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Veterinary Sciences Jun 2024The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is increasingly being recognized to play a role in the tumor microenvironment, promoting tumor growth. Studies blocking a single part...
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is increasingly being recognized to play a role in the tumor microenvironment, promoting tumor growth. Studies blocking a single part of the RAS have shown mixed results, possibly due to the existence of different bypass pathways and redundancy within the RAS. As such, multimodal blockade of the RAS has been developed to exert more complete inhibition of the RAS. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety of multimodal RAS blockade in dogs. Five dogs (four with appendicular osteosarcoma, one with oral malignant melanoma) were treated with atenolol, benazepril, curcumin, meloxicam, and metformin. The dogs underwent clinical examination, blood pressure measurement, and hematology and serum biochemistry tests performed at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks, then every 3 months thereafter. End-of-life decisions were made by the owners. None of the dogs developed hypotension. One dog had intermittent vomiting during the 64 weeks it was on the trial. One dog had a one-off increase in serum SDMA(symmetrical dimethylarginine) concentration. Dogs were euthanized at weeks 3 (osteosarcoma), 10 (osteosarcoma), 17 (osteosarcoma), and 26 (oral malignant melanoma), and one dog was still alive at the end of the trial at 64 weeks (osteosarcoma). This is the first assessment of multimodal blockade of the RAS in dogs, and the results suggest it causes only mild adverse effects in some animals. The efficacy of the treatment was not assessed due to the small number of dogs. This pilot study allows for future larger studies assessing multimodal RAS blockade for the treatment of canine cancer.
PubMed: 38922022
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11060275 -
Veterinary Sciences Jun 2024Surgical neutering in pet rabbits is common practice to prevent reproduction and associated health issues. Adequate postoperative pain management is crucial for...
Surgical neutering in pet rabbits is common practice to prevent reproduction and associated health issues. Adequate postoperative pain management is crucial for recovery, yet effective methods in clinical settings remain underexplored. This study compared the analgesic effects of carprofen and meloxicam in pet rabbits undergoing surgical neutering. Fifty rabbits of varied demographics were included, with pain assessed using the Centro Animali Non Convenzionali Rabbit Scale (CANCRS). Rabbits were allocated to receive postoperative 2 mg kg carprofen or 1 mg kg meloxicam by subcutaneous injection. Anesthesia was induced with an intramuscular combination of ketamine (20 mg kg), medetomidine (0.4 mg kg), and butorphanol (0.2 mg kg), and ovariectomy or orchiectomy were performed. The CANCRS scale was used to assess pain by evaluating the rabbit preoperatively, 6 h postoperatively, and at three time points the following day. Times of return to spontaneous feeding and fecal production were also recorded. No statistically significant difference was found between treatment groups based on CANCRS scores and resumption of food intake and fecal output. No clinically detectable adverse effects were noted. While limitations include the use of a single pain assessment scale and the absence of a placebo control group, the results suggest that both carprofen and meloxicam can be viable options in clinical practice. Further research utilizing diverse pain assessment methods is warranted to enhance understanding and optimize pain management strategies for rabbits undergoing surgical procedures.
PubMed: 38922004
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11060257 -
Gels (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The aim of this study was to obtain films based on sodium alginate (SA) for disintegration in the oral cavity. The films were prepared with a solvent-casting method, and...
The aim of this study was to obtain films based on sodium alginate (SA) for disintegration in the oral cavity. The films were prepared with a solvent-casting method, and meloxicam (MLX) as the active ingredient was suspended in a 3% sodium alginate solution. Two different solid-dosage-form additives containing different disintegrating agents, i.e., VIVAPUR 112 (MCC; JRS Pharma, Rosenberg, Germany) and Prosolve EASYtabs SP (MIX; JRS Pharma, Rosenberg, Germany), were used, and four different combinations of drying time and temperature were tested. The influence of the used disintegrant on the properties of the ODFs (orodispersible films) was investigated. The obtained films were studied for their appearance, elasticity, mass uniformity, water content, meloxicam content and, finally, disintegration time, which was studied using two different methods. The films obtained with the solvent-casting method were flexible and homogeneous in terms of MLX content. Elasticity was slightly better when MIX was used as a disintegrating agent. However, these samples also revealed worse uniformity and mechanical durability. It was concluded that the best properties of the films were achieved using the mildest drying conditions. The type of the disintegrating agent had no effect on the amount of water remaining in the film after drying. The water content depended on the drying conditions. The disintegration time was not affected by the disintegrant type, but some differences were observed when various drying conditions were applied. However, regardless of the formulation type and manufacturing conditions, the analyzed films could not be classified as fast disintegrating films, as the disintegration time exceeded 30 s in all of the tested formulations.
PubMed: 38920926
DOI: 10.3390/gels10060379 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Diagnosing and treating lameness in horses is essential to improving their welfare. In equine orthopedic practice, infrared thermography (IRT) can indirectly detect...
INTRODUCTION
Diagnosing and treating lameness in horses is essential to improving their welfare. In equine orthopedic practice, infrared thermography (IRT) can indirectly detect soreness. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can treat painful and inflammatory processes in horses. Using IRT, the efficacy of meloxicam (Maxicam Gel) was evaluated in pre-treating transient synovitis in horses induced by a middle carpal joint injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from 055:B5 at a dose of 10 endotoxin units.
METHODS
In a cross-over design, six healthy horses were randomly assigned to receive either 0.6 mg/kg of oral Maxicam Gel (MAXVO) or a mock administration (control group, C) following a two-week washout period. IRT of the middle carpal joint, visual lameness assessment and joint circumference were recorded over time. Clinical and hematological evaluations were performed. Synovial fluid aspirates were analyzed for total nucleated cell count, total protein, and prostaglandin E. A mixed effects analysis of variance was performed for repeated measures over time, followed by Tukey's test. A multinomial logistic regression was conducted to determine whether there is a relationship between a thermography temperature change and the lameness score.
RESULTS
There were no changes in joint circumference. The MAXVO group showed a lower rectal temperature 4 h after synovitis induction. The C group presented an increase in neutrophils and a decrease in total hemoglobin and hematocrit 8 h after induction. No changes were observed in the synovial fluid between groups. The horses that received meloxicam did not show clinically significant lameness at any time, while the C group showed an increase in lameness 2, 4, and 8 h after synovitis induction.
DISCUSSION
IRT indicated that the skin surface temperature of the middle carpal joint was lower in horses who received meloxicam, suggesting a reduction in the inflammatory process induced by LPS. It was observed that the maximum temperature peaks in the dorsopalmar and lateropalmar positions can be utilized to predict the severity of lameness, particularly when the temperature rises above 34°C. Horses pre-treated with meloxicam showed either reduced or no indication of mild to moderate pain and presented a lowehr thermographic temperature, which indicates the effectiveness of Maxicam Gel as an anti-inflammatory.
PubMed: 38919154
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1399815 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Organic-inorganic hybrids represent a good solution to improve the solubility and dissolution rates of poorly soluble drugs whose number has been increasing in the last...
Organic-inorganic hybrids represent a good solution to improve the solubility and dissolution rates of poorly soluble drugs whose number has been increasing in the last few years. One of the most diffused inorganic matrices is hydroxyapatite (HAP), which is a biocompatible and osteoconductive material. However, the understanding of the hybrids' functioning mechanisms is in many cases limited; thus, thorough physicochemical characterizations are needed. In the present paper, we prepared hybrids of pure and Mg-doped hydroxyapatite with meloxicam, a drug pertaining to the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) class II, i.e., drugs with low solubility and high permeability. The hybrids' formation was demonstrated by FT-IR, which suggested electrostatic interactions between HAP and drug. The substitution of Mg in the HAP structure mainly produced a structural disorder and a reduction in crystallite sizes. The surface area of HAP increased after Mg doping from 82 to 103 mg as well as the pore volume, justifying the slightly high drug amount adsorbed by the Mg hybrid. Notwithstanding the low drug loading on the hybrids, the solubility, dissolution profiles and wettability markedly improved with respect to the drug alone, particularly for the Mg doped one, which was probably due to the main distribution of the drug on the HAP surface.
PubMed: 38893294
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112419 -
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine :... Jun 2024Megachiroptera is a mammalian suborder that includes old world fruit bats. Common clinical problems among captive Megachiroptera, such as liver disease (e.g., iron...
Megachiroptera is a mammalian suborder that includes old world fruit bats. Common clinical problems among captive Megachiroptera, such as liver disease (e.g., iron storage disease), kidney disease (e.g., protein-losing nephropathy), and heart disease (e.g., dilated cardiomyopathy), carry elevated risk for hemostatic derangements. The assessment of viscoelastic coagulation assays, however, has not yet been reported in bats. The main objective of the study was to describe viscoelastography data using the Viscoelastic Coagulation Monitor (VCM) Vet in captive large flying foxes () ( = 20) and variable flying foxes () ( = 10). Additional objectives were to compare viscoelastic and clotting parameters (1) between healthy and bats and (2) between untreated bats and those treated with meloxicam or aspirin, and (3) to examine relationships between activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and potentially homologous viscoelastic parameters clotting time (CT) and clot formation time (CFT). The results showed marked variability among clinically normal bats. The intrinsic pathway, as measured by aPTT, had prolonged times compared with most terrestrial mammals, but similar times to birds, marine mammals, and sea turtles. A search of genome found stop codons present in two exons of the factor XI gene; alterations in factor XI expression would be expected to alter intrinsic coagulation. Because of the high variability, no statistically significant findings were noted in the secondary objectives. Correlation between aPTT and CT or CFT was not strong ( = 0.406 or 0.192, respectively). The results from this study suggest that clot kinetics vary widely among Megachiroptera when using the VCM Vet with untreated blood. A prolonged intrinsic coagulation pathway, as has been found in other megachiropteran species, and activation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway during venipuncture may be responsible for the inconsistent results.
Topics: Animals; Chiroptera; Blood Coagulation; Blood Coagulation Tests; Female; Male
PubMed: 38875195
DOI: 10.1638/2023-0037 -
The Veterinary Record Jun 2024There are limited studies that identify diseases associated with head tilt in pet rabbits.
BACKGROUND
There are limited studies that identify diseases associated with head tilt in pet rabbits.
METHODS
This was an observational, retrospective, single-centre study of rabbits with head tilt presented between 2009 and 2020. Descriptive statistics were performed for all cases, whereas univariate and multivariate analyses were only performed for the 36 cases with a final diagnosis.
RESULTS
Seventy-three rabbits met the inclusion criteria. The final diagnoses included Encephalitozoon cuniculi meningoencephalomyelitis (EC) (15/36; 41.7%), otitis media/interna (OMI) (8/36; 22.2%) and concurrent EC and OMI (13/38; 36.1%). Subacute-to-chronic onset was more common in rabbits with OMI than in those with EC (p = 0.018). Previous middle ear surgery (p = 0.046) and a diagnosis of otitis externa (p = 0.004) significantly increased the risk of OMI. Meloxicam was associated with improvement of clinical signs (p = 0.007). Upright ears (p = 0.013), recumbency (p = 0.037) and impaired mentation (p = 0.001) were associated with a higher risk of death/euthanasia. The proportions of residual head tilt (66.7%) and relapse of vestibular signs (42.1%) were high.
LIMITATIONS
This was a retrospective study with cases varying in their investigation and conclusive final diagnoses.
CONCLUSION
OMI and EC were the most common aetiologies of head tilt in pet rabbits in the UK. Meloxicam might be associated with a favourable outcome in affected rabbits. Paired EC serology and a CT scan of the head should be the baseline investigation for head tilt in rabbits.
PubMed: 38831734
DOI: 10.1002/vetr.4267 -
International Archives of Allergy and... May 2024Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used in the pediatric age group as pain relievers, antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Since NSAIDs...
INTRODUCTION
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used in the pediatric age group as pain relievers, antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Since NSAIDs are used in many medical conditions, there is a need for alternative NSAIDs to be used safely in people with hypersensitivity reactions. Selective and partially selective COX-2 inhibitors and weak COX-1 inhibitors are generally used as safe alternative drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate safe NSAIDs determined by oral provocation tests (OPTs) according to phenotypes in children with NSAID hypersensitivity reactions.
METHODS
The results of the oral provocation test performed with alternative NSAIDs (paracetamol, meloxicam, nimesulide, celecoxib) in patients followed up with the diagnosis of NSAID hypersensitivity reaction in the Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Department between January 2015 and February 2023 were evaluated retrospectively.
RESULTS
During the study period, 91 patients underwent OPTs with 109 alternative drugs 48 (52.7%) of whom were girls, with a median age of 15 years. 91 patients had a history of reactions to 117 drugs. As an alternative NSAID; OPT was performed with paracetamol in 58 patients, meloxicam in 44 patients, nimesulide in 5 patients, and celecoxib in 2 patients. Since 15 patients used paracetamol safely at home, no tests were performed with paracetamol. Reactions were observed in 3 of the 73 patients (4.1%) who underwent OPT with paracetamol and in 2 of the 44 (4.5%) who underwent OPT with meloxicam. Reactions to nimesulide were also observed in the latter 2 patients (2/5, 40%), but they appeared to tolerate celecoxib. No reaction was observed in the 2 patients who were tested with celecoxib.
CONCLUSION
Paracetamol, meloxicam, and nimesulide can be used as safe alternative drugs in most children with NSAID hypersensitivity. Selective COX-2 inhibitors should be tried as an alternative in patients who cannot tolerate them.
PubMed: 38815557
DOI: 10.1159/000538877 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and creatinine are commonly used biomarkers of renal function in cats. We hypothesize that the serum analytes creatinine and SDMA...
INTRODUCTION
Serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and creatinine are commonly used biomarkers of renal function in cats. We hypothesize that the serum analytes creatinine and SDMA are equally effective at detecting impaired renal function caused by meloxicam-induced renal injury in cats. Our primary objective was to compare serum concentrations of SDMA and creatinine in cats before, during, and after induction of renal injury from repeated dosages of meloxicam in the context of a small pilot study.
METHODS
This follow-up study results from data collected in a well-controlled study that included 12 healthy female adult purpose-bred cats. Cats in the treatment group received meloxicam 0.3 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) every 24 h for 31 days. Cats in the control group received saline (0.1 mL SC). Renal injury was defined as the presence of tubular damage, basement membrane damage, and/or interstitial inflammation in histological sections of kidney tissue. Serum creatinine and SDMA concentration were measured every 4 days.
RESULTS
In the control group, no cats developed renal azotemia. In the treatment group, four out of six cats developed elevated serum creatinine and histopathological evidence of renal injury. Three of these cats developed an elevation in serum SDMA. The time to the development of renal azotemia using serum creatinine or SDMA was not significantly different ( > 0.05).
DISCUSSION
In this pilot study, there was no evidence that serum SDMA was superior to serum creatinine at detecting impaired renal function caused by meloxicam-induced renal injury in cats.
PubMed: 38812562
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1395505 -
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Sep 2024Establishing a physical barrier between the peritoneum and the cecum is an effective method to reduce the risk of postoperative abdominal adhesions. Meloxicam (MX), a...
Injectable polyamide-amine dendrimer-crosslinked meloxicam-containing poly-γ-glutamic acid hydrogel for prevention of postoperative tissue adhesion through inhibiting inflammatory responses and balancing the fibrinolytic system.
Establishing a physical barrier between the peritoneum and the cecum is an effective method to reduce the risk of postoperative abdominal adhesions. Meloxicam (MX), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug has also been applied to prevent postoperative adhesions. However, its poor water solubility has led to low bioavailability. Herein, we developed an injectable hydrogel as a barrier and drug carrier for simultaneous postoperative adhesion prevention and treatment. A third-generation polyamide-amine dendrimer (G3) was exploited to dynamically combine with MX to increase the solubility and the bioavailability. The formed G3@MX was further used to crosslink with poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) to prepare a hydrogel (GP@MX hydrogel) through the amide bonding. In vitro and in vivo experiments evidenced that the hydrogel had good biosafety and biodegradability. More importantly, the prepared hydrogel could control the release of MX, and the released MX is able to inhibit inflammatory responses and balance the fibrinolytic system in the injury tissues in vivo. The tunable rheological and mechanical properties (compressive moduli: from ∼ 57.31 kPa to ∼ 98.68 kPa;) and high anti-oxidant capacity (total free radical scavenging rate of ∼ 94.56 %), in conjunction with their syringeability and biocompatibility, indicate possible opportunities for the development of advanced hydrogels for postoperative tissue adhesions management.
Topics: Hydrogels; Animals; Polyglutamic Acid; Nylons; Tissue Adhesions; Dendrimers; Meloxicam; Mice; Inflammation; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Fibrinolysis; Postoperative Complications; Particle Size; Injections; Drug Carriers
PubMed: 38772264
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.114