Kinetic and temporospatial parameters in male and female cats walking over a pressure sensing walkway.

BACKGROUND: Several factors may influence kinetic data measurements, including body conformation and body mass. In addition, gender differences in gait pattern have been observed in healthy humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the kinetic and temporospatial parameters in clinically healthy male and female cats using a pressure-sensitive walkway. Eighteen crossbreed adult cats were divided into two groups: G1 had ten male cats (nine neutered) aged from 1 to 4 years and body mass 3.1-6.8 kg; G2 had eight spayed female cats, aged from 1 to 6 years and body mass 3.3-4.75 kg. The data from the first five valid trials were collected for each cat. A trial was considered valid if the cat maintained a velocity between 0.54-0.74 m/s and acceleration from -0.20 to 0.20 m/s2. The peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI), gait cycle time, stance time, swing time, stride length, and percentage body weight distribution among the four limbs were determined. In addition, the lengths of each forelimb and each hind limb were measured using a tape with the animal standing. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in each group in either the forelimbs or the hind limbs or between the left and right sides for any of the variables. For both groups, the PVF (%BW), the VI, and the percentage body weight distribution were higher at the forelimbs than the hind limbs. The stride length was larger for males; however, the other kinetic and temporospatial variables did not show any statistically significant differences between the groups. The lengths of the forelimbs and hind limbs were larger in the male cats. There was a significant moderate positive correlation between the stride length and the length of the limbs. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the only difference observed between male and female cats was the stride length, and this was due to the greater body size of male cats. This difference did not affect other temporospatial or kinetics variables.

Assessment of serum lactate levels, blood glucose values and blood gas values in sheep, newborn lambs and placenta / Avaliação da concentração de lactato sérico, glicemia e hemogasometria de ovelhas, cordeiros recém-nascidos e placenta

Newborn animals, in the fetal-to-neonatal transition, usually face several challenges in their first 24 hours, including issues with acid-base balance, glycemic levels and oxygenation. Difficulties to overcome such issues have caused several deaths among newborns. Therefore, studies have been carried out in order to evaluate them. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the serum lactate level in the mother, in the placenta and in the newborn. Moreover, the study measured the lactate level, blood glucose level and blood gas level in the first 24 hours. Tests were carried out right after birth, and at 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after. Lactate levels were quite similar to the placental levels (p=0.991) which, in turn, were significantly different from the mother's (p=0.011). Results showed that, shortly after birth, the production of lactate in the placenta is part of the issue. Along the first 24 hours, the study observed a reduction of the levels of lactate in newborns; the levels were closer to the normal index levels for the species. Regarding the blood gas test results, we observed mild metabolic acidosis at birth; acid-base balance was completely stable at the end of the period.(AU)

Os principais desafios da transição fetal-neonatal são a estabilização do equilíbrio ácido-básico, glicemia e oxigenação ao longo das primeiras 24 horas de vida. Falhas nesse sistema são a maior causa de morte nesse período e os estudos de viabilidade neonatal tem se concentrado nas avaliações destas variáveis. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a comparação da lactatemia materna, placentária e neonatal ao nascimento e, ainda, observar o comportamento do lactato, glicemia e hemogasometria nas primeiras 24 horas de vida do neonato ovino. Para tanto, as avaliações foram realizadas ao nascimento, 4, 8, 12 e 24 horas após. A lactatemia neonatal se mostrou próxima à placentária (p=0,991) e significativamente diferente da materna (p=0,011), o que sugere uma influência da produção de lactato pela placenta na lactatemia neonatal ao nascimento. Ao longo das 24 horas de vida foi possível observar a depuração de lactato pelo organismo do neonato, aproximando assim dos valores de referência para a espécie. Na hemogasometria foi possível observar discreta acidose metabólica, com normalização já nas primeiras 4 horas e estabilização completa do equilíbrio ácido-básico ao final das 24 horas de vida.(AU)