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The study aimed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of tapentadol in horses, by determining plasma serotonin concentration and adrenocortical response, as biomarkers of pain stress in chronic joint disorders. Thirty-six horses (20 females and 16 males) were divided into three groups of 12 subjects each: group A, osteoarthritis (OA), grade 3–4 lameness; group B, OA, grade 5 lameness; and group C, no OA, no lameness, were enrolled. The orthopedic examination included flexion tests, and radiological and ultrasound examinations. The degree of lameness has been estimated from 0 to 5 according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEPs). Heart and respiratory rates (HR and RR) and blood pressure were recorded. Serotonin concentration and circulating cortisol levels were determined at baseline and the end of every week for 4 weeks. Biochemical parameters were recorded at baseline and the end of treatment with tapentadol. Subjects with OA were treated with tapentadol 0.5 mg kg−1. The response to painful stimulus on flexion tests was evaluated using the modified numeric pain rating scale (modified NRS 0–7) from baseline and the cumulative pain score (CPS 0–4) after the first week of treatment with tapentadol. The lameness decreased throughout the timeline in both groups (score from 3–4 to 1 in group A and score from 5 to 1 in group B) (p < 0.05). The NRS score decreased throughout the timeline (p < 0.05), from mild pain to no pain in group A (score 1–3 to 0) and from moderate pain to no pain in group B (score from 4 to 0). Physiological variables remained within the physiological range throughout the timeline. Cumulative pain scores ranged from 0.5 to 4 in group A and 1.5 to 7 in group B (p = 0.008). Serotonin concentrations remained unchanged throughout the timeline in all groups (p = 1.000) but in the OA groups, the concentrations were lower than control (p < 0.001). Circulating cortisol levels were reduced compared to baseline in subjects treated with tapentadol (p < 0.001). Tapentadol is effective in OA pain management in horses. Serotonin and cortisol may be utilized as biomarkers in the pain stress response. Serotonin can also determine the state of wellbeing of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Three-dimensional printing technology is a method of creating a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a computer-generated design. This method has enabled the production of custom models of organs or organ parts, leading to the emergence of "personalized medicine". The materials used in 3D printing include plastic, metal, and polymers. This review discusses the current state and future prospects of six biomaterials used in veterinary medicine and ophthalmology. Polycaprolactone is suitable for replacing hard tissue defects and is well tolerated in the eye, making it useful for ocular drug delivery devices. Pluronic is used for bone tissue engineering applications and could also be employed for drug delivery in ophthalmology. Silk is used for composite osteogenic scaffolds and vascular grafts, and it may be tested for creating protective lenses for the eye. Collagen is used to produce bioengineered corneas to improve the treatment of corneal ulcers. Alginate is used in cardiac and orthopedic procedures and is also employed in various ocular delivery systems for corneal repair. Hyaluronic acid is commonly used as a lubricant and can serve as a regenerative scaffold during the corneal healing process. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in 3D printing technology within the field of bioengineering. This technology offers the ability to create devices with intricate macro- and micro-geometries, as well as specific models. It has particularly gained attention for its potential in personalized medicine, allowing for the production of organ or tissue models tailored to individual patient needs. Further, 3D printing has opened up possibilities to manufacture structures that can substitute, complement, or enhance damaged or dysfunctional organic parts. To apply 3D printing in the medical field, researchers have studied various materials known as biomaterials, each with distinct chemical and physical characteristics. These materials fall into two main categories: hard and soft materials. Each biomaterial needs to possess specific characteristics that are compatible with biological systems, ensuring long-term stability and biocompatibility. In this paper, we aim to review some of the materials used in the biomedical field, with a particular focus on those utilized in veterinary medicine and ophthalmology. We will discuss the significant findings from recent scientific research, focusing on the biocompatibility, structure, applicability, and in vitro and in vivo biological characteristics of two hard and four soft materials. Additionally, we will present the current state and prospects of veterinary ophthalmology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the constructionist point of view applied to Subjective Well-Being (SWB), five hypotheses were advanced about the predictive power of the top-down effects and bottom-up processes over a five years period. The sample consisted of 297 respondents, which represent the Italian sample of a European longitudinal survey; the first phase was conducted in 1995 and the follow-up in 2000. Satisfaction judgments were collected on Overall Life Satisfaction (OLS) and on seven Life Facet Satisfaction (LFS) domains. The top-down effects were measured using a method derived from the constructionist point of view. Life conditions, which represent the bottom-up processes, were gathered by structured questionnaire and were optimized by a factor analyses. A stepwise regression was performed in each satisfaction judgment to test the five hypotheses, which were confirmed with only few exceptions. The results revealed that the top-down effects were a significant predictor in all satisfaction judgments, especially in OLS, where it was the strongest predictor. Life conditions (bottom-up factors) were less strong predictors than the top-down effects, but they became strong predictors if they were gathered at the same time as satisfaction judgments.

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Background: Equating health with complete physical, mental and social well-being, as defined by the WHO, has played an important role in the development of healthcare systems in Western countries. However, this definition has contributed to the rise of the myth of well-being, increasing the demand on healthcare systems and raising the risk of medicalizing all aspects of life. Additionally, equating health with complete well-being is conceptually flawed for two important reasons., Aim: The aim of this article is to move beyond this utopian vision, which has led to negative consequences for both individual health and the sustainability of healthcare systems., Methods: This article analyses the most relevant definitions of health proposed in the scientific literature over the last 50 years., Findings: There have been some attempts within the WHO itself to reduce the utopian content of its definition, but these efforts have not yielded significant results. Outside the WHO, many different proposals have emerged, including those that incorporate malaise into the concept of health. Nevertheless, none of the definitions proposed in the last 50 years have achieved widespread consensus., Discussion and Implications for Practice: While there are various approaches to defining health, the crucial issue is that each definition should include states of unwell-being. Incorporating this perspective would represent a paradigm shift in the field of health, fostering more realistic expectations and reducing the risk of medicalization., (© 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The surgical site infiltration of a local anesthetic is defined as the direct injection of a drug. This study aimed to compare the effects of surgical site infiltration with 4 mg kg -1 lidocaine using a Comfort-in device and traditional syringe on oxidative status and intra- and postoperative pain in dogs undergoing regional mastectomy. Sixty adult female dogs divided into C (Comfort-in device), S (traditional syringe), and CTR (control) groups received 2 µg kg -1 dexmedetomidine and 4 mg kg -1 tramadol IM, 5 mg kg -1 tiletamine/zolazepam IV, and isoflurane. The physiological and anesthesiological parameters were measured. The assessment of intra- and postoperative responses to the surgical stimulus was performed using a cumulative pain scale (CPS score of 0-4) and the Colorado Pain Scale (CSU-CAPS score of 0-4). The hematological and biochemical parameters and inflammatory oxidative status were measured. The CPS scores showed no significant differences between the C and S groups ( p = 0.236), while the comparison between the CTR, C, and S groups, respectively, showed a significant difference ( p < 0.001). The postoperative analgesia scores were significantly lower in the C group compared to those of the S and CTR groups ( p < 0.001). In the C group, no subject received rescue analgesia during the intra- and postoperative periods. The level of oxidative inflammatory stress was lower in group C than those in S and CTR groups, and no side effects were observed in all the groups.

This study assessed the effects of a combination of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol on the Schirmer tear test I (STT I) values in dogs. Ninety-eight dogs were sedated with an intramuscular injection of a combination of dexmedetomidine, 5 μg/kg body weight (BW), and butorphanol, 0.2 mg/kg BW. The effects of dexmedetomidine were reversed by administering atipamezole at the end of the procedure. The combination of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol significantly decreased tear production 15 minutes after sedation. The STT I values 15 minutes after reversal of dexmedetomidine with atipamezole were significantly higher than the STT I values 15 minutes after sedation but were significantly lower than the STT I values before sedation. Gender, weight, duration of sedation, right or left eye did not affect STT I values after sedation. It is recommended that dogs sedated with a combination of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol be treated with a tear substitute to combat decreased tear production.