Alice Catanzaro

Pharmacokinetic profiles of meloxicam in turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta) after single oral, intracoelomic and intramuscular administrations

Meloxicam is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug used to treat many pathological conditions in turtles. With the aim to fill the lack of data about its pharmacokinetic in this species, eighteen turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta) were divided in three groups and treated with a single dose of meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) by intramuscular, intracoelomic and oral route, respectively. At scheduled time points, blood samples were collected and meloxicam concentrations were determined by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the obtained concentration-time curves. After intramuscular treatment, a plasma peak of meloxicam equal to 1590.03 ± 1845.32 ng/mL (mean ± SD) and a Tmax of 1.17 ± 0.45 h were reached, indicating a quick absorption of the drug. The intracoelomic administration brought to the largest AUC (12621.04 ± 6203.79 h*ng/mL) and to a Cmax and a Tmax equal to 1154.52 ± 662.78 ng/mL and 2.82 ± 1.39 h, respectively. Following oral treatment, the plasma concentrations of meloxicam were very low indicating a scarce absorption. Further studies are warranted to determine the effective plasma concentration of meloxicam in turtles and, consequently, the dosage regimen.

Intra-articular administration of lidocaine in anaesthetized dogs: pharmacokinetic profile and safety on cardiovascular and nervous systems

The intra-articular administration of lidocaine is a frequent practice in human orthopaedic surgical procedures, but an eventual absorption of the drug into the bloodstream can lead to toxicity, mainly concerning the central nervous system and the cardiovascular systems. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and the safety, in terms of cardiovascular and CNS toxicity, of lidocaine after intra-articular administration to anesthetized dogs undergoing arthroscopy. Lidocaine 2% was administered to eight dogs before surgery in differing amounts, depending on the volume of the joints involved, and blood samples were taken at predetermined time points. The maximum serum concentration of lidocaine ranged from 0.50 to 3.01 μg/mL (mean ± SD: 2.18 ± 0.91 μg/mL), and the time to reach it was 28.75 ± 15.74 min. No signs of cardiac toxicity were detected during the entire procedure, and possible signs of CNS toxicity were masked by the anaesthesia. However, concentrations reported in literature as responsible for neurotoxicity in dog were achieved in three of eight investigated subjects. Pending further studies, veterinarians should consider the possibility of side effects occurring following the intra-articular administration of local anaesthetics.

Neuropharmacology of Animal Pain: A Mechanism-Based Therapeutic Approach

Neuropharmacology of Animal Pain: A Mechanism-Based Therapeutic Approach Pain is a dynamic phenomenon, in which the various pathophysiologic mechanisms can change its characteristics and its consequences. On this basis, pain can be classified as physiologic (protective, adaptive), inflammatory (acute - protective, adaptive - or persistent - maladaptive) and neuropathic (maladaptive, chronic, pathologic) pain.

An Overview of the Pathophysiology of VisceralPain

An Overview of the Pathophysiology of Visceral Pain Somatic pain has been extensively studied in the past, whereas the interest in visceral pain is relatively new. One explanation why visceral pain has rarely been studied is probably due to the major difficulties to reach internal organs rather than superficial structures, as well as the erroneous belief that the viscera were insensitive to pain. This review tries to summarize the most recent information regarding the pathophysiology of visceral pain, in order to offer to clinicians a thorough background for this complicated topic.