Changes in energy metabolism, and levels of stress-related hormones and electrolytes in horses after intravenous administration of romifidine and the peripheral α-2 adrenoceptor antagonist vatinoxan.

Background: Romifidine, an α-2 adrenoceptor agonist, is a widely-used sedative in equine medicine. Besides the desired sedative and analgesic actions, α-2 adrenoceptor agonists have side effects like alterations of plasma concentrations of glucose and certain stress-related hormones and metabolites in various species. Vatinoxan (previously known as MK-467), in turn, is an antagonist of α-2 adrenoceptors.

Clinical effects and pharmacokinetic variables of romifidine and the peripheral α -adrenoceptor antagonist MK-467 in horses.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of MK-467 on sedation quality, and cardiopulmonary and pharmacokinetic variables in horses sedated intravenously (IV) with romifidine.

Study Design: Experimental, randomized, crossover design.

Animals: Seven healthy mares.

Plasma drug concentrations and clinical effects of a peripheral alpha-2-adrenoceptor antagonist, MK-467, in horses sedated with detomidine.

Objective: To investigate plasma drug concentrations and the effect of MK-467 (L-659'066) on sedation, heart rate and gut motility in horses sedated with intravenous (IV) detomidine.

Study Design: Experimental randomized blinded crossover study.

Animals: Six healthy horses.

Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus isolates originating from porcine intestine and feces.

In this study, a total of 94 lactic acid bacterial (LAB) isolates of porcine small intestinal and fecal origin were screened for their probiotic properties. The aim was to evaluate whether their isolation site and putative species identity play a role in these characteristics and whether either of these can be used as a predictive factor for the probiotic potential of bacterial isolates. The isolates were preliminarily identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and characterized in vitro for their pH and bile tolerance, adhesion capacity towards porcine enterocytes isolated from five intestinal sites and for antimicrobial activity towards five indicator pathogens.