Cardiac activity in walleye (Sander vitreus) during exposure to and recovery from chemical anaesthesia, electroanaesthesia and electrostunning.

Handling and conducting invasive procedures are necessary for aspects of fisheries science, invariably inducing a stress response and imposing energetic demands on fish. Anaesthesia or immobilisation techniques are often used in an attempt to mitigate stress and improve welfare, yet these also come with their own impacts on post-release recovery. Here, the authors investigated whether changes in cardiac activity (heart rates over time, heart rate maxima, and scopes) differed in adult walleye (Sander vitreus) anaesthetised with AQUI-S® 20E (eugenol), electroanaesthetised with a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit or electrostunned with a commercially developed stunning unit. This experiment was divided into two trials. In the first trial, fish were implanted with heart rate loggers and left to recover for c. 4 days. In the second trial, fish were implanted with heart rate loggers, given 3 days to recover and re-exposed to their initial treatments (excluding surgery). Post-treatment cardiac activity was quantified for both trials. Although highly variable across individuals, the authors found no significant differences in heart rate changes over time or recovery times among treatments. Maximum heart rates were consistent among treatment groups, yet significant differences in heart rate scope provided further evidence of strong interindividual variation in the second trial. Based on these results, the authors did not identify any welfare-relevant differences or concerns associated with one treatment over another. Further investigations of the relationships between measures of cardiac function and other physiological stress markers would be beneficial towards identifying best practices for fish handling in fisheries science.

A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC FACTORS INFLUENCING INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN BROOK TROUT (SALVELINUS FONTINALIS).

Reference intervals of intraocular pressure (IOP) are poorly described in piscine species as the factors that may influence it. Rebound tonometry was used to measure IOP in 28 adult brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) anesthetized in a buffered solution of 60 mg/L tricaine methanesulfonate (n = 16) or restrained with electronarcosis (n = 12) at 16 mA. There was no significant effect of the eye side, sex, fish origin, and body weight, but IOP values were significantly higher with electronarcosis (mean ± SD: 16.4 ± 5.0 mm Hg) than with immersion anesthesia (10.8 ± 3.3 mm Hg; P = 0.0017). The same restraint method should be used for comparison with previously published IOP values or when evaluating individual variations over time.

Physicochemical and biochemical parameters of chicken breast meat influenced by stunning methods.

The influence of stunning methods on the physicochemical and biochemical parameters of chicken breast meat, as indicators of bird stress, was investigated. A total of 200 Cobb broiler chickens aged from 42 to 48 d were submitted to gas or electrical stunning and slaughtered according to the standard industry practice. Pectoralis major muscles (24 h post-mortem) from broilers stunned by electronarcosis exhibited a higher L* and R-value and lower pH45min than did those from gas stunning, indicating modification of the glycolytic rate. Protease activity, measured as the myofibril fragmentation index, and the sarcoplasmic Ca2+ concentration were highest in samples from broilers stunned by electronarcosis, suggesting the greatest activity of the calpain system. In the fatty acid profile, a higher ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed in samples from broilers stunned by electronarcosis. These characteristics are related to phospholipase A2 activity, which is higher in animal stress conditions. These results indicated that the gas-stunning method produced less bird stress than electrical stunning.

Effect of electrical and controlled atmosphere stunning methods on broiler chicken behavior at slaughter, blood stress indicators and meat traits / Efeito da eletronarcose e do método de insensibilização por atmosfera controlada no comportamento das aves ao abate, nos indicadores sanguíneos de estresse e nas características da carne

Brazil is the world's largest exporter and third largest producer of chicken meat. To maintain competitiveness, the productive sector must always be alert to consumer demands, and concern about animal welfare is a growing tendency. Aspects involving animal welfare are especially critical in the slaughter of broiler chickens. This study evaluated the stunning of chickens in a CO2- enriched atmosphere chamber to reduce bird stress, comparing with electrical water bath stunning, the most usual desensitization method used in chicken slaughter. The reaction of birds when exposed to a high CO2 concentration (30%) and to a 10% initial CO2 level, gradually elevated to 30% was compared. The effect of mixing argon with CO2 was also evaluated, always aiming to reduce the discomfort of birds. In all the gas stunning parameters evaluated, evident discomfort reactions before stunning were observed in about two thirds of the birds, but the blood levels of corticosterone and glucose, used as stress indicators, indicated that gas increased the birds' welfare. Gas exposure time required to stun the birds and time to regain consciousness after exiting the gas chamber presented a wide variation. Controlled atmosphere stunning method facilitated bird handling during slaughter, but more studies will be necessary to develop this technological alternative and make it viable for industrial use.(AU)

O Brasil é o maior exportador e terceiro maior produtor mundial de carne de frango. A fim de manter a competitividade, o setor produtivo deve estar sempre alerta às exigências dos consumidores e a preocupação com o bem-estar animal é uma tendência crescente. Aspectos envolvendo bem-estar animal são particularmente críticos no abate de frangos de corte. Este estudo avaliou a insensibilização de frangos em uma câmara com atmosfera enriquecida deCO2para reduzir o estresse das aves, em comparação com a insensibilização elétrica em cuba d'água, o método de atordoamento mais usual no abate de frangos. Foi comparada a reação das aves quando expostas a uma alta concentração de CO2 (30%) ou a uma concentração inicial de 10% de CO2, elevada gradualmente até 30%. O efeito da mistura de argônio com CO2 também foi avaliado, sempre visando a redução das reações de desconforto das aves. Cerca de dois terços das aves apresentaram reações evidentes de desconforto antes do atordoamento, em todos os parâmetros de insensibilização gasosa utilizados, porém, as concentrações sanguíneas de corticosterona e glicose, usados como indicadores de estresse, indicaram que a insensibilização com CO2 promoveu o bem-estar das aves. O tempo de exposição ao CO2 necessário para o atordoamento das aves e o tempo de recuperação da consciência após a saída da câmara de gás apresentou ampla variação. A insensibilização por atmosfera controlada de CO2 facilitou o manejo das aves durante o abate, mas serão necessários mais estudos para desenvolver essa alternativa tecnológica, de forma a torná-la viável para aplicação industrial.(AU)

Electroanaesthesia--from torpedo fish to TENS.

In 153 AD, the Roman physician Scribonius Largus identified that electric current had analgesic properties, instructing patients to stand on an electric ray for the treatment of gout. In 2014, transcranial magnetic stimulation was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for the treatment of migraine. Although separated by nearly two millennia, these milestones represent the evolution of the utilisation of electric current in medical and anaesthetic practice. Significant advances have been made over the last century in particular, and during the 1960s and 1970s, tens of thousands of patients were reportedly anaesthetised for surgical interventions using electric current as the anaesthetic agent. Many medical interventions, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation, have evolved in the aftermath of investigations into electroanaesthesia; the potential for electric current to be an anaesthetic agent of the future still exists.

[The influence of electrosleep therapy on the dynamics of the parameters of biorhythmic hormonal activity in the children presenting with extrasystolic arrhythmia in the course of the spa and resort-based treatment].

UNLABELLED: Heart rhythm disorders occupy a leading place in the modern structure of cardiovascular diseases in the children. At present, the role of stress-induced reactions in the development of more than a thousand diseases has been proved. Rehabilitation of systemic manifestations of extrasystolic arrhythmia (EA) in the children is only scarcely described in the literature. AIM: The objective of the present work was to improve the effectiveness of the spa and resort-based treatment of the children presenting with extrasystolic arrhythmia taking advantage of the available information about the different biorhythmic activities of the stress-realizing and stress-limiting systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 60 children presenting with EA, who received a standard combination of spa and resort-based therapeutic modalities in conjunction with electro-sleep therapy. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The study revealed desynchronization of the endocrine functions in the children with EA that manifests itself as the increased secretion of cortisol and adrenaline, suppressed melatonin and ACTH production, mismatched daytime and nocturnal hormonal levels. The daily bio-rhythmic profile influenced the formation of circadian-type extra systola in the children. The most unfavorable clinical and electrocardiographic patterns were observed in the children with the mixed and night-type arrhythmia. The complex of rehabilitation measures practiced at the Evpatoriya health resort including electro-sleep therapy made it possible to balance the activities of the stress-limiting and stress-implementing systems of the body in the form of normalization of the altered levels of adaptive hormones, ordering of biorhythmical hormonal relationships, and reduction of the number of extrasystoles. The most pronounced effect of the treatment was observed in the group of children with a rare and day-type of arrhythmia to whom electrosleep was prescribed. It is concluded that the significant decrease in the frequency of night-type and mixed-type extrasystoles under effect of electro-sleeptherapy allows to recommend the treatment modality being considered for the correction of this type of heart rhythm disorders.

Effect of tricainemethanesulfonate (MS222), clove oil and electro-anaesthesia on respiratory burst activity in whole blood and serum alternative complement response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), during the narcosis stage.

There is a little available information on the suppressive effect of anaesthesia on immune response in fish, especially electro-anaesthesia. In the present study, two anaesthetics, MS222 (50 ppm), clove oil (25 ppm), and electro-anaesthesia were tested in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during the narcosis stage in order to observe their effects on the innate immune system. The results showed that electro-anaesthesia reduces light emission in chemiluminescence assay both 1 and 24 h post anaesthesia. Clove oil and MS222 decreased light emission 24 h post anaesthesia. In addition, clove oil, MS222 and electro-anaesthesia had no effect on alternative complement (ACH50) response. From the perspective of aquaculture practice, these data show that the type of anaesthesia should be taken into account to avoid possible immunosuppression in rainbow trout.

[The combined rehabilitative treatment of the children with obesity and metabolic syndrome].

The present study included a total of 66 children at the age from 11 to 16 years with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The latter condition in the childhood and adolescence is characterized by the pronounced disturbances of basal metabolism, vasoactive systems, psychoemotional status, and regulatory hormonal functions that determine the choice of rehabilitative modalities. The combined treatment of such disturbances is considered to be an efficacious method for the rehabilitation of these patients. It is recommended that cortexin be prescribed to the children presenting with obesity and metabolic syndrome because this medication promotes correction of the hormonal and metabolic status and improves the brain cognitive function.

[Anesthesiological support of operative interventions in the injured persons, suffering a cold trauma].

Basing on analysis of the treatment results in 74 injured persons with a cold trauma there was proved, that during operative interventions performance a total intravenous anesthesy and a spinal cord anesthesy are used most frequently. Inhalation anesthesy and conducting methods of anesthesy ought to be used more frequently, because a total intravenous anesthesy is a lesser guided one and a spinal cord anesthesy may cause a severe hypotension in the injured persons.

Comparison of lipid oxidation, messenger ribonucleic acid levels of avian uncoupling protein, avian adenine nucleotide translocator, and avian peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α in skeletal muscles from electrical- and gas-stunned broilers.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of stunning methods [electrical stunning (ES) vs. gas stunning (GS)] on lipid oxidation in broiler meat and to investigate possible mechanisms of lipid oxidation by measuring plasma variables, muscle reactive oxygen species (ROS), and TBA reactive substance (TBARS) concentrations, muscle fiber ratios, and mRNA levels of avian uncoupling protein (avUCP), avian adenine nucleotide translocator, and avian peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (avPGC-1α). Arbor Acres broilers (n = 36) were not stunned (control) or were exposed to the following stunning treatments: 40% CO(2) + 21% O(2) + N(2); 60% CO(2) + 21% O(2) + N(2); 35 V, 47 mA, 400 Hz; 50 V, 67 mA, 160 Hz; and 65 V, 86 mA, 1,000 Hz. The ROS level in tibialis anterior (TA; P < 0.05) and the TBARS concentration in pectoralis major (PM; P < 0.01) were decreased in the GS groups compared with the ES groups at 45 min postmortem. However, the TBARS concentrations at 24 h postmortem in the PM and TA groups were not affected by stunning method (ES or GS). Compared with ES, GS caused greater expression of avUCP mRNA (1.47-fold in PM, and 2.41-fold in TA) and avPGC-1α mRNA (1.42-fold in PM, and 2.08-fold in TA). In conclusion, the upregulation of avUCP and avPGC-1α reduced ROS accumulation and lipid oxidation at 45 min postmortem in the skeletal muscles of broilers stunned with hypercapnic moderate oxygenation GS. However, these changes were not sufficient to cause a difference in meat lipid oxidation at 24 h postmortem between broilers stunned with hypercapnic moderate oxygenation GS and those stunned with low-current, high-frequency ES.

Effect of electrical stunning current and frequency on meat quality, plasma parameters, and glycolytic potential in broilers.

This study was designed to determine the effect of electrical stunning variables (low currents and high frequencies) on meat quality, glycolytic potential, and blood parameters in broilers. A total of 54 broilers were stunned with 9 electrical stunning methods for 18 s using sinusoidal alternating currents combining 3 current levels (35 V, 47 mA; 50 V, 67 mA; and 65 V, 86 mA) with 3 frequencies (160, 400, and 1,000 Hz). Samples for meat quality were obtained from the pectoralis major (PM) and musculus iliofibularis (MI), and samples for glycogen metabolism were taken from the PM and tibialis anterior muscle at 45 min postmortem. The use of high frequency reduced the shear value in PM (400 and 1,000 Hz vs. 160 Hz; P < 0.01) and cooking loss in MI (1,000 Hz vs. 160 and 400 Hz; P < 0.01). The shear value of PM decreased at high frequency (400 and 1,000 Hz) when current was high (50 V, 67 mA and 65 V, 86 mA; P < 0.01) but increased at high frequency (1,000 Hz) when current was low (35 V, 47 mA). Stunning with 1,000 Hz (vs. 160 Hz) caused low glycogen and glycolytic potential in PM (P < 0.05). Plasma corticosterone decreased (P < 0.05) at high currents (≥50 V, 67 mA) but was not affected by changes in frequency. Electrical current interacted with frequency in plasma glucose, redness 24 h postmortem, shear value (PM), pH 24 h postmortem (MI), and glycolytic potential (tibialis anterior; P < 0.05). This study indicated that high stunning frequencies (400 and 1,000 Hz) may improve meat quality without aggregating stress when the current was not too low (>50 V, 67 mA).

Comparison of blood variables, fiber intensity, and muscle metabolites in hot-boned muscles from electrical- and gas-stunned broilers.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of gas stunning (GS) and electrical stunning (ES) on energy metabolism in Arbor Acres broilers. Thirty-six birds were slaughtered without stunning (control) or after stunning with the following treatments: 40% CO(2) + 21% O(2) + N(2) (G40%); 60% CO(2) + 21% O(2) + N(2) (G60%); 35 V, 47 mA, 400 Hz (E35V); 50 V, 67 mA, 160 Hz (E50V); and 65 V, 86 mA, 1,000 Hz (E65V). Muscle samples were obtained from the pectoralis major (breast) and tibialis anterior (leg) muscles in ambient temperature within 45 min postmortem and stored at -80°C. Blood pH decreased consistently with GS (G40% and G60%) compared with ES and the control (P < 0.01). No consistent differences were observed between GS and ES in the plasma variables, glycolytic potential, adenosine phosphates, or fiber intensities. Plasma lactate increased with G40% and E35V (P < 0.05), whereas plasma uric acid and urea nitrogen increased with E35V (P < 0.05) compared with the control. Compared with the control, the intensity of type IIB fibers decreased in broilers stunned with E35V and E50V (P < 0.05) and glycolytic potential increased (P < 0.01) with G60% in the breast muscle and decreased (P < 0.01) in the leg muscle with all the stunning treatments except for E50V. Energy decreased (lower adenosine triphosphate, higher adenosine monophosphate, and adenosine monophosphate:adenosine triphosphate ratio, P < 0.05) in breast muscle with G40% compared with ES at high currents (E50V and E65V). However, the adenosine phosphates with GS were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from ES at low current (E35V) in either breast or leg muscle. In conclusion, no essential difference in energy metabolism was found in broilers stunned with ES and GS when ES was based on low current and high frequency and GS was based on hypercapnic moderate oxygenation. This study indicated that G40% was potentially a superior stunning variable.

The use of Eugenol and electro-narcosis as anaesthetics: transcriptional impacts on the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.).

Ecotoxicological studies aim to assess the potential environmental risks of various products. This implies the use of various biological models and tests on live animals. In case of handling fish and mammals, ethical rules have to be respected. The use of anaesthesia is considered to be the best way to ensure animal welfare. Eugenol and electro-narcosis are among the most popular chemical and physical anaesthetics used in fisheries and by field biologists. In this study, the genetic and endocrine impacts of these anaesthetics were assessed in order to establish whether the use of such methods could skew the results of ecotoxicological studies. Twenty yellow European eels (Anguilla anguilla) were submitted to Eugenol (50mg/L) and electro-narcosis until they reached a level of deep anaesthesia, while 20 other eels were kept aware. Five anaesthetized and five unanaesthetized eels were sacrificed and analysed directly after treatment and after 1, 7 and 21 days of recovery. At the brain level, Eugenol triggered an increase in the transcription level of genes encoding proteins involved in oxidative stress responses (catalase expression 2.5-fold, mitochondrial superoxide dismutase expression 3-fold), probably due to a hypoxic event during anaesthesia. Later impacts were detected in muscles 21 days after anaesthesia (ATP synthase subunit 6 3-fold, NADH deshydrogenase subunit 5 4-fold and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 3-fold increased) revealing oxidative stress from an accrued mitochondrial respiratory metabolism. Hormone dosages showed that the use of Eugenol reduced the release of plasma cortisol during anaesthesia. However, this impact seemed to be reversible within one day. In case of electro-narcosis, no significant variation in transcriptional levels could be detected between anaesthetized and unanaesthetized eels. Our results suggest that the use of Eugenol as an aesthetic in ecotoxicological studies measuring gene expression or plasma cortisol concentration is not appropriate, while electro-narcosis does not seem to have any impact, at least on the parameters taken into consideration in this study.

Effect of different gas stunning methods on Manchega suckling lamb meat packed under different modified atmospheres.

Forty-nine Manchega breed male suckling lambs were used in this experiment. The effect of CO(2) concentration and exposure time at stunning [80% CO(2) for 90 s (G1); 90% CO(2) for 90 s (G2); 90% CO(2) for 60 s (G3); 80% CO(2) for 60 s (G4)] plus an electrically stunned control group (G5) was assessed for pH, colour (L(*), a(*), b(*), C(*) and h(*)), water holding capacity (WHC), drip loss (DL), cooking loss (CL) and shear force (SF) in samples packed under two different types of modified atmospheres (MA: MA A: 70%O(2)+30%CO(2); MA B: 69.3%N(2)+30%CO(2)+0.7%CO) at 7, 14 and 21 d post-packaging. The lowest pH was found in G4 and in G5. The highest WHC and the lowest CL were found in G2 and G3 groups (P<0.05). Modified atmospheres did not affect on pH, WHC, CL and DL, although a significant effect (P<0.001) on colour was found at all the analysis times. Both the type of stunning and the modified atmosphere affected SF values.

Physiological responses of Manchega suckling lambs: Effect of stunning with different CO(2) concentrations and exposure times.

Four groups of Manchega breed suckling lambs, stunned with different CO(2) concentrations and exposure times (G1: 80% CO(2) 90s; G2: 90% CO(2) 90s; G3: 90% CO(2) 60s; G4: 80% CO(2) 60s) plus an electrically stunned control group (G5), were used to determine (1) the physiological responses (hormonal, haematological and biochemical blood parameters) of animals after stunning and (2) the stunning effectiveness in each group. No significant differences were found among groups for hormonal levels. Within haematological parameters, significant differences among groups were only found for haemoglobin (P<0.05) and leucocytes (P<0.01), with lowest values in both groups stunned with 90% CO(2). There were significant differences between groups (P<0.01) for urea and total protein, creatinine and LDH (P<0.05; lowest and highest, respectively, for G1) and for sodium (P<0.001; lowest in G3). Stunning effectiveness was highest in G5, G3 and G1 groups and lowest in G2 and G4 (100%, 90%, 89%, 50% and 43%, respectively). According to discriminant analysis, sodium, leucocytes and creatinine marked the differences among stunning groups.

A study of preslaughter pig handling and stunning in selected South African Highveld Region abattoirs.

The study hypothesis was that pre-slaughter handling is not conducted in such a way that pigs can be considered humanely slaughtered, nor is it conducive to promoting those properties of fresh meat that could enhance pork quality. The 1st phase of the investigation was aimed at confirming the present compliance level within the prescribed norms. To this end the importance of stunning induction requirements for effective electrical stunning, the welfare implications relating to the pre-slaughter handling of pigs and the stunning and sticking techniques were investigated. Pre-slaughter welfare of the pigs at the abattoir was found to be influenced at the outset by the origin and type of pig slaughtered, the daily throughput range of pigs and the type of abattoir involved. A disappointing pre-arrival aspect was that deficiencies in road motor vehicles were observed while off-loading pigs. Through poor design or lack of maintenance, another factor that hampered free movement of pigs was the off-loading facilities. The nature of animal behaviour in the pens, in the passages and when going into the stunning area was directly related to the pig handling efficiency and to the nature and extent of design and maintenance problems with equipment. None of the abattoirs had a well designed in-feed to a well planned stunning area/facility, and a very high level of pig pre-slaughter stress prevailed. The optimum position of the electrodes is virtually impossible to attain under practical conditions and the practice of repeat application of electrical stunning is common. Of the total sample size (n = 1175), 34% were difficult to shackle, 90% of these being from the abattoirs tending to slaughter more routinely a wide range of different sized pigs. In this survey 149 pigs (13%) required more than a single sticking attempt to bleed out properly, considerably higher than in other published reports.

[Non-medication treatment of patients with chronic cystitis].

Combined application of ultrasound, modulated sinusoidal currents (MSC), and iodine-bromine baths is known to be a highly efficacious method for the rehabilitative treatment of patients with chronic cystitis in the phase of latent inflammation. The present study has demonstrated that combination of ultrasound with electrotherapeutic sleep and iodine-bromine baths exerts pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and bacteriostatic action whereas modulated sinusoidal currents combined with electrotherapeutic sleep and iodine-bromine baths significantly improve urodynamics in the lower urinary tract and produce marked anesthetic effect. Evaluation of the immediate and long-term results of the treatment of 16 patients presenting with chronic cystitis revealed the absence of exacerbation of infectious and inflammatory processes in the bladder within 6 months after physiotherapy

Estudo comparativo da atividade do sistema nervoso autônomo através da variabilidade da frequencia cardíaca em trabalhadores noturnos e diurnos / Comparartive study of the independent nervous system activity through the heart rate variability in nocturnal and diurnal workers

O estudo tem como objetivo comparar as alterações físicas entre os trabalhadores diurnos e noturnos. A alteração avaliada foi a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca através do Nerve Express. Também avaliamos a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos através de questionários respondidos antes dos testes. Mensuramos o quanto a ausência do sono noturno influencia na qualidade de vida das pessoas. Percebemos que os indivíduos trabalhadores do período noturno apresentaram melhores resultados quando avaliados em relação à variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, apesar de nos questionários demonstrarem uma maior insatisfação com a qualdiade do sono. Já quando questionados em relação à qualidade de vida ambos os grupos demonstram em sua maioria estarem satisfeitos. Acreditamos que os resultados possuem relação direta com o fato de não possuírem a presença direta de seus superiores.

The study has as objective to compare the physical alterations between the diurnal and nocturnal workers. the alteration evaluated ws the heart variability through nerve express. We also evaluated the quality of life of the individuals through questionnaires answered before the tests. We were able to measure how much the absence of nocturnal sleep influences in the quality of life of life of the people. We realized that the industrious individuals of the nocturnal period presented better results when evaluated regarding the heart variability, despite of in the questionnaires they showed a bigger dissatisfaction with the quality of the sleep. When they were questioned regarding the quality of life, both groups showed, in their majority is satisfied. We believe that the results have straight relation with the fact of the nocturnal workers work in a rhythm less accelerated than the diurnal one, by be not commercial schedule and of not have the straight presence of his superiors.