Anesthetic drugs modulate feeding behavior and hypothalamic expression of the POMC polypeptide precursor and the NPY neuropeptide

Daily feeding frequency affects feed intake and body weight management of growing layers

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding behavior on feed intake and body weight in growing layers and the underlying mechanisms, thereby providing a scientific foundation for optimal feeding practices in growing layers' management. A total of 144 Hy-line brown growing layers of 10 wk old and similar body weight, were divided into 3 treatment groups with different feeding frequency and equal cumulative daily feeding amount: the once-a-day feeding group (F1) was fed at 9:00 am every day, with feeding amount of 150 g/layer; the twice-a-day feeding group (F2) were fed at 9:00 am and 13:00 pm every day, with each feeding amount of 75 g/layer; the 4 times-a-day feeding group (F4) were fed at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 13:00 pm, and 15:00 pm every day, with each feeding amount of 37.5 g/layer. Pre-experiment lasted for 1 wk and formal experiment lasted for 8 wk. The results indicated that the daily feed intake and body weight were decreased (P < 0.05) while feed conversion ratio was not affected (P > 0.05) as daily feeding times increased. The glandular stomach proportion was significantly increased in twice-a-day feeding group, while liver proportion and ileum length were significantly increased in 4 times-feeding group (P < 0.05). Additionally, 4 times-feeding daily resulted in a significant elevation of blood glucose levels, which may have suppressed feed intake (P < 0.05). In 4 times-feeding group, the plasma triglyceride levels increased as feeding times, accompanied by a notable up-regulation in the mRNA level of appetite-suppressing gene, hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and glandular stomach ghrelin. This modulation effectively suppressed the subsequent feed intake and body weight. Therefore, 4 times feeding daily is recommended in growing layers' management, because it reduced the feed cost without affecting the feed conversion efficiency.

Novel fast dissolving freeze dried sublingual baicalin tablets for enhanced hepatoprotective effect: in-vitro characterization, cell viability, and in-vivo evaluation

Baicalin (BG), a natural product, has been used in the prevention and treatment of drug-induced liver injury (DILI); however, its poor solubility and extensive liver metabolism limit its pharmacological use. The aim of the present study was the formulation of fast-dissolving freeze-dried sublingual tablets (FFSTs) to increase BG dissolution, avoid first-pass metabolism, and overcome swallowing difficulties. FFSTs were prepared following a 23 factorial design. The effect of three independent variables namely matrix former, Maltodextrin, concentration (4%, and 6%), binder concentration (2%, and 3%), and binder type (Methocel E5, and Methocel E15) on the FFSTs' in-vitro disintegration time and percentage dissolution was studied along with other tablet characteristics. Differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, in-vitro HepG2 cell viability assay, and in-vivo characterization were also performed. F8 (6% Maltodextrin, 2% Mannitol, 2% Methocel E5), with desirability of 0.852, has been furtherly enhanced using 1%PEG (F10). F10 has achieved an in-vitro disintegration time of 41 secs, and 60.83% in-vitro dissolution after 2 min. Cell viability assay, in-vivo study in rats, and histopathological studies confirmed that pretreatment with F10 has achieved a significant hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The outcome of this study demonstrated that FFSTs may present a patient-friendly dosage form against DILI.

Incidence and Associated Factors of Postoperative Undesirable Anesthetic Outcomes Among Surgical Patients at Referral Hospitals in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: A Multi-Center Study

Background

Patients undergoing surgery frequently experience unfavorable anesthetic outcomes. They may have an impact on body systems and result in more serious postoperative morbidities. This study was conducted to determine the incidence of postoperative undesirable anesthetic outcomes among surgical patients at referral hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Methods

A total of 412 patients, who underwent surgical procedures between August 1 and October 30 of 2022, were included in this study. The Leiden Perioperative Care Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire's (LPPSq) dimension "discomfort and needs" was used to collect data on the first postoperative day. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS version 20. To assess how risk factors affected the outcome variable, logistic regression analysis was utilized. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, a variable with a P-value of less than 0.05 was statistically considered as significant.

Results

The proportion of those who had "at least a little bit" of unfavorable outcomes was calculated to estimate their overall prevalence, and the prevalence of those who had "more than moderate" levels of unfavorable outcomes was determined to appreciate how severe these outcomes were. The percentages of postoperative pain, the most common undesired result, for "at least a little bit" and "more than moderate" were 87.7% and 32.3%, respectively. In this study, postoperative cold was the least prevalent (51.4%) undesirable anesthetic outcome. The remaining undesirable postoperative outcomes were reported less frequently.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Undesirable postoperative anesthetic outcomes were still common. The most frequent unfavorable result was postoperative pain. Adequate postoperative patient follow-up and quality service are paramount.

Lactoferrin averts neurological and behavioral impairments of thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy in rats via modulating HGMB1/TLR-4/MyD88/Nrf2 pathway

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a life-threatening disease caused by acute or chronic liver failure manifested by aberrant CNS changes. In the present study, we aimed to explore the neuroprotective effect of lactoferrin (LF) against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced HE in rats. Animals were divided into four groups, control, LF control, TAA-induced HE, and LF treatment, where LF was administered (300 mg/kg, p.o.) for 15 days in groups 2 and 4 meanwhile, TAA (200 mg/kg, i.p.) was given as two injections on days 13 and 15 for the 3rd and 4th groups. Pretreatment with LF significantly improved liver function observed as a marked decline in serum AST, ALT, and ammonia, together with lowering brain ammonia and enhancing motor coordination as well as cognitive performance. Restoration of brain oxidative status was also noted in the LF-treated group, where lipid peroxidation was hampered, and antioxidant parameters, Nrf2, HO-1, and GSH, were increased. Additionally, LF downregulated HMGB1, TLR-4, MyD88, and NF-κB signaling pathways, together with reducing inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, and enhancing brain BDNF levels. Moreover, the histopathology of brain and liver tissues revealed that LF alleviated TAA-induced liver and brain deficits. In conclusion, the promising results of LF in attenuating HMGB1/TLR-4/MyD88 signaling highlight its neuroprotective role against HE associated with acute liver injury via ameliorating neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and stimulating neurogenesis.

Effects of Buprenorphine and Carprofen on Appetite in New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Rabbits are especially susceptible to adverse effects related to surgery, which can lead to inappetence and gastrointestinal (GI) stasis. However, these adverse effects may be related to discomfort from the procedure, anesthesia, the analgesics used, and the stress of restraint for analgesic administration. Opioid and NSAID analgesics which are frequently used in rabbits, can contribute to these adverse effects. This study compared the clinical GI side effects of buprenorphine and carprofen to saline controls in New Zealand White rabbits after a nonsurgical anesthetic event. Nine rabbits (3 females and 6 males, aged 8 to 20 mo) were randomly rotated through 5 treatment groups with a 7-d washout period between treatments: anesthesia control (no treatment), buprenorphine (0.05 mg/kg SC every 12 h for 72 h), carprofen (5 mg/kg SC every 24 h for 72 h), twice daily saline control (equivalent volume to buprenorphine SC every 12 h for 72 h), and once daily saline control (equivalent volume to carprofen SC every 24 h for 72 h). All rabbits were anesthetized 5 times and received initial treatments on the day of anesthesia. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess food intake, water intake, and fecal output score for 7 days after anesthesia. Analysis showed that buprenorphine-treated rabbits had a significant 4-d decrease in food intake and a 3-d decrease in fecal output score compared with baseline. None of the other treatment groups showed any changes in food intake or fecal output score compared with baseline. These findings demonstrate that in the absence of pain, buprenorphine significantly depresses food intake in rabbits and that restraint and injections have minimal effect on food intake despite the possibility of increased stress.

Short-Term Administration of Common Anesthetics Does Not Dramatically Change the Endogenous Peptide Profile in the Rat Pituitary

Cell-cell signaling peptides (e.g., peptide hormones, neuropeptides) are among the largest class of cellular transmitters and regulate a variety of physiological processes. To identify and quantify the relative abundances of cell-cell signaling peptides in different physiological states, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based peptidomics workflows are commonly utilized on freshly dissected tissues. In such animal experiments, the administration of general anesthetics is an important step for many research projects. However, acute anesthetic administration may rapidly change the measured abundance of transmitter molecules and metabolites, especially in the brain and endocrine system, which would confound experimental results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term (<5 min) anesthetic administration on the measured abundance of cell-cell signaling peptides, as evaluated by a typical peptidomics workflow. To accomplish this goal, we compared endogenous peptide abundances in the rat pituitary following administration of 5% isoflurane, 200 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital, or no anesthetic administration. Label-free peptidomics analysis demonstrated that acute use of isoflurane changed the levels of a small number of peptides, primarily degradation products of the hormone somatotropin, but did not influence the levels of most other peptide hormones. Acute use of sodium pentobarbital had negligible impact on the relative abundance of all measured peptides. Overall, our results suggest that anesthetics used in pituitary peptidomics studies do not dramatically confound observed results.

The use of midazolam as an appetite stimulant and anxiolytic in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

BACKGROUND

Food avoidance secondary to disease or stress can lead to weight loss and rapid deterioration of clinical condition in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Currently, there are no data supporting the use of any pharmaceuticals as an appetite stimulant in this species; however, benzodiazepines are frequently used for this purpose in other species.

METHODS

Six marmosets were used in a crossover study design to evaluate the benzodiazepine midazolam as an appetite stimulant and anxiolytic. Total food intake (TFI) and latency to eat (LTE) were measured following administration of oral and injectable midazolam in non-anxious and anxious states.

RESULTS

Injectable midazolam increased TFI and decreased LTE in anxious marmosets, but had no effect in non-anxious animals. Oral midazolam had no effect on appetite in either state.

CONCLUSIONS

Injectable midazolam may be an effective treatment for anxiety-induced inappetence in marmosets. Individual response to both oral and injectable midazolam may vary.

Use of propofol to induce food consumption by anorectic dogs following ovariohysterectomy

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether IV propofol administration at a dose of 2 mg/kg (0.9 mg/lb) could induce food consumption by anorectic female dogs following elective ovariohysterectomy.

ANIMALS

51 healthy female dogs that failed to eat voluntarily when food was offered 6 hours after ovariohysterectomy.

PROCEDURES

In a randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial, dogs received propofol (2 mg/kg; n = 31) or an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (20) IV 6 hours after ovariohysterectomy. Afterward, food was offered to the dogs and food consumption was reassessed. Pain, sedation, and stress were scored before and immediately after treatment.

RESULTS

27 of the 31 (87%) dogs in the propofol group consumed food immediately after administration of the assigned treatment, whereas only 1 of 20 (5%) dogs in the placebo group did. No difference in pain, sedation, or stress scores was identified between the 2 groups. Sedation scores for dogs in the propofol group increased immediately after propofol administration.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results suggested that food consumption following elective surgical procedures can be effectively induced in anorectic female dogs by IV administration of propofol at a dose of 2 mg/kg.

Postoperative hunger after outpatient surgery in patients anesthetized with propofol vs sevoflurane: a randomized-controlled trial

PURPOSE

Previous preclinical and preliminary clinical data suggest an appetite-stimulating effect of propofol compared with halogenated drugs. This study compared the effects of propofol with those of sevoflurane on recovery of hunger during the postoperative period.

METHODS

Patients undergoing outpatient transvaginal oocyte retrieval were randomized to propofol-remifentanil (propofol group) or sevoflurane-remifentanil (sevoflurane group) anesthesia. The primary endpoint was the time before feeling hungry (≥ 50/100 mm on a visual analogue scale). Secondary endpoints included plasma levels of ghrelin, leptin, and insulin (ten minutes, one hour, and two hours after anesthesia), caloric intake at first feed, and discharge readiness time.

RESULTS

In the 58 patients allocated to either the propofol or sevoflurane group, there was no difference in the median [interquartile range] recovery time of hunger (97 [75-138] vs 97 [80-140] min, respectively; median difference, 1; 95% confidence interval [CI], - 15 to 14; P = 0.91); caloric intake (245 [200-343] vs 260 [171-314] kcal; P = 0.39); or discharge readiness time (125 [85-153] vs 125 [95-174] min, P = 0.29). The groups showed no difference in crude plasma levels of ghrelin, leptin, and insulin at any time-point. When peptide plasma levels were expressed as a % change from baseline, there was a higher insulin plasma level one hour after anesthesia in the sevoflurane group (median difference, 4.9%; 95% CI, - 16.2 to 43.4) compared with the propofol group (median difference, - 21.2%; 95% CI, - 35.7 to 9.1; adjusted P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Propofol did not accelerate the recovery of hunger compared with sevoflurane after outpatient minor surgery. Moreover, propofol did not have distinguishable effects on other clinical or biological parameters associated with food intake.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02272166); registered 22 October, 2014.

Motivation, risk-taking and sensation seeking behavior in propofol anesthesia exposed peripubertal rats

Adolescent neurodevelopment confer vulnerability to the actions of treatments that produce adaptations in neurocircuitry underlying motivation, impulsivity and reward. Considering wide usage of a sedative-hypnotic agent propofol in clinical practice, we examined whether propofol is a challenging treatment for peripubertal brain. Motivation/hedonic behavior (sucrose preference test), approach/avoidance behavior (elevated plus maze test) and response to dissociative drug phencyclidine (PCP) were studied in peripubertal rats (the rodent model of periadolescence) after propofol anesthesia exposure (PAE). Neurodegeneration (Fluoro-Jade staining) and the expression of proteins (Western blot) involved in excitatory synaptic transmission and activity-dependent synaptic stabilization in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and striatum (components of motivation/reward circuitry; process both appetitive and aversive events) were examined as well. In peripubertal rats PAE produced 1) transient brain-region specific changes in the expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B, PSD-95 and N-cadherin, without neurotoxicity, 2) hyperlocomotor response to PCP, 3) no changes in preference for palatable 1% sucrose solution and a decrease in food eaten, 4) preference for 20% sucrose solution without changes in food eaten, 5) stretch-attended postures and open arms entries in the elevated plus maze test. Overall, these novel findings show that PAE leaves transient synaptic trace recognized as early form of synaptic plasticity related to passive drug exposure in the brain systems implicated in motivation/reward, increases drug-responsiveness, favors risk-taking and preference of novel/intense stimuli repairing otherwise present motivational deficiency. These findings accentuate multifaceted response to propofol in peripuberty and the importance of environmental stability for the most favorable neurobehavioral recovery.