Development and evaluation of an anatomically designed and 3D printed device to enhance orotracheal intubation success in rabbits by inexperienced veterinarians.

Objective: To assess whether the use of a three-dimensional (3D) printed device enhances the success rate of orotracheal intubation in rabbits.

Study Design: Prospective, crossover randomized controlled trial.

Animals: A total of six mixed-breed rabbits.

Evaluation of analgesic, sympathetic and motor effects of 1% and 2% lidocaine administered epidurally in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Objective: To compare, versus a control, the sensory, sympathetic and motor blockade of lidocaine 1% and 2% administered epidurally in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Study Design: Randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial.

Animals: A total of 24 mixed-breed intact female dogs.

A low-cost portable simulator of a domestic cat larynx for teaching endotracheal intubation.

Objective: To design and construct an affordable simulator of the cat larynx for training intubation maneuvers and to share the designs for its fabrication.

Study Design: Research and development study.

Animals: A domestic cat.

Sedative and physiologic effects of tiletamine-zolazepam following buccal administration in cats.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the sedative and some physiological effects of tiletamine-zolazepam following buccal administration (BA) in cats.

Methods: Seven healthy spayed European shorthair cats (three males, four females) were studied twice in this randomized, blinded, crossover study. Each cat received two doses of tiletamine-zolazepam by BA: the low-dose (LD) group consisted of 5 mg/kg of each drug, and the high-dose (HD) group consisted of 7.

Comparison of two sedation protocols for short electroretinography in cats.

Objectives The objectives were to compare two different sedative combinations, xylazine-ketamine and dexmedetomidine-ketamine, for the short electroretinography (ERG) protocol and their impact on sedative effect, reversal times and physiological variables in cats. Methods Six healthy spayed female domestic cats were sedated using one of two ketamine-containing protocols: intramuscular xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) plus ketamine hydrochloride (3 mg/kg) (XK), and dexmedetomidine hydrochloride (5 µg/kg) plus ketamine hydrochloride (3 mg/kg) (DK). A short ERG protocol was recorded from the left eye of each cat under XK and DK sedation.

Ocular topotecan pharmacokinetics following topical administration to rabbits for diffused anterior retinoblastoma.

Objectives: We characterized and compared the in-vivo absorption of topotecan into the aqueous humor after instillation of aqueous and ointment formulations.

Methods: A lanolin/petrolatum ointment was used. New Zealand rabbits were instilled with topotecan solution (6 μg, group A), a single 10 μg dose of topotecan ointment (group B) or with five 10 μg doses of topotecan ointment (group C).

Sustained-release hydrogels of topotecan for retinoblastoma.

Treatment of retinoblastoma, the most common primary ocular malignancy in children, has greatly improved over the last decade. Still, new devices for chemotherapy are needed to achieve better tumor control. The aim of this project was to develop an ocular drug delivery system for topotecan (TPT) loaded in biocompatible hydrogels of poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethyleneglycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) block copolymers (PCL-PEG-PCL) for sustained TPT release in the vitreous humor.

Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Efficacy of Intravitreal Digoxin in Preclinical Models for Retinoblastoma.

Purpose: To assess in vitro cytotoxic activity and antiangiogenic effect, ocular and systemic disposition, and toxicity of digoxin in rabbits after intravitreal injection as a potential candidate for retinoblastoma treatment.

Methods: A panel of two retinoblastoma and three endothelial cell types were exposed to increasing concentrations of digoxin in a conventional (72-hour exposure) and metronomic (daily exposure) treatment scheme. Cytotoxicity was defined as the digoxin concentration that killed 50% of the cells (IC50) and was assessed with a vital dye in all cell types.

Novel protease inhibitor-loaded Nanoparticle-in-Microparticle Delivery System leads to a dramatic improvement of the oral pharmacokinetics in dogs.

With the advent of the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, the morbidity and the mortality associated to HIV have been considerably reduced. However, 35-40 million people bear the infection worldwide. One of the main causes of therapeutic failure is the frequent administration of several antiretrovirals that results in low patient compliance and treatment cessation.

Local and systemic toxicity of intravitreal melphalan for vitreous seeding in retinoblastoma: a preclinical and clinical study.

Purpose: Intravitreal melphalan is emerging as an effective treatment for refractory vitreous seeds in retinoblastoma, but there is limited understanding regarding its toxicity. This study evaluates the retinal and systemic toxicity of intravitreal melphalan in retinoblastoma patients, with preclinical validation in a rabbit model.

Design: Clinical and preclinical, prospective, cohort study.

Plasma and ocular prednisolone disposition after oral treatment in cats.

Objective: To evaluate the plasma and aqueous humor disposition of prednisolone after oral administration in cats.

Methods: Six cats were administered with a single oral dose of prednisolone (10 mg). Blood and aqueous humor samples were serially collected after drug administration.

Ocular and systemic toxicity of intravitreal topotecan in rabbits for potential treatment of retinoblastoma.

Treatment of intraocular retinoblastoma with vitreous seeding is a challenge. Different routes of chemotherapy administration have been explored in order to attaining pharmacological concentrations into the posterior chamber. Intravitreal drug injection is a promissing route for maximum bioavailability to the vitreous but it requires a well defined dose for achieving tumor control while limited toxicity to the retina.

Characterization of uveitis induced by use of a single intravitreal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide in cats.

Objective: To investigate the use of a single intravitreal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to experimentally induce uveitis in cats.

Animals: 7 young male European shorthair cats that were considered physically and ophthalmologically healthy.

Procedures: In each cat, LPS was injected intravitreally into 1 eye; the contralateral eye was injected with the preparation vehicle.

Circadian rhythm of intraocular pressure in cats.

Objective: To evaluate the rhythm of intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy domestic cats with no evidence of ocular disease and to analyze the influence of photoperiod, age, gender and ocular diseases on diurnal-nocturnal variations of cat IOP.

Animals: All animals were Domestic Short-haired cats; 30 were without systemic or ocular diseases, classified as follows: 12 male intact adult cats, five intact adult female, five adult spayed female, and eight male cats; the latter were less than 1 year of age. In addition, five adult cats with uveitis and three adult cats with secondary glaucoma were included.