Lumbosacral plexus block using a combination of ultrasound-guided lateral pre-iliac and parasacral approaches in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an ultrasound-guided lateral pre-iliac (LPI) and parasacral (PS) approach in feline cadavers (phase I) and compare the perioperative analgesic use and complications in cats administered LPI and PS blocks (group PNB) or epidural anesthesia (group EPI) for pelvic limb surgery (phase II). STUDY DESIGN: Experimental uncontrolled, anatomic and retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: A group of eight feline cadavers and 52 medical records. METHODS: Bilateral LPI and PS approaches with 0.1 mL kg-1 of dye to stain the femoral and obturator nerves and the lumbosacral trunk, respectively, were performed on each cadaver. Nerve staining effect was evaluated upon dissections (phase I). Perioperative analgesics use, and complication rates were retrospectively compared between groups PNB and EPI (phase II). Continuous data were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and the prevalence of events with Fisher's exact test. Differences were considered significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: Dissections revealed that the LPI approach stained 94% and 75% of the femoral and obturator nerves, respectively. The PS approach stained 100% of the lumbosacral trunks. Cats enrolled in group PNB (n = 23) were administered lower doses of intraoperative opioids than those in group EPI (n = 25) (p = 0.006). Intraoperative rescue analgesia was required in 60% and 17.4% of cats enrolled in groups EPI and PNB, respectively (p = 0.003). Group PNB required more intraoperative anticholinergics than group EPI (p = 0.02). There were no differences in postoperative pain scores, analgesic use and complication rates. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ultrasound-guided LPI and PS approach stained the femoral/obturator nerves and the lumbosacral trunk, respectively, in feline cadavers. Furthermore, PNB was associated with lower intraoperative opioid use and similar postoperative pain and analgesic use compared with epidural anesthesia in a cohort of cats undergoing surgery of the pelvic limb.

The effect of erector spinae plane block on perioperative analgesic consumption and complications in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the perioperative use of analgesics and complication rates in dogs administered an erector spinae plane (ESP) block or a traditional opioid-based (OP) treatment as part of analgesic management during hemilaminectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: Medical records of 114 client-owned dogs. METHODS: General data included demographics, duration of procedure, number of laminae fenestrated, perioperative use of steroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Intra- and postoperative analgesics used in 48 hours and complications rates were compared between groups. Opioid use was expressed in morphine equivalents [ME (mg kg-1)]. Continuous data were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and incidence of events with a Fisher's exact tests. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate association between perioperative ME consumption (dependent variable) with other independent variables. Data are presented as median (range). Differences were considered significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: Group ESP comprised 42 dogs and group OP 72 dogs. No differences were observed in the general data. Intraoperative ME was 0.65 (0.20-3.74) and 0.79 (0.19-5.60) mg kg-1 in groups ESP and OP, respectively (p = 0.03). Intraoperative infusion of lidocaine was administered intravenously (IV) to 23.8% and 68% of groups ESP and OP, respectively (p < 0.0001). Intraoperative infusion of ketamine was administered IV to 21% and 40% of groups ESP and OP, respectively (p = 0.04). Regression analysis revealed the ESP block as the only independent variable affecting the perioperative ME consumption. Pharmacological intervention to treat cardiovascular complications was administered to 21.4% and 47.2% of dogs in groups ESP and OP, respectively (p = 0.008). There were no differences in postoperative complication rates. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: ESP block was associated with reduced perioperative opioid consumption, intraoperative adjuvant analgesic use and incidence of pharmacological interventions to treat cardiovascular complications in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy.

Isolation of a strawberry gene fragment encoding an actin depolymerizing factor-like protein from genotypes resistant to Colletotrichum acutatum.

Actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) have been recently implicated in plant defense against pathogenic fungi, associated with the cytoskeletal rearrangements that contribute to establish an effective barrier against fungal ingress. In this work, we identified a DNA fragment corresponding to a part of a gene predicted to encode an ADF-like protein in genotypes of Fragaria ananassa resistant to the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum. Bulked segregant analysis combined with AFLP was used to identify polymorphisms linked to resistance in hybrids derived from the cross between the resistant cultivar 'Sweet Charlie' and the susceptible cultivar 'Pájaro'. The sequence of one out of three polymorphic bands detected showed significant BLASTX hits to ADF proteins from other plants. Two possible exons were identified and bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of the ADF homology domain with two actin-binding sites, an N-terminal phosphorylation site, and a nuclear localization signal. In addition to its possible application in strawberry breeding programs, these finding may contribute to investigate the role of ADFs in plant resistance against fungi.

A rapid point of care immunoswab assay for SARS-CoV detection.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) resulted in several outbreaks worldwide. Early tests for diagnosis were not always conclusive in identifying a SARS suspected patient. Nucleocapsid protein (NP) is the most predominant virus derived structural protein which is shed in high amounts in serum and nasopharyngeal aspirate during the first week of infection. As part of such efforts, a simple, easy to use immunoswab method was developed by generating a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), Bispecific MAbs and chicken polyclonal IgY antibody against the SARS-CoV nucleocapsid protein (NP). Employing the MAb-based immunoswab, an NP concentration of 200 pg/mL in saline and pig nasopharyngeal aspirate, and 500 pg/mL in rabbit serum were detected. BsMAb-based immunoswabs detected an NP concentration of 20 pg/mL in saline, 500 pg/mL in rabbit serum and 20-200 pg/mL in pig nasopharyngeal aspirate. Polyclonal IgY-based immunoswabs detected an NP concentration of 10 pg/mL in pig nasopharyngeal aspirate providing the most sensitive SARS point of care assay. Results show that the robust immunoswab method of detecting SARS-CoV NP antigen can be developed into an easy and effective way of identifying SARS suspected individuals during a future SARS epidemic, thereby reducing and containing the transmission. The key feature of this simple immunoswab diagnostic assay is its ability to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV antigen within 45-60 min with the availability of the body fluid samples.

El hemograma y su aplicación en recién nacidos catalogados con sepsis neonatal temprana en el Hospital Goyoneche de Arequipa (enero 1991 - diciembre 1995)

OBJETIVO: Determinar la relación neutrófilos inmaduros/totales del hemograma de recién nacidos con sepsis temprana y relacionar con el puntaje de riesgo de sepsis. TIPO DE ESTUDIO: Transversal, analítico. POBLACION: De 12524 nacidos vivos, se encontraron 81 HC con sepsis neonatal, tomándose 52 HC con sepsis neonatal temprana, recolectandose los datos en una ficha que incluye datos de la madre y del R.N. RESULTADOS: El peso de los RN fue de 2551 ñ 930 g; la edad gestional de 36.2 ñ 3.9 semanas; un 55.77 por ciento de los RN tuvieron abastonados en más de 5 por ciento. La relación neutrófilos inmaduros/ totales (I/T) fue de 0.0912 ñ 0.0551. A I/T bajos se encuentra puntaje de sepsis bajo, así como para I/T altos puntajes altos (p < 0.05). La correlación puntaje total con el índice I/T no fue significativo (r = - 0.12). CONCLUSIONES: El valor promedio de I/T fue de 0.09. No hubo relación entre el puntaje de riesgo para sepsis y el índice I/T.