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Polycyclic musk compounds are commonly used in personal care products to replace expensive natural fragrances. Due to their huge consumption, they have become a part of the aquatic environment. In the present study, a two-month exposure effect of tonalide on juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) was investigated. We determined the vitellogenin concentration to define the potential endocrine-disrupting effect of tonalide and also analysed selected indices to evaluate the induction of oxidative stress. The environmentally relevant concentration of tonalide (i.e., 500 ng/l) caused a significant decrease in the catalase activity (P< 0.05) and a significant increase (P< 0.05) in the lipid peroxidation. An increasing lipid peroxidation was also recorded for the highest concentration group tested (i.e., 50 000 ng/l). On the other hand, no significant changes were recorded in vitellogenin in all the exposed groups. Thus, based on these results, we have not demonstrated the endocrine-disrupting activity of tonalide in zebrafish. The results of the oxidative stress indices showed a significant impairment of the antioxidant defence after the two-month tonalide exposure, which could indicate part of the adaptive response to the tonalide toxicity.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of achieving more effective and prolonged sedation in pigs by the oral administration of increased doses of azaperone and to evaluate its safety. This was performed through a prospective randomised and double blinded study. A total of 32 weaned piglets were divided into 4 groups (8 in each group). Group A was given 1 ml of saline orally and served as the control group. Group B received azaperone orally at a dose of 4 mg/kg b.w. Group C received azaperone orally at a dose of 8 mg/kg b.w. Group D was given azaperone orally at a dose of 12 mg/kg b.w. The response to the defined stimulus, movement level, degree of salivation, body temperature, respiratory frequency, blood plasma azaperone concentration and biochemical variables were included in the trial. We found that by increasing the dose of the orally administered azaperone, the onset of the sedation is faster, the end of the sedation starts later and the sedation time is longer. However, the use of higher doses of oral azaperone is not suitable for piglets because the doses negatively affect the respiratory rate, body temperature, some biochemical parameters and cause the immobility of the piglets.

The use of experimental animals in science and research remains an essential means of understanding the basic mechanisms underlying research into prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human and animal diseases. The basis of quality research to the highest standards of animal care and all experiments should include 3R: replacement, reduction and refinement. However, these three principles have also proved to be an area of common ground for researchers who use animals and for those who oppose their use. It has also been recognized that the acceptance of 3Rs can improve the quality of science and well-designed experiments can minimize the number of used animals and excessive stress, pain or suffering, also often provide better and more reliable data. The principle of reduction seems to be the least controversial, but its application has highlighted the difficulties in providing appropriate professional statistical methods, especially in academic research facilities. In some cases, concern about implementing reduction strategies can lead to the use of a few animals, leading to inconclusive results and failed experiments. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the number of experimental animals used in the user facility of the University of Veterinary Sciences Bmo in terms of experimental animal species and purposes of experiments in the period 2009-2019, determine trends in the use of experimental animals, evaluate statistically significant differences and compare data with available statistics of used experimental animals issued by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. Another goal was to check, based on the obtained results, whether in the academic sphere there is a reduction in the number of animals included in the experiments and thus the fulfillment of the 3R concept. In the monitored period 2009-2019, a total of 89,963 experimental animals were used in the user facility of the University of Veterinary Sciences Bmo, when fish were the most used with the total number of 63,016 (74 %). In terms of the purpose of the experimental project, it was found that most animals were used for basic research (71 %). The total number of experimental animals used in experiments in the monitored user facility for the period 2009-2019 significantly correlates with the total number of experimental animals used in the Czech Republic (p<0.01). Regression analysis revealed the relationship between the total number and the observed period. The regression model is considered statistically significant (p<0.05). Decreasing trend of using experimental animals was confirmed by this study and thus the 3R concept of reducing the number of animals in experiments in the user facility of the University of Veterinary Sciences Bmo is fulfilled. However, there is still a need for a greater focus on the application of the 3R strategy animal research and testing in the academic environment, not only by improving the standards of care for experimental animals and their welfare, but also by introducing new methods for evaluating the results of experiments or using alternative methods to better animal experiments design.

PurposeTo determine the effect of topical brimonidine tartrate prophylaxis on intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes following intravitreal injection of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents.MethodsThis is a randomised crossover trial of consecutive non-glaucomatous eyes receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections between December 2016 and July 2017. All eyes were randomly assigned to no prophylaxis or topical brimonidine tartrate 0.15 % administered 20 min prior to injection in one of two consecutive visits. Measurements of IOP were obtained immediately (T0), 10 min (T10) and 20 min (T20) after injection during the visits with and without prophylaxis.ResultsAmong the 58 eyes of 55 patients (116 visits), the mean (SD) age was 74.3 (11.6), and 62% were female. The mean baseline IOP was 15.3 (2.3) mm Hg (range: 11–20). On average, the immediate postinjection IOP during the visit without prophylaxis was 41.6 (12) mm Hg (range: 17–81). Compared with no prophylaxis, the visit with preadministered topical brimonidine tartrate had a lower IOP at T0 (p<0.001), T10 (p=0.001) and T20 (p=0.043), and a smaller proportion of eyes with IOP elevation of greater than 20 mm Hg from preinjection (p=0.002) and IOP greater than 50 mm Hg at T0 (p=0.036). Without prophylaxis, two eyes (two patients) had an IOP of greater than 70 mm Hg at T0 and thus underwent anterior chamber paracentesis.ConclusionTopical brimonidine tartrate prophylaxis for intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents effectively reduces IOP spikes in non-glaucomatous eyes and may be easily incorporated into ophthalmologists’ current practice.Trial registration number NCT03513172

To describe and evaluate the clinical outcomes of the Flanged Prolene Suture intraocular lens fixation (PIF) technique and compare it to anterior chamber IOL (ACIOL) implantation. A retrospective comparative review. A retrospective comparative review of consecutive patients undergoing secondary IOL implantation was performed. A comparison between patients that had ACIOL and PIF technique was conducted. The main outcome measures were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (VA), IOL position and complications. In the study period, fourteen eyes had ACIOL implantation and ten eyes had PIF surgery. VA acuity for both groups combined improved from 1.27 ± 0.65 logMAR preoperatively to 0.84 ± 0.65 logMAR (P<0.0001). Seventeen patients had VA measurements in the year before the IOL dislocation. In those seventeen patients, VA changed from a baseline of 0.90 ± 0.68 to 0.97 ± 0.61 logMAR in the PIF group (p=0.334) and from 0.54 ± 0.27 to 0.85 ± 0.65 logMAR in the ACIOL group (p=0.145). No intraoperative or early postoperative complications were documented in either group. Two (20%) patients in the PIF group developed CME and one patient developed corneal edema. In the ACIOL group, one patient developed significant CME and two patients developed visual significant corneal edema. The PIF technique seems to offer a simple, fast and safe way to fixate an IOL posteriorly. In our experience, the learning curve of the technique is short with a low complication rate and good visual outcomes.