Success of placement and complications during v-gel placement and maintenance of anaesthesia

Objectives Airway management during anaesthesia in cats is always a demanding task and is associated with several complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the practicability and complications during feline-specific laryngeal mask placement in anaesthetised cats as an alternative to endotracheal intubation. Methods In this prospective clinical study, laryngeal masks were placed in 148 anaesthetised cats. Success of placement was evaluated by capnography. Results Placement was possible at the first attempt in 136 cats, at the second attempt in eight cats and at the third attempt in one cat. In one cat, placement was not possible. Two cats were excluded. Failure to position the laryngeal mask at the first attempt was not different between laryngeal mask sizes ( P = 0.313) or positioning during placement ( P = 0.406). In nine cats, the laryngeal mask dislocated during the procedure. Dislocation occurred more often in the dorsal position than in the sternal ( P = 0.018) and right lateral positions ( P = 0.046). Mucous obstruction of the laryngeal mask occurred in one of these cats and regurgitation in another. Material-related issues, such as disconnection of the parts of the laryngeal mask and leakage of the balloon, were observed in 2/8 laryngeal masks. Conclusions and relevance The placement of a feline-specific laryngeal mask was easy to perform. In about 7% of the cases, replacement of the device was required due to mispositioning or dislocation. Full monitoring, including capnography, should be provided to uncover dislocation and airway obstruction immediately.

New perspectives on Aspersentis Megarhynchus (Acanthocephala: Heteracanthocephalidae) from Notothenia Coriiceps Richardson (Nototheniidae) in the West Antarctic, with emended generic diagnosis

A number of variable descriptive accounts of Aspersentis megarhynchus (von Linstow, 1892) Golvan, 1960 have been reported from specimens collected from many species of fish in various locations off Antarctic islands. We have described a new population from Notothenia coriiceps Richardson (Nototheniidae) off Galindez Island, West Antarctica, and features not previously reported, resolved the taxonomic controversies and nomenclature, and emended and updated the generic diagnosis taking into account the newly observed structures. These are depicted in microscopic images and include the outer spiral wall of the proboscis receptacle, the thicker dorsal wall of the receptacle compared to the ventral wall, parts of the female reproductive system, the separate cement gland ducts, the dorsal position of the male gonopore and more detail of proboscis hooks and trunk spines. It is surprising that the newly observed features were missed from the many descriptions of A. megarhynchus created since the original description. The variability in A. megarhynchus is noted with a comparison of the morphometrics of our specimens vs. those in six other descriptions. We also analysed the metal composition of hooks and spines using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and concluded a molecular characterization of the species based on 18S DNA gene, with related phylogenetic analyses.

Fourier-based contour descriptors to relax positional standardization of the otolith images in AFORO queries

The otolith digital catalogue AFORO allows unknown otoliths to be classified automatically by using a comparison with its classified records. To do this, the otolith’s contour, which is extracted from an image, is used. In AFORO, otolith images follow a strict positional normalization. Only the left sagitta is considered, and the images must show the internal side of the whole otolith, with the sulcus acusticus visible, the dorsal side (D) placed in the dorsal position and the rostral side (R) placed on the right. The otolith in the incoming image to be classified must also follow the same positional normalization. Variations from the reference position worsen the classification results. In this article, robust contour descriptors are proposed to extend this functionality of AFORO to the images of otoliths that are poorly normalized, contain rotations, are entirely inverted or came from the right rather than the left sagitta. These descriptors are based on the discrete Fourier transform and could extend the classification functionality to incoming images that are taken and sent, for instance, from smartphones in a wide range of working conditions.

DYNAMICS OF THE LEVEL OF CIR-CULATING IMMUNE COMPLEXES IN BLOOD SERUM IN RABBITS UNDER MODEL STRESSES

A small amount of circulating immune complexes is determined in a healthy body, and it naturally increases when there is an antigen in the circulation. Stressful situations can inhibit the implementation of immune protection, both adaptive and innate immune responses. The purpose of this study was to study the dynamics of the level of circulating immune complexes in blood serum after modeling single and combined stress effects in rabbits. 10 male rabbits were used for the experiment. The animals were 8 months old and had a live weight of 3.40±0.73 kg. Transport stress was caused by transporting animals in a car. Immobilization stress was modeled by fixing rabbits in a fixation de-vice for small animals by their legs in the dorsal position. In the final series of experi-ments, a combination of actions was per-formed (immobilization, then, after three days, transportation). As a result of studies it was found that the reaction of animals to stress was characterized by decreased level of the CIC, during transportation (by 1.2 times (p<0.05) and immobilization (1.6 times, p<0.05), the combination of stress factors showed a similar effect. In the post-stress period, we observed in all cases an increase in the CIC level in the blood of rab-bits, which exceeded the CIC values both at the time of the stress reaction and the level of intact animals.

Artificial insemination with frozen semen in rabbits in Brazil: first litter reported

Brazilian rabbit breeding plays an important social role through family farming. However, one of the challenges faced is the need for new genetic material from genetically improved rabbits. The artificial insemination (AI) technique in Brazil is restricted to the use of fresh or chilled semen. Hence, this is the first report of the use of frozen semen and live kits in Brazil and probably in Latin America. The aims were to evaluate the commercial viability of frozen rabbit semen in Brazil, ranging from cryopreservation to insemination. Three bucks and three rabbit does of Flemish giant rabbits were used. Semen was collected, evaluated and diluted for freezing with CUNIFreeze. Semen was frozen in a 0.5 mL straw, thawed and then filled in a blue curve rabbit AI sheath with the doe in dorsal position with ovulation induced at the same time with buserelin acetate. The ejaculate volume was 0.8 ± 0.8 mL; the mass motility was 3.3 ± 0.6; and the total motility and vigor after dilution were 65% ± 5 points and 3.7 ± 0.6, respectively. Post-thawed, the motility and vigor were 20% ± 10 and 3,0 ± 0,0, respectively. The pregnancy rate was 66.6% with a litter sizes of 5 and 2 kits. Even with a lower result of litter size compared with refrigerated semen, this report brings a new scenario for rabbit breeding in Brazil, showing that frozen semen is a feasible technique for biobanking and mainly bringing the possibility of imported semen from genetically improved bucks solving inbreeding problems.

Prevalência de episiotomia e complicações perineais quando da sua realização ou não em uma maternidade de baixo risco do complexo HC/UFPR / Prevalence of episiotomy and perineal complications when executed or not in a low-risk maternity of the HC/UFPR hospital complex

Objetivo: Estudar a prevalência da episiotomia, associação das complicações perineais maternas quando da sua realização ou não, com características biométricas fetais e características maternas nos partos realizados em uma maternidade de baixo risco. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, transversal observacional, analítico, descritivo que avaliou 511 puérperas hígidas, de risco habitual da Maternidade Victor Ferreira do Amaral, que tiveram partos transpélvicos de 01 de janeiro à 30 de abril de 2018, referentes à realização ou não de episiotomia, lacerações, idade, paridade, peso do recém-nascido, Apgar de 1º e 5º minutos e posições do parto. Foram significativas as variáveis com p<0,05. Resultados: A episiotomia foi realizada em 32 (6,26%) das parturientes. No estudo 46 pacientes (9%) eram menores de idade e 298 (58,31%) eram primíparas. Não houve lacerações perineais em 240 partos (46,96%), houve lacerações de 1º grau em 180 partos (35,22%) e lacerações de 2º grau em 91 partos (17,80%). A média do Apgar 1º minuto foi 8 e 5º minuto foi 9. O peso médio ao nascer 3159g. Quanto às posições do parto: 84 (16,43%) foram partos em decúbito dorsal; 218 (42,66%) semi-sentados; 68 (13,30%) banco/ banqueta; 20 (3,91%) quatro apoios; 101 (19,76%) cócoras e 16 (3,13%) decúbito lateral. Correlacionaram-se primiparidade e episiotomia (p<0,001), peso do recém-nascido > 3000g e episiotomia (p=0,024), posição dorsal e episiotomia (p<0.001). Tiveram associação as variáveis primiparidade e lacerações (p<0,001). Correlacionando laceração e posições de parto, houve significância estatística entre laceração e posição dorsal (p=0,0409), posição parto no banco (p<0,001) e posição cócoras (p<0,001). Conclusões: A prevalência da episiotomia foi de 6,26%, considerada satisfatória. O peso fetal relacionou-se diretamente com os índices de lacerações perineais e de realizações de episiotomia. A primiparidade apresentou índices significativamente maiores de episiotomia e de lacerações perineais. As lacerações perineais predominaram significativamente nas posições verticais do parto (cócoras e banco). Enquanto episiotomias predominaram na posição de decúbito dorsal do parto.Descritores: Episiotomia, Lacerações, Períneo/lesões, Paridade, Peso fetalABSTRACT:Objective: To study the prevalence of episiotomy, the association of maternal perineal complications when it is carried out or not, with fetal biometric characteristics and maternal characteristics in deliveries performed at a low risk maternity hospital. Methods: Retrospective, observational, analytical, descriptive cross-sectional study that evaluated 511 healthy puerperal women at the usual risk of Victor Ferreira do Amaral Maternity, who had vaginal deliveries from January 1 to April 30, 2018, regarding episiotomy, lacerations, age, parity, newborn weight, 1st and 5th minute Apgar, and delivery positions. The variables with p <0.05 were significant. Results: Episiotomy was performed in 32 (6.26%) of parturients, 46 (9%) under age, 298 (58.31%) primiparous. There were no perineal lacerations in 240 births (46.96%), 1st degree lacerations in 180 births (35.22%) and 2nd degree lacerations in 91 births (17.80%). The average of the 1st minute Apgar was 8 and the 5th minute was 9. The average birth weight 3159g. Regarding the delivery positions: 84 (16.43%) delivery in the supine position; 218 (42.66%) semi-sitting; 68 (13,30%) bench / banquette; 20 (3.91%) four supports; 101 (19.76%) squatting and 16 (3.13%) lateral decubitus. Primiparity and episiotomy (p <0.001), birth weight> 3000g and episiotomy (p = 0.024), dorsal position and episiotomy (p <0.001) were correlated. The variables primiparity and lacerations were associated (p <0.001). Correlating laceration and delivery positions, there was statistical significance between laceration and dorsal position (p = 0.0409), birthing position in the bench (p <0.001) and squatting position (p <0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of episiotomy was 6.26%, considered satisfactory. The fetal weight was directly related to the rates of perineal lacerations and episiotomy achievements. Primiparity had significantly higher rates of episiotomy and perineal lacerations. The perineal lacerations predominated significantly in the vertical positions of the childbirth (squatting and in the bench). While the episiotomies predominated in the position of dorsal decubitus of the childbirth.Keywords: Episiotomy, Lacerations, Perineum/injuries, Parity, Fetal weight