Meloxicam Treatment Research Articles

Use of an analgesic to identify pain-related indicators of lameness in sows

Lameness in sows may be associated with pain and poor welfare and requires early detection and treatment. The objective of this study was to use the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam, as a short-term analgesic to identify characteristics of pain-related lameness in sows. A total of 44 pregnant sows were selected from two experimental sites, and used in a 2×2 factorial design. Sows were visually categorized as either non-lame or lame (none with severe lameness), and were either assigned to a placebo (saline) or meloxicam (0.4mg/kg body weight) treatment. Lameness was assessed using a force plate, kinematic and accelerometer tools on the day before, and after a single intramuscular injection of treatment solution. Data were collected in the same order and at the same time on both days, starting at 7:45, 9:15 and 12:15 for accelerometers, force plate and kinematics, respectively. Before treatment, lame sows made a greater number of steps per min than sound sows (P=0.013), and had a tendency to have a lower contralateral ratio of weight applied between the hind legs than sound sows (P=0.062). No other differences were observed between lame and sound sows before treatment. Injection of meloxicam decreased the stepping frequency of the left hind legs (P=0.014), increased the ratio of tarsal joint angle amplitude between contralateral hind legs (P=0.05), and tended to increase standing time after feeding in lame sows (P=0.09), indicating an improvement of the lameness condition and at least a short-term analgesic effect of meloxicam. Overall, meloxicam effects on lameness variables were limited. The wide variability in the underlying clinical causes, severity and duration of these naturally occurring lameness cases, as well as the timing of lameness assessment in relation to treatment injection may explain the relative lack of treatment effects on kinematics and force plate variables. More research is needed to identify pathology-specific indicators of pain-related lameness.

Low-dose chemotherapy with methotrexate and vinblastine for Japanese patients with desmoid tumors: Relationship to CTNNB1 mutational status.

Background This study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose chemotherapy with meth otrexate (MTX) and vinblastine (VBL) for patients with desmoid tumors refractory to meloxicam treatment, focusing in particular on the relationship between the efficacy of this chemotherapy and catenin β-1 (CTNNB1) mutation status. Patients and methods Since March 2003, patients pathologically diagnosed with extraperitoneal desmoid tumors have been prospectively treated with meloxicam, a COX-2 inhibitor, at our institution. Patients with inoperable tumors who were resistant to meloxicam treatment underwent MTX and VBL therapy every other week. The responses of all patients were evaluated, and factors that were correlated with efficacy were analyzed, including CTNNB1 mutation status. Results Sixty-eight patients were prospectively treated with meloxicam. MTX + VBL therapy was administered in 15 patients. Six patients showed a partial response. Only one patient presented disease progression. A few patients showed grade 3–4 treatment-related toxicity with the administration of MTX and VBL every other week. Intriguingly, CTNNB1 status did not affect the efficacy of this treatment.

Evaluation of the efficacy of meloxicam for post-operative management of pain and inflammation in horses after orthopaedic surgery in a placebo controlled clinical field trial.

BackgroundThe benefit of pre and post-operative administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the relief of post-operative pain and control of inflammation in horses following orthopaedic surgery has not been previously investigated in controlled clinical field trials, and the utility of such treatment is a matter of ongoing dispute. Recently the utility of post-operative pain management was emphasized. It was therefore our aim to determine the efficacy of meloxicam in horses following partial resection of fractured splint bones. This condition was selected since the limited extent of the insult and the defined surgical intervention allowed the conduct of a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multi-centre clinical field study in a homogenous patient population.ResultsSixty-six client owned horses requiring unilateral partial splint bone resection were recruited in 15 centres in Germany and were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive meloxicam, 0.6 mg/kg for 5 days.Lameness at trot grades prior to surgery were similar in the meloxicam and placebo treatment groups but were significantly lower in the meloxicam group on day 6 post surgery. Clinical scores for soft tissue swelling and assessment of analgesic and anti-inflammatory efficacy by the investigators at the end of the study were significantly better for the meloxicam compared to the placebo group. No treatment-related adverse reactions were observed.ConclusionThe administration of meloxicam i.v. once prior to surgery followed by once daily oral administration for four consecutive days is efficacious for the control of post-operative pain and inflammation in horses undergoing orthopaedic surgery.

Low-dose chemotherapy with methotrexate and vinblastine for patients with desmoid tumors: relationship to CTNNB1 mutation status.

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose chemotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) and vinblastine (VBL) for patients with desmoid tumors refractory to meloxicam treatment, focusing in particular on the relationship between the efficacy of this chemotherapy and catenin β-1 (CTNNB1) mutation status. Since March 2003, patients pathologically diagnosed with extraperitoneal desmoid tumors have been prospectively treated with meloxicam, a COX-2 inhibitor, at our institution. Patients with inoperable tumors who were resistant to meloxicam treatment underwent MTX and VBL therapy every other week. The responses of all patients were evaluated, and factors that were correlated with efficacy were analyzed, including CTNNB1 mutation status. Sixty-eight patients were prospectively treated with meloxicam. MTX + VBL therapy was administered in 15 patients. Six patients showed a partial response. Only one patient presented disease progression. A few patients showed grade 3-4 treatment-related toxicity with the administration of MTX and VBL every other week. Intriguingly, CTNNB1 status did not affect the efficacy of this treatment. MTX and VBL treatment every other week is well tolerated and achieved a favorable response in patients resistant to meloxicam treatment, regardless of CTNNB1 mutation status.

Effect of analgesia and anti-inflammatory treatment on weight gain and milk intake of dairy calves after disbudding

AIM: To assess the effect of analgesia at disbudding on weight gain and milk intake of dairy calves.METHODS: Four disbudding protocols were used on 3- to 6-week-old Friesian-Jersey calves. Farm staff disbudded 101 calves without sedation or local analgesia, of which 51 received 20 mg meloxicam S/C. Veterinary staff disbudded 101 calves with sedation and local analgesia, of which 51 also received 20 mg meloxicam S/C. Calves were weighed before disbudding, 15 and 30 days later, and individual milk consumption was recorded for 11 days. Daily weight gain and milk consumption were analysed using mixed models and ANOVA.RESULTS: From disbudding (Day 0) to Day 15 farmer-disbudded calves receiving meloxicam grew faster (0.65 kg/day) than calves without meloxicam (0.55 kg/day; p=0.011), but an interaction between operator and meloxicam treatment (p=0.056) meant that meloxicam treatment did not increase growth rates in veterinary-disbudded calves (0.63 vs. 0.64 kg/day; p=0.872). From Days 16–30 there was no significant effect of meloxicam on growth rate, but veterinarian-disbudded calves grew faster (0.76 kg/day) than farmer-disbudded calves (0.66 kg/day; p=0.034). Overall, for the first 30 days after disbudding, if meloxicam was not used’, veterinarian-disbudded calves grew faster than farmer-disbudded calves (p=0.002). However if meloxicam was used at disbudding there was no difference in growth rate between veterinarian- and farmer-disbudded calves (p=0.878).Mean cumulative milk consumption for the 11 days after disbudding was greater for calves disbudded by veterinary staff than by farm staff (p<0.001), but there was no effect of meloxicam treatment (p=0.618) and no interaction with operator (p=0.86) on cumulative milk consumption.CONCLUSIONS: Three to 6-week-old dairy calves disbudded by farm staff with no analgesia grew significantly slower over the next 15 days than farmer-disbudded calves given meloxicam, and slower over the next 30 days than veterinarian-disbudded calves given xylazine and lignocaine. However addition of meloxicam to the latter protocol had no effect on growth rate. Milk intake was significantly higher for 11 days for veterinarian- compared with farmer-disbudded calves.CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study adds to the evidence that analgesia during disbudding is beneficial for calf productivity as well as calf welfare.

The effects of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the mobility of laying hens with keel bone fractures

ObjectiveInvestigate the effects of administration of meloxicam and carprofen on the mobility of hens with and without keel fractures. Study designWithin each of two experiments a ‘blinded’ randomised cross over design whereby birds received either the test drug (carprofen or meloxicam) or saline. AnimalsTwo groups of Lohman Brown hens with and without keel bone fractures. MethodsThe first group (n = 63) was treated with carprofen 25 mg kg−1 and saline subcutaneously, twice. The second group (n = 40) was treated with meloxicam (5 mg kg−1) and saline subcutaneously. The latency of birds to fly down from perches 50, 100 and 150 cm above the ground was measured after each treatment. Data from experiment 1 and 2 were analysed separately; the effects of drug treatment compared with saline on landing time for birds with and without keel bone fractures were evaluated using MLwiN. ResultsIn both experiments latency to fly down from perches was longer in hens with keel fractures and there was a significant interaction between perch height and fracture status. For carprofen, at the 50 cm, 100 cm and 150 cm perch heights, birds with fractures took (mean ± SD) 2.5 ± 2.9, 6.8 ± 9.7 and 11.5 ± 13.2 seconds respectively to fly down compared with 1.3 ± 0.5, 2.3 ± 1.2 and 4.2 ± 3.1 seconds for birds without fractures. For meloxicam, at the 50 cm, 100 cm and 150 cm perch heights, birds with fractures took 2.9 ± 2.5, 49.8 ± 85.4 and 100.3 ± 123.6 seconds respectively compared with 0.7 ± 0.5, 2.5 ± 7.1 and 3.0 ± 4.6 seconds to fly down for birds without fractures. There was no significant effect of carprofen or meloxicam treatment. Conclusion and clinical relevanceThese data provide further confirmation that keel fractures reduce the willingness of birds to move from perches.

A clinical study on electrocardiographic changes in goats suffering from pneumonia

The present clinical study aimed at investigating the effect of pneumonia on electrocardiographic indices in goats. The electrocardiogram of the pneumonic goats revealed sinus tachycardia characterized by an increased heart rate, decreased P-R interval, slightly increased P amplitude, almost normal ‘P’ duration, normal QRS, slightly increased S amplitude, low T amplitudes, decreased but almost regular R-R interval as compared to goats with normal pulmonary function. The effect of pneumonia on the ECG seems due principally through its effects on the SA node owing to physiological alteration in hemodynamics/acid-base balance or hypoxic changes owing to respiratory distress. Two goats with higher heart rate (>200 bpm) could not survive. Remaining goats responded well to ceftiofur sodium, deriphyline, phenaramine, prednisolone (lung consolidation) and meloxicam treatment for 5 to 7 days.

Meloxicam blocks neuroinflammation, but not depressive-like behaviors, in HIV-1 transgenic female rats.

Adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comprise approximately 12% of the HIV-positive population worldwide. HIV-positive adolescents experience a higher rate of clinical depression, a greater risk of sexual and drug abuse behaviors, and a decreased adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART). Using adolescent HIV-1 transgenic rats (HIV-1 tg) that display related immune response alterations and pathologies, this study tested the hypothesis that developmental expression of HIV-1-related proteins induces a depressive-like phenotype that parallels a decrease in hippocampal cell proliferation and an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the hippocampus. Consistent with this hypothesis, adolescent HIV-1 tg rats demonstrated a depressive-like behavioral phenotype, had decreased levels of cell proliferation, and exhibited elevated expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (Mcp-1) in the hippocampus relative to controls. Subsequently, we tested the ability of meloxicam, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, to attenuate behavioral deficits via inflammatory mechanisms. Daily meloxicam treatments did not alter the behavioral profile despite effectively reducing hippocampal inflammatory gene expression. Together, these data support a biological basis for the co-morbid manifestation of depression in HIV-positive patients as early as in adolescence and suggest that modifications in behavior manifest independent of inflammatory activity in the hippocampus.

Efficacy of a buccal meloxicam formulation for pain relief in Merino lambs undergoing knife castration and tail docking in a randomised field trial.

To assess the efficacy of oral transmucosal meloxicam for pain relief in lambs at marking. A blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, block design field study of 60 Merino lambs aged 7-10 weeks allocated to placebo and meloxicam treatments and studied in two cohorts of 30. Placebo-treated lambs received 1 mL/10 kg of drug vehicle and meloxicam-treated lambs received 1 mg/kg meloxicam at 10 mg/mL. Treatments were administered into the buccal cavity immediately before knife castration and hot-iron tail docking. Lambs were then released into a grassed paddock (0.34 ha). Time to mother-up was recorded and behaviours were observed every 15 min for 8 h and again for 45 min at 24 h. The sequence in which lambs exited the paddock with their mothers was then recorded. Weight change and wound scores were recorded 4 and 7 days after marking. Meloxicam did not affect mothering-up. In the 8 h following marking, meloxicam led to a 7-fold reduction (P < 0.001) in combined abnormal behaviours (hunched standing, standing with a stretched posture, walking stiffly). The meloxicam group spent significantly less time in standing postures and tended to spend more time grazing, suckling and in normal lying postures. At 24 h, the meloxicam group spent more time lying and less time standing. There was no effect of treatments on the sequence in which lambs moved into a fresh paddock or on weight change. The buccal meloxicam formulation provided substantial analgesia to lambs on the day of marking. Slight benefits were evident the following morning.

Meloxicam and buprenorphine treatment after ovarian transplantation does not affect estrous cyclicity and follicular integrity in aged CBA/J mice.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is important for the survival of ovarian transplants and the restoration of ovarian functions. Without angiogenesis, transplanted ovarian tissue becomes more susceptible to tissue damage and necrosis. Administration of analgesics for pain management has been shown to decrease angiogenesis, which can influence transplant success especially in aged animals. Aging and the effects of hypoxia after transplantation decrease reproductive viability of the ovarian transplant; therefore, it is important to understand the additional effects of analgesics on aged animal models. The present study investigated the effects of two analgesics, buprenorphine, an opiate, and meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on the reproductive indicators related to estrous cyclicity and follicular integrity after ovarian transplantation of young ovaries into aged CBA/J mice. These aged females did not show any different reproductive responses when treated with either buprenorphine or meloxicam. No significant differences were observed in estrous cycle length, the onset of estrous cycling, the regularity of estrous cycles, and the proportion of viable follicles and total number of follicles per ovarian sample across treatment groups.

MTX and VBL treatment for patients with desmoid tumors resistant to meloxicam treatment: Relationship between efficacy and CTNNB1 mutation status.

e21525 Background: Treatment modalities for desmoid tumors have been changed because of the high recurrence rate even after wide resection. Since 2003, meloxicam, which is a selective COX-2 inhibit...

Role of Preferential Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition by Meloxicam in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury of the Rat Liver

Background: Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the major clinical problems in liver and transplant surgery. Livers subjected to warm ischemia in vivo often show a severe dysfunction and the release of numerous inflammatory cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is the inducible isoform of an intracellular enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of COX-2 inhibition and the role of Kupffer cells in IRI of the liver. Methods: Male Wistar rats [250- 280 g body weight (BW)] were anesthetized and subjected to 30-min warm ischemia of the liver (Pringle's maneuver) and 60-min reperfusion after median laparotomy. The I/R group received no additional treatment. In the COX-2 inhibitor (COX-2I) group, the animals received 1 mg/kg BW meloxicam prior to operation. Gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃) (10 mg/kg BW) was given 24 h prior to operation in the GdCl₃ and GdCl₃ + COX-2I groups for the selective depletion of Kupffer cells. The GdCl₃ + COX-2I group received both GdCl₃ and meloxicam treatment prior to operation. Blood and liver samples were obtained at the end of the experiments for further investigations. Results: After 30 min of warm ischemia in vivo, severe hepatocellular damage was observed in the I/R group. These impairments could be significantly prevented by the selective COX-2 inhibition and the depletion of Kupffer cells. Alanine aminotransferase was significantly reduced upon meloxicam and GdCl₃ treatment compared to the I/R group: I/R, 3,240 ± 1,262 U/l versus COX-2I, 973 ± 649 U/l, p < 0.001; I/R versus GdCl₃, 1,611 ± 600 U/l, p < 0.05, and I/R versus GdCl₃ + COX-2I, 1,511 ± 575 U/l, p < 0.01. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were significantly reduced in the COX-2I treatment group compared to I/R (3.5 ± 1.5 vs. 16.3 ± 11.7 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.05). Similarly, the amount of TxB₂, a marker for COX-2 metabolism, was significantly reduced in the meloxicam treatment groups compared to the I/R group: I/R, 22,500 ± 5,210 pg/ml versus COX-2I, 1,822 ± 938 pg/ml, p < 0.001, and I/R versus GdCl₃ + COX-2I, 1,530 ± 907 pg/ml, p < 0.001. All values are given as mean ± SD (n = 6). Conclusion: These results suggest that the inhibition of COX-2 suppressed the initiation of an inflammatory cascade by attenuating the release of TNF-α, which is an initiator of the inflammatory reaction in hepatic IRI. Therefore, we conclude that preferential inhibition of COX-2 is a possible therapeutic approach against warm IRI of the liver.

CTNNB1 S45F mutation predicts poor efficacy of meloxicam treatment for desmoid tumors: a pilot study.

We hypothesized that patterns of CTNNB1 (β-catenin) mutations would affect the outcome of conservative therapy in patients with desmoid tumors. This study aimed to determine the significance of CTNNB1 (β-catenin) mutations in predicting the treatment outcome in patients with desmoid tumors treated with meloxicam, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitor. Between 2003 and 2012, consecutive thirty-three patients with extra-peritoneal sporadic desmoid tumors were prospectively treated with meloxicam as the initial systemic medical therapy. The efficacy of meloxicam was evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). DNA was isolated from frozen tissue or formalin-fixed materials. CTNNB1 mutation analysis was performed by direct sequencing. Positivity of nuclear β-catenin staining by immunohistochemistry was compared with the status of CTNNB1 mutations. The correlation between the efficacy of meloxicam treatment and status of CTNNB1 mutations was analyzed. Of the 33 patients with meloxicam treatment, one showed complete remission (CR), 7 partial remission (PR), 12 stable disease (SD), and 13 progressive disease (PD). The following 3 point mutations were identified in 21 of the 33 cases (64%): T41A (16 cases), S45F (4 cases) and S45P (one case). The nuclear expression of β-catenin correlated significantly with CTNNB1 mutation status (p = 0.035); all four cases with S45F mutation exhibited strong nuclear expression of β-catenin. S45F mutation was significantly associated with a poor response (all cases; PD) (p = 0.017), whereas the other mutations had no impact on efficacy. The CTNNB1 mutation status was of significant prognostic value for meloxicam treatment in patients with sporadic desmoid tumors.

Investigation of the use of meloxicam for reducing pain associated with castration and tail docking and improving performance in piglets

Objectives: To determine the effect of meloxicam, administered to suckling piglets prior to castration and tail docking, on growth and mortality, and to determine evidence of pain reduction. Materials and methods: Piglets (n = 2888) were alternately assigned either to meloxicam (extra-label use) or a placebo injected intramuscularly 30 minutes prior to processing, which included tail docking for females, and tail docking and castration for males. All piglets were weighed on the day of processing (5 to 7 days of age) and at weaning (19 to 21 days of age). Vocalization scoring during castration, behavioral observations, and analysis of plasma cortisol concentrations were performed on a subset of animals. Results: Growth was not associated with treatment, but was positively correlated with weight at processing and negatively correlated with litter size. Mortality did not differ between treatment groups, but there was an interaction between treatment and parity, with piglets nursing older sows (parity &gt; 5) and treated with placebo being 4.4 times more likely to die than piglets nursing older sows and treated with meloxicam (95% CI, 1.31-14.3) (P = .01). Behavior scores for isolation (isolating themselves from the other pigs) and plasma cortisol concentrations were higher for placebo-treated piglets than for meloxicam-treated piglets (P &lt; .05). Implications: Routine treatment of piglets with meloxicam prior to castration and tail docking (extra-label use) does not improve growth, but may reduce mortality in litters nursing older sows. Observations of behavior and analysis of cortisol concentrations indicate meloxicam treatment does reduce pain.

Nuclear expression of β-catenin predicts the efficacy of meloxicam treatment for patients with sporadic desmoid tumors

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of β-catenin nuclear positivity as a prognostic factor in patients with desmoid tumors (DTs) treated with meloxicam, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitor. Between 2003 and 2012, consecutive 31 patients with extraabdominal, sporadic DTs were prospectively treated with meloxicam as a systemic medical therapy. Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed material to quantify the nuclear expression of β-catenin and Ki-67, and cytoplasmic expression of COX-2. All clinicopathological characteristics including the intensity of immunohistochemical staining were analyzed with respect to their prognostic value for meloxicam treatment. Of the 31 patients with meloxicam treatment, there was 1 with complete remission (CR), 7 with partial remission (PR), 12 with stable disease (SD), and 11 with progressive disease (PD). Higher nuclear expression of β-catenin was significantly associated with a poor response (PD/SD) (p = 0.017). The positivity of COX-2 and Ki-67 and none of the other clinical variables were associated with prognosis. The nuclear expression of β-catenin can predict the efficacy of meloxicam treatment for patients with sporadic DTs.

Gut-liver axis improves with meloxicam treatment after cirrhotic liver resection.

To investigate the effect of meloxicam on the gut-liver axis after cirrhotic liver resection. Forty-four male Wistar rats were assigned to three groups: (1) control group (CG); (2) bile duct ligation with meloxicam treatment (BDL + M); and (3) bile duct ligation without meloxicam treatment (BDL). Secondary biliary liver cirrhosis was induced via ligature of the bile duct in the BDL + M and BDL groups. After 2 wk, the animals underwent a 50% hepatectomy. In the BDL + M group 15 min prior to the hepatectomy, one single dose of meloxicam was administered. Parameters measured included: microcirculation of the liver and small bowel; portal venous flow (PVF); gastrointestinal (GI) transit; alanine aminotransferase (ALT); malondialdehyde; interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) levels; mRNA expression of cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2), IL-6 and TGF-β1; liver and small bowel histology; immunohistochemical evaluation of hepatocyte and enterocyte proliferation with Ki-67 and COX-2 liver expression. Proliferative activity of hepatocytes after liver resection, liver flow and PVF were significantly higher in CG vs BDL + M and CG vs BDL group (P < 0.05), whereas one single dose of meloxicam ameliorated liver flow and proliferative activity of hepatocytes in BDL + M vs BDL group. COX-2 liver expression at 24 h observation time (OT), IL-6 concentration and mRNA IL-6 expression in the liver especially at 3 h OT, were significantly higher in BDL group when compared with the BDL + M and CG groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, respectively). Liver and small bowel histology, according to a semi quantitative scoring system, showed better integrity in BDL + M and CG as compared to BDL group. ALT release and HIF-1α levels at 1 h OT were significantly higher in BDL + M compared to CG and BDL group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, ALT release levels at 3 and 24 h OT were significantly higher in BDL group compared to CG, P < 0.01. GI transit, enterocyte proliferative activity and number of goblet cells were in favor of meloxicam treatment vs BDL group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, respectively). Additionally, villus length were higher in BDL + M as compared to BDL group. One single dose of meloxicam administered after cirrhotic liver resection was able to cause better function and integrity of the remaining liver and small bowel.

Hippocampal neuronal metal ion imbalance related oxidative stress in a rat model of chronic aluminum exposure and neuroprotection of meloxicam

Neurodegenerative diseases remain a significant unresolved societal burden afflicting millions of people worldwide. Neurons in the brain are highly sensitive to oxidative stress, which can be induced by metal toxicity. In this paper, a chronic aluminum overload-induced model of neurodegeneration was used to investigate whether metal ions (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn)-related oxidative stress was involved in neurodegenerative mechanism and to identify the protective action of meloxicam against rat hippocampal neuronal injury. The metal ion contents, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected. The results showed that the spatial learning and memory (SLM) function was significantly impaired in chronic aluminum overload rats. Considerable karyopycnosis was observed in hippocampal neurons. The SOD activity was weakened and the MDA content increased both significantly. In the hippocampus, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn contents increased by 184.1%, 186.1%, 884.2%, 199.4% and 149.2%, respectively. Meloxicam administration (without Al) had no effect compared with the control group, while meloxicam treatment with aluminum exposure significantly protected rats from SLM function impairment, neuron death, lower SOD activity, higher MDA content and brain metal ion imbalance. Our findings suggest that the cerebral metal ion imbalance-related oxidative stress is involved in mechanism of cerebral injury and neurodegeneration induced by chronic Al overload in rats, and that meloxicam protects neurons by reducing metal ion imbalance-related oxidative stress.

Impact of oral meloxicam on circulating physiological biomarkers of stress and inflammation in beef steers after long-distance transportation1

Transportation stress can result in significant economic losses to producers due to decreased animal productivity and increased medication costs associated with sickness such as bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Meloxicam (MEL) provides pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects in cattle for several days after a single oral treatment. Our hypothesis was that MEL administration before shipping would reduce the impact of long-distance transportation on circulating physiological biomarkers of stress and inflammation in beef steers. Ninety-seven beef steers were blood sampled for baseline biomarker determination and then randomly assigned to receive either 1 mg/kg MEL (n = 49) or a placebo (CONT; n = 48) per os before a 1,316-km transportation event lasting approximately 16 h. Calves were then blood sampled on arrival and 5 d later. Changes in the hemogram, circulating plasma proteins, total carbon dioxide (TCO2), fibrinogen, substance P (SP), cortisol, haptoglobin (Hp)-matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) complexes, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) between treatments over time were compared using a mixed effects model with statistical significance designated as P < 0.05. Analysis of covariance was conducted to assess the relationship between circulating MEL concentrations and biomarker changes over time. An increase in neutrophil, platelet, monocyte, white blood cell, and red blood cell counts occurred after transportation (P < 0.0001) and a decrease in lymphocyte count were observed (P < 0.0001). Meloxicam treatment reduced the stress-induced neutrophilia (P = 0.0072) and circulating monocyte count (P = 0.013) on arrival. Mean corpuscle hemoglobin (P = 0.05), mean corpuscle volume (P = 0.05), and lymphocyte count (P = 0.05) were also greater in the CONT calves compared with MEL calves after transportation. Furthermore, Hp-MMP-9 complexes, TCO2, TNFα, plasma proteins, and SP increased and cortisol decreased after shipping (P < 0.01). Meloxicam treatment tended to reduce serum cortisol concentrations (P = 0.08) and there was evidence of a time × treatment interaction (P = 0.04). An inverse relationship between plasma MEL concentrations and circulation cortisol concentrations (P = 0.002) and neutrophil (P = 0.04) and basophil counts (P = 0.03) was also observed. The results suggest that MEL administration may reduce the impact of long-distance transportation on circulating physiological biomarkers of stress and inflammation in beef calves.

Effects of postpartum treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on milk production and culling risk in dairy cattle (2014)

Inflammation during early lactation is common in dairy cattle, and a high degree of inflammation during this time has recently been associated with both lower productivity and greater risk of disease during that lactation. Early lactation treatments with two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were compared with a placebo treatment to evaluate effects on whole-lactation productivity and retention in the herd. Both meloxicam and sodium salicylate increased whole-lactation milk and milk protein yields by 6 to 9%, despite being administered for only 1 or 3 days in early lactation, respectively. In addition, meloxicam treatment tended to decrease the risk of cows leaving the herd during the lactation. These results indicate that postpartum inflammatory signals have long-lasting effects on lactation in dairy cattle.

Comparison of postoperative effects between lidocaine infusion, meloxicam, and their combination in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy

ObjectiveTo compare the postoperative analgesic effects of intravenous (IV) lidocaine, meloxicam, and their combination in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Study designProspective, randomized, double‐blind, controlled clinical trial. AnimalsTwenty‐seven dogs aged (mean ± SD) 16.1 ± 7.5 months and weighing 22.4 ± 17.9 kg scheduled for ovariohysterectomy. MethodsAnaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. Dogs (n = 9 in each group) were allocated to receive just prior to and during surgery one of the following regimens: M group, 0.2 mg kg−1 IV meloxicam then a continuous rate infusion (CRI) of lactated Ringer's at 10 mL kg−1 hour−1; L group, a bolus of lidocaine (1 mg kg−1 IV) then a CRI of lidocaine at 0.025 mg kg−1 minute−1; and M + L group, both the above meloxicam and lidocaine treatments. Pain and sedation were scored, and venous samples taken for serum cortisol and glucose measurement before and at intervals for 12 hours after anaesthesia. Pain scores were assessed using a multi‐parameter subjective scoring scale (cumulative scale 0–21) by three observers. The protocol stated that dogs with a total score exceeding 9 or a sub‐score above 3 in any one category would receive rescue analgesia. Sedation was scored on a scale of 0–4. ResultsThere were no significant differences in subjective pain scores, serum cortisol, and glucose concentrations between the three groups. The highest pain score at any time was 5, and no dog required rescue analgesia. None of the three regimens caused any observable side effects during or after anaesthesia. At 1 and 2 hours after extubation dogs in group L were significantly more sedated than in the other two groups. Conclusions and Clinical relevanceThis study suggests that, with the scoring system used, IV lidocaine and meloxicam provide similar and adequate post‐operative analgesia in healthy dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.