Validation of the UNESP-Botucatu pig composite acute pain scale (UPAPS).

The creation of species-specific valid tools for pain assessment is essential to recognize pain and determine the requirement and efficacy of analgesic treatments. This study aimed to assess behaviour and investigate the validity and reliability of an acute pain scale in pigs undergoing orchiectomy. Forty-five pigs aged 38±3 days were castrated under local anaesthesia. Behaviour was video-recorded 30 minutes before and intermittently up to 24 hours after castration. Edited footage (before surgery, after surgery before and after rescue analgesia, and 24 hours postoperatively) was analysed twice (one month apart) by one observer who was present during video-recording (in-person researcher) and three blinded observers. Statistical analysis was performed using R software and differences were considered significant when p<0.05. Intra and inter-observer agreement, based on intra-class correlation coefficient, was good or very good between most observers (>0.60), except between observers 1 and 3 (moderate agreement 0.57). The scale was unidimensional according to principal component analysis. The scale showed acceptable item-total Spearman correlation, excellent predictive and concurrent criterion validity (Spearman correlation ≥ 0.85 between the proposed scale versus visual analogue, numerical rating, and simple descriptive scales), internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient >0.80 for all items), responsiveness (the pain scores of all items of the scale increased after castration and decreased after intervention analgesia according to Friedman test), and specificity (> 95%). Sensitivity was good or excellent for most of the items. The optimal cut-off point for rescue analgesia was ≥ 6 of 18. Discriminatory ability was excellent for all observers according to the area under the curve (>0.95). The proposed scale is a reliable and valid instrument and may be used clinically and experimentally to assess postoperative acute pain in pigs. The well-defined cut-off point supports the evaluator´s decision to provide or not analgesia.

Systemic and neurotoxic effects of epidural meloxicam in rabbits / Efeitos sistêmicos e neurotóxicos do meloxicam por via epidural em coelhos

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess systemic and neurotoxic changes following an epidural administration of meloxicamin to rabbits. Twelve adult rabbits four males and eight females; average mass, 1.9 ± 0.1kg were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (GC), which received a single dose of 0.9% NaCl epidurally in a volume of 0.3mL kg-1and a meloxicam group (GM), which received 0.2mg kg-1 meloxicam epidurally along with 0.9% NaCl in a total volume of 0.3mL kg-1. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and neurological abnormalities were assessed prior to administration of anesthesia (H0), 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24h following epidural puncture (H1, H2, H3, H6, H12, and H24, respectively), and every 24h afterward for 10 days after epidural puncture (D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, and D10). The surface temperature of lumbosacral region was also measured at H0, H1, H6, H12, H24, D5 and D10. Three animals from each group were euthanized on days 15 and 30 after epidural puncture to assess possible spinal injuries. Variances observed in physiological parameters were not suggestive of adverse effects of meloxicam, as all were within the reference standards, and there were no physical or behavioral changes observed. Neurological function was similar between groups, with only difference between baseline values and values 1h after epidural administration in both groups. There were no histopathological changes in the GM group, and only one animal showed discrete lymphocytic infiltrate. Epidural lumbosacral administration of meloxicam at a dose of 0.2mg kg-1 caused no significant systemic or neurotoxic effects in rabbits.

RESUMO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as alterações sistêmicas e neurotóxicas promovidas pelo meloxicam, administrado por via epidural, em coelhos. Foram utilizados 12 coelhos adultos, quatro machos e oito fêmeas, pensando em média 1,9 ± 0,1kg. Os animais foram divididos equitativa e aleatoriamente em dois grupos, os quais receberam dose única de solução de NaCl 0,9% no volume de 0,3mL kg-1, por via epidural (grupo controle - GC) ou meloxicam (0,2mg kg-1) associado à solução de NaCl 0,9%, compondo um volume total de 0,3mL kg-1 (grupo meloxicam - GM). Avaliaram-se frequências cardíaca e respiratória, temperatura corporal e alterações neurológicas, antes da administração da anestesia (H0), uma, duas, três, seis, 12 e 24 horas após a punção epidural (H1, H2, H3, H6, H12 e H24, respectivamente) e a cada 24 horas após o H24, até o 10º dia após a punção epidural (D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9 e D10). Mensurou-se ainda a temperatura superficial da região lombossacra em H0, H1, H6, H12, H24, D5 e D10. Realizou-se eutanásia em três animais de cada grupo no 15o e no 30o dia após o início do experimento, para avaliação das possíveis lesões medulares. As variâncias observadas nos parâmetros fisiológicos não foram sugestivas de efeito adverso do meloxicam, pois estiveram dentro do padrão de referência e não houve alterações físicas ou comportamentais. O exame neurológico se mostrou semelhante entre os grupos, havendo diferença apenas entre a avaliação inicial e uma hora após a epidural em ambos os grupos. Na histopatologia não houve alterações no GM e apenas um animal do GC apresentou discreto infiltrado linfoplasmocitário. A administração epidural lombossacra de meloxicam, na dose de 0,2mg kg-1, não causa efeitos sistêmicos e neurotóxicos significativos, em coelhos.

Migração cranial de diferentes volumes de iobitridol, administrados pela via epidural lombossacra, em coelhos / Cranial spread of different volumes of iobitridol, administered by epidural lumbosacral route, in rabbits

Com o objetivo de avaliar a migração cranial de diferentes volumes de iobitridol, administrado por via epidural lombossacra, bem como as possíveis alterações decorrentes dessa administração, foram utilizados 12 coelhos, sem raça definida, com 1,0±0,5 anos de idade e pesando 2,4±0,4 kg. Os animais foram anestesiados com xilazina (5 mg/kg) e cetamina (20 mg/kg), por via intramuscular, 15 minutos antes da punção lombossacra. Foram compostos dois grupos: grupo 1 (G1), onde foi administrado iobitridol, no volume de 0,33 mL/kg; e grupo 2 (G2), 0,22 mL/kg. Avaliaram-se as frequências cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (f), a duração da onda P, do intervalo PR, do complexo QRS e do intervalo QT, a saturação de oxihemoglobina (SPO2) e a temperatura retal (TR), antes da epidurografia e a cada 10 minutos após, durante 60 minutos. Também foram analisadas a migração cranial do iobitridol e a ataxia produzida. A FC, f e TR reduziram e a duração do intervalo QT aumentou após a anestesia em ambos os grupos. As durações do intervalo PR e do complexo QRS aumentaram no G1. O limite cranial da migração do meio de contraste variou entre a 4а vértebra lombar e a 8а vértebra torácica no G1 e entre a 5а vértebra lombar e a 11а vértebra torácica no G2. A ataxia foi moderada em ambos os grupos. Conclui-se que a administração do iobitridol pela via epidural lombossacra, associada à anestesia dissociativa com xilazina-cetamina, e nos volumes utilizados e sob as condições de estudo, causa alterações toleráveis nos parâmetros avaliados em coelhos hígidos, e quando utilizado neste modelo animal não causa sinais de neurotoxicidade.

In order to evaluate the cranial spread of different volumes of iobitridol, by epidural lumbosacral route, 12 mongrel rabbits, 1.0±0.5 years old, weighing 2.4±0.4 kg were used. The animals were anesthetized with xylazine (5 mg/kg) and ketamine (20 mg/kg) intramuscularly, 15 minutes before of the lumbosacral puncture. Two groups were formed: iobitridol was administered at a volume of 0.33 mL/kg in the group 1 (G1) and at 0.22 mL/kg in the group 2 (G2). The heart (HR) and respiratory rates (f), duration of P-wave, PR interval, QRS complex and QT interval, oxyhemoglobin saturation (OS) and rectal temperature (RT) were evaluated, before epidurography and every 10 minutes after, for 60 minutes. The cranial spread of iobitridol and the ataxia produced were also analyzed. FC, f and RT reduced and duration of QT interval increased after anesthesia in both groups. The duration of PR interval and QRS complex increased in G1. The cranial limit of the migration of the contrast medium varied between the 4th lumbar vertebra and the 8th thoracic vertebra in G1 and between the 5th lumbar vertebra and the 11th thoracic vertebra in G2. Ataxia was moderate in both groups. It is concluded that the administration of iobitridol by the lumbosacral epidural route, associated with dissociative anesthesia with xylazine-ketamine, and in the volumes used and under the study conditions, causes tolerable changes in the parameters evaluated in healthy rabbits, and when used in this animal model there is no signs of neurotoxicity

Hidroxiapatita e quitosana isoladas e associadas à medula óssea no reparo do tecido ósseo em coelhos. Estudo histológico e morfométrico / Hydroxyapatite and chitosan isolated and associated with bone marrow in repair of bone tissue in rabbits. Histological and morfometric study

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o processo de regeneração óssea em coelhos através da utilização da hidroxiapatita e da quitosana isoladas e associadas à medula óssea. Foram utilizados 20 coelhos adultos, de ambos os sexos, da raça Nova Zelândia e pesando em média 3,0±0,4kg. Os animais foram divididos ao acaso de acordo com dois momentos experimentais, sendo que 10 animais foram submetidos à eutanásia 30 dias após a cirurgia, e 10, 60 dias após a cirurgia. Foram utilizados quatro implantes que constituíram os grupos. Os materiais foram introduzidos em defeitos criados cirurgicamente na metáfise proximal (MP) e distal (MD) de cada fêmur, de modo que a quitosana foi introduzida na MP e a hidroxiapatita na MD do membro esquerdo e, no membro direito, além dos implantes, foi adicionada medula óssea. Na avaliação histológica descritiva comparativa, constatou-se que os grupos QUI e QUIMO, em ambos os momentos estudados, estimularam reações mais acentuadas e aceleraram o reparo ósseo. Na análise morfométrica, os grupos QUI e QUIMO diferiram estatisticamente dos outros grupos, tendo sido observada maior formação óssea (P<0,05).

The aim of this research was to evaluate the process of bone regeneration in rabbits by the use of hydroxyapatite and chitosan only and associated with bone marrow. Twenty male and female rabbits, New Zealand breed and weighing in average 3.0±0.4kg were used. Animals were randomly divided according with two experimental moments, being 10 animals euthanized 30 days after surgery, and 10 euthanized 60 days after surgery. Four implants that constituted the groups were used. Materials were introduced into the proximal (MP) and distal metaphysis (MD) of each femur, so that chitosan was introduced into the MP and hydroxyapatite into the MD of the left limb, and in the right limb bone marrow was added beyond the implants. At the comparative descriptive histological evaluation, it was found that the QUI and QUIMO groups in both periods stimulated more pronounced reactions and accelerated bone repair. In morphometric analysis, QUI and QUIMO groups differed statistically from the other, has been shown greater bone formation (P<0.05).

Tumores de cães e gatos diagnosticados no semiárido da Paraíba / Tumors in dogs and cats diagnosed in semiarid of Paraíba, Brazil

Objetivou-se com este estudo determinar a frequência dos tumores diagnosticados em cães e gatos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Patos, Paraíba, Brasil, entre os anos de 2003 a 2010. Foram revisados todos os protocolos de necropsias e biópsias realizadas no Laboratório de Patologia Animal da referida instituição, e computados os dados referentes aos animais afetados. Os tumores mais frequentes em cães ocorreram na pele e anexos (46,7%), seguido da glândula mamária (24%), sistema genital (10,3%) e sistema digestório (6,5%). Os tumores malignos foram mais frequentes que os benignos (p=0,001), representando 78% e 22% respectivamente. Em gatos, as frequências de neoplasmas de pele e glândula mamária foram idênticas (39,4% cada), seguidas das do sistema digestório (8,5%) e fígado (5,7%). Os tumores malignos representaram 95,8% dos tumores diagnosticados nesta espécie. Cães sem raça definida tiveram menor frequência (16%) de tumores do que animais de diferentes raças (37,2%) (p<0,0001). A ampla variedade de neoplasmas que acomete cães e gatos dificulta ao veterinário o diagnóstico clínico e o tratamento das mesmas, sendo recomendável o diagnóstico histológico sistemático de todas as lesões suspeitas de serem neoplasias. Além disso, são necessários estudos que determinem os fatores epidemiológicos envolvidos no desenvolvimento dos tumores que acometem os cães e gatos, nas diferentes regiões, a fim de serem tomadas medidas para diminuir sua ocorrência e letalidade.

This paper reports the frequency of tumors diagnosed in dogs and cats at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Campina Grande in Patos, northeastern Brazil, between 2003 and 2010. All necropsy and biopsy protocols from the Pathology Laboratory were revised and data related to the tumors were analyzed. In dogs, tumors of the skin and anexa were the most frequently diagnosed (46.7%), followed by tumors of the mammary gland (24%), genital system (10,3%), and alimentary system (6.5%). Malignant tumors (78%) were more frequent than bening tumors (22%) (p=0.001). In cats the frequency of skin and mammary gland tumors was the same (39.4%), followed by tumors of the digestive system (8.5%) and liver (5.7%). In cats, 95.8% of the tumors were malignant. Due to the diversity of the tumors observed in dogs and cats it is difficult for the practitioner to diagnose and treat tumors in these species. As a result, the systematic histologic diagnosis and the determination of the epidemiology of the tumors, in the different regions, are necessary to decrease tumor mortality.