Effects of a topically applied anaesthetic on the behaviour, pain sensitivity and weight gain of dairy calves following thermocautery disbudding with a local anaesthetic.

Aims: To compare the effect of a topically applied anaesthetic to no pain relief or meloxicam on the behavioural responses, pain sensitivity and weight gain of calves following disbudding with or without sedation. Methods: A total of 364, 2-6 week-old calves from three commercial farms were systematically allocated to one of six treatment groups. All calves received a cornual nerve block prior to disbudding, with half restrained in a crate and half sedated with xylazine. Within these groups one third received no further treatment (control), one third were treated with meloxicam >10 minutes prior to disbudding and one third received a topical anaesthetic applied to the horn bud wounds following disbudding. The frequency of ear flicks, head shakes, head scratches and pain sensitivity of the wound were recorded on up to eight occasions over 24 hours after disbudding. Calves were weighed before, and 7 and 28 days after, disbudding to determine average daily weight gain (ADG). Results: Compared to calves in the crate-control group, all other groups had reduced ear flicks at all times following disbudding (p < 0.01). Treatment with meloxicam and topical anaesthesia in addition to sedation reduced head scratches compared to calves in the crate-control group (p ≤ 0.013). At 22 hours after disbudding head shakes were reduced in sedated calves treated with topical anaesthetic compared to calves in the crate-control group (p < 0.001). Pain sensitivity was lower in all sedated calves than unsedated calves (p < 0.001). The ADG between Days 0-7 was 0.14 (95% CI = 0.015-0.274) kg/day greater in sedated calves treated with meloxicam than calves in the crate-control group (p = 0.03), and the ADG between Days 0-28 tended to be 0.06 (95% CI=-0.01-0.13) kg/day greater in sedated calves treated with topical anaesthetic than calves in the crate-control group (p = 0.09). Conclusion and clinical relevance: Sedation of calves for disbudding reduced the pain experienced in the following 24 hours. There was a benefit to providing calves with topical anaesthetic following disbudding on behavioural responses and pain sensitivity, which was similar to that of treating calves with meloxicam.

Prevalence and calf-level risk factors for failure of passive transfer in dairy calves in New Zealand.

AIM To determine the prevalence of failure of passive transfer (FPT) in dairy calves in New Zealand and to assess a range of potential calf-level risk factors for their association with FPT. METHOD Between July and September 2015, 107 dairy farms in nine regions across New Zealand were visited on three occasions: before 20% of cows had calved, when ∼50% of cows had calved, and when the last 10-20% of cows were calving. Farms were randomly selected from the client list of participating veterinary practices. On each farm, blood samples were collected from 10-20 calves between 24 hours and 8 days old and concentrations of total protein (TP) in serum determined. Calf identification, date of birth, dam's age and breed, details of colostrum feeding and the farmer's health assessment of the calf on arrival at the calf rearing facility were recorded. Concentrations of TP in serum ≤52 g/L were used to define FPT. RESULTS Of 3,819 calves sampled, 1,263 (33 (95% CI=31.6-34.6)%) were diagnosed with FPT, and the prevalence within farms ranged from 5-83%. Calf-level risk factors that were associated with increased odds of FPT were increasing age of dam (OR=1.12; 95% CI=1.08-1.16), calves recorded as unhealthy compared to healthy upon arrival at the calf rearing facility (OR=2.59; 95% CI=1.60-4.19), calves sampled on farms in Otago (OR=2.85; 95% CI=1.42-5.74) and Southland (OR 2.31; 95% CI=1.15-4.67) compared to the Far North, and calves sampled in the middle compared to the early calving period (OR=1.24; 95% CI=1.03-1.51). CONCLUSION On the farms visited FPT was diagnosed in one third of dairy calves. Calf-level risk factors for FPT included age of dam, health status of calf, region, and time of the calving period. Further investigations are required to establish why these are associated with increased odds of FPT. CLINICAL RELEVANCE These results provide a baseline for benchmarking, which, alongside the reported calf-level risk factors, can be used by veterinarians to improve colostrum management.

Sulfur mass-independent fractionation in subsurface fracture waters indicates a long-standing sulfur cycle in Precambrian rocks.

The discovery of hydrogen-rich waters preserved below the Earth's surface in Precambrian rocks worldwide expands our understanding of the habitability of the terrestrial subsurface. Many deep microbial ecosystems in these waters survive by coupling hydrogen oxidation to sulfate reduction. Hydrogen originates from water-rock reactions including serpentinization and radiolytic decomposition of water induced by decay of radioactive elements in the host rocks. The origin of dissolved sulfate, however, remains unknown. Here we report, from anoxic saline fracture waters ∼2.4 km below surface in the Canadian Shield, a sulfur mass-independent fractionation signal in dissolved sulfate. We demonstrate that this sulfate most likely originates from oxidation of sulfide minerals in the Archaean host rocks through the action of dissolved oxidants (for example, HO· and H2O2) themselves derived from radiolysis of water, thereby providing a coherent long-term mechanism capable of supplying both an essential electron donor (H2) and a complementary acceptor (sulfate) for the deep biosphere.

Evaluation of a comprehensive home-based midwifery programme in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

We report the findings of an evaluation of a programme in three districts in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, which consisted of the training, deployment and supervision of a large number of professional midwives in villages, an information, education and communication (IEC) strategy to increase use of village midwives for birth, and a district-based maternal and perinatal audit (MPA). Before the programme, the midwives had limited ability to manage obstetric complications, and 90% of births took place at home. Only 37% were attended by a skilled attendant. By 1998-99, 510 midwives were posted in the districts and skilled attendance at delivery had increased to 59%. Through in-service training, continuous supervision and participation in the audit system midwives also gained confidence and skills in the management of obstetric complications. Despite this, the proportion admitted to hospital for a caesarean section declined from 1.7 to 1.4% and the proportion admitted to hospital with a complication requiring a life-saving intervention declined from 1.1% to 0.7%. The strategy of a midwife in every village has dramatically increased skilled birth attendance, but does not yet provide specialized obstetric care for all women needing it. The high cost of emergency obstetric interventions may well be the most important obstacle to the use of hospital care.

Two models of in-service training to improve midwifery skills: how well do they work?

This program evaluation compared the knowledge, confidence, and skills of Indonesian village midwives who attended an intensive in-service training with midwives who received an internship program and midwives who attended no program. The five key skills compared were prevention of infection, use of the partograph, manual removal of placenta, bimanual uterine compression, and neonatal resuscitation. Midwives from the intensive in-service that combined competency-based skill training with peer review and continuing education scored higher on the knowledge test and demonstration of the five key skills and reported managing complications better than midwives who attended no training program. Midwives from the internship program scored intermediate between the intensively trained and the untrained midwives. Overall, skill scores were 71% for midwives in the intensive program, 62% for the interns, and 51% for midwives with no in-service training. Village midwives from the intensive program scored significantly higher in the practical demonstration of manual removal of placenta, bimanual compression, and neonatal resuscitation than the interns, but the scores on infection prevention and use of the partograph were not different between the two groups. Differences in the volume of training opportunities between the two programs could be responsible for the different outcomes.

Tamoxifen diminishes methamphetamine-induced striatal dopamine depletion in intact female and male mice.

It has been demonstrated that the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of male mice is more sensitive to the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine (MA). The basis for this difference can be related to oestrogen, which has the capacity to function as a neuroprotectant against neurotoxins that target the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. We examined the effects of the anti-oestrogen, tamoxifen (TMX), upon MA-induced neurotoxicity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in intact female and male CD-1 mice. Striatal dopamine concentrations of TMX-treated female and male mice receiving MA were significantly greater than mice receiving MA alone. In female, but not male, mice, oestrogen treatment also resulted in greater striatal dopamine concentrations compared to mice receiving MA alone. Interestingly, male mice treated with oestrogen were particularly sensitive to the acute toxic effects of MA and displayed no evidence of nigrostriatal neuroprotection. The dihydroxyphenylacetic acid/dopamine ratios following MA for female and male mice treated with TMX or females treated with oestrogen were significantly reduced compared to MA-treated mice and oestrogen + MA-treated male mice. No differences among the treatment groups were obtained for dopamine in the hypothalamus or olfactory bulb. These data demonstrate that TMX treatment of intact female and male mice diminishes striatal dopamine depletions to the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurotoxin, MA. Oestrogen also displayed this capacity when administered to female, but accentuated acute toxicity in male mice. These effects are relatively specific for the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. Such data suggest that TMX can function as a nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuroprotectant against MA-induced neurotoxicity in intact female and male mice.

Sociocultural and community factors influencing the use of Native Hawaiian healers and healing practices among adolescents in Hawai'i.

Recently, there has been much emphasis placed on both alternative approaches to health care and the provision of culturally competent care. Despite these trends, few studies have examined the use of alternative therapies on the part of adolescents. Even fewer studies have been done focusing on traditional Hawaiian approaches to health care. This is essential, especially in Hawai'i, where Hawaiians have not attained health parity with other majority ethnic populations, despite significant efforts and funding to achieve this end. This study examines the sociocultural and community factors influencing the use of traditional Native Hawaiian healers and healing practices by adolescents in Hawai'i. The Hawaiian High Schools Health Survey was administered at five high schools on three islands in Hawai'i during the 1993-1994 school year. The sample included 1,321 high school students who preferred either an allopathic or alternative practitioner. Ethnicity, gender, community access, healer preference, health status, level of education, and health insurance status were used to predict healer use and participation in healing practices. Community access and healer preference predicted both healer use and participation in native healing practices. Mental health predicted healer use (i.e., seeing a Native Hawaiian healer in the past six months), but did not predict taking part in native healing practices, such as ho'oponopono and lomilomi. Hawaiian ethnicity, female gender, and a measure of health insurance predicted participation in native healing practices, but not healer use. These results suggest that native healing practices and traditional healers are being used in Native Hawaiian communities and this is perhaps not due to a lack of health insurance. Given the general separation between Western and Native Hawaiian health services, traditional healing practices should be made available in Native Hawaiian communities to see whether a collaboration between Western practitioners and traditional healers can have a greater positive impact on the health of Native Hawaiians, particularly for adolescents.

Sociocultural factors influencing adolescent preference and use of native Hawaiian healers.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined the use of alternative therapies among adolescents. This study examines the predictors of Native Hawaiian healer preference in the treatment of physical or emotional problems as well as the predictors of healer use. DESIGN: This study is a longitudinal cross-sectional design. SETTING: The survey was conducted in five high schools in Hawai'i. PARTICIPANTS: 1,322 high school students selected preference for and/or use of allopathic or alternative practitioners. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Grade level, gender, ethnicity and cultural identity were used to predict healer preference. Healer preference, socioeconomic status and health status were used to predict healer use. RESULTS: Identification with the Hawaiian culture was the strongest predictor of healer preference for both Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian adolescents. Mental health was also predictive of healer preference for non-Hawaiians. Healer use by Native Hawaiian adolescents was also predicted by Hawaiian cultural identity. Gender, grade level, and socioeconomic variables were not predictive of healer preference or use. CONCLUSION: Cultural identity plays a significant role in the preference and use of alternative practitioners, especially for minority adolescent populations.

Antioxidant nutrients: current dietary recommendations and research update.

OBJECTIVE: To review the importance of antioxidant nutrients in the maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of disease, with a focus on data pertaining to vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids. A secondary objective was to discuss the new Dietary Reference Intakes released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for these nutrients. DATA SOURCES: IOM reports on the use of antioxidant vitamins were reviewed for nutrient recommendations. In addition, a MEDLINE search was performed to identify recent research and review articles on the topic, which were analyzed to identify key research findings in the area. DATA SYNTHESIS: The review discusses the biologic processes of oxidation reactions and antioxidants in biologic systems, provides an overview of information on selected antioxidant nutrients, and explores their role in the prevention and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, ocular disorders, and respiratory disorders. CONCLUSION: There appear to be significant health benefits from dietary antioxidants, as can be found in fruits and vegetables. Some prospective assessment of the effect of supplemental antioxidants also suggests benefit, especially for vitamin E; however, there are conflicting results in this area. Overall, it appears that antioxidant nutrients, especially those from food sources, have important roles in preventing pathogenic processes related to cancer, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, cataracts, and asthma, and may enhance immune function.

Integrating herbs and botanicals into patient care.

Consumer use of herb and botanical preparations is burgeoning. Many common herbal remedies have proven efficacy, reported mainly in the European scientific literature. Although not mandated by law, responsible manufacturers of herbal products are working to establish efficacy, safety, and good manufacturing standards. Pharmacists should be alert for possible drug interactions between phytomedicines and pharmaceuticals, as well as potential adverse effects. Well-informed pharmacists can provide useful counseling and education about herbs and botanicals.

From 'ecopathology' to 'agroecosystem health'.

The 'epidemiologic revolution' of the 1960s arose in response to the inability of reductionist methods to provide practical solutions to the complex problems of health and production in livestock systems. In a farm, there are not only interactions between animal factors and herd husbandry factors such as feeding, housing, and microbiological environment, but also with a number of other 'non-animal' factors. For this reason, a 'global' or 'holistic' approach, aimed at explaining animal health status within the overall dynamic of a livestock production system, was developed in France under the title of 'ecopathology'. In ecopathology, the discipline of epidemiology is integrated into a systemic approach, including: the development of a preliminary conceptual model, sampling based on the structure of the livestock production system, the establishment of a field study by a multidisciplinary team, the organization and management of the animal health and production information, data analysis, the distribution of results to all participants and the development of a preventive medicine programme. The farm is also influenced by the social, economic and environmental setting to which it belongs. To account for this, a change of scale is necessary. The three elements of the livestock production system considered in ecopathology (farmer, herd and resources), at the level of the agroecosystem become a human community (farmers, consumers, decision-makers), an animal population, and the complex of human, social and economic conditions within the system. The concept of agroecosystem health is closely linked to the overall principle of improving the sustainability of the system. This and other measures of the health status of an agroecosystem can be assessed with methods developed by epidemiologists and other disciplines within a system's perspective. In this systems view, ecopathology provides a basis for assessing herd health whereas agroecosystem health develops the broader context into which ecopathology contributes.

Tamoxifen treatment of ovariectomized mice alters dopamine release from striatal tissue fragments superfused in vitro.

In this report we examined the effect of tamoxifen upon the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. Ovariectomized mice were subjected to one of the following treatments: two subcutaneous injections administered on successive days of the sesame oil vehicle (control), estradiol benzoate (EB-10 micrograms), tamoxifen citrate (TMX 125 micrograms) or a combination of EB+TMX. At 24 h after the second injection, the caudate nucleus was superfused in vitro to evaluate the effects of these treatments upon basal as well as potassium stimulated (30 mM) dopamine release rates. In addition, uteri were weighed from each animal. Basal and total fractional dopamine release rates from the caudate nucleus of control mice were significantly lower than those of the other three treatments, which failed to differ among each other. Potassium minus (-) basal stimulated dopamine release rates failed to differ significantly among the four treatment conditions. Uterine weights of the TMX treated mice were significantly greater than controls, but significantly lower than EB and EB+TMX animals. These data show that TMX can significantly increase caudate nucleus dopamine release to levels observed in EB treated mice. These agonistic effects of TMX upon nigrostriatal dopaminergic function can be contrasted with its relatively weak estrogenic effects upon uterine weights and indicate the discriminatory, system specific effects that can be exerted by this anti-estrogen. This demonstration of TMX's ability to modulate central nervous system function is of particular relevance in light of pending clinical trials for the prophylactic use of TMX in the treatment of women for breast cancer.

Effects of estrogen treatment on sensorimotor task performance and brain dopamine concentrations in gonadectomized male and female CD-1 mice.

In Experiment I, castrated male and female CD-1 mice +/- estradiol benzoate (EB) treatment were tested for their performance on a skilled sensorimotor task consisting of walking across beams of varying widths (6, 9, 12, and 21 mm). To evaluate whether behavioral performance was related to nigrostriatal dopaminergic function, tissue dopamine concentrations were determined from the corpus striatum as well as the hypothalamus and olfactory tubercle. In general, sensorimotor performance improved for all treatment conditions as the beam width increased. Castrated male mice treated with oil vehicle showed the worst performance as indicated by significantly greater amounts of time to cross the beam. Treatment of castrated males with EB significantly improved their performance. Performance of the castrated females was not changed by EB treatment and was similar to that observed with the castrated + EB males. Significant gender differences in dopamine concentrations (female > male) were obtained in the corpus striatum, as well as the olfactory tubercle and hypothalamus. Dopamine levels were unaltered by EB treatment. In Experiment II, behavioral and neurochemical determinations were directly compared between castrated and intact male mice. Behavioral performance of castrates was significantly reduced compared to intact males. No differences in dopamine concentrations were obtained between these two groups; however, the hypothalamic dopamine/DOPAC ratio of castrates was significantly greater than that of intact male mice. These results demonstrate significant modulatory effects of EB in castrated male, but not female, mice upon sensorimotor performance and indicate that this task may provide an effective means to partial out modulatory effects of gonadal steroid hormones upon skilled sensorimotor performance. When the data of Experiments I and II are combined, it appears that the basis of this sensorimotor deficit in the males is the absence of gonadal steroid hormones. In addition, these results reveal significant gender differences in various dopaminergic systems in these mice.

The diabetic foot: evolving technologies.

Diabetic malperforans ulcers are extremely challenging problems, and their treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. The wound management technique is based on the depth of ulceration; necrosis and infection should be aggressively managed. Wound healing and prevention of adjacent breakdown is best assured through casting and professional shoewear techniques. The vascular aspects of the patient's disease must be addressed. Patients failing this multidisciplinary team approach may be candidates for adjunctive management. If transcutaneous oxygen studies indicate diminished oxygen perfusion, hyperbaric oxygen might be considered. Contraindications to this modality are certain pulmonary problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis. Some individuals, particularly those with claustrophobia, may find small hyperbaric chambers psychologically unacceptable. Studies on tissue and platelet growth factors are encouraging. Limited clinical experience with these materials has been encouraging and future clinical applications are anticipated; however, like hyperbaric oxygen, these growth factors are only an adjunct to a comprehensive foot care program.

Effects of an increased PO2 during recompression therapy for the treatment of experimental cerebral arterial gas embolism.

In this study we investigated the efficacy of an initial compression to 6 atm abs on a 53% nitrogen:47% oxygen mixture (PO2 = 2.8 atm abs) before breathing oxygen at 2.8 and 1.9 atm abs for the treatment of feline cerebral arterial gas embolism. Neurophysiologic function was determined by measuring the cortical somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) amplitude in anesthetized ventilated cats. Air was infused into the carotid artery until the SEP amplitude was reduced to less than 10% of baseline values. The animals were randomly separated into 3 groups. The first group (CONTROL) (n = 7) served as control and remained at the surface, breathing air. The second group (NITROX) (n = 10) was compressed to 6 atm abs breathing a 53:47% nitrox mixture for 30 min followed by breathing 100% oxygen at 2.8 and 1.9 atm abs. The third group (HBO) (n = 10) was compressed to 2.8 and 1.9 atm abs breathing 100% oxygen. Air infusion suppressed the SEP amplitude to the same level in all groups. The CONTROL group recovered 27.6 +/- 31.2% (mean +/- standard deviation) of the baseline SEP amplitude, whereas the NITROX group recovered 63.2 +/- 28.2%, and the HBO group recovered 66.0 +/- 19.3%. An analysis of variance with repeated measures revealed that both treatment profiles promote significant (P = 0.03) recovery of the SEP amplitude compared to no treatment. We find no additional benefit, however, by initiating treatment at 6 atm abs, even when additional oxygen is provided.

Treatment of experimental cerebral air embolism with lidocaine and hyperbaric oxygen.

Experiments were performed to assess the combined therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and i.v. lidocaine on neural function after ischemia induced by cerebral air embolism in anesthetized cats. Neural function was determined by measuring the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) amplitude. Air was infused into the carotid artery in increments of 0.08 ml to maintain the SEP amplitude at 10% or less of baseline values for 15 min. Three groups were studied. A control group (n = 9) received no further treatment after SEP suppression. An HBO group (n = 8) was treated with oxygen at 2.8 atm abs for 130 min. A third group (n = 8) received an i.v. lidocaine infusion in addition to HBO. Air infusion suppressed the SEP amplitude to the same level in all groups. The control group recovered 27.4 +/- 5.5% (mean +/- SEM) of the baseline SEP amplitude, whereas the HBO group recovered 62.0% +/- 7.2%, and the HBO plus lidocaine group recovered 75.3 +/- 5.7%. The results show that both HBO and the combination of HBO and lidocaine promote a significant recovery of the SEP amplitude compared to no treatment. However, lidocaine therapy adds no benefit to HBO therapy alone.