ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Chronic gastritis is a common diagnosis in dogs with signs of chronic vomiting. However, there is no data concerning endoscopic and histopathological agreement in dogs with chronic gastritis. Thus, a question should be raised whether taking gastroduodenal biopsies in dogs with chronic gastritis is necessary or not. Consequently, the purpose of the study was to compare the endoscopic and histopathological agreement in dogs with chronic gastritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 22 non-pregnant client-owned dogs with the signs of chronic gastritis were enrolled in this prospective study. Procedures including clinical examination, blood analysis, and diagnostic imaging were performed before anaesthesia. Biopsies obtained from gastroduodenal sites were histopathologically evaluated. A total of 110 gastroduodenal samples were examined. RESULTS: Sixty-eight samples had abnormal histopathology and endoscopy while 11 showed normal histopathological and endoscopic evidence. CONCLUSION: The obtained data demonstrated that it is not necessary to take extra gastroduodenal biopsies in dogs with evidence of endoscopic gastroduodenitis. We also believe that further prospective studies, including cost and time effectiveness and more specific comparison between endoscopic appearance and histopathology, are necessary to make final recommendations regarding the need of using both procedures for definitive diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent experiments have shown that transcranial electrical stimulation significantly increases the potency and duration of the analgesic effects of opioids in humans and rats. In the present study, the influence of transcranial electrical stimulation (TCES) on the analgesic effect of remifentanil hydrochloride (HCl) in rats was determined. METHODS: Experiments were performed on 80 albino male Wistar rats. Rats were randomly assigned to four groups: remifentanil HCl, remifentanil HCl and TCES, TCES, and control (n=20/group). Remifentanil HCl was injected on the 55th minute. Analgesia was assessed using the wet tail-flick latency test. RESULTS: In the remifentanil HCl group, analgesia (10.85+/-1.04 s) was reached at the fifth minute, and the analgesia was high for the first 10 min. In the remifentanil HCl and TCES group, the latency time peaked (16.60+/-1.19 s) at the fifth minute. This peak was 150% higher than that for the remifentanil HCl group, and 251% higher than the control or TCES groups. Analgesia in the remifentanil HCl and TCES group was sustained for 20 min at a statistically higher rate than the other treatment groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TCES markedly increased the duration and analgesic potency of remifentanil HCl in rats. This effect appeared to be related to the release of enkephalins from brain structures, thus enhancing opioid analgesia.
