ABSTRACT We evaluated the maternal behavior, physiology, and reproductive performance of both Damin (Min-pig × Large White) and Large White gilts to identify the advantages hybrid sows offer with regard to stress relieve and improvement of the welfare level of sows during late lactation. First-parity Damin gilts (n = 40) and first-parity Large White gilts (n = 40) were farrowed in individual pens. Video surveillance was used to monitor the occurrence of lateral recumbency and compare it to other postures, such as ventral recumbency, defecation, urination, tail posture, sham-chewing, and bar-biting behaviors. Monitoring was conducted from 07:00 to 09:00 h and from 13:00 to 15:00 h on days 3 and 6 of each week from the third to the fifth week post-parturition. In addition, the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and salivary α-amylase were assessed. During the fourth week postpartum, Damin gilts showed a higher frequency of postural changes from lateral recumbency to other postures and less ventral recumbency, sham-chewing, and bar-biting behavior compared with Large White gilts. However, no significant differences were found between Damin and Large White gilts with regard to urination, defecation, tail wagging, and “tail low” behaviors. The concentrations of serum interleukin-6, salivary α-amylase, and serum tumor necrosis factor-α were higher in Damin gilts than in Large White gilts during the fifth week postpartum. Damin gilts partly achieve lower stress levels during late lactation and better animal welfare than purebred Large White gilts.

ABSTRACT This study was performed to compare changes in posture, nursing behavior, and production performance of two breeds of sows. The posture, postural changes, nursing behavior, and production performance of hybrid Damin (Large White × Min pig, n = 32) and Landrace × Large White (n = 32) sows were observed by video recording for 72 h after farrowing and from 07:00 to 09:00 h and 13:00 to 15:00 h within any successive two-day period of each week from the two to five weeks postpartum. The production performances were compared between the two breeds. Except standing at days 1 to 3 postpartum and sitting at day 2 postpartum, there were significant differences in postures between the two breeds of sows. The frequency of ventral-to-lateral recumbency at day 1 and weeks 4 and 5 postpartum and sitting-to-lying at days 1 and 3 and weeks 4 and 5 postpartum was significantly lower for the Damin than for Landrace × Large White sows. The frequency of standing-to-lying in the first 72 h postpartum was significantly higher for the Damin than for Landrace × Large White sows. At days 2 and 3 postpartum, piglet loss was significantly lower for the Damin than for Landrace × Large White sows. The duration of parturition and farrowing interval were significantly longer for the Landrace × Large White than for Damin sows. The number of live piglets was higher for the Damin than for Landrace × Large White sows. The birth weight of litters and weaning weight of piglets were lower for Damin than for Landrace × Large White piglets. These data suggest that the Damin sows showed stronger maternal instincts through their behaviors and postural changes compared with the Landrace × Large White sows.

PURPOSE: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is a major complication after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) induced by the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of cervical sympathetic block on cerebral vasospasm of the rabbits after SAH. METHODS: After successful modeling of cervical sympathetic block, 18 healthy male white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n=6), ie, sham operation group (Group A), SAH group (Group B) and SAH with cervical sympathetic block group (Group C). Models of delayed CVS were established by puncturing cisterna magna twice with an injection of autologous arterial blood in Groups B and C. A sham injection of blood through cisterna magna was made in Group A. 0.5 ml saline was injected each time through a catheter for cervical sympathetic block after the first injection of blood three times a day for 3 d in Group B (bilateral alternating). 0.5 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine was injected each time through a catheter for cervical sympathetic block after the first injection of blood three times a day for 7 d in Group B. 2 ml venous blood and cerebrospinal fluid were obtained before (T1), 30 min (T2) and 7 d (T3) after the first injection of blood, respectively, and conserved in a low temperature refrigerator. Basilar artery value at T1, T2 and T3 was measured via cerebral angiography. The degree of damage to nervous system at T1 and T3 was recorded. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in diameter of basilar artery at T1 among three groups. The diameters of basilar artery at T2 and T3 of Groups B and C were all smaller than that in Group A, which was smaller than Group C, with a significant difference. There was no significant difference in NO and NOS in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid among three groups. The NO and NOS contents at T2 and T3 of Groups B and C were all lower than Group A; Group C was higher than Group B, with a significant difference. The nerve function at T3 of Groups B and C were all lower than Group A and that of Group C higher than Group B, with a significant difference. CONCLUSION: Cervical sympathetic block can relieve cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage and increase NO content and NOS activity in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid to promote neural functional recovery.

OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos da destruição da raiz dorsal ganglionar em pacientes com neuralgia pós-herpética. MÉTODOS: Setenta e dois pacientes selecionados com neuralgia pós-herpética foram randomicamente distribuídos em dois grupos (n=36). Grupo A foi o grupo controle (tratado por injeção) e o grupo B foi o grupo com destruição da raiz dorsal do gânglio pela adriamicina. Os escores da Escala Analógica Visual (VAS), SAS, SF-MPQ escores, efeitos clínicos e segurança terapêutica foram avaliados as antes da terapia, uma semana, três e seis meses após a terapia. Quarenta e quatro pacientes foram avaliados pela análise de intenção-em-tratar. RESULTADOS: A média dos escores de dor na escala de Likert foi significativamente reduzida em cada ponto no grupo B. Pacientes no grupo B relataram efetividade clínica aos seis meses com excelente resposta (16), boa resposta (12), melhora mais insatisfatória ou sem modificações (8). Escores VAS a cada tempo após o procedimento foram melhores em comparação ao pré-operatório. No grupo A não foi observada diferença significativa. Pacientes mostraram melhora nos escores de dormir no grupo B. Houve diferença significante no T2 no grupo A que T1. Não houve diferença significante no grupo A nos tempos T3 e T4 após a cirurgia em relação a antes. Comparação entre os grupos: houve diferença significante entre os grupos A e B a cada tempo após a cirurgia. CONCLUSÕES: A destruição da raiz dorsal ganglionar pela adriamicina sob perspectiva guiada pelo C-arm, a cirurgia pontual foi acurada sem qualquer reação adversa ou complicação séria, que pode efetivamente aliviar a dor em pacientes com neuralgia pós-herpética, mas os efeitos de longo prazo necessitam mais estudos.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of dorsal root ganglion destruction in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). METHODS: Seventy-two patients with PHN selected were randomly divided into two groups (n=36). Group A was the control group (treated by injection) and group B was the group of dorsal root ganglion destruction by adriamycin. Visual analog scale scores (VAS), SAS, SF-MPQ scores. Clinical effects and therapy safety were evaluated before therapy, one week, three and six months after therapy. Forty-four patients were available for intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: The average pain scores on the Likert scale were significantly reduced at each point in group B. Patients in group B reported clinical effectiveness at six months as excellent response, good response, improved but unsatisfactory or unchanged 16, 12 and 8.VAS scores at each time point after the operation were lower than that before operation and in group A, there was significant difference. Patients showed significant improvement in sleep scores in group B. There was significant difference at T2 in group A than T1. There was no significant difference in group A at T3, T4 after the operation than that before operation. Between group comparison: there was significant difference between group A and group B at each time point after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Dorsal root ganglion destruction by adriamycin under guidance of C-arm perspective, the puncture operation was accurate without any adverse reaction or serious complications, which could effectively relieve pain of patients with postherpetic neuralgia, but the long-term effects needed further study.