Influence of idiopathic epilepsy on blood pressure and electrocardiography in dogs treated with phenobarbital.

Background and Aim: Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) experience a shortened lifespan, neurobehavioral changes, and an increased risk of comorbidities during the interictal period. There have been several reports of sudden death in humans with epilepsy, suggesting changes in cardiac rhythm secondary to seizures. In veterinary medicine, there are still no such conclusive studies. The present study aimed to evaluate blood pressure values, electrocardiographic findings, and laboratory parameters in dogs with IE treated with phenobarbital and to correlate these findings with possible cardiac alterations. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one dogs were divided into 11 healthy dogs and 10 idiopathic epileptic dogs for blood analysis, computerized electrocardiogram, and oscillometer-based blood pressure measurement. Results: QRS complex and S-T interval values differed significantly between groups, but blood pressure values were not significantly different. Conclusion: IE can occur with alterations in cardiac conduction and is a pathological condition.

Phenotypic Plasticity Index as a Strategy for Selecting Water-Stress-Adapted Coffee Genotypes.

The adaptive potential of plants is commonly used as an indicator of genotypes with higher breeding program potential. However, the complexity and interaction of plant metabolic parameters pose a challenge to selection strategies. In this context, this study aimed to explore phenotypic plasticity within the germplasm of Hybrid Timor coffee. Additionally, we assessed the utility of the multivariate phenotypic plasticity index (MVPi) as a promising tool to predict genotype performance across diverse climatic conditions. To achieve this, we evaluated the performance of seven accessions from the Hybrid Timor germplasm in comparison to the Rubi and IPR 100 cultivars, known for their susceptibility and resistance to drought, respectively. The experiment took place in a greenhouse under two conditions: one with normal soil moisture levels near maximum capacity, and the other with a water deficit scenario involving a period of no irrigation followed by rehydration. Data on physiological and biochemical factors were collected at three stages: before applying the water deficit, during its imposition, and after rehydration. Growth data were obtained by the difference between the beginning and end of the experimental period Furthermore, field evaluations of the productivity of the same genotypes were carried out over two consecutive seasons. Based on physiological and biochemical assessments, the MVPi was computed, employing Euclidean distance between principal component multivariate analysis scores. Subsequently, this index was correlated with growth and productivity data through linear regressions. Our findings reveal that the plastic genotypes that are capable of significantly altering physiological and biochemical parameters in response to environmental stimuli exhibited reduced biomass loss in both aerial and root parts. As a result, this positively influenced their productivity. Enhanced plasticity was particularly prominent in accessions from the MG Germplasm Collection: MG 311-Hybrid Timor UFV 428-02, MG 270-Hybrid Timor UFV 377-21, and MG 279-Hybrid Timor UFV 376-31, alongside the Rubi MG 1192 cultivar. The MVPi emerged as a valuable instrument to assess genotype adaptability and predict their performance under varying climatic scenarios.