Simulated physiological oocyte maturation (SPOM) improves developmental competence of in vitro produced goat embryos.

The effect of simulated physiological oocyte maturation on the developmental competence, reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis rate of in vitro produced goat embryos were studied in the present experiment. Oocytes and spermatozoa were recovered from ovaries and epididymis, respectively, procured from a local small animal abattoir. The oocytes aspirated from the ovaries were allocated into two groups, control (subjected to routine in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture) and simulated physiological oocyte maturation (SPOM) group (subjected to prematuration, followed by routine in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture). The SPOM group showed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher maturation and blastocyst rates (90.60 ± 0.46% and 29.09 ± 2.59%, respectively) as compared to the control group (85.29 ± 0.98% and 24.09 ± 1.08%). The intensity of reactive oxygen species of the embryos in the control group (14.98 ± 0.83 pixels/embryo) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the SPOM group (9.60 ± 0.76 pixels/embryo). The apoptosis rate was also significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the embryos of the control group (9.18 ± 1.07%) as compared to the SPOM group (5.71 ± 0.90%). In conclusion, the simulated physiological oocyte maturation system significantly increases the developmental competence of the oocytes and decreases the intensity of reactive oxygen species and embryonic apoptosis in abattoir derived goat embryos.

A comparative therapeutic management of anoestrus in buffaloes using insulin and GnRH.

AIM: Anoestrus is one of the most common functional disorders of the reproductive cycle in buffaloes. In spite of technical advancement, there is no single cure for the management of anoestrus. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find out the efficacy of gonadotropic releasing hormone (GnRH) and metabolic hormone for the management of true anoestrus in buffaloes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental animals were selected on the basis of history, gyneco-clinical examinations and progesterone estimation. Deworming was done with Fenbendazole and thereafter mineral mixture was given @ 50 g per animal per day for 10 days in all the selected buffaloes before the start of treatment. The selected buffaloes were randomly divided into four groups (n=25). In Group I, buffaloes were administered 20 µg of buserelin intramuscularly. Buffaloes of Group II were administered long-acting insulin @ 0.25 IU/Kg body weight subcutaneously for 5 consecutive days. In Group III, buffaloes were treated with a combination of insulin and buserelin in the above-mentioned doses whereas buffaloes of Group IV were kept as untreated control. RESULTS: The higher oestrus induction (64% vs. 28%) was found in Group III and differed significantly (p<0.05) as compared to control group. The conception rate (69.23% vs. 66.66%) was also found higher in Group III but did not differ significantly among the treated groups. The mean time taken for the onset of oestrus was recorded significantly shorter in insulin (8.80±0.69) and GnRH (7.60±0.92 days) alone and as compared to other (Group III, 14.43±0.83 and Group IV, 20.57±1.69 days) groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated better fertility response using Insulin plus Buserelin in true anoestrus buffaloes under field conditions.

Fertility response in postpartum anoestrus buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) using modified Ovsynch based timed insemination protocols.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Suboestrus constitutes the largest factor responsible for poor reproductive efficiency in buffaloes. Therefore, oestrus synchronization (OS) and fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) is considered an alternative approach to enhance reproductive efficiency in buffaloes. Thus, the present study was carried out to study the efficacy of modified Ovsynch protocol with fixed time insemination in post-partum anoestrus buffaloes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 50 post-partum anoestrus dairy buffaloes were selected and randomly divided into 5 Groups, each comprising ten animals (n=10). Animals of Group I received buserelin acetate 10 µg(GnRH) at day 0 and 9, and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) at day 7; in Group II similar to Group I except double dose of Gn RH (20 µg) at day 0; in Group III, similar to Group I plus additional administration of insulin on day 0, 1 and 2; in Group IV, similar to Group II plus additional administration of insulin on day 0,1 and 2; in Group V similar to Group I except replacement of first Gn RH with insulin on day 0,1 and 2. Animal of all groups were inseminated at fixed time using frozen semen at 60 h and 72 h after PGF2α administration and confirmed for pregnancy at day 60 post-insemination. RESULTS: The results revealed satisfactory and comparable synchronization of oestrus (60-80%) and conception rate (20-40%) among the various treatment groups in the present study. The better synchronization was observed in modified protocols. However, non-significantly higher conception rate was recorded in modified Ovsynch protocol (40% each in Group II-V) as compared to 20% in Group-I (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study comparatively higher OS and conception following insulin modified Ovsynch based timed AI protocols in post-partum anoestrus buffaloes was found satisfactory and comparable.

A Comparative Study of Induction, Maintenance and Recovery Characteristics of Sevoflurane and Halothane Anaesthesia in Pediatric Patients (6 months to 6 years).

UNLABELLED: PATIENTS #ENTITYSTARTX00026; METHODS: In a randomized , double blind clinical study, we studied 30 children, aged 6 months to 6 years, to compare halothane and sevoflurane anaesthesia in patients undergoing short surgical procedures under general anaesthesia. All the patients were premedicated with atropine 0.02mg kg(-1)and midazolam 0.1mg kg(-1)body weight intravenously and received inhalation induction using nitrous oxide in oxygen supplemented with either halothane (maximum inspired concentration of 5%) or sevoflurane (maximum inspired concentration of 8%). Induction was by inhalation of increasing concentrations of sevoflurane (1%) or halothane (0.5%) in the vaporizing setting after every three breaths of the patient. RESULTS: Time to loss of eyelash reflex and tracheal intubation was more rapid using sevoflurane. Cardiac arrhythmias were significantly more frequent during halothane than sevoflurane anaesthesia. Psychomotor recovery was more rapid after sevoflurane anaesthesia. Children who received sevoflurane had comparatively less nausea and vomiting and the incidence of clinically important side effects was significantly less with sevoflurane anaesthesia. CONCLUSION: We conclude that induction with sevoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen leads to fast loss of consciousness and provides ideal conditions for managing the airway without supplemental opioids or muscle relaxants with haemodynamic stability and is therefore a reasonable alternative to halothane for paediatric patients.

Crystal chemistry of sodium zirconium phosphate based simulated ceramic waste forms of effluent cations (Ba(2+), Sn(4+), Fe(3+), Cr(3+), Ni(2+) and Si(4+)) from light water reactor fuel reprocessing plants.

A novel concept of immobilization of light water reactor (LWR) fuel reprocessing waste effluent through interaction with sodium zirconium phosphate (NZP) has been established. Such conversion utilizes waste materials like zirconium and nickel alloys, stainless steel, spent solvent tri-butyl phosphate and concentrated solution of NaNO(3). The resultant multi component NZP material is a physically and chemically stable single phase crystalline product having good mechanical strength. The NZP matrix can also incorporate all types of fission product cations in a stable crystalline lattice structure; therefore, the resultant solid solutions deserve quantification of crystallographic data. In this communication, crystal chemistry of the two types of simulated waste forms (type I-Na(1.49)Zr(1.56)Sn(0.02)Fe(0).(28)Cr(0.07)Ni(0.07)P(3)O(12) and type II-Na(1.35)Ba(0.14)Zr(1.56)Sn(0.02)Fe(0).(28)Cr(0.07)Ni(0.07)P(2.86)Si(0.14)O(12)) has been investigated using General Structure Analysis System (GSAS) programming of the X-ray powder diffraction data. About 4001 data points of each have been subjected to Rietveld analysis to arrive at a satisfactory structural convergence of Rietveld parameters; R-pattern (R(p))=0.0821, R-weighted pattern (R(wp))=0.1266 for type I and R(p)=0.0686, R(wp)=0.0910 for type II. The structure of type I and type II waste forms consist of ZrO(6) octahedra and PO(4) tetrahedra linked by the corners to form a three-dimensional network. Each phosphate group is on a two-fold rotation axis and is linked to four ZrO(6) octahedra while zirconium octahedra lies on a three-fold rotation axis and is connected to six PO(4) tetrahedra. Though the expansion along c-axis and shrinkage along a-axis with slight distortion of bond angles in the synthesized crystal indicate the flexibility of the structure, the waste forms are basically of NZP structure. Morphological examination by SEM reveals that the size of almost rectangular parallelepiped crystallites varies between 0.5 and 1.5 microm. The EDX analysis provides the analytical evidence of immobilization of effluent cations in the matrix. The particle size distributions of the material along selected reflecting planes have been calculated by Scherrer's formula.

Ciprofloxacin versus amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in the treatment of urinary tract infections in general practice.

An open, randomized general practice study was performed to assess the comparative efficacy and tolerability of ciprofloxacin and amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection. One hundred and eighty nine patients were recruited into the study. In comparison of pre- and post-treatment urine cultures and symptomatology, ciprofloxacin was significantly more effective (P less than 0.01) than amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. Both drugs were well tolerated with minimal adverse side effects. Ciprofloxacin is an effective and safe treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infection in general practice.

Calcium gluconate pretreatment for prevention of succinylcholine-induced myalgia.

The effects of calcium gluconate pretreatment on succinylcholine-induced postoperative muscle pain and on the changes in serum potassium and calcium levels were studied in 80 patients undergoing elective surgery who were to become ambulatory on the same evening. A test group of 40 patients was given 10 ml of 10% calcium gluconate intravenously immediately before induction of anesthesia with thiopental followed by succinylcholine for tracheal intubation. A control group of 40 patients was given thiopental and succinylcholine without calcium gluconate. Muscle pains were graded according to severity as nil, mild, moderate, and severe. The incidence of postoperative muscle pains was significantly less (5%) in the test group than in the control group (45%). In control patients who subsequently developed muscle pain, serum levels of potassium were significantly increased above preinduction levels 2 min after succinylcholine was administered and serum calcium levels were significantly decreased. In control patients who did not develop postoperative myalgia, there were no significant changes in serum levels of either calcium or potassium. This was also true for patients pretreated with calcium gluconate. Therefore, calcium gluconate pretreatment reduces both the increase in serum potassium and the decrease in serum calcium associated with succinylcholine, and decreases the incidence and severity of postoperative myalgia.

Atrioventricular conduction in children with acute rheumatic fever.

Atrioventricular conduction was quantitatively evaluated in 118 children with acute rheumatic fever. The mean PR index in children with acute rheumatic fever, 1.06 +/- 0.38, was significantly higher than normal children or children who had febrile illness of nonrheumatic or nonstreptococcal origin (P is less than .001). Among 35 children with rheumatic fever and an abnormal PR index, the disease presented as carditis in 21, arthritis in ten, and chorea in four. The mean PR index and the frequency distribution of abnormal PR indices were significantly higher in children with carditis (P is less than .001). Five children who initially had an abnormal PR index and arthritis or chorea subsequently developed carditis. These observations suggest that children with acute rheumatic fever and abnormal PR index warrant close observation for possible clinical evidence of myocardial involvement during subsequent course of the illness.