These results suggest that rabbit models of limbal stem cell deficiency must be rigorously screened for use in preclinical studies to ensure experimental homogeneity because protocols used to create limbal stem cell deficiency could be not associated with good intra-laboratory reproducibility of clinical features. Limbal stem cell deficiency, as induced herein, altered the optical anisotropic properties of the corneal stroma. Such alterations are indicative of changes in collagen packing and the spatial orientation of glycosaminoglycan chains from proteoglycans. Knowledge of these changes is important to potentiate strategies aimed at restoring the morphofunctional integrity of the corneal stroma affected by limbal stem cell deficiency.

Objective was to evaluate the echotexture and characteristics during terminal development of canine foetal respiratory and hepatic systems through elastographic examinations. Fifteen pregnant bitches were evaluated by ultrasonography twice daily, from the 53rd gestational day until whelping, and images obtained from 120 to 0 h before parturition were analysed. Images of foetal lungs and liver were recorded and then used for computer-assisted analyses to determine quantitative attributes. Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) elastographic of internal organs were classified as 'soft' (white areas) or 'hard' (dark areas) and quantitative analyses determined the mean shear wave velocities (SWV) of foetal lungs and liver. After delivery, canine neonates were clinically evaluated, and their health status was monitored weekly until 60 days post-partum. Sonographic parameters over time were compared by ANOVA and Pearson's correlations were used to determine associations between SWVs and echotextural variables. Foetal lungs and liver had a homogeneous echotexture and pulmonary parenchyma appeared hyperechoic when compared with that of the liver. Mean numerical pixel values (NPVs) of lungs decreased from 120 to 24 h and subsequently increased until parturition (P = 0.04). Lungs and liver mean (± SD) SWVs (0.98 ± 0.12 and 0.84 ± 0.11 m/s, respectively) didn't vary (P > 0.05) over time. Fluctuations in pulmonary NPVs indicated there was a pattern corresponding to structural and functional changes that occur during the terminal stage of pre-natal canine development and hence can be a useful diagnostic tool in veterinary. Foetal lung and liver SWVs were relatively consistent and there was no detectable changes during the pre-partum period for this variable or in echotexture.

Background: Mastectomy, a procedure with high pain stimulation, is the treatment of choice for bitches with breast cancer. Tumescent anaesthesia is widely used for transoperative and postoperative analgesia in bitches submitted to mastectomy, because facilitates tissue divulsion, also contributing significantly for the rapid recovery of patients. Although, there is no consensus as to which local anesthetic to use and at what concentration it should be used. Herein was investigated which local anesthetics, lidocaine or ropivacaine, when used in tumescent solutions, could provide a more lasting analgesic effect in the postoperative period in bitches submitted to radical unilateral mastectomy.Materials, Methods & Results: Sixteen bitches were sedated with chlorpromazine (0.3 mg/kg) and meperidine (3 mg/kg) followed by anesthesia with propofol and isofluorane. Then, bitches were randomly assigned to two groups (n= 8 each): LG group, infused with 15 mL/kg of tumescence solution containing 0.1% lidocaine; and RG group, infused with 15 mL/kg of tumescence solution with 0.1% ropivacaine. The study was conducted in a double-blind fashion. Control group did not include, because the patients would be submitted to severe or unbearable pain, according to the short-form of the Glasgow pain Scale (CMPS-SF). The heart (HR) and respiratory (ƒ) rates, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured in the pre-operative period and immediately after extubation (Mextub) and at 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, and 12 h after the extubation. Analgesic efficacy was assessed using the CMPS-SF and von Frey filaments. Both groups showed higher means for HR at 0.5 h (167 ± 7 in LG; 170 ± 7 in RG) than at 4 h (117 ± 7 in LG; 120 ± 7 in RG). CMPS-SF revealed higher medians (P= 0.038) at the Mextub and 12 h time points for the LG [5 (3-6) and 1 (0-2)] than for the RG [5 (2-5) and 0 (0-1)].Discussion: Pain was excluded as a possible explanation for the difference presented for HR in both groups because, moderate pain is considered when more than two cardiorespiratory parameters show an increase of at least 20% in relation to baseline values, which did not occur in this study. Indeed, most animals were walking at 0.5 h after extubation and, in many cases, this occurred before the collection of data for the postoperative period. This may have influenced the results since exercise releases catecholamines and increases HR. Moreover at 4 h after extubation, most animals were asleep. As metabolism decreases during sleep, expected that HR would also decrease and that was indeed the case. Regarding CMPS-SF, the way the patients walks was the item that most contributed to the high score found for the Mextub time point because it's impossible to be performed seconds after extubation. As the reluctance to move occurred only immediately after extubation, the values obtained at the Mextub time point are more likely to be due to an anesthetic residual effect and not to the pain stimulus itself. When the groups were compared, the median values obtained at the LG were greater than RG at the Mextub and 12 h postoperative time points.  There was no need for analgesic rescue differing from those in literature that reported the need for analgesic rescue in 50% of the animals. Those study established a CMPS-SF score of 3.3 as indicative for analgesic rescue whereas our research established a score of 7. Tumescence solutions with lidocaine or ropivacaine provide equivalent postoperative analgesia for at least 12 h.

Background: The Crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) is a nocturnal mammal and lives in savannah, but loss of their natural habitat makes increase cases of traffic accidents on the roads. A growing number of wildlife are treated in veterinary hospitals, but we have some limitation about the correct interpretation of the diagnostic test, specially because, even the tests were not described. Myelography is a radiographic technique indicated for compressive lesions of the spinal cord that are not seen on plain radiographs. The present report aims to describe, for the first time, a lumbar myelogram performed in a paraplegic crab-eating raccoon after it suffer a traffic trauma.Case: A free living adult, 8-kg, female raccoon was presenting acute paraplegia and swelling in the region of the left humerus was referred at veterinary hospital. The patient was alert and aggressive, good body score and no signs of active bleeding. The animal temper did not allow approaching it; therefore, physical and neurological examinations were not feasible. The raccoon was tranquilized (1.6 mL of nilperidol® intramuscular), anesthetized (propofol, dose-effect intra­venous) and tracheal intubation to provide oxygen and the patient was monitored continuously, followed by referred for radiology service. The simple radiograph showed a complete transverse fracture in the humerus and compression fracture of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12), being then indicated the myelographic examination to assess the extent of spinal cord compression. The lumbar region was surgical antisepsis prepared. After being properly positioned in lateral decubitus with moderate cranial flexion of the trunk, the patient underwent lumbar puncture by inserting a spinal needle between the 5th and 6th intervertebral lumbar spaces. The spinal needle was introduced slightly caudolaterally to the spinous process of the 6th lumbar vertebra and cranioventrally directed at an angle of 45º. Then, the needle was pierced through the ligamentum flavum and the dura mater while, concomitantly, we observed the tail moving and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) output while the contrast was injected. The contrast iohexol (300 mg/mL) was used at a dose of 0.25 mL/kg. Immediately after the slow injection of contrast (approximately 3 min), radiographs were taken in the latero-lateral and ventrodorsal projections to identify the location of the spinal cord disorder. The extension degree of the lesion was evidenced by the reduction of the contrast column width at the location of instability. The patient was referred for surgical decompression and stabilization.Discussion: In cases where paraplegia results from trauma, spinal radiography and myelography are important means to confirm the diagnosis, specially the extent of the compression and prognosis. There are certain risks inherent in the myelography procedure as arrhythmias and bradycardia during collection, transient apnea during contrast injection and seizures during recovery. Furthermore, deteriorating neurological signs, emesis, urinary retention and hyperthermia are other possible complications. Most of these complications are seen predominantly during cervical myelography compared to lumbar puncture because in the first exam, the contrast hardly reaches the brain and there is no risk of iatrogenic injury to the medulla oblongata. To minimize the neurotoxic effects, the ideal contrast should be radiopaque, water soluble, mis­cible with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), nontoxic and removed from the CSF by physiological processes. Iohexol contrast was used effectively, without neurotoxicity upon clinical evaluation while the volume used was sufficient to determine the injury site. The reported case demonstrated the possibility of performing lumbar myelography on Procyon cancrivorus effectively without significant complications or difficulties.Keywords: wildlife, neurology, myelographic examination, Procyon cancrivoru.

Conception and design of the study; acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; technical procedures.

This paper evaluated the effects of the ratio of nitrous oxide to oxygen (50% of each) on cardiovascular parameters in pigs anesthetized with propofol and maintained in ventilation with intermittent positive pressure. Sixteen Large White pigs, weighing between 15 and 20 kg, were divided into two groups of eight animals, and designated as follows: GPN (propofol/nitrous oxide) and GPA (propofol/compressed air). In order to allow endotracheal intubation, the animals received azaperone (2 mg kg -1 , IM) followed, after 20 minutes, by intravenous propofol. After successful intubation, continuous infusion of propofol was initiated at a dose of 0.4 mg kg -1 minute -1 . From this point, the GPN group received N 2 O (diluted in 50% oxygen), while the GPA group received compressed air (diluted in 50% oxygen). Rocuronium was then administered by continuous intravenous infusion at 0.6 mg kg -1 h -1 . Pressurecontrolled ventilation (PCV) was started and adjusted to 15 cmH 2 O, and the respiratory rate was set to reach capnometry readings between 35-45 mmHg. The measurement of parameters (heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance index, stroke index) begun 15 minutes after the administration of rocuronium, and was repeated in 15-minute intervals for 60 minutes. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA followed by Bonferroni test. The results showed that the 1:1 ratio combination of nitrous oxide to oxygen (50% each) did not alter the mentioned parameters in pigs anesthetized with propofol and maintained at pressure-controlled ventilation, indicating that it is a safe protocol for the cardiovascular system.