Effect of a constant rate infusion of ketamine on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in dogs anesthetized with propofol.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a constant rate infusion of ketamine on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in dogs anesthetized with propofol.

Study Design: Prospective randomized, blinded clinical study.

Animals: Sixteen healthy dogs.

Copaiba Oleoresin Improves Weight Gain and IL-10 Concentration, with No Impact on Hepatic Histology, in Liver Cirrhosis.

Copaifera sp. is a native tree in the Amazon region. Copaiba oleoresin has components such as sesquiterpenes, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential.

Hemodynamic Assessment via Echocardiography During Propofol Anesthetic Induction in Healthy Dogs.

Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic administered as a bolus or continuous infusion during anesthetic induction and maintenance. Its pharmacokinetic characteristics include hepatic and extrahepatic metabolism with a rapid onset of action and short duration, which provides a smooth anesthetic induction without excitatory effects. To evaluate whether the isolated use of propofol in anesthetic induction in dogs changes the hemodynamic variables assessed via echocardiography.

Correction: Validation of the Unesp-Botucatu composite scale to assess acute postoperative abdominal pain in sheep (USAPS).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Neuroprotective effects of the CTK 01512-2 toxin against neurotoxicity induced by 3-nitropropionic acid in rats.

The mitochondrial inhibitor 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) induces excitotoxicity. The authors hypothesized that CTK 01512-2, a recombinant peptide calcium channel N-type blocker, and the TRPA1 antagonist, could show neuroprotective effects. The male Wistar rats received 3-NP [25 mg/kg (i.

A critical evaluation for validation of composite and unidimensional postoperative pain scales in horses.

Proper pain therapy requires adequate pain assessment. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Unesp-Botucatu horse acute pain scale (UHAPS), the Orthopedic Composite Pain Scale (CPS) and unidimensional scales in horses admitted for orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. Forty-two horses were assessed and videotaped before surgery, up to 4 hours postoperatively, up to 3 hours after analgesic treatment, and 24 hours postoperatively (168 video clips).

Spontaneous Behaviors of Post-Orchiectomy Pain in Horses Regardless of the Effects of Time of Day, Anesthesia, and Analgesia.

This prospective and longitudinal study aimed to identify spontaneous post-orchiectomy pain behaviors in horses regardless of the effects of anesthesia, analgesia, and recording time of day. Twenty-four horses divided into four groups were submitted to: inhalation anesthesia only (GA), or combined with previous analgesia (GAA), or orchiectomy under pre (GCA), or postoperative (GC) analgesia. The data obtained from the subtraction of frequency and/or duration of 34 behaviors recorded during seven 60-min time-points in the 24 h after the anesthesia from those recorded in the mirrored time-points in the 24 h before the anesthesia (delta) were compared over time and among groups by Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests, respectively ( < 0.

High sucrose diet attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation and liver injury in thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis.

Aims: Liver cirrhosis is the main chronic liver disease and is considered a catabolic disease. Cirrhotic patients have a low energy intake and high energy expenditure at rest, leading to metabolic disorders. Malnutrition is associated with complications of cirrhosis and has been shown that a nutritional intervention with increase of energy intake improves the survival of cirrhotic patients.

Validation of the Unesp-Botucatu composite scale to assess acute postoperative abdominal pain in sheep (USAPS).

A scale with robust statistical validation is essential to diagnose pain and improve decision making for analgesia. This blind, randomised, prospective and opportunist study aimed to develop an ethogram to evaluate behaviour and validate a scale to assess acute ovine postoperative pain. Elective laparoscopy was performed in 48 healthy sheep, filmed at one preoperative and three postoperative moments, before and after rescue analgesia and 24 hours after.

Postoperative Analgesic Effects of Laserpuncture and Meloxicam in Bitches Submitted to Ovariohysterectomy.

Background: This prospective, randomised and blind study investigated the efficacy of laserpuncture for postoperative pain management in dogs.

Method: Sixteen bitches were sedated with acepromazine and randomly treated before ovariohysterectomy with meloxicam 0.2 mg·kg intramuscular or laserpuncture (wavelength 904 mm, frequency 124 Hz, potency 10 Joules, 100 s in each acupoint).

Preliminary survey of the attitudes of Brazilian scientists towards pain management and assessment in animals used in science.

Objective: To investigate the current scenario in Brazil regarding pain assessment and control in experimental animals.

Study Design: Prospective survey.

Methods: A confidential questionnaire was available online and sent by e-mail to Brazilian scientists working with animal experimentation in Brazil.

Refinement and partial validation of the UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite pain scale for assessing postoperative pain in horses.

Background: Quantification of pain plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of pain in animals. In order to refine and validate an acute pain scale for horses a prospective, randomized, blinded study was conducted. Twenty-four client owned adult horses were recruited and allocated to one of four following groups: anaesthesia only (GA); pre-emptive analgesia and anaesthesia (GAA,); anaesthesia, castration and postoperative analgesia (GC); or pre-emptive analgesia, anaesthesia and castration (GCA).

Comparison of intrarectal ozone, ozone administered in acupoints and meloxicam for postoperative analgesia in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Since all analgesics currently available for use in dogs have been associated with some adverse effects, the search for an effective analgesic that does not cause harm is important. This study investigated the postoperative analgesic effects of ozone administered either intrarectally or into acupoints in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OH). Twenty-four healthy adult bitches were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments 10 min after sedation, as follows: 0.

Progesterone (PR), oestrogen (ER-α and ER-β) and oxytocin (OTR) gene expression in the oviduct and uterus of pregnant and non-pregnant bitches.

The aim was to assess hormone receptor gene expression in the oviduct and uterus during canine pregnancy. Nineteen pregnant bitches divided into four groups were ovariohysterectomized (OVH) at either day 8, 12, 21 or 60 of pregnancy, and five non-pregnant females underwent OVH 12 days after the pre-ovulatory Luteinizant Hormone (LH) surge and served as controls. RT-qPCR for progesterone (PR), oestrogen (ER-α and ER-β) and oxytocin (OTR) receptors was performed on the oviduct and uterine tissue.

Post-thaw viability of in vivo-produced canine blastocysts cryopreserved by slow freezing.

The objectives were to evaluate the reexpansion blastocoele rate, post-thaw viability, and in vitro development of canine blastocysts cryopreserved by slow freezing in 1.0 m glycerol (GLY) or 1.5 m ethylene glycol (EG).

Participation of neurofilament proteins in axonal dark degeneration of rat's optic nerves.

Neurofilaments (NF) are neuronal intermediate filaments formed by three different subunits: high (NF-H), medium (NF-M) and light (NF-L). They are responsible for the determination and maintenance of axon caliber. Accumulation of NF or their immunoreactive products are components of several neurodegenerative disease lesions, such as neurofibrillary tangles, Lewy bodies and the spheroids of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A continuous lineage of rat adenohypophysis stromal cells: characterisation and effects on GH(3)B(6) prolactin-secreting cell behaviour.

Although some studies have shown a possible modulation of the stroma on the hormonal secretion, it is not clear as to what are the requirements for these cellular interactions. In the present work, a homogeneous and continuous lineage of rat adenohypophysis stromal cells (APS9 cells) obtained from rat adenohypophysis primary culture was established. Using immunocytochemical methods and electron microscopy, we have characterised APS9 cells as elongated fibroblastoid-like cells with intercellular contacts, expressing alpha-smooth muscle actin, type IV collagen and laminin.

Crustacean visual system: an investigation on glial cells and their relation to extracellular matrix.

Glial cells in higher invertebrate groups are usually recognized on the basis of their location and general morphological or functional criteria. In this study of the crustacean visual system, we have approached the analysis of the relations between glial cells and the extracellular matrix by classical histochemical methods for carbohydrates at the light and electron microscopic levels, carbonic anhydrase histochemistry and by the biochemical characterization of sulphated polysaccharides. Periodic acid-Schiff-positive glial cells and processes were observed in the retina, basement membrane below the retina and in the optic ganglia.

Electron microscopy of glial cells of the central nervous system in the crab Ucides cordatus.

Invertebrate glial cells show a variety of morphologies depending on species and location. They have been classified according to relatively general morphological or functional criteria and also to their location. The present study was carried out to characterize the organization of glial cells and their processes in the zona fasciculata and in the protocerebral tract of the crab Ucides cordatus.

Electron microscopic observation of a Brazilian HTLV-I isolated.

Several studies carried out in Brazil have shown a high incidence of HTLV-I infection among the general population and in different groups, such as blood donors, hemophiliacs, hematological and neurological patients. Cases of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma as well as tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I associated myelopathy have already been described. Therefore, it is important to characterize Brazilian HTLV strains using different technical approaches.

Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study on the infection of enterovirus 71 (EV 71) in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells.

Rhabdomyosarcoma monolayers were inoculated with enterovirus 71 (EV 71) at 73 degrees C, sampled at intervals during the replicative cycle, and examined in thin sections by electron microscopy, using routine and immunoelectronmicroscopy with polyclonal antibodies against EV 71. The location of EV 71 or its precursors was followed during the viral replicative cycle. The earliest samples (3 h postinoculation) showed a cell shape change, from elongated to rounded.

Desmin and actin filaments in membrane-cytoskeletal preparations of the electric tissue of Electrophorus electricus, L.

The electrocyte of the electric organ of the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus, L was investigated by light and electron microscopy as well as immuno-electron microscopy, in order to clarify the fine structures and distribution of cytoskeleton filaments and their relations to proteins, especially desmin and actin. Cytoskeleton-enriched fractions of the electrocytes were analysed with SDS-PAGE. It was verified that a meshwork of filaments was distributed in the electrocytes, more abundantly in the anterior than in the posterior part of the cell, and that this could be associated with membrane invaginations.

Study of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to bovine herpes virus type-1 (Cooper strain) by immunoperoxidase and immunoelectron microscopy.

Three neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that are specific against bovine herpes virus Type-1 (BHV-1) were studied as to their viral specificity by immunoperoxidase and immunoelectron microscopy. Microscopic examination of GBK BHV-1 infected cells revealed peroxidase activity represented by red-brown granular deposits in the nucleus and cytoplasm. No immunoperoxidase activity was observed in negative controls.

Detection and isolation of human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) from cultured lymphocytes of a Brazilian TSP/HAM patient.

Some Brazilian regions are considered to be endemic for human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. Several studies have shown a high prevalence of HTLV-I infection among different groups such as blood donors, hemophiliacs and patients suffering from hematological and neurological diseases. Cases of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma as well as tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) have already been described in Brazil.