Milk yield, composition, and lactation curve models of Bargur cattle under farmers' production system in their native habitat.

Milk yield and composition traits (fat (%) and SNF (%)) from 1229 test day records of 205 Bargur cattle maintained under a farmers' production system were studied. This breed is known for its adaptability to the hilly tracts of Erode District in Tamil Nadu. Performance recording was done in the natural habitat through the test-day milk yield from lactating cows in the farmers' herds. Effects of non-genetic factors like season, year, parity, stage of lactation, and days from calving were studied using mixed models with animal taken as a random effect. Estimated marginal means for daily milk yield (DMY, L/day), fat (%), and SNF (%) were 2.05 ± 0.03, 4.08 ± 0.03%, and 8.19 ± 0.01%, respectively. Stage of lactation was highly significant (P < 0.01) for DMY, fat, and SNF. Season and year were significant for DMY and SNF, where higher productivity was obtained in the monsoon season, but fat remained constant in all the seasons. Parity was significant (P < 0.05) only for SNF, and year was significant for DMY (P < 0.01) and SNF (P < 0.05). Persistency was 5.9% calculated using Wood's gamma function and 63.0% calculated using the ratio of predicted yields. This was slightly lower compared to dairy breeds of cattle. Thirteen different lactation curve models were used for fitting of Bargur cattle lactation curve, and the Parabolic exponential model was the best fitting model based on model diagnostic criteria.

It is not asthma! An arcane case of 'Scimitar' syndrome: A case report.

'Scimitar' syndrome in adulthood is usually asymptomatic. Significant structural abnormalities symptoms usually manifest early during infancy or young childhood with features of congestive heart failure from significant shunting of the anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. Diagnosis of 'Scimitar' Syndrome in adults is rare and usually an incidental finding on chest radiograph. Here, we report a case of an adult who presented with symptoms in her 40's. This syndrome has never been reported nor discussed in Malaysia. This is the first case report of 'Scimitar' Syndrome in Malaysian literature. The diagnostic dilemma, medical management, and multi-disciplinary management by cardiology, physiotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation teams are discussed.

Intraoperative hemodynamics with vecuronium bromide and rocuronium for maintenance under general anesthesia.

AIMS: The present study is undertaken to compare the hemodynamic effects using vecuronium versus rocuronium for maintenance in patients undergoing general surgical procedures. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: It is a prospective, randomized, and cohort study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 100 patients were randomly divided into two groups. All patients were induced with 5 mg/kg of thiopentone sodium, and intubation conditions were achieved with 1.5 mg/kg of suxamethonium, using a well-lubricated cuffed endotracheal tube of appropriate size. When the patient started to breathe spontaneously, they were administered either 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium (Group A) or 0.1 mg/kg of vecuronium (Group B). Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate and mean arterial pressure [MAP]) were monitored before administering the drug; at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after the drug and at the end of the surgery. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were compiled, analyzed and presented as frequency, proportions, mean, standard deviation, percentages, and t-test using SPSS (version 16). A P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The heart rate increased significantly at 1-min and 5-min after administration of rocuronium (83.76 ± 10.37 and 86.8 ± 9.98), unlike vecuronium. However, it gradually declined towards normal, and change in heart rate with either drug was not significant beyond 10 min. The MAP decreased significantly at 1-min after administration of rocuronium (96.68 ± 7.57) which later showed a gradual increasing trend when compared to vecuronium which had no statistically significant change at any time. CONCLUSIONS: For short surgical procedures rocuronium is a good alternative to vecuronium, as the drug is reasonably cardio stable, produces excellent intubation conditions, has a shorter duration of action, and shows minimal cumulative effect.

Postoperative pain relief with epidural buprenorphine versus epidural butorphanol in laparoscopic hysterectomies: A comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of postoperative analgesia with epidural buprenorphine and butorphanol tartrate. METHODS: Sixty patients who were scheduled for elective laparoscopic hysterectomies were randomly enrolled in the study. At the end of the surgery, in study Group A 1 ml (0.3 mg) of buprenorphine and in Group B 1 ml (1 mg) of butorphanol tartrate both diluted to 10 ml with normal saline was injected through the epidural catheter. Visual analog pain scales (VAPSs) were assessed every hour till the 6(th) h, then 2(nd) hourly till the 12(th) h. To assess sedation, Ramsay sedation score was used. The total duration of postoperative analgesia was taken as the period from the time of giving epidural drug until the patients first complain of pain and the VAPS is more than 6. Patients were observed for any side effects such as respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, bradycardia, pruritus, and headache. RESULTS: Buprenorphine had a longer duration of analgesia when compared to butorphanol tartrate (586.17 ± 73.64 vs. 342.53 ± 47.42 [P < 0.001]). Nausea, vomiting (13% vs. 10%), and headache (20% vs. 13%) were more in buprenorphine group; however, sedation score and pruritus (3% vs. 6%) were found to be more with butorphanol. CONCLUSION: Epidural buprenorphine significantly reduced pain and increased the quality of analgesia with a longer duration of action and was a better alternative to butorphanol for postoperative pain relief.

COPD: Novel therapeutics and management strategies--SMi's 7th Annual Conference (October 19-20, 2015--London, UK).

In 2004 the WHO estimated that 64 million people worldwide suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with 3 million dying from related complications in 2005. Although many patients go undiagnosed, the number of people with the disease continues to increase, and by 2030 it is thought it will be the third most common cause of death in the world. With no cure for COPD, treatment of symptoms increased the European health bill by USD 10 million last year and the market is thought to increase to approximately USD 37.7 million by 2030. These staggering numbers were presented by Frank Thielman (Novartis Pharma) as he opened SMi's Seventh Annual COPD Conference in London, U.K. The meeting gathered experts and scientific pioneers in the respiratory area to discuss developments in known and new therapies, devices and diagnosis, including biomarker models to gain greater disease understanding. This report covers highlights from the 2-day meeting.

A comparative study of intrathecal clonidine and dexmedetomidine on characteristics of bupivacaine spinal block for lower limb surgeries.

INTRODUCTION: Intrathecal clonidine or dexmedetomidine has improved the quality of spinal anesthesia, this clinical study was undertaken to assess the behavior of intrathecal clonidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in augmenting sensory block in patients undergoing lower limb surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 150 patients, between 18 and 60 years of age, patients were randomly divided into three groups of 50 each Group B: 0.5% bupivacaine 15 mg + 0.5 ml normal saline Group C: 0.5% bupivacaine 15 mg + 50 µg clonidine Group D: 0.5% bupivacaine 15 mg + 5 µg dexmedetomidine. Onset and duration of sensory block and motor block, the highest level of sensory blockade, duration of analgesia, and side-effects were assessed. RESULTS: The onset of motor block was faster in Group C and Group D as compared to Group B, The time to reach Bromage scale 3 was fastest in Group C followed by Group D P < 0.001. The duration of sensory, motor blockade and duration of analgesia was longer in Groups C and D as compared to Group B, longest in Group D followed by C and B. The time to regression time to S1 dermatome was. It was longest in Group D followed by Group C and then Group B. Intergroup comparison B to C, B to D and C to D was significant. Duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group C and Group D (P < 0.001) with a mean duration of 309.6 ± 50.99 min in Group C and 336.8 ± 55.38 min in Group D as compared to 204.8 ± 16.81 min in Group B. Intergroup comparison B to C, B to D and Group C to D was significant. Duration was longest in Group D followed by Group C and then Group B. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of bupivacaine spinal block with a low dose of intrathecal dexmedetomidine (5 µg) or clonidine (50 µg) produces a significantly shorter onset of motor and sensory block and a significantly longer sensory and motor block than bupivacaine alone.

A randomized clinical study comparing spinal anesthesia with isobaric levobupivacaine with fentanyl and hyperbaric bupivacaine with fentanyl in elective cesarean sections.

BACKGROUND: To date, racemic bupivacaine is the most popular local anesthetic for spinal anesthesia in parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery. With the introduction of levobupivacaine as pure S (-) enantiomer of bupivacaine which offers advantages of lower cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity and shorter motor block duration, its use has widely increased in India. However, very few studies have been conducted about its efficacy in obstetric anesthesia. Thus, this study was undertaken to compare the sensorial, motor block levels, and side-effects of equal doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine and levobupivacaine with intrathecal fentanyl addition in elective cesarean cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After approval of College Ethical Committee, 30 parturient with American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II undergoing elective cesarean section were enrolled for study with their informed consent. They were randomly divided equally to either Group BF receiving 10 mg (2 ml) hyperbaric bupivacaine and 25 mcg (0.5 ml) fentanyl, or Group LF receiving 10 mg (2 ml) isobaric levobupivacaine and 25 mcg (0.5 ml) fentanyl. Sensory and motor block characteristics of the groups were assessed with pinprick, cold swab, and Bromage scale; observed hemodynamic changes and side-effects were recorded. Effects on the neonate were observed by APGAR score at 1 and 5 min and umbilical cord blood gas analysis. RESULTS: Hemodynamic parameters like mean arterial pressure of Group BF were found to be lower. Group BF exhibited maximum motor block level whereas in Group LF, max sensorial block level and postoperative visual analog scale scores were higher. Umbilical blood gas pCO2 was slightly higher, and pO2 was marginally lower in Group BF. Onset of motor block time, time to max motor block, time to T10 sensorial block, reversal of two dermatome, the first analgesic need were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal isobaric levobupivacaine-fentanyl combination is a good alternative to hyperbaric bupivacaine-fentanyl combination in cesarean surgery as it is less effective in motor block, it maintains hemodynamic stability at higher sensorial block levels.

"Blow-torch phenomenon" during laser assisted excision of a thyroglossal cyst at the base of the tongue.

We report a case of blow-torch phenomenon encountered during diode laser assisted excision of a thyroglossal cyst in a child. This is first such case report from India and highlights an unusual complication which anesthesiologists need to be aware of due to the increasing use of operative laser.

Optimizing the binding of fullerene inhibitors of the HIV-1 protease through predicted increases in hydrophobic desolvation.

We have developed and applied a computational strategy to increase the affinity of fullerene-based inhibitors of the HIV protease. The result is a approximately 50-fold increase in affinity from previously tested fullerene compounds. The strategy is based on the design of derivatives which may potentially increase hydrophobic desolvation upon complex formation, followed by the docking of the hypothetical derivatives into the HIV protease active site and assessment of the model complexes so formed. The model complexes are generated by the program DOCK and then analyzed for desolvated hydrophobic surface. The amount of hydrophobic surface desolvated was compared with a previously tested compound, and if this amount was significantly greater, it was selected as a target. Using this approach, two targets were identified and synthesized, using two different synthetic approaches: a diphenyl C60 alcohol (5) based on a cyclopropyl derivative of Bingel (Chem.Ber. 1993, 126, 1957-1959) and a diisopropyl cyclohexyl C60 alcohol (4a) as synthesized by Ganapathi et al. (J. Org.Chem. 1995, 60, 2954-2955). Both showed tighter binding than the originally tested compound (diphenethylaminosuccinate methano-C60, Ki = 5 microM) with Ki values of 103 and 150 nM, respectively. In addition to demonstrating the utility of this approach, it shows that simple modification of fullerenes can result in high-affinity ligands of the HIV protease, for which they are highly complementary in structure and chemical nature.