Core-shell Au@MIL-100 (Fe) as an enhanced substrate for flunixin meglumine ultra-sensitive detection

This study aimed to develop and validate a simple and efficient surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method to determine flunixin meglumine (FM) residues in animal tissues through using core-shell Au@MIL-100 (Fe) as enhanced substrate. Au@MIL-100 (Fe) composite material was synthesized by coating metal-organic framework materials (MOFs) on the surface of gold nanoparticles using the solvothermal method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis spectrum, SERS spectrum, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Infrared spectrum (FT-IR), and EDX elemental mapping results revealed that the structural composition of the compound has good properties with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties, high adsorption capacity, excellent SERS sensitivity and stability. When it was used as SERS substrate, the results of quantitative analysis of FM in pork showed a linear range of 0.10-50 mg·L^-1 with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9819, the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.15 mg·g^-1, the recovery rate of 88.94%∼104.77%, the intra- and inter- batch relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.57%∼14.22% and 0.18%∼3.44% respectively. Further verification results of the existing standard methods showed no significant difference between the SERS and UV methods (P < 0.05), as well as demonstrating that the SERS method has optimal precision, accuracy, and practicality. These results exposed that Au@MIL-100 (Fe) as a SERS substrate has great potential in rapid and on-site detection analysis.

Effect of flunixin meglumine on pain-related behaviours following cautery disbudding in dairy goat kids

The aim of this research was to evaluate the physiological and behavioural parameters in Saanen goat kids treated with flunixin meglumine compared with no analgesic treatment after cautery disbudding using a device fueled by propane gas. At 7 days of age, 30 goat kids were randomly allocated to three groups: Sham (Sh) control, (i.e., simulating disbudding); Disbudding (Di), using thermal cauterization; Disbudding + Flunixin (DiFl), thermal cauterization + flunixin meglumine (2.2 mg/kg body weight, 15 min before treatment). Each kid was video-recorded for 30 min before and after treatment to evaluate the frequency of head shaking, head scratching, body shaking, grooming, head rubbing, jumping, running, and bleating. Blood samples were taken 30 min after disbudding to evaluate serum cortisol concentrations and white blood cell count. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured using a stethoscope. Liveweight of goat kids was recorded at birth, -24 h and 7 days after treatment, and at 25 days of age. The mean frequency of head shaking and head scratching was higher (p = 0.0001) after disbudding in Di (37.5 ± 47.8 and 33.32 ± 31.2) group compared to Sh (3.42 ± 3.58 and 2.2 ± 1.8) and DiFl, (4.02 ± 2.76 and 4.42 ± 3.72) groups. The frequency of jumping was higher (p = 0.022) for Di (3.74 ± 2.24) than that of DiFl (0.39 ± 0.92). The remaining behaviours did not show differences (p > 0.05). HR and RR were higher (HR: p < 0.0048; RR: p < 0.035) in group Di (HR: 156 ± 13.6; RR: 66 ± 14.8) than in Sh (HR: 138 ± 8.48; RR: 55.6 ± 5.4) and in DiFl (HR: 136 ± 6.38; RR: 52.8 ± 4.13). No differences were detected between live weight, serum cortisol and white blood cell count data (p > 0.05). Results show that flunixin meglumine was effective at reducing pain-related behaviours when given at the time of disbudding.

Preparation, evaluation, and pharmacokinetics in beagle dogs of a taste-masked flunixin meglumine orally disintegrating tablet prepared using hot-melt extrusion technology and D-optimal mixture design

Flunixin meglumine (FM) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug limited by irritation of the respiratory tract and mucosa in veterinary tissue. This study aimed to develop a taste-masked FM solid dispersion (SD) by hot-melt extrusion (HME) and formulate an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) with selected excipients by direct compression. Eudragit® E PO was chosen as the matrix, and HME parameters were optimized: extrusion temperature, 135℃; screw speed, 100 rpm; and drug loading, 20%. Characterization techniques proved that FM was rendered amorphous in the HME extrudate. In vitro dissolution studies showed that FM SD released significantly slower than the corresponding physical mixture in artificial saliva. Excipients were selected based on compression formability, disintegration, and solubility. A D-optimal mixture design was used to optimize the composition: 25% FM SD, 18.75% microcrystalline cellulose, 52.5% mannitol, 3.75% low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, and 1% magnesium stearate. Taste-masked FM ODT had a tensile strength of 0.7 ± 0.01 MPa and a disintegration time of 17.6 ± 0.1 s. E-tongue and E-nose analysis showed that FM ODT had a better taste-masked effect than commercial granules. Finally, a pharmacokinetic study proved that the main pharmacokinetic parameters of FM ODT were not significantly different from those of commercial granules, which indicated that these formulations had similar pharmacokinetic behaviours in beagles.

A study to assess the correlation between plasma, oral fluid and urine concentrations of flunixin meglumine with the tissue residue depletion profile in finishing-age swine

Background

Flunixin meglumine (FM) was investigated for the effectiveness of plasma, oral fluid, and urine concentrations to predict tissue residue depletion profiles in finishing-age swine, along with the potential for untreated pigs to acquire tissue residues following commingled housing with FM-treated pigs. Twenty pigs were housed in groups of three treated and one untreated control. Treated pigs received one 2.2 mg/kg dose of FM intramuscularly. Before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h (h) after treatment, plasma samples were taken. At 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days (d) post-treatment, necropsy and collection of plasma, urine, oral fluid, muscle, liver, kidney, and injection site samples took place. Analysis of flunixin concentrations using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry was done. A published physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for flunixin in cattle was extrapolated to swine to simulate the measured data.

Results

Plasma concentrations of flunixin were the highest at 1 h post-treatment, ranging from 1534 to 7040 ng/mL, and were less than limit of quantification (LOQ) of 5 ng/mL in all samples on Day 4. Flunixin was detected in the liver and kidney only on Day 1, but was not found 4–16 d post-treatment. Flunixin was either not seen or found less than LOQ in the muscle, with the exception of one sample on Day 16 at a level close to LOQ. Flunixin was found in the urine of untreated pigs after commingled housing with FM-treated pigs. The PBPK model adequately correlated plasma, oral fluid and urine concentrations of flunixin with residue depletion profiles in liver, kidney, and muscle of finishing-age pigs, especially within 24 h after dosing.

Conclusions

Results indicate untreated pigs can be exposed to flunixin by shared housing with FM-treated pigs due to environmental contamination. Plasma and urine samples may serve as less invasive and more easily accessible biological matrices to predict tissue residue statuses of flunixin in pigs at earlier time points (≤24 h) by using a PBPK model.

Effect of flunixin meglumine and aspirin administration on conception rate and estrous cycle characteristics of Egyptian Baladi cows during hot season

The current investigation aims to evaluate the effects of flunixin meglumine (FM) and aspirin as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration on estrous cycles characteristics and conception rate of Egyptian Baladi cows during hot season. In the first phase, 30 cows were divided into 3 groups, 10 cows for each treatment. The first group was treated with FM at the rate of 1.1 mg/kg body weight (BW) intramuscular, while the second group was administrated aspirin solution orally at the rate of 50 mg/kg BW. The third group was assigned as control (CG) that has no treatment. The FM group was administrated on day 14 after mating, while aspirin was given on day 14 and day 15 post-mating. All cows were mated naturally after showing estrus signs. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried 60 days after mating by rectal palpation. In the second phase, cows were monitored for estrus behavior by visual observation twice a day. The length of normal estrous cycles was 20, 23, and 22 days in cows treated with FM, aspirin, and control cows, respectively. There was no significant effect of treatment on the length of normal estrous cycles in Egyptian cows (P < 0.05). Proportions of long cycles in Egyptian cows that treated with FM or aspirin and control were 75, 67.7, and 57.1%, respectively. Short cycles were completely absent in cows that treated with FM or aspirin, but it was 29% in CG. Mounting behavior and tail rising were not detected in CG compared to 0 and 33% in FM or 25 and 33% in aspirin treated cows, respectively. Conception or pregnancy rate were 60, 40, and 30%, respectively, in FM, aspirin treated, and CG. Treatment cows whether FM or aspirin group did not influence (P < 0.05) progesterone concentration during the 14 days and 21 days from estrous cycle in pregnant and non-pregnant Egyptian Baladi cows than CG. In conclusion, the results of this study clearly indicated beneficial effect of FM and aspirin administration on intense of displayed estrous behavior and conception rate of Egyptian Baladi cows during the hot season.

Injectable or transdermal flunixin meglumine improves pregnancy rates in embryo transfer recipient beef cows without altering returns to estrus

OBJECTIVES

were to determine effects of 1) injectable or transdermal flunixin meglumine (FM) at embryo transfer (ET) compared to an untreated control group on pregnancy per ET (P/ET; ∼35 d after ET); 2) embryo and recipient factors on P/ET; 3) FM on hormone concentrations; and 4) FM on returns to estrus. Angus-cross beef cows (n = 1145) at five locations were scored for body condition (BCS; 1-9) and temperament (0 or 1) and given Select-Synch + CIDR. Recipient cows with a corpus luteum (CL) ≥1.5 cm received a frozen-thawed embryo 7 d after estrus and were concurrently given 1.1 mg/kg injectable FM im (INJFM; n = 384), 3.3 mg/kg transdermal FM pour on (TDFM; n = 388), or nothing (CON group; n = 373). Blood samples were collected at ET and 7 d later (60 cows). Accounting for temperament (P < 0.05), ET difficulty score (1-3, easy to difficult; P < 0.01), treatment by temperament (P < 0.001) and treatment by embryo quality (P < 0.05), FM treatments affected P/ET (P < 0.05). The P/ET for cows given INJFM [62.8% (241/384)] or TDFM [58.7% (228/388)] were not different (P = 0.26), but they were greater (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively) than P/ET for controls [51.2% (191/373)]. The P/ET was greater for calm versus excitable cows, 60.2 (463/769) and 52.4% (197/376), respectively (P < 0.01) and was lower for difficulty score 3 [49.2% (156/317)] compared to score 1 [62.7% (254/405; P < 0.001) or score 2 [59.1% (250/423; P < 0.01)]. There was no effect (P > 0.1) of cow age, BCS, or stage of embryo development on P/ET. Pregnancy rates for embryo quality grade 1 (excellent/good) and grade 2 (fair) were 60.4% (314/520) and 55.4% (346/625), respectively (P > 0.05). Percentages of non-pregnant recipient cows in estrus from Days 18-26 did not differ among treatment groups (P > 0.1). Control cows had lower progesterone concentrations and greater substance-P, PGFM and 8-isoprostane PGF2α concentrations at 7 d after ET compared to FM-treated cows (P < 0.05). In conclusion, injectable or transdermal FM improved pregnancy rates in ET recipients, without affecting nonpregnant cows return to estrus.

Flunixin meglumine improves pregnancy rate in embryo recipient beef cows with an excitable temperament

Objectives were to determine effects of: 1) handling temperament and administration of flunixin meglumine, an inhibitor of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) synthesis, given at the time of embryo transfer, on pregnancy rates in beef cattle embryo transfer recipients; 2) handling temperament and flunixin meglumine on peripheral concentrations of progesterone, cortisol, substance-P, prostaglandin F metabolites (PGFM, (13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2a) and isoprostane 8-epi PGF2a; and 3) flunixin meglumine treatment on proportion of non-pregnant recipient cows returning to estrus within an expected interval. Angus cross beef cows (n = 710) at 7 locations were assigned a body condition score (BCS: 1, emaciated; 9, obese) and a temperament score [0, calm, slow chute exit; walk (n = 352), 1, excited, fast chute exit; jump, trot or run (n = 358)] and were synchronized with Select-Synch with a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol. Estrus detection aids were applied at CIDR removal and cows were observed thrice daily for estrus until 72 h. Recipient cows that expressed estrus and had a corpus luteum received a frozen-thawed embryo on Day 7 after estrus. At the time of transfer, recipient cows were randomly allocated to receive 10 mL of flunixin meglumine im, immediately after transfer (n = 365) or served as an untreated control (n = 345). In a subset of cows (n = 80), ovarian ultrasonography was performed on the day of embryo transfer to determine corpus luteum volume and blood samples were collected twice, at the time of embryo transfer and 7 d later. All cows received estrus detection aids again on Day 14 (7 d after embryo transfer) and were observed for estrus twice daily until Day 24. Accounting for treatment (P > 0.1), embryo transfer difficulty score (P < 0.1), temperament by treatment interaction (P < 0.05), recipient cows with calm temperament had a higher pregnancy rate compared to those with an excited temperament [59.4 (209/352) vs 51.7% (185/358)]. The pregnancy rate for excitable cows without flunixin meglumine was lower (46.3% 81/175) compared to excitable cows that did received flunixin meglumine [56.8% (104/183)], and calm cows that did [59.3% (108/182)] or did not [59.4% (104/170)] receive flunixin meglumine. Proportions of non-pregnant recipient cows returning to estrus on Days 18-24 were not different between flunixin meglumine and control groups, 87.6% (134/153) and 84.0% (137/163), respectively (P > 0.1). At the time of embryo transfer and 7 d later, there were moderate to strong correlations among circulating concentrations of progesterone, cortisol, substance-P, PGFM and isoprostane 8-epi PGF2a. Among excitable cows, progesterone concentrations were lower and cortisol, substance-P, PGFM and isoprostane 8-epi PGF2a concentrations were greater for cows in the control group compared to cows that received flunixin meglumine. In conclusion, administration of flunixin meglumine improved pregnancy rates in excitable recipient cows following embryo transfer without affecting the proportion of non-pregnant cows returning to estrus.

Comparative therapeutic effect of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on pro-inflammatory cytokine production in water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) naturally infected with bronchopneumonia: a randomized clinical trial

In the current study, we compared the therapeutic effects of a non-steroidal and a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the blood of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves naturally infected by bronchopneumonia. Twenty-seven buffalo calves (7 ± 2-month-old, 163 ± 12 kg) reared in smallholder farms in El-Dakahlia province in Egypt were identified to have bronchopneumonia and randomly allocated into three equal groups. Ten clinically healthy buffalo calves with negative bronchoalveolar lavage results were served as negative control. Diseased calves were treated with tulathromycin alone, a combination of tulathromycin with dexamethasone (steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) or tulathromycin with flunixin meglumine (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). The results revealed significant elevations (P < 0.05) in the production of selected cytokines in all diseased calves in comparison with healthy animals. Six days post-treatment, a significant inhibition (P < 0.05) in the production of all assessed cytokines was observed in the blood of all treated calves. Interestingly, the serum concentrations of IL-1β and IL-12p40 were returned to the normal levels in pneumonic calves treated with the combination therapy of tulathromycin and flunixin meglumine. A strong significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) was detected between clinical sum scoring and IL-12p40 and TNF-α concentrations. The obtained results indicate the selectively potent anti-inflammatory effect of flunixin meglumine on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in pneumonic buffalo calves and highlight the efficacy of flunixin meglumine in the treatment of bronchopneumonia in buffalo calves when used in combination with tulathromycin.