Chemical immobilisation of lions: weighing up drug effectiveness versus clinical effects.

Selection of an effective drug combination to immobilise African lions (Panthera leo) requires balancing immobilisation effectiveness with potential side effects. We compared the immobilisation effectiveness and changes to physiological variables induced by three drug combinations used for free-ranging African lions. The lions (12 animals per drug combination) were immobilised with tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine (TZM), ketamine-medetomidine (KM) or ketamine-butorphanol-medetomidine (KBM). Induction, immobilisation, and recovery were timed, evaluated using a scoring system, and physiological variables were monitored. The drugs used for immobilisation were antagonised with atipamezole and naltrexone. The quality of induction was rated as excellent for all drug combinations and induction times (mean ± SD) did not differ between the groups (10.54 ± 2.67 min for TZM, 10.49 ± 2.63 min for KM, and 11.11 ± 2.91 min for KBM). Immobilisation depth was similar over the immobilisation period in the TZM and KBM groups, and initially light, progressing to deeper in lions administered KM. Heart rate, respiratory rate and peripheral arterial haemoglobin saturation with oxygen were within the expected range for healthy, awake lions in all groups. All lions were severely hypertensive and hyperthermic throughout the immobilisation. Following antagonism of immobilising drugs, lions immobilised with KM and KBM recovered to walking sooner than those immobilised with TZM, at 15.29 ± 10.68 min, 10.88 ± 4.29 min and 29.73 ± 14.46 min, respectively. Only one lion in the KBM group exhibited ataxia during recovery compared to five and four lions in the TZM and KM groups, respectively. All three drug combinations provided smooth inductions and effective immobilisations but resulted in hypertension. KBM had an advantage of allowing for shorter, less ataxic recoveries.

An update on the replica denture technique.

UNLABELLED: This paper reviews the principles of the replica denture technique, including some of the techniques previously described. The failing of any previous technique to cater for specific support problems is brought to light and the remainder of the article is devoted to describing how the replica denture technique may be modified to treat patients more appropriately and, hopefully, result in better treatment outcomes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This article offers general dental practitioners a practical guide on how to adapt a useful denture replication technique to suit patients with denture-support problems.

Clinical examination of subjects with halitosis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and apply a detailed clinical protocol for screening and assessing subjects with a complaint of halitosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Several methods were used to recruit subjects with a complaint of halitosis, including a newspaper advertisement. A definition of halitosis arising from within the oral cavity, which is not related to generalized chronic gingivitis, chronic periodontitis or pathology of the oral mucosa was used. An extensive list of exclusion criteria was applied at the initial visit. Eligible subjects were asked to follow strict instructions and complete a questionnaire prior to their second visit for data collection. The clinical examination consisted of an organoleptic assessment, Halimeter reading and periodontal examination. RESULTS: The best method of recruiting subjects was advertising. Of 66 individuals recruited, four failed to attend the screening visit and 25 were excluded. The main reasons for exclusion were poor oral hygiene and existing periodontal disease. Thirty-seven completed the full protocol, resulting in identification of 18 with halitosis and 19 controls. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the exclusion criteria resulted in significant attrition of eligible participants. Our results suggest that organoleptic assessment should be regarded as a useful standard for defining subjects with halitosis.

Microbiological culture analysis of the tongue anaerobic microflora in subjects with and without halitosis.

OBJECTIVE: Determination of the microflora present on the tongue dorsum of subjects with and without halitosis using conventional microbiological culture methods. METHODS: Twenty-one halitosis and 20 control patients were recruited using a strict clinical protocol. Samples were collected from the posterior dorsum of the tongue using a sterile brush. Each sample was vortex mixed for 30 s and serial 10-fold dilutions to 10(-7) were carried out. Samples were plated onto fastidious anaerobe agar (FAA) and FAA enriched with vancomycin. These were incubated under anaerobic conditions for 10 days at 37 degrees C. Strict anaerobes were identified by metronidazole sensitivity and bacteria were identified to genus level by a combination of colony morphology, Gram staining and biochemical and enzymatic tests (rapid ID 32 A). RESULTS: The predominant species in test and control groups were Veillonella sp. and Prevotella sp. Greater species diversity was found in the halitosis samples compared with controls. The halitosis samples contained an increased incidence of unidentifiable Gram-negative rods, Gram-positive rods and Gram-negative coccobacilli. CONCLUSIONS: There was no obvious association between halitosis and any specific bacterial genus. The increased species diversity found in halitosis samples suggests that halitosis may be the result of complex interactions between several bacterial species. The role of uncultivable bacteria may also be important in contributing to this process.