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Evaluation of laparoscopic-assisted placement of jejunostomy feeding tubes in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate feasibility of performing laparoscopic-assisted placement of a jejunostomy feeding tube (J-tube) and compare complications associated with placement, short-term feedings, and medium-term healing with surgically placed tubes in dogs. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 15 healthy mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs were randomly allocated to undergo open surgical or laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement. Required nutrients were administered by a combination of enteric and oral feeding while monitoring for complications. Radiographic contrast studies documented tube direction and location, altered motility, or evidence of stricture. RESULTS: Jejunostomy tubes were successfully placed in the correct location and direction in all dogs. In the laparoscopic group, the ileum was initially selected in 2 dogs, 2 dogs developed moderate hemorrhage at a portal site, and 2 J-tubes kinked during placement but were successfully readjusted postoperatively. All dogs tolerated postoperative feedings. All dogs developed minor ostomy site inflammation, and 1 dog developed bile-induced dermatitis at the ostomy site. Despite mild, transient neutrophilia, no significant difference was noted in WBC counts between groups. No dog had altered gastric motility or evidence of stricture, although the jejunopexy site remained identifiable in several dogs at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Requirements for successful J-tube placement were met by use of a laparoscopic-assisted technique, and postoperative complications were mild and comparable to those seen with surgical placement. Laparoscopic-assisted J-tube placement compares favorably to surgical placement in healthy dogs and should be considered as an option for dogs requiring enterostomy feeding but not requiring a celiotomy for other reasons.

Animals↗

Information, compliance and side-effects: a study of patients on antidepressant medication.

A study was carried out to elucidate whether the improved compliance associated with the provision of verbal and written information about a prescribed drug is due to the specific information or to a non-specific attention-placebo effect. 120 depressed outpatients were prescribed dothiepin and randomly allocated to one of three groups: Group A were given verbal and written information about side-effects; Group B were given verbal and written information about beneficial effects; Group C were told only that the drug was being given to treat their depression and received no written information. Compliance with medication was assessed at 3 weeks and 6 weeks by interrogation and by pill count. At the same time, side-effects were enquired for and their occurrence or non-occurrence noted. No significant differences were found between the groups in the rates of compliance at either 3 weeks or 6 weeks. When Groups A and B were combined to give a total 'information' group and compared with Group C--the 'no-information' group--the rate of compliance at 3 weeks was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in the 'information' group. No significant differences were found between the groups in the rates of reported side-effects at either 3 weeks or 6 weeks. When Groups A and C were combined and compared with Group B (information about beneficial effects), side-effects were found to be reported significantly less frequently (P less than 0.05) in the latter at 6 weeks. Of 175 compliance estimates, 97.7% gave concordant results for estimation by interrogation and by pill count.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Evaluation of electroacupuncture treatment of horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate use of electroacupuncture for treatment of horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 15 horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain. PROCEDURE: Horses were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Horses in group 1 received electroacupuncture stimulation (once every 3 days for 5 treatments), those in group 2 received phenylbutazone (2.2 mg/kg [1 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h, for 5 days), and those in group 3 received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (20 mL, PO, q 12 h, for 5 days). Thoracolumbar pain scores (TPSs) were evaluated before (baseline) and after each treatment. RESULTS: Mean +/- SE TPSs in horses receiving phenylbutazone or saline solution did not change significantly during the study. After the third treatment, mean +/- SE TPS (2.1 +/- 0.6) in horses receiving electroacupuncture stimulation was significantly lower than baseline (6.0 +/- 0.6) TPS. Mean +/- SE TPSs in horses receiving electroacupuncture stimulation were significantly lower than baseline TPSs and TPSs in horses receiving phenylbutazone or saline solution after the third treatment to 14 days after the last treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TPSs are useful for evaluating the efficacy of various analgesic methods used for treatment of thoracolumbar pain in horses. Electroacupuncture was effective for treatment of chronic thoracolumbar pain in horses. Results provided evidence that 3 sessions of electroacupuncture treatment can successfully alleviate signs of thoracolumbar pain in horses. The analgesic effect induced by electroacupuncture can last at least 2 weeks. Phenylbutazone administered PO did not effectively alleviate signs of thoracolumbar pain in horses in this study.

Animals↗

Diltiazem and progression of myocardial ischemic damage during coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion in porcine hearts.

This study was designed to investigate whether a cardioprotective intervention could delay the completion of necrosis so that subsequent reperfusion would be more useful. Thirty-six pigs were randomly allocated to treatment with diltiazem (15 micrograms/kg per min) or saline solution and to a 60 or 120 minute coronary occlusion period followed by reperfusion. The treatment was begun 15 minutes before coronary occlusion and terminated 75 minutes after reperfusion. Twenty-four hours after the procedure, the heart was sliced and incubated in triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The infarct area and the maximal transmural area of extension of the infarct were calculated by planimetry. The total number of red blood cells in a transmural section was also counted. In the pigs with a 60 minute coronary occlusion, diltiazem (compared with saline solution) significantly reduced infarct size from 9.7 +/- 1.5% of left ventricular mass to 5.9 +/- 0.6% (p less than 0.05) and the percent transmural extension from 0.72 +/- 0.05 to 0.61 +/- 0.05% (p less than 0.05). Red blood cell extravasation in the infarcted area was reduced from 161,934 +/- 59,905 to 78,525 +/- 46,484 cells/mm3 (p less than 0.05) with diltiazem and the percent transmural extension of the hemorrhagic necrosis from 70 +/- 10 to 36 +/- 15% (p less than 0.05). No such differences were observed in the 120 minute coronary occlusion groups. Mean red blood cell counts and the extent of hemorrhagic necrosis did not correlate with either infarct size or transmural extension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Effect of low intensity monochromatic light therapy (890 nm) on a radiation-impaired, wound-healing model in murine skin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of low intensity laser and monochromatic light diodes as a therapeutic modality has become popular in a variety of clinical applications, including the promotion of wound repair. Despite this, the clinical evidence base for such application remains sparse; in contrast, recent studies have demonstrated a number of quantifiable photobiological effects associated with such therapy. In the present study, the effect of low intensity monochromatic light irradiation (MLI) at various radiant exposures upon a radiation-impaired wound model in murine skin was investigated. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Balb/c mice (n = 50; age matched at 10 weeks) were randomly allocated to five experimental groups (n = 10 each group). In Group 1, mice were left untreated; in Groups 2-5, a well-defined area on the dorsum was exposed to 20 Gy X-ray irradiation. At 72 hours postirradiation, all mice were anaesthetised and a 7-mm-square area wound was made on the dorsum. All wounds were videotaped alongside a marker scale until closure was complete. In Groups 3-5, mice were treated with MLI (0.18, 0.54, and 1.45 J/cm2, respectively) three times weekly using a GaAlAs 890 nm multidiode (n = 60) array unit (270 Hz; maximum rated output, 300 mW; Anodyne, Denver, CO). Subsequently, the area of each wound was measured from video using an image analysis system (Fenestra 2.1), and results were analysed using repeated measure and one-factor ANOVA statistical tests. RESULTS: X-ray irradiation caused a significant delay (P = 0.0122) in healing by day 7. MLI at 0.18 J/cm2 and 0.54 J/cm2 had no effect upon the rate of wound closure. However, a highly significant (P = 0.0001) inhibition occurred following MLI irradiation at 1.45 J/cm2 by day 16. CONCLUSION: These findings provide little evidence of the putative stimulatory effects of monochromatic light irradiation in vivo, but, rather, reveal the potential for an inhibitory effect at higher radiant exposures.

Analysis of Variance↗

Influence of low dose allopurinol on ischaemia--reperfusion injury during abdominal aortic surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether surgery causes ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) related injury, if this injury is augmented by preoperative shock, and reduced with low dose allopurinol. DESIGN: Randomised blind placebo controlled trial. SETTING: Surgical laboratory. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 22 pigs were randomly allocated to four groups; OP = operation/placebo, OA = operation/ allopurinol, SOP = shock + operation/placebo, SOA = shock + operation/allopurinol. An aortic tube prosthesis was inserted in all. In groups SOP and SOA preoperative shock was induced by exsanguination. Allopurinol was administered in group OA on the preoperative day and peroperatively, in group SOA during shock and peroperatively. CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: Perioperative blood concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), ascorbic acid (AA), albumin, 99mTc-albumin and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) as indicators of oxidative membrane damage, antioxidant activity, microvascular permeability changes and muscular cell damage respectively. MAIN RESULTS: In the OP and OA groups TBARS gradually increased, while AA, 99mTc-albumin and CPK remained unchanged and albumin decreased. No effect of allopurinol was observed in these groups. In the SOP group TBARS and AA were not significantly different from groups OP and OA. Yet, albumin, 99mTc-albumin and CPK decreased significantly more in the SOP group. Compared with the SOP group, allopurinol treatment (SOA) produced lower TBARS and higher AA levels, and reduced the effect of shock on albumin, 99mTc-albumin and CPK concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic surgery causes no I-R related damage. Pre-operative shock produces I-R related damage, which is reduced by allopurinol.

Allopurinol↗

Effects of dietary L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 supplementation on performance and ascites mortality of broilers.

The study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on growth performance and ascites mortality of broilers. A 3 x 3 factorial arrangement was employed with three levels (0, 75 and 150 mg/kg) of L-carnitine and three levels of CoQ10 (0, 20 and 40 mg/kg) supplementation during the experiment. Five hundred and forty one-day-old Arbor Acre male broiler chicks were randomly allocated into nine groups with six replicates each. All birds were fed with the basal diets from day 1 to 7 and changed to the experimental diets from day 8. During day 15 to 21 all the birds were exposed to low ambient temperature (15-18 degrees C) to induce ascites. The results showed that under this condition, growth performance of broilers were not significantly affected by CoQ10 or L-carnitine + CoQ10 supplementation during week 0-3 and 0-6, but body weight gain (BWG) of broilers was significantly reduced by 150 mg/ kg L-carnitine during week 0-6. Packed cell volume (PCV) of broilers was significantly decreased by L-carnitine and L-carnitine + CoQ10 supplementation (P < 0.05). Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF), ascites heart index (AHI) and ascites mortality of broilers were significantly decreased by L-carnitine, CoQ10 and L-carnitine + CoQ10 supplementation. Though no significant changes were observed in total antioxidative capability (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) was increased by L-carnitine, CoQ10 and L-carnitine + CoQ10 supplementation (P < 0.05). Malonaldehyde (MDA) content was significantly decreased by CoQ10 and L-carnitine + CoQ10 supplementation. The results indicate that dietary L-carnitine and CoQ10 supplementation reduce ascites mortality of broilers; the reason may be partially associated with their antioxidative effects.

Animal Feed↗

Electromagnetic field-based image-guided spine surgery part two: results of a cadaveric study evaluating thoracic pedicle screw placement.

STUDY DESIGN: Human cadaveric. OBJECTIVES: Compare the accuracy of electromagnetic field (EMF)-based image-guided thoracic pedicle screw insertion to conventional techniques using anatomic landmarks and fluoroscopy. BACKGROUND: Image-guided surgical systems that aid in spinal instrumentation seek to minimize radiation exposure and improve accuracy. EMF image guidance was developed as an alternative to optical tracking to eliminate potential line of sight issues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four fresh-frozen human cadavers were randomly allocated into two groups. Pedicle screws were inserted from T1 to T12 using anatomic landmarks and fluoroscopy in group 1 and image guidance in group 2. Insertion and fluoroscopy time were recorded. Anatomic dissections were performed to assess screw placement. RESULTS: Image guidance placed 92% of thoracic pedicle screws safely, and conventional fluoroscopy placed 90% safely. The average degree of perforation was 2.4 mm with conventional fluoroscopy and 1.7 mm with image guidance (P = 0.055). Fluoroscopic time per screw was 5.9 seconds for conventional fluoroscopy and 3.6 seconds for image guidance (P = 0.045). Insertion time per screw was 4.35 minutes for conventional fluoroscopy and 2.98 minutes for image guidance (P = 0.007). However, when set-up time and image capture time were taken into account, the total insertion time per screw was not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has shown that EMF image-guided thoracic pedicle screw placement results in a similar incidence of safely placed screws as does conventional fluoroscopy. When set-up time and image-capture time were factored in for image guidance, the average time to insert a pedicle screw was equal for both techniques. The use of EMF image guidance significantly reduced fluoroscopic time and thus radiation exposure per screw compared with conventional fluoroscopic techniques.

Analysis of Variance↗

Effects of malate on diet digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, plasma metabolites, and performance of growing lambs fed a high-concentrate diet.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of malate supplementation on growth rate, feed efficiency, and diet digestibility in growing lambs. Twenty-four Merino lambs with a mean BW of 15.3 +/- 0.22 kg were divided into 3 homogenous groups. Each group was randomly allocated to 1 of 3 malate (16% disodium malate:84% calcium malate) levels: 0 (control), 4 (MAL-4), or 8 (MAL-8) g/kg of concentrate. Lambs were fed concentrate and barley straw ad libitum for 35 d. After a 20-d period, diet digestibility was determined, and microbial N flow at the duodenum was estimated from the urinary excretion of purine derivatives. Blood samples were taken on d 0, 20, and 35. On d 35, lambs were slaughtered and ruminal fluid samples were collected. There were no effects (P = 0.18 to P = 0.95) of malate on concentrate or straw intake, ADG, carcass yield, and apparent digestibility of OM, CP, NDF, or ADF. Malate supplementation did not influence (P = 0.80) the daily urinary excretion of total purine derivatives, and therefore there were no treatment effects (P = 0.77) on estimated microbial N flow at the duodenum. No differences (P > 0.05) among treatments were observed for plasma concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea-N, lactate, or VFA, but malate addition increased (P = 0.003) the molar proportion of butyrate in ruminal fluid (4.29, 6.14, and 5.45% of total VFA for control, MAL-4 and MAL-8, respectively). The use of malate as a feed additive under the conditions of the current study did not influence diet intake or digestion, and consequently did not improve lamb performance.

Animal Feed↗

Use of a urea breath test to evaluate short-term treatments for cats naturally infected with Helicobacter heilmannii.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of 3 short-term treatments in cats naturally infected with Helicobacter heilmannii. ANIMALS: 29 cats infected with H heilmannii that had positive results for a urea breath test, rapid urease test, and Helicobacter species-specific polymerase chain reaction test. PROCEDURES: Cats anesthetized for routine surgical procedures were randomly allocated to 4 groups: group 1, control cats; group 2, cats treated with azithromycin, tinidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth once daily for 4 days; group 3, cats treated with clarithromycin, metronidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth twice daily for 4 days; and group 4, cats treated with clarithromycin, metronidazole, ranitidine, and bismuth twice daily for 7 days. Efficacy was determined on the basis of results of a urea breath test performed 10 and 42 days after end of treatment. RESULTS: Ten days after treatment, 0 of 4, 4 of 6, 11 of 11, and 8 of 8 cats in groups 1 to 4, respectively, had a negative result for a urea breath test. Forty-two days after treatment, 0 of 4, 3 of 6, 7 of 11, and 4 of 8 cats in groups 1 to 4, respectively, still had a negative result. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Treatments used in this study regularly suppressed breath 13CO2 production. However, although 23 of 25 (92%) cats had negative results for a urea breath test 10 days after treatment, only 14 of 25 (56%) cats still had negative results 42 days after treatment. It is difficult to achieve a definitive long-term cure in cats naturally infected with H heilmannii.

Animals↗

Effects of dietary fat and conjugated linoleic acid on plasma metabolite concentrations and metabolic responses to homeostatic signals in pigs.

Sixteen female cross-bred (Large White x Landrace) pigs (initial weight 65 kg) with venous catheters were randomly allocated to four treatment groups in a factorial design. The respective factors were dietary fat (25 or 100 g/kg) and dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; 0 or 10 g CLA-55/kg). Pigs were fed every 3 h (close to ad libitum digestible energy intake) for 8 d and were bled frequently. Plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) responses to insulin and adrenaline challenges were determined on day 8. Plasma concentrations of NEFA were significantly increased (10.5 and 5.4 % for low- and high-fat diets respectively, P=0.015) throughout the experiment, suggesting that there was a possible increase in fat mobilisation. The increase in lipolysis, an indicator of ss-adrenergic stimulated lipolysis, was also evident in the NEFA response to adrenaline. However, the increase in plasma triacylglycerol (11.0 and 7.1 % for low- and high-fat diets respectively, P=0.008) indicated that CLA could have reduced fat accretion via decreased adipose tissue triacylglycerol synthesis from preformed fatty acids, possibly through reduced lipoprotein lipase activity. Plasma glucose, the primary substrate for de novo lipid synthesis, and plasma insulin levels were unaffected by dietary CLA suggesting that de novo lipid synthesis was largely unaffected (P=0.24 and P=0.30 respectively). In addition, the dietary CLA had no effect upon the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose removal.

Analysis of Variance↗

Dissociation between anti-infarct effect and anti-edema effect of ischemic preconditioning.

This study tested the hypothesis that preconditioning, by reducing catabolite accumulation during ischemia, reduces osmotic swelling and myocardial necrosis during subsequent reperfusion. Farm pigs were randomly allocated to one of three groups of treatment: a control group undergoing a 48-min coronary occlusion (CO) of the middle left anterior descending artery, a preconditioned group (2 cycles of 5-min CO and 5-min reperfusion before the 48-min CO), or an intracoronary perfusion group receiving a substrate-free anoxic buffer perfusion into the area at risk between minutes 5 and 10 of the prolonged CO. Animals were killed after 30 min (n = 23) or 6 h (n = 31) of reperfusion. Compared with the control group, both ischemic preconditioning and washout of ischemic by-products by transient anoxic perfusion reduced myocardial edema after 30 min of reperfusion (P < 0.002) by 35 and 32%, respectively, but only ischemic preconditioning reduced final infarct size (by 55%, P < 0.006). Myocardial lactate content before reperfusion, measured in an additional series of 12 experiments, was reduced by 35% in animals receiving preconditioning or intracoronary perfusion. Thus ischemic preconditioning has a marked protective effect against reperfusion edema, and this effect can be explained by reduced catabolite accumulation during ischemia. However, there is no evidence from this study indicating that reduced catabolite accumulation and limited reperfusion edema explain the important anti-infarct effect of ischemic preconditioning.

Animals↗

Oral clindamycin disposition after single and multiple doses in normal cats.

Eighteen normal cats were randomly allocated into three treatment groups and dosed with clindamycin aqueous solution for 10 days at a dosage rate of: (1) 5.5 mg/kg b.i.d.; (2) 11 mg/kg b.i.d.; or (3) 22 mg/kg once daily. Serum disposition of clindamycin was determined after the first and last dose of clindamycin was given, and was analyzed using model-independent pharmacokinetics by both the trapezoidal rule method and the predictive equation method. Complete blood counts and clinical chemistries were determined before and after the study. The trapezoidal rule method produced similar mean results with much less variance than the predictive equation method. Mean residence time was longer (P less than 0.05) after the high dose (393 +/- 77 min) than after either the low or medium doses (276 +/- 51 and 274 +/- 45 min, respectively). Oral volume of distribution (Vd(ss)/F) after the high dose (3.06 +/- 0.92 l/kg) was larger (P less than 0.05) than that after the low or medium doses (1.62 +/- 0.30 and 1.76 +/- 0.53 l/kg, respectively). Oral Vd(ss)/F was significantly smaller (P less than 0.001) after the last dose than after the first dose when analyzed by treatment group. Significant (P less than 0.01) decreases in the leukogram and erythrogram were observed, due to the large amount of blood collected for drug analysis. No clinical signs of drug intoxication were observed, and no drug-related necropsy findings were found.

Administration, Oral↗

Report on chloroquine and dapsone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a 6-month comparative study.

A controlled study compared 6 months' treatment of 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Half were randomly allocated to treatment with chloroquine 250 mg daily, the other half dapsone 100 mg daily (50 mg/day for the first 7 days) following a one-month run-in assessment period. All patients had active or progressing disease. Both treatment groups showed significant improvement in morning stiffness, number of painful joints, pain scores, Ritchie index, and proximal interphalangeal joint size, and the chloroquine group alone in grip strength. Laboratory tests showed significant decreases in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and total serum protein levels, with significant increase in serum albumin in the dapsone group, where there was a significant mean drop in haemoglobin (less than 1 g/dl) and a rise in serum bilirubin, associated with its haemolytic effect. X-ray erosion scores were not significantly affected. The clinical and laboratory responses became evident by the time of the 2-month assessment. Criteria for clinical and laboratory improvement were defined, according to which there were 21/26 improvers in the chloroquine group and 12/29 in the dapsone group. It is concluded that although both are effective preparations, chloroquine showed a significantly higher improvement rate and was certainly better tolerated. It is the preferred treatment for patients with active or progressive disease not controlled by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with dapsone as an alternative for patients who fail to respond to or cannot tolerate chloroquine.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

[Effect of matrine on regulating renal tubulointerstitial expression of MMP-3, TIMP-1 and FN].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of matrine on regulating renal tubulointerstitium expression of MMP-3, TIMP-1 and FN. METHODS: Seventy male SD rats were randomly allocated to five groups: normal group, shame UUO group, UUO group, UUO group treated with fusinopril (F group), UUO group treated with large dose of matrine (E group) and UUO group treated with small dose of matrine (D group). The expression levels of MMP-3, TIMP-1 and FN of the rats were determined with immunohistochemistry at 7, 14 days of the experiment. RESULTS: The expression levels of MMP-3 of the rats in the UUO group and treatment groups decreased significantly compared with the normal group and shame UUO group (P<0.05). The treatment groups had higher expression of MMP-3 than that of the UUO group (P< 0.05). The expression levels of TIMP-1 and FN of the rats in the normal group and shame UUO group were amongst the lowest. The treatment groups had lower expression of TIMP-1 and FN than that of the UUO group (P<0.05). No significant difference of expression of MMP-3, FN and TIMP-1 were found between E group and F group (P>0.05). The expression level of MMP-3 was negatively correlated with those of TIMP-1 and FN in the UUO group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Matrine decreases the expression of TIMP-1 and FN in the tubulointerstitium and increases the expression of MMP-3, which would delay the progression of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Alkaloids↗

Effectiveness of the ivermectin sustained-release bolus in the control of bovine nematodosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nematocidal effectiveness of the ivermectin sustained-release bolus throughout its 135-day delivery period. DESIGN: Twenty-four naturally infected calves were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 equivalent experimental groups: group-T1 calves were untreated controls, group-T2 calves each received a sustained-release bolus on trial day 0, and group-T3 calves were rendered nematode-free and used at 35-day intervals during the study as tracers. One contaminated pasture was used for all principal calves for the 135-day grazing interval of the study. Calves of groups T1 and T2 were also artificially administered mixed infective nematode larvae at intervals during the grazing period, after which, all calves were confined to concrete for 21 days prior to necropsy. ANIMALS: All calves were approximately 6 months old on trial day 0, weighed from 136 to 216 kg, and were of mixed breeding and sex. PROCEDURE: At intervals during the study, feces from all calves were analyzed for nematode egg counts, and all calves were weighed and examined for bolus retention (T2 calves only). For nematode recovery, all calves were necropsied 21 to 22 days after removal from the contaminated pasture. RESULTS: Parasitic populations of Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia, Bunostomum, and Oesophagostomum spp were significantly reduced in cattle treated with the ivermectin sustained-release bolus. CONCLUSION: The nematocidal activity of the ivermectin sustained-release bolus proved highly effective, with > 98% efficacy for all nematode species present.

Ancylostomatoidea↗

Hemodynamic effects of orally administered carvedilol in healthy conscious dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hemodynamic effects of orally administered carvedilol in healthy dogs with doses that might be used to initiate treatment in dogs with congestive heart failure. ANIMALS: 24 healthy dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly allocated to receive carvedilol PO at a dose of 1.56, 3.125, or 12.5 mg, twice daily for 7 to 10 days; 6 dogs served as controls. Investigators were blinded to group assignment. Hemodynamic variables were recorded prior to administration of the drug on day 1 and then 2, 4, and 6 hours after the morning dose on day 1 and days 7 to 10. Change in heart rate after IV administration of 1microg of isoproterenol/kg and change in systemic arterial blood pressure after IV administration of 8 microg of phenylephrine/kg were recorded 2 and 6 hours after administration of carvedilol. RESULTS: Administration of carvedilol did not significantly affect resting hemodynamic variables or response to phenylephrine. The interaction of day and carvedilol dose had a significant effect on resting heart rate, but a significant main effect of carvedilol dose on resting heart rate was not detected. Increasing carvedilol dose resulted in a significant linear decrease in heart rate response to isoproterenol. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In healthy conscious dogs, orally administered carvedilol at mean doses from 0.08 to 0.54 mg/kg given twice daily did not affect resting hemodynamics. Over the dose range evaluated, there was a dose-dependent attenuation of the response to isoproterenol, which provided evidence of beta-adrenergic receptor antagonism.

Administration, Oral↗

Effects of proportion of pigs removed from a group and subsequent floor space on growth performance of finishing pigs.

The effects of the proportion of pigs removed from an established group and subsequent floor space on growth performance during the final 19 d of the finishing period were evaluated using 28 pens of mixed-sex crossbred pigs (mean initial BW = 113.4 +/- 0.57 kg; n = 1,456; approximately 52 pigs per pen). A randomized block design was used with four pig-removal treatments: 1) 0% of pigs removed [Control], 2) approximately 25% of pigs removed, 3) approximately 50% of pigs removed, and 4) approximately 50% of pigs removed and floor and feeder spaces/pig decreased to equal those of Control. A block consisted of four pens with the same number of pigs and sex ratio per pen and with similar initial BW. Pens within blocks were randomly allocated to treatment, and the heaviest animals were removed from Treatments 2, 3, and 4 at the start of the study. Group size and floor space/pig for Treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 52 and 0.65 m(2), 39 and 0.87 m(2), 26 and 1.30 m(2), and 26 and 0.65 m(2), respectively. Each pen contained a six-place feeder that provided 212 cm of total trough space; however, only three-places were accessible to pigs on Treatment 4. Compared with Controls, removing 25 or 50% of pigs resulted in increased (P < 0.001) ADG by 20.6 and 21.0%, ADFI by 10.8 and 7.9%, and G:F by 7.7 and 14.3%, respectively. Average daily gain by pigs on Treatment 4 (50% removal rate and decreased floor and feeder spaces) was greater (P < 0.05) than that of the Controls, but lower (P < 0.05) than that of Treatment 3 pigs (50% removal rate, no adjustment in floor or feeder spaces). No differences were observed among treatments for either morbidity or mortality. These results indicate that removing 25 or 50% of the heaviest pigs from groups of finishing pigs increased growth rate of the remaining pigs, and that the improved performance was only partly due to increased floor and feeder spaces.

Adipose Tissue↗