Evaluation of later timepoints for split-time artificial insemination when using sex-sorted semen among beef heifers following the 14-d CIDR®-PG protocol.

An experiment was designed to evaluate later timepoints for Split-Time AI (STAI), with the hypothesis that delaying AI may improve estrous response and pregnancy per AI when using sex-sorted semen. Timing of estrus was synchronized among 794 heifers using the 14-d CIDR®-PG protocol (1.38 g progesterone intravaginal insert from Day 0-14, followed by 25 mg dinoprost tromethamine on Day 30) with STAI performed based on estrous status. Heifers were blocked based on breed, source, sire, reproductive tract score (RTS), and BW and assigned within block to one of two approaches. In Approach 66, heifers that were estrual by 66 h after PG administration were inseminated at 66 h, and remaining heifers were inseminated 24 h later (90 h). In Approach 72, heifers that were estrual by 72 h were inseminated at 72 h, and remaining heifers were inseminated 24 h later (96 h). With both approaches, heifers that were non-estrual by the final timepoint were administered 100 µg gonadorelin acetate (GnRH). Within approach, heifers were pre-assigned to receive SexedULTRA 4M™ sex-sorted or conventional semen. The proportion of heifers estrual by the first timepoint was greater (P < 0.0001) with Approach 72 (76 %; 302/395) compared to Approach 66 (61 %; 242/399). The proportion of heifers pregnant as a result of AI differed (P = 0.0005) by semen type (59 % [240/404] for conventional compared with 48 % [187/390] for sex-sorted) but was not affected by approach or approach × semen type. In summary, pregnancy per AI of heifers receiving sex-sorted or conventional semen following the 14-d CIDR®-PG protocol did not differ when STAI was delayed 6 h. The proportion of estrual heifers prior to the first timepoint, however, was greater with later STAI.

Treatment with prostaglandin F2α and an intravaginal progesterone insert promotes follicular maturity in advance of gonadotropin-releasing hormone among postpartum beef cows.

An experiment was designed to evaluate treatments to promote ovarian follicular maturity in advance of administration of exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH; 100 µg gonadorelin) for control of the bovine estrous cycle. We hypothesized prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α; 500 µg cloprostenol) followed by an intravaginal progesterone-releasing insert (CIDR; 1.38 g progesterone) would induce greater follicle size and serum estradiol at the time of GnRH administration. Postpartum cows (n = 194) in two locations were assigned to one of five treatments based on age, days postpartum, and body condition score. Cows in Treatment 1 were treated with the standard 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol: administration of GnRH and CIDR insertion on Day -10, and administration of PGF2α and CIDR removal on Day -3. Treatments 2-5 were designed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with Treatment 1 included as an additional reference. On Day -17, cows in Treatments 2-5 received a CIDR insert, either with (Treatments 2 and 3) or without (Treatments 4 and 5) administration of PGF2α at CIDR insertion. On Day -10, all cows were administered GnRH, and CIDR inserts were either removed (Treatments 2 and 4) or remained in place until Day -3 (Treatments 3 and 5). Treatment with PGF2α and CIDR in advance of GnRH (Treatments 2 and 3) resulted in increased diameter of the largest ovarian follicle (P < 0.001) and increased serum concentrations of estradiol (P < 0.0005) on Day -10. In addition, variation among cows in CL status (no CL vs. a single CL vs. multiple CL) on Day -3 tended to be decreased (P = 0.08), with cows more likely to have a single CL rather than no CL or multiple CL. Lastly, the proportion of cows expressing estrus prior to fixed-time artificial insemination tended (P = 0.08) to be improved. Results support the hypothesis that administration of PGF2α and treatment with a CIDR for 7 days prior to GnRH promotes follicular maturity in advance of GnRH administration and may provide an approach by which to enhance response of postpartum beef cows to GnRH-based estrus synchronization programs.

Shift in responsibilities in diabetes care: the Nurse-Driven Diabetes In-Hospital Treatment protocol (N-DIABIT).

AIMS: To investigate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of the Nurse-Driven Diabetes In-Hospital Treatment protocol (N-DIABIT), which consists of nurse-driven correctional therapy, in addition to physician-guided basal therapy, and is carried out by trained ward nurses. METHODS: Data on 210 patients with diabetes consecutively admitted in the 5-month period after the introduction of N-DIABIT (intervention group) were compared with the retrospectively collected data on 200 consecutive patients with diabetes admitted in the 5-month period before N-DIABIT was introduced (control group). Additional per-protocol analyses were performed in patients in whom mean patient-based protocol adherence was ≥ 70% (intervention subgroup, n = 173 vs. control subgroup, n = 196). RESULTS: There was no difference between the intervention and the control group in mean blood glucose levels (8.9 ± 0.1 and 9.1 ± 0.2 mmol/l, respectively; P = 0.38), consecutive hyperglycaemic (blood glucose ≥ 10.0 mmol/l) episodes; P = 0.15), admission duration (P = 0.79), mean number of blood glucose measurements (P = 0.21) and incidence of severe hypoglycaemia (P = 0.29). Per-protocol analyses showed significant reductions in mean blood glucose levels and consecutive hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia in the intervention compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of N-DIABIT by trained ward nurses in non-intensive care unit diabetes care is feasible, safe and non-inferior to physician-driven care alone. High protocol adherence was associated with improved glycaemic control.

[A factorial trial of six interventions for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting]. / Eine faktorielle Studie von 6 Interventionen zur Vermeidung von Ubelkeit und Erbrechen nach Narkosen Ergebnisse des "International Multicenter Protocol to assess the single and combined benefits of antiemetic strategies in a controlled clinical trial of a 2x2x2x2x2x2 factorial design" (IMPACT).

BACKGROUND: Untreated, one third of patients who undergo surgery will have postoperative nausea and vomiting. Although many trials have been conducted, the relative benefits of prophylactic antiemetic interventions given alone or in combination remain unknown. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled trial of factorial design, 5,199 patients at high risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting were randomly assigned to 1 of 64 possible combinations of 6 prophylactic interventions: 1) 4 mg of ondansetron or no ondansetron; 2) 4 mg of dexamethasone or no dexamethasone; 3) 1.25 mg of droperidol or no droperidol; 4) propofol or a volatile anesthetic; 5) nitrogen or nitrous oxide; 6) remifentanil or fentanyl. The primary aim parameter was nausea and vomiting within 24 h after surgery, which was evaluated blindly. RESULTS: Ondansetron, dexamethasone, and droperidol each reduced the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting by about 26%, propofol reduced the risk by 19%, and nitrogen by 12%. The risk reduction with both of these agents (i.e., total intravenous anesthesia) was thus similar to that observed with each of the antiemetics alone. All the interventions acted independently of each other and independently of the patients' baseline risk. Consequently, the relative risks associated with the combined interventions could be estimated by multiplying the relative risks associated with each intervention. However, absolute risk reduction was a critical function of patients' baseline risk. CONCLUSIONS: Because antiemetic interventions are similarly effective and act independently, the safest or least expensive should be used first. Prophylaxis is rarely warranted in low-risk patients, moderate-risk patients may benefit from a single intervention, and multiple interventions should be reserved for high-risk patients.