Valutazione delle variazioni dell'emogas in gatti con ostruzione urinaria sedati con dexmedetomidina e metadone

Riassunto Parole chiave: metadone, dexmedetomidina, emogas, ostruzione urinaria, gatto. Obiettivo: valutazione dell'efficacia di un protocollo per la sedazione di gatti in corso di ostruzione urinaria composto da metadone e dexmedetomidina e valutazione delle variazioni dell'emogas nel periodo pre- e post-disostruzione. Materiali e Metodi: Nello studio sono stati inclusi undici gatti maschi, presentati per ostruzione urinaria. Tutti i soggetti sono stati visitati alla loro presentazione all'ospedale e sono stati registrati parametri clinici quali frequenza cardiaca, frequenza respiratoria, pressione arteriosa media e temperatura. Sono stati effettuati un emogas ed un prelievo ematico prima della sedazione (PRE). Questa è stata effettuata con la somministrazione combinata intramuscolo di dexmedetomidina (5 mcg/kg) e metadone (0,5 mg/kg) (T0). Il grado della sedazione è stata valutato con un punteggio da 0 a 4 (0= nessuna sedazione, 1= grado lieve, 2= grado moderato, 3= grado elevato), così come la qualità del risveglio (0= pessima, 1= discreta, 2= molto buona, 3=ottima). Una volta sedati, ai gatti è stato posizionato un catetere venoso, per la fluidoterapia con Ringer Lattato, e uno uretrale per risolvere l'ostruzione. I parametri clinici sono stati registrati dopo 2, 4, 8, 12 e 24 ore (T2, T4, T8, T12 e T24). Un secondo campione di sangue è stato prelevato dopo 4 ore dalla disostruzione per la ripetizione dell'emogas e degli esami emato-biochimici. Risultati: L'età ed il peso medi sono stati rispettivamente di 6 ± 4 anni e 5,4 ± 1,6 kg. La sedazione ottenuta con il protocollo anestesiologico è stata considerata da moderata ad elevata in tutti i pazienti (mediana 2, range 2-3). I cateteri venoso ed urinario sono stati posizionati agevolmente in tutti i soggetti. La qualità del risveglio è stata classificata da discreta a ottima in tutti i gatti (mediana 2, range 1-3) e nessuno di essi ha mostrato segni di disforia. Il tempo medio di anuria è stato di 19 ± 9,8 ore. In tutti i gatti si è rivelato uno stato di acidosi metabolica, iperglicemia e alti livelli di creatinina sierica (vedi tabella) mentre gli elettroliti si sono dimostrati scarsamente alterati. 4 ore dopo la disostruzione, solamente i livelli del glucosio ematico sono significativamente diminuiti rispetto al tempo PRE. La frequenza cardiaca, la frequenza respiratoria, la pressione arteriosa media e la temperatura si sono significativamente abbassate dopo la sedazione. L'alterazione di questi parametri è persistita per circa 4 ore dalla somministrazione dei farmaci. Conclusioni: L'associazione di bassi dosaggi di dexmedetomidina e alti dosaggi di metadone si è dimostrata efficace nel provvedere ad una moderata sedazione, ad una buona analgesia e un adeguato miorilassamento e permette la cateterizzazione venosa ed uretrale senza effetti avversi e con un lieve impatto sul sistema cardiovascolare. La via di somministrazione intramuscolare e la possibilità di antagonizzare completamente questi farmaci sono due indubbi vantaggi per questo tipo di procedure. Tutti i gatti hanno presentato alterazioni ematologiche coerenti con quelle riportate in letteratura e dopo 4 ore dalla disostruzione non tutti i parametri sono tornati nella norma. Abstract Key words: methadone, dexmedetomidine, emogasanalysis, urinary obstruction, cat. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of an anaesthetic protocol in cats with urinary obstruction and to evaluate alterations in blood gas analysis performed before and after resolution of the urinary obstruction. Material and Methods: Eleven male cats conducted for urinary obstruction were enrolled in the study. Cats were visited at the arrival and clinical parameter (heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure, temperature) were registered. Samples for venous blood gas analysis were taken (Tpre). All cats were sedate intramuscularly with a mixture of dexmedetomidine (5 mcg/kg) and methadone 0.5 mg/kg. Quality of sedation was recorded with a 4 point scale (0=no sedation, 1 poor sedation, 2= good sedation, 3=profound sedation) as well as the quality of recovery: (0= poor , 1=nice, 2=good, 3=excellent. With cats sedated a venous access assured to administer fluid therapy with lactate ringer solution and an urinary catheter was introduced in order to resolve the obstruction (T0). Clinical parameter were registered after 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours (T2, T4, T8, T12, T24). A second blood sample was taken 4 hours after resolution of urinary obstruction. Results: Mean age and weight were 6 ± 4 years and 5.4 ± 1.6 kg respectively. Sedation obtained with the anaesthetic protocol was considered from good to excellent in all cats (median 2, range 2-3). The venous and the urinary catheter were placed easily in all patients. The quality of recovery was classified from nice to excellent in all cats (median 2, range 1-3), none of the cats showed signs of dysphoria. Mean time of anuria was 19 ± 9.8 hours. All the cats at the arrival showed metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia and high creatinine blood level (see table); electrolytes resulted barely altered. Four hours after resolution of the obstruction only blood glucose concentration was significantly lower in comparison to time PRE. Heart rate significantly decreased after sedation as well as respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure and temperature. Alteration of clinical parameters persisted for about 4 hours after sedation. Discussion – Conclusion: The association with low dosage of dexmedetomidine and quite high dosage of methadone provided good sedation, analgesia and muscle relaxation and permitted the vascular and urinary catheterization without any adverse effects and with slight cardiovascular impact. The intramuscular route of administration and the possibility to completely reversed the sedation were considered positive and appropriate for this kind of procedure. All cats presented haematological alteration consistent with literature and after 4 hours from resolution of obstruction not all the alteration were corrected

Occult macular dystrophy in an Italian family carrying a mutation in the RP1L1 gene.

Occult macular dystrophy (OMD) is an inherited macular disease characterized by progressive visual decline with the absence of visible retinal abnormalities. Typical alterations of the retinal structure are detectable by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD\u2011OCT). Mutations in the RP1L1 gene have been identified to be responsible for the disease in Asian subjects. The present study assessed the role of mutations in the RP1L1 gene in an Italian family with OMD. One patient with OMD and five related subjects (two male offspring affected by progressive visual decline and three asymptomatic siblings of the patient) were subjected to complete ophthalmological examination. SD\u2011OCT was also performed. All subjects were screened for OMD\u2011associated genetic mutations in the RP1L1 gene. The OMD patient and the two symptomatic offspring presented with a reduced best\u2011corrected visual acuity. Although no fundus abnormalities were observed, SD\u2011OCT examination showed that the external limiting membrane and the inner segment/outer segment band were not clearly identifiable and a focal disruption of the photoreceptor layer was present. The degree of photoreceptor alterations was correlated with the severity of visual impairment. Clinical and tomographic results in the three asymptomatic relatives were normal. A p.Arg45Trp mutation in the RP1L1 gene was identified in the OMD patient, in the two symptomatic offspring and also in two of the asymptomatic siblings of the patient. The identification of RP1L1 mutations in subjects with OMD may improve the accuracy of diagnosis of this rare condition and may aid in enhancing the efficacy of genetic counseling

Strangeness Production in pp,pA,AA Interactions at SPS Energies.HIJING Approach

In this report we have made a systematic study of strangeness production in proton-proton(pp),proton-nucleus(pA) and nucleus- nucleus(AA) collisions at CERN Super Proton Synchroton energies, using$\,\,\, HIJING\,\,\, MONTE \,\,\,CARLO \,\,\,MODEL$ \\ (version $HIJ.01$). Numerical results for mean multiplicities of neutral strange particles ,as well as their ratios to negatives hadrons($$) for p-p,nucleon-nucleon(N-N),\,\,p-S,\,\,p-Ag,\,\,p-Au('min. bias')collisions and p-Au,\,\,S-S,\,\,S-Ag,\,\,S-Au ('central')collisions are compared to experimental data available from CERN experiments and also with recent theoretical estimations given by others models. Neutral strange particle abundances are quite well described for p-p,N-N and p-A interactions ,but are underpredicted by a factor of two in A-A interactions for $\Lambda,\bar{\Lambda}, K^{0}_{S}$ in symmetric collisions(S-S,\,\,Pb-Pb)and for $\Lambda,\bar{\Lambda}\,\,$in asymmetric ones(S-Ag,\,\,S-Au,\,\,S-W). A qualitative prediction for rapidity, transverse kinetic energy and transverse momenta normalized distributions are performed at 200 GeV/Nucleon in p-S,S-S,S-Ag and S-Au collisions in comparison with recent experimental data. HIJING model predictions for coming experiments at CERN for S-Au, S-W and Pb-Pb interactions are given. The theoretical calculations are estimated in a full phase space.Comment: 33 pages(LATEX),18 figures not included,available in hard copy upon request , Dipartamento di Fisica Padova,report DFPD-94-NP-4

Cellulase immobilization on superparamagnetic nanoparticles for reuse in cellulosic biomass conversion

Current cellulosic biomass hydrolysis is based on the one-time use of cellulases. Cellulases immobilized on magnetic nanocarriers offer the advantages of magnetic separation and repeated use for continuous hydrolysis. Most immobilization methods focus on only one type of cellulase. Here, we report co-immobilization of two types of cellulases, β-glucosidase A (BglA) and cellobiohydrolase D (CelD), on sub-20 nm superparamagnetic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles demonstrated 100% immobilization efficiency for both BglA and CelD. The total enzyme activities of immobilized BglA and CelD were up to 67.1% and 41.5% of that of the free cellulases, respectively. The immobilized BglA and CelD each retained about 85% and 43% of the initial immobilized enzyme activities after being recycled 3 and 10 times, respectively. The effects of pH and temperature on the immobilized cellulases were also investigated. Co-immobilization of BglA and CelD on MNPs is a promising strategy to promote synergistic action of cellulases while lowering enzyme consumption

Cytogenetic effect of 5-azacytidine in patients with hematological malignancies

BACKGROUND: Recently, the importance of cytogenetics has grown in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes. 5-azacytidine is a drug that has well-known cytogenetical effects and is approved in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. To date, no studies have been performed to evaluate the impact of 5-azacytidine on the chromosomes of patients with hematological neoplasias. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 5-azacytidine on chromosomes of patients with different hematological malignancies using G-band analyses to identify possible cytogenetical alterations. METHODS: The peripheral blood of 18 patients with hematological malignancies and 18 controls was collected in heparinized tubes. 5-azacytidine was added, at a final concentration of 10-5M, to cultures 7 hours prior to harvest. RESULTS: Uncoiled centromeric/pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes-1, 9 and 16 occurred more frequently in the patients than in controls. This higher frequency of uncoiled heterochromatin was statistically significant (p-value = 0.004) for chromosome-9. Conversely, we observed that the fragile site at 19q13 was more frequent in controls (p-value = 0.0468). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that satellite sequences, located in the heterochromatin of chromosome-9, are hypomethylated in hematological malignancies. This hypomethylation may contribute to the disease, activating transposable elements and/or promoting genomic instability, enabling the loss of heterozygosity of important tumor suppressor genes. An investigation of the 19q13 region may help to understand whether or not the predominant occurrence of the fragile site at 19q13 in controls is due to hypermethylation of this region.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Faculdade de Medicina de Marília Hemocentro Genetics LaboratoryUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department de MorphologyFaculdade de Medicina de Marília Hematology DepartmentUniversidade do Sagrado CoraçãoUNIFESP, Department de MorphologySciEL

Heterologous expression and functional characterization of a GH10 endoxylanase from \u3ci\u3eAspergillus fumigatus\u3c/i\u3e var. \u3ci\u3eniveus\u3c/i\u3e with potential biotechnological application

Xylanases decrease the xylan content in pretreated biomass releasing it from hemicellulose, thus improving the accessibility of cellulose for cellulases. In this work, an endo-β-1,4-xylanase from Aspergillus fumigatus var. niveus (AFUMN-GH10) was successfully expressed. The structural analysis and biochemical characterization showed this AFUMN-GH10 does not contain a carbohydrate-binding module. The enzyme retained its activity in a pH range from 4.5 to 7.0, with an optimal temperature at 60°C. AFUMN-GH10 showed the highest activity in beechwood xylan. The mode of action of AFUMNGH10 was investigated by hydrolysis of APTS-labeled xylohexaose, which resulted in xylotriose and xylobiose as the main products. AFUMN-GH10 released 27% of residual xylan from hydrothermally-pretreated corn stover and 14% of residual xylan from hydrothermally-pretreated sugarcane bagasse. The results showed that environmentally friendly pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis with AFUMN-GH10 in low concentration is a suitable method to remove part of residual and recalcitrant hemicellulose from biomass

Beam Test Performance and Simulation of Prototypes for the ALICE Silicon Pixel Detector

The silicon pixel detector (SPD) of the ALICE experiment in preparation at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN is designed to provide the precise vertex reconstruction needed for measuring heavy flavor production in heavy ion collisions at very high energies and high multiplicity. The SPD forms the innermost part of the Inner Tracking System (ITS) which also includes silicon drift and silicon strip detectors. Single assembly prototypes of the ALICE SPD have been tested at the CERN SPS using high energy proton/pion beams in 2002 and 2003. We report on the experimental determination of the spatial precision. We also report on the first combined beam test with prototypes of the other ITS silicon detector technologies at the CERN SPS in November 2004. The issue of SPD simulation is briefly discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, prepared for proceedings of 7th International Position Sensitive Detectors Conference, Liverpool, Sept. 200