Pain Mitigation Research Articles

Effectiveness of high-frequency vibration, cotton rolls and elastomeric wafers in alleviating debonding pain of orthodontic metal brackets: a randomized clinical trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different pain mitigation methods during orthodontic debonding and to evaluate pain sensitivity across various regions of the dentition. A total of 144 participants (50 males and 94 females) with metal brackets were randomly assigned to one of four groups: High-Frequency Vibration (V), Cotton Roll (CR), Elastomeric Wafer (EW), and Open Mouth group (OM). Pain levels were measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) across different sextants of the dentition. The Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc analyses were conducted to compare VAS scores between groups. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyse sex-based differences. The V group, utilizing high-frequency vibration, had the lowest total VAS score, indicating superior pain relief compared to CR, EW, and OM groups. No significant difference was observed between the CR and EW groups. Median VAS scores were highest in the lower front sextant, followed by the upper front sextants, and lowest in the posterior regions, indicating greater pain sensitivity in the anterior regions during debonding. High-frequency vibration was the most effective method for reducing pain during orthodontic debonding, particularly in the anterior dental regions. Both CR and EW methods were also effective but to a lesser extent. These findings suggest that high-frequency vibration could significantly improve patient comfort during orthodontic procedures. Utilizing high-frequency vibration for orthodontic debonding can enhance patient comfort, especially in the more sensitive anterior dental regions, thereby potentially improving treatment compliance and experience.Trial registration: NCT05904587.

Local anaesthetic delivery through indwelling retrobulbar catheters for ocular pain control in horses

AbstractBackgroundEquine corneal disease is common and painful. Current pain mitigation strategies are often suboptimal, especially early in the disease.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of local anaesthetic delivery via indwelling retrobulbar catheter on corneal sensitivity, pupil size, pupillary light responses (PLRs), and ocular motility in normal horses.Study designRandomised, controlled crossover experiment.MethodsOne eye was randomly selected from seven horses. A 20‐gauge catheter was placed in the retrobulbar space and injected with 10 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine or 0.9% saline. Cochet–Bonnet esthesiometry (CBE), pupil photogrammetry, PLRs, and oculocephalic reflexes were evaluated before injection (t = 0) and t = 0.25, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h after injection. Following a 7–14 day washout period, this procedure was repeated using the alternative injection solution. Corneal touch thresholds (CTTs) derived from CBE and pupillary areas (PA; as measured from photographs) were compared across time for each group. PLRs and oculocephalic reflexes were compared between groups at each evaluation time point.ResultsSaline did not affect CBE, PA, PLRs or oculocephalic reflexes at any time point. Bupivacaine reduced CTT compared with saline for 6 h, with maximum reduction at t = 1 h (bupivacaine: 0.08 ± 0.20 cm; saline: 4.21 ± 0.39 cm; p < 0.001). Bupivacaine increased PA compared with saline for 3 h, with maximum increase at t = 3 h (bupivacaine: 349.75 ± 84.80 mm2; saline: 194.65 ± 27.03 mm2; p = 0.04). Bupivacaine injection reduced PLRs for 9 h and oculocephalic reflexes for 3 h; saline had no effect. Mild adverse effects included chemosis, blepharoedema, and transiently reduced palpebral reflex.Main limitationsReduction in CTT may not directly translate to pain control in clinical horses with corneal disease. Adverse effects of repeated injections were not evaluated.ConclusionsInjection of bupivacaine via an indwelling retrobulbar catheter in horses reduces corneal sensitivity and may be useful in reducing pain in horses with corneal disease.

Pain Management of Cow Before and After Cesarean Surgery

Background: On-farm pain reduction treatments are used depending on whether or not they are feasible and how important they are to the producer. The Iraqi beef industry lacks understanding on the various methods of pain treatment. The aim is to management the pain in cows of caesarean section operation. Method: This article provides an overview of agricultural pain techniques as well as producer pain mitigation strategies. A questionnaire covering calving and processing was given to one hundred cow–calf producers in the southern region of Iraq. Interviews on farms were semi-structured, and 25 people who had filled out the questionnaire were chosen to participate. Results: Between fifty and one hundred percent of respondents utilized cesarean pain relief. Reports. In most cases, pain medication was not offered. 66% of them employed branding, while just 7% focused on pain alleviation. The perception of pain by producers is influenced by factors such as common sense, relatability to cattle, visual evidence of suffering, and the age of the animal. The reason for reducing pain was impacted by factors such as the age of the animal, the benefits of operation, costs and logistics, market needs, and personal conscience. The management adhered to the norms of Iraq. Conclusion: The findings of this research might potentially provide future efforts in policy making, research, and extension with a route to follow in order to expand the adoption of pain reduction techniques.

Effects of reducing sedentary behaviour on back pain, paraspinal muscle insulin sensitivity and muscle fat fraction and their associations: a secondary analysis of a 6-month randomised controlled trial

ObjectivesSedentary behaviour (SB) is a plausible intervention target for back pain mitigation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a 6-month SB reduction intervention on back pain and...

Efficacy of a single central injection of lignocaine at the scrotal neck on the behavioural response of lambs to castration

ObjectiveTo compare the behavioural responses of lambs to ring castration with or without local anaesthetic administration by single midline injection at the scrotal neck. Study designBlinded, randomized block design pen study. AnimalsA group of 60 male Merino lambs; 6–8 weeks of age; average body weight of 18.5 ± 0.33 (mean ± standard error of the mean) kg at the time of castration. MethodsLambs were randomly assigned to three groups of 20: 1) NUMNUTS – lamb placed in a marking cradle and ring castrated with 1.5 mL lignocaine 2%; 2) SHAM – lamb placed in marking cradle and the scrotum manipulated as though an elastrator castration ring were applied; and 3) RING – lamb placed in the marking cradle, ring castration performed using an elastrator. Pain-related behaviours annotated for 1 full minute every 5 minutes post-procedure, from video footage collected for 2 hours post-procedure, according to a defined ethogram. ResultsLignocaine administration led to significant (p < 0.05) reductions in restless behaviour at 5 and 10 minutes in NUMNUTS lambs compared with RING (mean = 0.2 ± 0.4 versus 1.0 ± 0.4, respectively) post castration. A significant (p = 0.01) reduction in foot stamping and kicking behaviour at 5 minutes post castration (mean = 1.5 ± 0.4, for RING versus 0.4 ± 0.4 for NUMNUTS) and significant (p = 0.001) reduction in the sum of all acute pain-related behaviours at 5 minutes post castration. Conclusion and clinical relevanceA single midline injection of local anaesthetic at the scrotal neck can alleviate the behavioural responses to ring castration in the immediate post-procedure period. However, the duration of effect was limited, which may be a result of the drug we used. Development of a longer-lasting local anaesthetic formulation is imperative to optimize pain mitigation for ring castration.

PSIII-28 Evaluation of tissue and plasma meloxicam concentrations using a microneedle patch for drug delivery

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate plasma and ear tissue meloxicam concentrations when the drug was delivered using two different formulations of a microneedle patch placed on the back of the ear. Nursing pigs [n = 10; body weight (BW) = 3.64 ± 0.32 kg) from 1 litter were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Patches delivered 2.5 mg of meloxicam/kg BW to pigs regardless of formulation, with the differences in patches being based on type of polymer located on the microneedles and base of the patch. Treatment groups were: 1) pigs receiving a microneedle patch with collagen, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and meloxicam on the microneedles, with PVA and chitosan on the base (n = 6 pigs; Patch A); and 2) pigs receiving a microneedle patch with chitosan, PVA, and meloxicam on the microneedles, with collagen and PVA on the base (n = 4 pigs; Patch B). During the study, pigs remained in the crate with the sow and littermates. An Estrotect Breeding Indicator strip was used to adhere the microneedle patch on the ear of the pigs. Blood was collected at study initiation prior to patch administration (0 h) and 24 and 48 h for plasma meloxicam analysis. To evaluate tissue meloxicam concentrations, 3 pigs that received Patch A and 2 pigs that received Patch B were humanely euthanized after blood collection and patch removal at 24 and 48 h, with the entirety of the ear removed for analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC) to assess the effects of treatment, hour, and treatment × hour interaction. Statistical significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05, with tendencies at 0.05 &amp;lt; P ≤ 0.1. There were no differences (P = 0.83) between patch formulations for tissue meloxicam concentrations (Patch A = 6.55 ± 2.12 ng/mg; Patch B = 7.32 ± 2.60 ng/mg). Plasma concentrations were not detectable at any time point, but tissue concentrations of meloxicam were detectable for pigs that received either patch formulation at 24 (5.44 ± 2.37 ng/mg) and 48 h (8.42 ± 2.37 ng/mg). There were no differences (P = 0.41) between patch formulations for tissue meloxicam concentrations at either timepoint, nor was there an interaction of patch formulation and hour (P = 0.73). It is unknown why the meloxicam did not diffuse from the ear tissue into the plasma; however, further studies will focus on applying the microneedle patch at different areas on the animal to allow for optimal diffusion through the skin and into blood circulation for pain mitigation in livestock animals.

PSLBI-14 Assessment of the effective tissue concentrations of injectable lidocaine and a lidocaine-impregnated latex band for castration in calves and lambs

Abstract Tail docking in lambs and castration in lambs and calves are common husbandry practices, both of which cause pain and discomfort, for which many industries recommend or require pain management. The purpose of this study was to assess the effective tissue concentrations of the current standard of care for pain mitigation in calves and lambs during castration or tail docking (injectable lidocaine) and to assess the ability of a lidocaine-loaded elastration band (LLB) to deliver effective concentrations into the scrotal or tail tissues over time. This work comprised four different field trials (n = 50/trial): 1) effective concentrations of injectable lidocaine in the scrotal tissue of dairy calves; 2) the in vivo delivery of effective concentrations of lidocaine from LLBs placed on the calf scrotums; 3) effective concentrations of injectable lidocaine in the scrotal and tail tissue of lambs; and 4) the in vivo delivery of effective concentrations of lidocaine from LLBs placed on the lamb scrotums and tails. Sensation in the tissue of interest was assessed by electrocutaneous stimulation. Sensation was correlated to tissue concentrations of lidocaine by analyzing sampled tissue for lidocaine content by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Injectable lidocaine allowed for short-term anesthesia for up to 60 min calves, highlighting the importance of finding additional strategies to mitigate long-term pain. An effective concentration (EC) yielding 50% reduction in tissue sensation (EC50) of 0.635 (95% CI 0.462 to 0.829) mg/g was calculated for calf scrotal tissue. Based on HPLC data of processed biopsy samples taken over time, the LLBs yielded tissue concentartions of lidocaine that approached EC50 and exceeded EC95 at 2 and 72 h following application, respectively, and remained above those concentartions for at least 28 d after application. In lambs, injectable lidocaine allowed for short-term anesthesia for up to 180 min following injection. An EC50 of 0.174 (95% CI 0.125 to 0.248) mg/g was calculated for lamb scrotal tissue and an EC50 of 0.0765 (95% CI 0.0533 to 0.113) mg/g was calculated for lamb tail tissue. The use of the LLB provided tissue lidocaine concentrations that met or exceeded the EC50 for at least 21 to 28 d and, based on electrostimulation data, provided local anesthesia for at least 3 d when compared with a control band. The use of an LLB could provide a practical, long-duration alternative to injectable lidocaine for pain mitigation during castration and tail docking. Further studies are warranted to compare the use of LLBs to injectable local anesthetics.

271 Does social buffering amongst familiar weaned beef calves mitigate castration stressors?

Abstract Co-mingling of beef feeder calves from multiple sources results in biological and behavioral stressors. This study is part of a project exploring social relationships between individual beef cattle and potential benefits of social buffering during stress events. Here, the specific objective was to explore whether feeder calves form preferential relationships which buffer them from surgical castration pain. Within the experiment, two treatment groups were established: Familiar calves were defined as calves who shared a source farm with two other calves in the pen, and Unfamiliar calves were defined as calves who did not share a source with any other pen-mates. It was hypothesized that Familiar calves would exhibit more lying, fewer pain-related behaviors, and fewer agonistic interactions following surgical castration than Unfamiliar pen-mates. Weaned beef bull calves [n = 102, body weight (BW) range ± SD = 112.95 to 370.10 ± 67.8 kg] from 23 source farms were randomly assigned to home pens, each comprised of three Familiar calves and three Unfamiliar calves. Cameras placed above the pens recorded video from which postural (standing and lying), social (agonistic and bunk displacements) and pain-related behaviors (wound checking and hind leg stamping) were quantified. Cattle were handled through a hydraulic squeeze chute once weekly over four consecutive weeks for data collection and standard processing procedures. On d 14 relative to arrival, calves were surgically castrated with multimodal pain mitigation. During all processing events, calves were marked with livestock paint for behavioral observations. Behavior was observed continuously for 15 min at five different time points (0 h, 1 h, 4 h, 24 h, 48 h) relative to when the last calf returned to the home pen after processing, and researchers were blind to treatment allocation. These time periods corresponded to expected periods when pain was absent and present based on duration of local anesthesia and systemic pain relief. Calf was the experimental unit. For the purpose of this abstract, data from the 48 h periods following d 7 and 14 were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure of SAS; the model included treatment (Familiar, Unfamiliar) by week interaction. A P-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significantly different. Regardless of treatment, preliminary analyses identified decreased lying (P &amp;lt; 0.02) and increased wound checking (P &amp;lt; 0.01) 48h following castration (d 14) when compared with the previous week (d 7). There were no observed differences for hindleg stamping (P = 0.2), agonistic behaviors (P &amp;gt; 0.06) or bunk displacement (P = 0.09). Based on preliminary analyses, we did not observe evidence of social buffering effects on castration stress during the immediate post-surgical period.

Pain pathophysiology and pharmacology of cattle: how improved understanding can enhance pain prevention, mitigation, and welfare.

Globally, humans rely on cattle for food production; however, there is rising societal concern surrounding the welfare of farm animals. From a young age, cattle raised for dairy and beef production experience pain caused by routine management procedures and common disease conditions. The fundamental mechanisms, nociceptive pathways, and central nervous system structures required for pain perception are highly conserved among mammalian species. However, there are limitations to a comparative approach to pain assessment due to interspecies differences in the expression of pain. The stoicism of prey species may impede pain identification and lead to the assumption that cattle lack pain sensitivity. This highlights the importance of establishing validated bovine-specific indicators of pain-a prerequisite for evidence-based pain assessment and mitigation. Our first objective is to provide an overview of pain pathophysiology to illustrate the importance of targeted analgesia in livestock medicine and the negative welfare outcomes associated with unmitigated pain. This is followed by a review of available analgesics, the regulations governing their use, and barriers to implementation of on-farm pain management. We then investigate the current research undertaken to evaluate the pain response in cattle-a critical aspect of the drug approval process. With an emphasis on emerging research in animal cognition and pain pathology, we conclude by discussing the significant influence that pain has on cattle welfare and areas where further research and modified practices are indicated.

The benefits of dexmedetomidine for pain mitigation after cautery disbudding in calves

The benefits of dexmedetomidine for pain mitigation after cautery disbudding in calves

How Being Inside or Outside of Buildings Affects the Causal Relationship between Weather and Pain among People Living with Chronic Pain

Abstract Although many people believe their pain fluctuates with weather conditions, both weather and pain may be associated with time spent outside. For example, pleasant weather may mean that people spend more time outside doing physical activity and are exposed to the weather, leading to more (or less) pain, and poor weather or severe pain may keep people inside, sedentary, and not exposed to the weather. We conducted a smartphone study where participants with chronic pain reported daily pain severity, as well as time spent outside. We address the relationship between four weather variables (temperature, dewpoint temperature, pressure, and wind speed) and pain by proposing a three-step approach to untangle their effects: (i) propose a set of plausible directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) that account for potential roles of time spent outside (e.g., collider, effect modifier, mediator); (ii) analyze the compatibility of the observed data with the assumed model; and (iii) identify the most plausible model by combining evidence from the observed data and domain-specific knowledge. We found that the data do not support time spent outside as a collider or mediator of the relationship between weather variables and pain. On the other hand, time spent outside modifies the effect between temperature and pain, as well as wind speed and pain, with the effect being absent on days that participants spent inside and present if they spent some or all of the day outside. Our results show the utility of using directed acyclic graphs for studying causal inference. Significance Statement Three-quarters of people living with chronic pain believe that weather influences their pain. However, people staying inside would not be exposed to the weather outside, and good weather may mean that people are more active outside, leading to more or less pain. To obtain data to calculate how the amount of time spent outside affects the weather–pain relationship, we conducted a 15-month smartphone study collecting daily pain reports and nearby weather for nearly 5000 participants in the United Kingdom. We found that time spent outside modifies the relationship between temperature/wind speed and pain, showing the importance of accounting for other factors when investigating the association between weather and chronic pain, which could guide future research into pain mitigation and management.

Cumulative sucrose exposure for repeated procedural pain in preterm neonates and neurodevelopment at 18 months of corrected age: a prospective observational longitudinal study

IntroductionOral sucrose is repeatedly administered to neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to treat pain from commonly performed procedures; however, there is limited evidence on its long-term cumulative...

Pain Relief Interventions in Australian Livestock Husbandry: A Review of Animal Welfare and Pain Duration.

In veterinary medicine and livestock production, ensuring good animal husbandry is vital for the physical and emotional wellbeing of animals under our care. Pain poses challenges for assessment and mitigation, especially in species unable to express pain overtly. This review examines current pain mitigation interventions in routine husbandry, focuses on the duration of pain after procedures and implications for animal welfare. Pain behaviours have been observed for days or weeks after regular husbandry procedures, and many studies have noted pain-related behaviour persisting until study finalisation, suggesting potential undocumented pain beyond study completion. Current products registered in Australia for pain mitigation in livestock primarily target immediate pain associated with procedures. The future of pain relief in livestock demands longer-acting solutions to address post-procedural pain adequately. Providing pain relief for at least 72 h post surgery is recommended, but current products require retreatment intervals to achieve this, posing practical challenges, especially in livestock. Methods of pain relief provision, such as voluntary consumption of medicated feed, transdermal medication delivery and long-acting formulations offer potential solutions for prolonged pain relief, with research ongoing in these areas. There is a need for further research and development of longer-acting pain relief to ensure optimal welfare of livestock.

(031) PAIN MITIGATION STRATEGIES AMONG FEMALES EXPERIENCING PAINFUL INTERCOURSE WHILE ATTEMPTING PREGNANCY

Abstract Introduction Pain during intercourse is a relatively common experience among reproductive-aged females but is often not discussed with healthcare providers. In the context of attempting pregnancy, people may find themselves unable to abstain from painful intercourse and so may attempt to mitigate their pain. Despite this connection, research evaluating experiences of painful intercourse among pregnancy planners is sparse. Objective To characterize pain mitigation strategies among females attempting pregnancy experiencing painful intercourse. Methods We used data from Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an online preconception cohort study of females residing in the United States or Canada and actively attempting a pregnancy with a male partner without the use of assisted reproductive technology (2020-2023). To be eligible for this study, participants must have completed the optional Sexual Health and Well-Being Study within one year of cohort enrollment and before reporting a pregnancy (N=1,545). Participants were asked whether they experienced any pain during vaginal penetration in the past 4 weeks. Response options were five frequency options ranging from ‘Never or rarely’ to ‘Almost always or always.’ Those who responded that they experienced pain more frequently than ‘Never or rarely’ were categorized as experiencing any painful penetration and asked to rate the usual intensity of the pain on a scale of 1 to 10 and if they tried any strategies to mitigate the pain. For each reported strategy, participants were asked to rank its perceived efficacy at mitigating their pain on a scale of 1 ‘Never effective’ to 5 ‘Always Effective.’ Response options of ‘Often effective’ or ‘Always effective’ were grouped for descriptive analysis. Strategy effectiveness was also evaluated stratified by high pain (usual intensity ≥5) versus not high pain. Results Four-hundred and eighty participants (31%) reported experiencing any painful penetration in the past 4 weeks. The mean pain intensity was 3.6 (standard deviation [sd]=1.7). The most common reported strategies to try to mitigate pain were changing sexual positions (66%), using lubricant (59%), trying to finish intercourse quickly (49%), having an orgasm before penetration (32%) and only allowing partial vaginal penetration by the penis (30%). The most effective strategy was lubricant use, with 72% of participants reporting that strategy to be often or always effective, followed by partial penetration (66%), changing position (64%), and orgasm (62%). The least effective strategy was trying to finish quickly, with only 30% of participants saying that was often or always effective. The effectiveness of a given strategy changed with pain intensity, with all strategies being less likely to be often or always effective among those with higher pain intensity. Conclusions Among a sample of pregnancy planners, strategies to mitigate painful penetration varied. In general, most strategies were perceived as being often or always effective at mitigating pain, though less so for people with more intense pain. Because abstaining from painful intercourse is not always possible in the context of a desired pregnancy, understanding strategies that people use to mitigate pain can help providers who may wish to support patients in this context. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: LAW serves as a consultant to AbbVie, Inc.

Functional Cerebral Neurovascular Mapping During Focused Ultrasound Peripheral Neuromodulation of Neuropathic Pain.

Nociceptive pain is required for healthy function, yet, neuropathic pain (disease or injury) can be severely debilitating. Though a wide-array of treatment options are available, they are often systemic and/or invasive. As a promising neuromodulation treatment, Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a noninvasive and highly spatially-targeted technique shown to stimulate neural activity, yet, effects on pain signaling are currently unknown. Develop and validate a method for studying FUS nerve stimulation modulation of pain-evoked neural responses in vivo. We developed a high-resolution functional ultrasound (fUS) method capable of mapping cortical responses in healthy and neuropathic pain mice in response to FUS neuromodulation treatment. FUS-evoked hemodynamic responses are correlated with the intensity of peripheral neuromodulation. We confirm functional connectivity is altered in neuropathic mice and demonstrate that FUS can modulate neuropathic pain-evoked hemodynamics. The findings presented herein provides evidence for an FUS-based nerve pain method and validates the fUS technique developed for monitoring pain-evoked hemodynamics. We anticipate that the findings presented herein describe a noninvasive and flexible nerve modulation technique for pain mitigation, furthering evidence for clinical translation.

Efficacy assessment of novel methanimine derivatives in chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic model: An in-vivo, ex-vivo and In-Silico approach

The multicomponent etiology, complex clinical implications, dose-based side effect and degree of pain mitigation associated with the current pharmacological therapy is incapable in complete resolution of chronic neuropathic pain patients which necessitates the perpetual requirement of novel medication therapy. Therefore, this study explored the ameliorative aptitude of two novel methanimine imitative like (E)-N-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-4‑chloro-2-iodobenzamine (KB 09) and (E)-N-(4-methylbenzylidene)-4‑chloro-2-iodobenzamine (KB 10) in chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve induced neuropathic pain in rat model. Standard behavioral tests like dynamic and static allodynia, cold, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia along with rotarod activity were performed at various experimental days like 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on spinal tissue and antioxidant assays on sciatic nerve were executed accompanied by molecular docking and simulation studies. Prolonged ligation of sciatic nerve expressively induced hyperalgesia as well as allodynia in rats. KB 09 and KB 10 substantially attenuated the CCI elicited hyperalgesia and allodynia. They significantly reduced the biomarkers of pain and inflammation like Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in ELISA and while enhanced the GSH, SOD and CAT and diminished the MDA levels during antioxidant assays. KB 09 displayed -9.62 kcal/mol with TNF-α and -7.68 kcal/mol binding energy with IL-6 whereas KB 10 exhibited binding energy of -8.20 kcal/mol with IL-6 while -11.68 kcal/mol with TNF-α and hence both trial compounds ensured stable interaction with IL-6 and TNF-α during computational analysis. The results advocated that both methanimine derivatives might be novel candidates for attenuation of CCI-induced neuropathic pain prospects via anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.

Comparison of firocoxib and meloxicam for pain mitigation in goats undergoing surgical castration

Castration is a common husbandry practice in food animal management. Castration reduces aggression, prevents indis­criminate breeding, and improves carcass quality. For male goats intended to be kept as pets, castration is recommended close to sexual maturity (6-8 m) to allow for increased urethral diameter. A larger urethral diameter lowers the chances of ure­teral obstruction occurring. There are currently no approved analgesic drugs for surgical castration in goats. Veterinarians must extrapolate analgesic data from other livestock species to try to mitigate pain in goats. Sheep and cattle are commonly used, but there is little research supporting best practices of pain mitigation in goats. This study sought to examine the ef­fects of firocoxib and meloxicam after surgical castration in crossbred goats.

The effects of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on behavior and physiological parameters of beef cows and calves assisted at calving

An assisted calving can negatively impact the health and behav­ior of beef cows and calves. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) administered after a difficult calving to the cow or the calf as a pain mitigation strategy have been shown to im­prove behaviors in dairy cows and calves, weight gain in beef and dairy calves, and vigor in dairy calves. However, the effects of NSAIDs on beef cows’ and calves’ behaviors related with pain and cow-calf bonding after an assisted calving have not been studied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of administering an NSAID to beef cattle after an as­sisted calving by measuring changes in behaviors related with pain and the cow-calf bond, transfer of passive immunity in calves, and physiological parameters related with pain.

Practical pain mitigation for castration – effective and efficient relief

Pain management for cattle during veterinary procedures is be­coming a strong topic within our industry. In this presentation we will be discussing pain relief pre- and post-castration. Some of the highlights include local nerve blocks, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, and how to communicate with producers about implementing it within a production system.

Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapies for the Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) significantly increase morbidity and mortality, presenting a formidable challenge in healthcare. Traditional interventions such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, despite their widespread use, are limited in addressing the secondary effects of vertebral fractures in adjacent areas and do not facilitate bone regeneration. This review paper explores the emerging domain of regenerative therapies, spotlighting stem cell therapy's transformative potential in OVCF treatment. It thoroughly describes the therapeutic possibilities and mechanisms of action of mesenchymal stem cells against OVCFs, relying on recent clinical trials and preclinical studies for efficacy assessment. Our findings reveal that stem cell therapy, particularly in combination with scaffolding materials, holds substantial promise for bone regeneration, spinal stability improvement, and pain mitigation. This integration of stem cell-based methods with conventional treatments may herald a new era in OVCF management, potentially improving patient outcomes. This review advocates for accelerated research and collaborative efforts to translate laboratory breakthroughs into clinical practice, emphasizing the revolutionary impact of regenerative therapies on OVCF management. In summary, this paper positions stem cell therapy at the forefront of innovation for OVCF treatment, stressing the importance of ongoing research and cross-disciplinary collaboration to unlock its full clinical potential.