scholarly journals Remote Controlled Nociceptive Threshold Testing Systems in Large Animals

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly Taylor

Nociceptive threshold (NT) testing is widely used for the study of pain and its alleviation. The end point is a normal behavioural response, which may be affected by restraint or unfamiliar surroundings, leading to erroneous data. Remotely controlled thermal and mechanical NT testing systems were developed to allow free movement during testing and were evaluated in cats, dogs, sheep, horses and camels. Thermal threshold (TT) testing incorporated a heater and temperature sensor held against the animal’s shaved skin. Mechanical threshold (MT) testing incorporated a pneumatic actuator attached to a limb containing a 1–2 mm radiused pin pushed against the skin. Both stimuli were driven from battery powered control units attached on the animal’s back, controlled remotely via infra-red radiation from a handheld component. Threshold reading was held automatically and displayed digitally on the unit. The system was failsafe with a safety cut-out at a preset temperature or force as appropriate. The animals accepted the equipment and behaved normally in their home environment, enabling recording of reproducible TT (38.5–49.8 °C) and MT (2.7–10.1 N); precise values depended on the species, the individual and the stimulus characteristics. Remote controlled NT threshold testing appears to be a viable refinement for pain research.

Author(s):  
Polly Taylor

Nociceptive threshold (NT) testing is widely used for the study of pain and its alleviation. The end point is a normal behavioural response which may be affected by restraint or unfamiliar surroundings leading to erroneous data. Remotely controlled thermal and mechanical NT testing systems were developed to allow free movement during testing and were evaluated in cats, dogs, sheep, horses and camels. Thermal threshold (TT) testing incorporated a heater and temperature sensor held against the animal’s shaved skin. Mechanical threshold (MT) testing incorporated a pneumatic actuator attached to a limb containing a 1 - 2mm radiused pin pushed against the skin. Both stimuli were driven from battery powered control units attached on the animal’s back, controlled remotely via infra-red radiation from a hand held component. Threshold reading was held automatically and displayed digitally on the unit. The system was failsafe with a safety cutout at a preset temperature or force as appropriate. The animals accepted the equipment and behaved normally in their home environment enabling recording of reproducible TT (38.5 – 49.8°C) and MT (2.7 – 10.1N); precise values depended on species, the individual and the stimulus characteristics. Remote controlled NT threshold testing appears to be a viable refinement for pain research.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J Grint ◽  
Helen R Whay ◽  
Thierry Beths ◽  
Kathy Yvorchuk ◽  
Joanna C Murrell

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Kumar Yadav ◽  
Suraksha Shrestha ◽  
Srijana Mishra Sapkota

Attacks by elephants, the largest of the “large animals,” produce many fatalities a year. Most attacks are provoked, although rogue elephants are occasionally responsible. Trampling, goring, tossing the individual with the trunk, or crushing with the knees produces the injuries. Injuries from encounters with large animals represent a significant health risk for rural communities. Wild-animal-inflicted maxillofacial injuries are rare, and limited literature is available describing their management. We present a case of severe maxillofacial injuries caused by the attack of a rogue elephant.


2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Dixon ◽  
P.M. Taylor ◽  
P.V.M. Steagall ◽  
J.T. Brondani ◽  
S.P.L. Luna

1992 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 546-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bravenboer ◽  
P.S. Dam ◽  
J. Hop ◽  
J. Steenhoven ◽  
D.W. Erkelens

Author(s):  
Chelsea J Schuster ◽  
Daniel SJ Pang

von Frey (vF) monofilaments are used to quantify mechanical hypersensitivity and nociception in rodents; however, this method of testing has been criticized due to inconsistencies in testing methods, filament properties, and nonlinearity. This study compared withdrawal thresholds measured by using vF monofilaments with those of a novel mechanical threshold testing device currently in development (RatMet) in a carrageenan inflammatory model in 9- to 11-wk-old male Wistar rats. Rats were randomly assigned to assessment of mechanical hypersensitivity after intraplantar carrageenan injection by using either vF monofilaments (n = 10) or the RatMet device equipped with 3 sizes of probe tips (0.9 mm [RM0.9], n = 15; 0.5mm [RM0.5], n = 11; and 0.09 mm [RM0.09], n = 11). All RatMet probe sizes and vF monofilaments identified a reduction in withdrawal threshold after treatment. Systematic differences in threshold were identified between vF and both RM0.9 and RM0.5 groups; RM0.09 did not differ from vF. Withdrawal thresholds showed linear relationships with probe diameter, square root of probe diameter, and area of the RatMet probes. In contrast, exponential relationships were observed with the vF monofilaments. Furthermore, none of the RatMet probe results differed in accuracy when comparing a single test with the averages of 3 or 5 tests per time point. Overall, the RatMet device measurements have construct validity even when the number of testing replicates is low. These data indicate that the RatMet device produces data comparable with those from vF monofilaments, with the potential for a shortened testing period without a decrease in accuracy.


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-46
Author(s):  
J. Püski ◽  
S. Bozó ◽  
I. Györkös ◽  
A. Gáspárdy ◽  
E. Szücs

Abstract. Title of the paper: Comparison of the conformation scoring and the body measurement based on four linear traits of Holstein Friesian cows The goal was evaluate the similarity of the body scoring System and the body measurement kept generally for the best objective method. The target-traits (withers height, body depth, rump width at the gluteal tuberosity and body capacity) of Holstein Friesian heifers were taken down. Three-three groups (−extreme, medium, +extreme) based on the Standard deviation of the body measurements were created and compared in each traits, as well as phenotypic relationships (regression and correlation) were calculated. Taking the relationships into consideration it appeared that the body measurements do not stand in such a close connection with each other than it is suggested by the scoring. The pair-wise correlation coefficients between the values of the same traits taken down by scoring and measuring Systems can by seen as low figures (r = 0.71, 0.50, 0.43 and 0.59, respectively) since we have the same traits. The partial correlation coefficients are even more less than the pair-wise correlation coefficients, and statistically confirmed only by the height at wither. Except the height at wither, there were no demonstrable connections in the regression of the same traits, just then, exclusively the true height at wither influenced the classifier during the scoring of all the traits. The differences between the type groups were smaller in each traits estimated by scoring. From the analysis of the type groups it is obvious that the similarity of the two methods is the biggest in the height at wither. In the case of body depth, rump width and body capacity the classifier can distinguish only the "very little" and "very large" animals from the judged population while the intermediate types remained unrecognised. The average value of the individual identity between the two typing method was around 35%.


Author(s):  
Alice R. Kininmonth ◽  
Stephanie Schrempft ◽  
Andrea Smith ◽  
Louise Dye ◽  
Clare Lawton ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The home environment is thought to influence children’s weight trajectories. However, few studies utilise composite measures of the home environment to examine associations with energy balance behaviours and weight. The present study aimed to adapt and update a comprehensive measure of the obesogenic home environment previously developed for pre-schoolers, and explore associations with school-aged children’s energy balance behaviours and weight. Methods Families from the Gemini cohort (n = 149) completed the Home Environment Interview (HEI) via telephone when their children were 12 years old. The HEI comprises four composite scores: one for each domain (food, activity and media) of the environment, as well as a score for the overall obesogenic home environment. The primary caregiver also reported each child’s height and weight (using standard scales and height charts), diet, physical activity and sedentary screen-based behaviours. A test-retest sample (n = 20) of caregivers completed the HEI a second time, 7–14 days after the initial interview, to establish test-retest reliability. Results Children (n = 298) living in ‘higher-risk’ home environments (a 1 unit increase in the HEI obesogenic risk score) were less likely to consume fruits (OR; 95% CI = 0.40; 0.26–0.61, p < 0.001), and vegetables (0.30; 0.18–0.52, p < 0.001), and more likely to consume energy-dense snack foods (1.71; 1.08–2.69, p = 0.022), convenience foods (2.58; 1.64–4.05, p < 0.001), and fast foods (3.09; 1.90–5.04, p < 0.001). Children living in more obesogenic home environments also engaged in more screen-time (β (SE) = 4.55 (0.78), p < 0.001), spent more time playing video games (β (SE) = 1.56 (0.43), p < 0.001), and were less physically active (OR; 95% CI = 0.57; 0.40–0.80, p < 0.01). Additionally, there was a positive association between higher-risk overall home environment composite score and higher BMI-SDS (β (SE) = 0.23 (0.09), p < 0.01). This finding was mirrored for the home media composite (β (SE) = 0.12 (0.03), p < 0.001). The individual home food and activity composite scores were not associated with BMI-SDS. Conclusion Findings reveal associations between the overall obesogenic home environment and dietary intake, activity levels and screen-based sedentary behaviours, as well as BMI in 12 year olds. These findings suggest that the home environment, and in particular the home media environment, may be an important target for obesity prevention strategies.


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