ventilation, and renal replacement therapy. The discrimination, accuracy, and calibration of the model were good: the area under the curve for a score of 10 or higher was .80, and the Brier score was .18. At a cut point of 10 or higher (75% of all patients), the model predicts 30-day mortality in 91.1% of all patients who die. CONCLUSION: A predictive model of cumulative events predicts 30-day mortality in patients older than 80 years admitted to ICUs. Future studies should include other potential predictor variables including functional status, presence of advance care plans, and assessment of each patient's decision-making capacity

Sepsis at ICU admission does not decrease 30-day survival in very old patients: a post-hoc analysis of the VIP1 multinational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The number of intensive care patients aged ≥ 80 years (Very old Intensive Care Patients; VIPs) is growing. VIPs have high mortality and morbidity and the benefits of ICU admission are frequently questioned. Sepsis incidence has risen in recent years and identification of outcomes is of considerable public importance. We aimed to determine whether VIPs admitted for sepsis had different outcomes than those admitted for other acute reasons and identify potential prognostic factors for 30-day survival. RESULTS: This prospective study included VIPs with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores ≥ 2 acutely admitted to 307 ICUs in 21 European countries. Of 3869 acutely admitted VIPs, 493 (12.7%) [53.8% male, median age 83 (81-86) years] were admitted for sepsis. Sepsis was defined according to clinical criteria; suspected or demonstrated focus of infection and SOFA score ≥ 2 points. Compared to VIPs admitted for other acute reasons, VIPs admitted for sepsis were younger, had a higher SOFA score (9 vs. 7, p < 0.0001), required more vasoactive drugs [82.2% vs. 55.1%, p < 0.0001] and renal replacement therapies [17.4% vs. 9.9%; p < 0.0001], and had more life-sustaining treatment limitations [37.3% vs. 32.1%; p = 0.02]. Frailty was similar in both groups. Unadjusted 30-day survival was not significantly different between the two groups. After adjustment for age, gender, frailty, and SOFA score, sepsis had no impact on 30-day survival [HR 0.99 (95% CI 0.86-1.15), p = 0.917]. Inverse-probability weight (IPW)-adjusted survival curves for the first 30 days after ICU admission were similar for acute septic and non-septic patients [HR: 1.00 (95% CI 0.87-1.17), p = 0.95]. A matched-pair analysis in which patients with sepsis were matched with two control patients of the same gender with the same age, SOFA score, and level of frailty was also performed. A Cox proportional hazard regression model stratified on the matched pairs showed that 30-day survival was similar in both groups [57.2% (95% CI 52.7-60.7) vs. 57.1% (95% CI 53.7-60.1), p = 0.85]. CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for organ dysfunction, sepsis at admission was not independently associated with decreased 30-day survival in this multinational study of 3869 VIPs. Age, frailty, and SOFA score were independently associated with survival

Relationship between the Clinical Frailty Scale and short-term mortality in patients ≥ 80 years old acutely admitted to the ICU: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is frequently used to measure frailty in critically ill adults. There is wide variation in the approach to analysing the relationship between the CFS score and mortality after admission to the ICU. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of modelling approach on the association between the CFS score and short-term mortality and quantify the prognostic value of frailty in this context. METHODS: We analysed data from two multicentre prospective cohort studies which enrolled intensive care unit patients ≥ 80 years old in 26 countries. The primary outcome was mortality within 30-days from admission to the ICU. Logistic regression models for both ICU and 30-day mortality included the CFS score as either a categorical, continuous or dichotomous variable and were adjusted for patient's age, sex, reason for admission to the ICU, and admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. RESULTS: The median age in the sample of 7487 consecutive patients was 84 years (IQR 81-87). The highest fraction of new prognostic information from frailty in the context of 30-day mortality was observed when the CFS score was treated as either a categorical variable using all original levels of frailty or a nonlinear continuous variable and was equal to 9% using these modelling approaches (p < 0.001). The relationship between the CFS score and mortality was nonlinear (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Knowledge about a patient's frailty status adds a substantial amount of new prognostic information at the moment of admission to the ICU. Arbitrary simplification of the CFS score into fewer groups than originally intended leads to a loss of information and should be avoided. Trial registration NCT03134807 (VIP1), NCT03370692 (VIP2)

Observation of the B0 → ρ0ρ0 decay from an amplitude analysis of B0 → (π+π−)(π+π−) decays

Proton–proton collision data recorded in 2011 and 2012 by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb−1 , are analysed to search for the charmless B0→ρ0ρ0 decay. More than 600 B0→(π+π−)(π+π−) signal decays are selected and used to perform an amplitude analysis, under the assumption of no CP violation in the decay, from which the B0→ρ0ρ0 decay is observed for the first time with 7.1 standard deviations significance. The fraction of B0→ρ0ρ0 decays yielding a longitudinally polarised final state is measured to be fL=0.745−0.058+0.048(stat)±0.034(syst) . The B0→ρ0ρ0 branching fraction, using the B0→ϕK⁎(892)0 decay as reference, is also reported as B(B0→ρ0ρ0)=(0.94±0.17(stat)±0.09(syst)±0.06(BF))×10−6