The main objective of this study is to review and summarize recent findings on electroencephalographic patterns in individuals with chronic pain. We also discuss recent advances in the use of ...quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG) for the assessment of pathophysiology and biopsychosocial factors involved in its maintenance over time. Data collection took place from February 2014 to July 2015 in PubMed, SciELO and PEDro databases. Data from cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies, as well as clinical trials involving chronic pain participants were incorporated into the final analysis. Our primary findings related to chronic pain were an increase of theta and alpha EEG power at rest, and a decrease in the amplitude of evoked potentials after sensory stimulation and cognitive tasks. This review suggests that qEEG could be considered as a simple and objective tool for the study of brain mechanisms involved in chronic pain, as well as for identifying the specific characteristics of chronic pain condition. In addition, results show that qEEG probably is a relevant outcome measure for assessing changes in therapeutic studies.
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the use of two different types of music – cat-specific music and classical music – compared with no music, to reduce stress in cats during hospitalization.
...Methods
Thirty-five hospitalized cats were randomly divided into three groups and each group received a different stimulus – cat-specific music, classical music or no music (control) – throughout their hospitalization. Respiratory rate, salivary cortisol and social interaction were documented. A blinded researcher performed the Cat Stress Score (CSS) during the video analysis of recordings at five specific times over 31 h of hospitalization.
Results
There was no difference in the mean CSS between cats listening to cat-specific music, classical music and control throughout the five evaluations. Cat-specific music had a higher percentage of positive social interactions than the other groups on the first evaluation (P <0.05). The average respiratory rate was significantly lower in the classical music group vs control on the fourth evaluation (P <0.05). Although statistically insignificant, the average respiratory rate decreased only in the classical music group during the five evaluations. Cortisol quantification did not seem to follow the CSS results. However, owing to the low and unrepresentative number of samples, it was not possible to perform statistical analysis on these results or a group sample comparison.
Conclusions and relevance
Both cat-specific music and classical music seem to have some benefit to hospitalized cats. The salivary cortisol analysis was not adequate nor useful to measure stress in hospitalized cats in our study.
Background
The current bone marrow (BM) reference intervals (RI) are based on a limited number of cats. Age‐related changes in BM variables might be important,possibly affecting the interpretation of ...the results.
Objectives
Establish BM cytologic reference intervals (RIs) and association of age and sex on these findings, in healthy juvenile and young adult cats.
Methods
BM aspirates of cats deemed healthy based on history and clinical, CBC, serum chemistry findings, and negative retrovirus serology were obtained and examined cytologically. The examination included a 1000‐nucleated differential cell count and cell morphologic assessment. RIs were calculated using parametric, robust, and nonparametric methods. The cytologic findings were examined for associations with sex and age.
Results
The study included 40 cats (females, 22 55%; males, 18 45%) with a median age of 1.5 years (range 0.5–5). Most calculated RIs were similar to those previously reported. BM plasma cell and monocyte counts were weakly and positively correlated with age (rs, .312 and .373, respectively; P < .05). Metarubricytes were higher infemales (mean, 25.1%; SD, 6.0%) than males (mean, 21.2%; SD, 6.0%; P < .05).
Conclusions
The BM differential cell counts determined in this study can serve as RIs for cats aged 0.5–5 years.
Since the emergence of HSV resistant strains, new antiviral agents have emerged and still are urgently needed, especially those with alternative targets.
In this work, we evaluated new quinolone ...derivatives as anti-HSV.
For this study, cells were infected and treated with different components to evaluate the profile of HSV replication in vitro. In addition, studies were performed to determine the pharmacokinetic toxicity and profile of the compound.
Indeed the EC
values of these promising molecules ranged between 8 μM and 32 μM. We have also showed that all compounds inhibited the expression of ICP27 viral proteins, which gives new insights in the search for new target for antiherpetic therapy. Chlorine in positions C6 and phosphonate in position C1 have shown to be important for viral inhibition. The chloroquinolone carboxamide derivatives fulfilled "Lipinsky Rule of Five" for good oral bioavailability and showed higher intestinal absorption and blood brain barrier penetration, as well as lower toxicity profile.
Although the inhibition activities of chloroquinolone carboxamide derivatives were lower than acyclovir, they showed different modes of action in comparison to the drugs currently available. These findings encourage us to continue pre-clinical studies for the development of new anti-HSV-1 agents.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a preappointment oral dose of gabapentin on the neurological examination of cats.
Methods
A prospective, randomized and blinded ...clinical trial was conducted in 35 client-owned healthy cats. Cats were scheduled for two appointments and randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a 100 mg gabapentin capsule prior to the second veterinary visit. A neurological examination was performed during each visit, and the results were compared between groups. Normal/abnormal response rates for each test were based on the number of cats that allowed the test to be performed.
Results
Gabapentin was administered to 17 cats. Gait and postural reactions were significantly affected in the gabapentin group. Comparing the gabapentin with the placebo groups, proprioceptive ataxia was identified in 4/17 (23.5%) vs 0/18 cats (P = 0.0288); paw placement deficits were seen in 10/11 (90.9%) vs 1/4 (25%) cats; table tactile placement deficits were identified in 13/17 (76.5%) vs 0/18 cats (P <0.0001); hopping deficits were seen in 5/17 (29.4%) vs 0/16 cats (P = 0.0185); and abnormalities on wheelbarrowing and extensor postural thrust were reported in 5/17 (29.4%) vs 0/18 cats (P = 0.0129). These results had no correlation with age or dose/kg received. No significant difference was noted in the assessment of level and content of consciousness, posture, cranial nerves and spinal nerves. No significant differences were noted in test compliance or examination duration.
Conclusions and relevance
Gabapentin significantly altered gait analyses and postural reactions in this group of healthy cats. The administration of gabapentin could lead to false–positive results and, possibly, an incorrect identification of neurological lesions. In contrast, gabapentin did not impair the assessment of cranial nerves and spinal reflexes, which can be assessed in patients receiving the drug.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate, using echocardiography, the effects of oral administration of a single dose of gabapentin on the physiologic variables (heart rate HR, respiratory ...rate RR and systolic blood pressure SBP) and systolic and diastolic cardiac function of healthy cats.
Methods
This was a prospective, randomized and blinded study with 40 healthy cats aged between 6 months and 2 years. The cats’ health status was assessed on the first appointment (T1) when they underwent a physical examination, complete blood count, biochemical profile, assessment of physiologic variables and echocardiogram. The echocardiogram was used to measure the left ventricle’s (LV) internal diameter during systole and diastole, isovolumic relaxation time, transmitral flow, E-wave deceleration time and HR. The cats were randomly divided into two groups: (1) a treatment group with 20 cats that received a single oral dose of gabapentin (100 mg/cat); and (2) a control group with 20 cats that received a single oral dose of placebo. All variables of the physiologic and echocardiographic variables were re-evaluated 1–3 weeks after T1 (T2), 90 mins after medication or placebo administration.
Results
There was no difference in the physiologic variables evaluated in both groups. The proportion of cats in the treatment group that had their ventricular filling waves fused on T1 but did not have them fused on T2 was significantly higher (45%) compared with cats in the control group (15%; P = 0.0384).
Conclusions and relevance
There was no difference between the groups in regard to SBP, HR, RR and echocardiographic variables. Gabapentin improved evaluation of diastolic function on echocardiogram because it reduced the fusion of ventricular filling waves during the evaluation of the diastolic function of the LV. Gabapentin did not cause adverse effects on the cardiovascular hemodynamics of young healthy cats.
•Myelodisplastic disorders are associated with higher bone marrow proviral loads.•Viral and proviral loads in serum or bone marrow classify the infection stage.•Molecular methods to detect feline ...leukemia virus for endemic areas.•Severity of hematological disease depends of leukemia viral and proviral loads.
This study was conducted to correlate clinical, laboratory, and bone marrow (BM) changes in cats naturally infected with feline leukemia virus and their association with viral loads in blood and BM and proviral loads in BM. Cats were classified into five groups based on antigenemia, clinical and/or laboratory findings and viral/proviral loads, according to a prospective study: symptomatic progressive (GI); asymptomatic progressive (GII); regressive (GIII); unclassified (GIV); or healthy (GV). |Correlations between these five groups and viral/proviral loads were evaluated. High viral and proviral loads were detected in GI and GII and viral loads were significantly associated with laboratory signs. Proviral loads detected in BM were significantly lower in GIII and GIV. GI cats were more likely to develop hematopoietic disorders than those from the other groups. Hematological and clinical disorders and disease severity are related to higher viral blood and proviral BM loads.
To compare the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) and Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index-20 (CFVI-20) instruments regarding degree of agreement and correlation and compare descriptive models with ...frailty-associated variables in community-dwelling older people in Brazil.
Cross-sectional study, nested in a population-based and household cohort. Baseline sampling was calculated based on a probabilistic approach by conglomerate in two stages. In the first stage, census tract was used as sampling unit. In the second, the number of households was defined according to the population density of individuals aged ≥ 60 years. The Kappa statistic evaluated the agreement between instruments and Pearson's coefficient their correlation. Factors associated with frailty and high risk of clinical-functional vulnerability were identified by multiple analysis of Poisson regression with robust variance.
Kappa statistics was 0.599 and Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.755 (p < 0.001). The EFS found a 28.2% prevalence of frailty, and the CFVI-20 found a 19.5% prevalence of high risk of clinical-functional vulnerability. Age equal to or greater than 80 years, history of stroke, polypharmacy, negative self-perceived health, fall in the past 12 months, and hospitalization in the past 12 months were variables associated with frailty in both instruments after multiple analysis. Less than four years of education, osteoarticular disease, and weight loss were associated with frailty only by EFS, and having a caregiver was associated with a high risk of clinical-functional vulnerability only by CFVI-20.
Although the analyses show moderate agreement and strong positive correlation between the instruments, the indicated prevalence of frailty is discrepant. Our results attest the need to standardize the instrument for assessing frailty in community-dwelling older people.
Objetivo: comprender los desafíos percibidos por los enfermeros en el proceso de
acogimiento con clasificación de riesgo.
Método: se trata de una investigación cualitativa, analítica, realizada con ...enfermeras que trabajan en la recepción con clasificación de riesgo en cuatro Unidades de Atención de Emergencia en el Centro-Norte de Goiás, Brasil, en el período de octubre de 2019 a febrero de 2020.
Resultados: surgieron las siguientes categorías temáticas, caracterizadas como dificultades enfrentadas en el servicio de urgencias a la vista de la percepción de la enfermera clasificadora: “Cuestiones de demanda”; “Cuestiones informativas”; “Cuestiones asistenciales” y “Cuestiones organizativas”.
Conclusión: se apuraron los desafíos de demanda que contribuyen a la superlotación como desfase final, y los desafíos informativos, de atención y organizativos comprendidos como desafíos básicos. Este estudio ayuda a la intervención de forma oportuna para modificar la realidad del servicio de salud.
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