Despite appropriate antiepileptic drug treatment, approximately one-third of humans and
dogs with epilepsy continue experiencing seizures, emphasising the importance for new
treatment strategies to improve the quality of life of people or dogs with epilepsy. A
6-month prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over dietary
trial was designed to compare a ketogenic medium-chain TAG diet (MCTD) with a standardised
placebo diet in chronically antiepileptic drug-treated dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Dogs
were fed either MCTD or placebo diet for 3 months followed by a subsequent respective
switch of diet for a further 3 months. Seizure frequency, clinical and laboratory data
were collected and evaluated for twenty-one dogs completing the study. Seizure frequency
was significantly lower when dogs were fed the MCTD (2·31/month, 0–9·89/month) in
comparison with the placebo diet (2·67/month, 0·33–22·92/month, P=0·020);
three dogs achieved seizure freedom, seven additional dogs had ≥50 % reduction in seizure
frequency, five had an overall <50 % reduction in seizures (38·87 %, 35·68–43·27 %)
and six showed no response. Seizure day frequency were also significantly lower when dogs
were fed the MCTD (1·63/month, 0–7·58/month) in comparison with the placebo diet
(1·69/month, 0·33–13·82/month, P=0·022). Consumption of the MCTD also
resulted in significant elevation of blood β-hydroxybutyrate
concentrations in comparison with placebo diet (0·041 (sd 0·004)
v. 0·031 (sd 0·016) mmol/l, P=0·028). There
were no significant changes in serum concentrations of glucose (P=0·903),
phenobarbital (P=0·422), potassium bromide (P=0·404) and
weight (P=0·300) between diet groups. In conclusion, the data show
antiepileptic properties associated with ketogenic diets and provide evidence for the
efficacy of the MCTD used in this study as a therapeutic option for epilepsy
treatment.
Rectal body temperature (BT) has been documented in exercising dogs to monitor thermoregulation, heat stress risk, and performance during physical activity. Eye (BTeye) and ear (BTear) temperature measured with infrared thermography (IRT) were compared to rectal (BTrec) temperature as the reference method and assess alternative sites to track hyperthermia, possibly to establish BTeye IRT as a passive and non-contact method. BT measures were recorded at 09:00, 11:30, 12:30, and 02:30 from Labrador Retrievers (N = 16) and Beagles (N = 16) while sedentary and with 30-min play-exercise (pre- and 0, 15, 30-min post-exercise). Total exercise locomotor activity counts were recorded to compare relative intensity of play-exercise between breeds. BTrec, BTeye, and BTear were measured within 5 min of the target time. Each BT method was analyzed by analysis of variance for main effects of breed and time. Method differences were compared using Bland–Altman plots and linear regression. Sedentary BT differed by breed for BTrec (p < 0.0001), BTear (p < 0.0001), and BTeye (p = 0.06) with Labs having on average 0.3–0.8°C higher BT compared to Beagles. Readings also declined over time for BTeye (p < 0.0001) and BTear (p < 0.0001), but not for BTrec (p = 0.63) for both breeds. Total exercise (30-min) activity counts did not differ (p = 0.53) between breeds. Time and breed interaction was significant in response to exercise for both BTrec and BTear (p = 0.035 and p = 0.005, respectively), with a marginal interaction (p = 0.09) for BTeye. All the three methods detected hyperthermia with Labs having a higher increase compared to Beagles. Both BTear and BTeye were significantly (p < 0.0001) related to BTrec in all dogs with sedentary or exercise activity. The relationship between BTeye and BTrec improved when monitoring exercise hyperthermia (r = 0.674) versus measures at rest (r = 0.381), whereas BTear was significantly related to BTrec regardless of activity (r = 0.615–0.735). Although BT readings were significantly related, method bias (p < 0.02) was observed for BTeye to slightly underestimate BTrec, whereas no bias was observed between BTear and BTrec. This study demonstrates that IRT technology effectively measures both ear and eye temperature and enables effective monitoring of BT changes at rest, with exercise, and between breeds. However, ear, and not eye, temperature is a better reflection of rectal temperature.
Melatonin has been identified in primitive photosynthetic bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals including humans. Vegetables, fruits, cereals, wine, and beers all contain melatonin. However, the melatonin content in meats has not been reported previously. Here, for the first time, we report melatonin in meats, eggs, colostrum, and in other edible food products. The levels of melatonin measured by HPLC, in lamb, beef, pork, chicken, and fish, are comparable to other food stuffs (in the range of ng/g). These levels are significantly higher than melatonin concentrations in the blood of vertebrates. As melatonin is a potent antioxidant, its presence in the meat could contribute to shelf life duration as well as preserve their quality and taste. In addition, the consumption of these foods by humans or animals could have health benefits considering the important functions of melatonin as a potent free radical scavenger and antioxidant.
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