The use of an electronic von Frey device for evaluation of sensory threshold in neurologically normal dogs and those with acute spinal cord injury

The utility and inter-session repeatability of sensory threshold measurements using an electronic von Frey anesthesiometer (VFA) were assessed in a group of six neurologically normal dogs. Sensory threshold values obtained in neurologically normal dogs were compared to those of dogs with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) caused by intervertebral disc extrusion (n=6) and to a group of neurologically normal dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR; n=6). Sensory threshold values in neurologically normal dogs were 155.8 ± 37.7 g and 154.7 ± 67.2 g for the left and right pelvic limbs, respectively. The difference in mean sensory threshold values obtained for the group when two distinct testing sessions were compared was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Mean sensory threshold values for the group with SCI were significantly higher than those for neurologically normal dogs at 351.1 ± 116.5 g and 420.3 ± 157.7 g for the left and right pelvic limbs, respectively (P=0.01). A comparison of sensory threshold values for the group with CCLR and neurologically normal dogs was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The modified dorsal technique for VFA described here represents a reliable method to assess sensory threshold in neurologically normal dogs and in those with SCI.

Alfaxalone versus alfaxalone-dexmedetomidine anaesthesia by immersion in oriental fire-bellied toads (Bombina orientalis)

OBJECTIVE To determine a dexmedetomidine concentration, to be added to an alfaxalone-based bath solution, that will enhance the anaesthetic and analgesic effects of alfaxalone; and to compare the quality of anaesthesia and analgesia provided by immersion with either alfaxalone alone or alfaxalone with dexmedetomidine in oriental fire-bellied toads (Bombina orientalis). STUDY DESIGN Pilot study followed by a prospective, randomized, experimental trial. ANIMALS Fourteen oriental fire-bellied toads. METHODS The pilot study aimed to identify a useful dexmedetomidine concentration to be added to an anaesthetic bath containing 20 mg 100 mL(-1) alfaxalone. Thereafter, the toads were assigned to one of two groups, each comprising eight animals, to be administered either alfaxalone (group A) or alfaxalone-dexmedetomidine (group AD). After immersion for 20 minutes, the toads were removed from the anaesthetic bath and the righting, myotactic and nociceptive reflexes, cardiopulmonary variables and von Frey filaments threshold were measured at 5 minute intervals and compared statistically between groups. Side effects and complications were noted and recorded. RESULTS In the pilot study, a dexmedetomidine concentration of 0.3 mg 100 mL(-1) added to the alfaxalone-based solution resulted in surgical anaesthesia. The toads in group AD showed higher von Frey thresholds and lower nociceptive withdrawal reflex scores than those in group A. However, in group AD, surgical anaesthesia was observed in two out of eight toads only, and induction of anaesthesia was achieved in only 50% of the animals, as compared with 100% of the toads in group A. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The addition of dexmedetomidine to an alfaxalone-based solution for immersion anaesthesia provided some analgesia in oriental fire-bellied toads, but failed to potentiate the level of unconsciousness and appeared to lighten the depth of anaesthesia. This limitation renders the combination unsuitable for anaesthetizing oriental fire-bellied toads for invasive procedures.

Postoperative hypoesthesia and pain: qualitative assessment after open and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is an important outcome variable after inguinal hernia repair that is generally not assessed by objective methods. The aim of this study was to objectively investigate chronic pain and hypoesthesia after inguinal hernia repair using three types of operation: open suture, open mesh, and laparoscopic. METHODS: A total of 96 patients were included in the study with a median follow-up of 4.7 years. Open suture repair was performed in 40 patients (group A), open mesh repair in 20 patients (group B), and laparoscopic repair in 36 patients (group C). Hypoesthesia and pain were assessed using von Frey monofilaments. Quality of life was investigated with Short Form 36. RESULTS: Pain occurring at least once a week was found in 7 (17.5%) patients of group A, in 5 (25%) patients of group B, and in 6 (16.6%) patients of group C. Area and intensity of hyposensibility were increased significantly after open nonmesh and mesh repair compared to those after laparoscopy (p = 0.01). Hyposensibility in patients who had laparoscopic hernia repair was significantly associated with postoperative pain (p = 0.03). Type of postoperative pain was somatic in 19 (61%), neuropathic in 9 (29%), and visceral in 3 (10%) patients without significant differences between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of hypoesthesia in patients who had laparoscopic hernia repair is significantly lower than in those who had open hernia repair. Hypoesthesia after laparoscopic but not after open repair is significantly associated with postoperative pain. Von Frey monofilaments are important tools for the assessment of inguinal hypoesthesia and pain in patients who had inguinal hernia repair allowing quantitative and qualitative comparison between various surgical techniques.

Alfaxalone-butorphanol versus alfaxalone-morphine combination for immersion anaesthesia in oriental fire-bellied toads (Bombina orientalis)

Oriental fire-bellied toads (Bombina orientalis) are small semi-aquatic anuran species popular as both pets and laboratory animals. Although they are commonly anaesthetized to undergo clinical and experimental procedures, very little is known about their anaesthetic management. The aims of this prospective, randomized, cross-over experimental trial were to establish effective butorphanol and morphine concentrations to be added to alfaxalone for immersion anaesthesia (pilot study), and to compare the anaesthetic and antinociceptive effects of the two drug mixtures (alfaxalone-butorphanol and alfaxalone-morphine), in Bombina orientalis toads. For the actual trial, the toads were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: AB and AM, with seven animals in each group, which received alfaxalone-butorphanol and alfaxalone-morphine combinations, respectively, at the concentrations established during the pilot study. Heart rate, respiratory rate, von Frey filament threshold and response to nociceptive withdrawal (NWR), righting and myotactic reflexes were measured at 5 min intervals until return of righting reflex was observed. The investigator who carried out all the measurements was blinded to the treatment. Any undesired effect or complication was noted and recorded. The two treatments were found to be comparable in terms of onset and duration of anaesthesia, and occurrence of undesired effects. However, group AM resulted in lower NWR scores and higher von Frey filament thresholds than group AB. It is concluded that, at the investigated concentrations and in combination with alfaxalone by immersion, morphine provides better antinociception than butorphanol in oriental fire-bellied toads.

Anke von Kügelgen on Contemporary Islamic Thought

Anke von Kügelgen joins Peter to discuss developments over the last century or so, including attitudes towards past thinkers like Avicenna, Averroes and Ibn Taymiyya. This interview is based on research conducted to write a forthcoming book on Philosophy in the Islamic world in the 19th and 20th centuries, to be co-edited by Prof von Kügelgen together Professor Ulrich Rudolph, and Michael Frey as redactor. It will be the fourth volume of a German Overview of the whole history of philosophy in the Islamic world (Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie in der islamischen Welt, published by Schwabe Verlag in Basel). Prof von Kügelgen would like to recognize the contribution of her collaborators: her main partner for the philosophy in the Arab speaking countries is Sarhan Dhouib, originally from Tunesia, now at the University of Kassel. For Muslim Southasia, she is working with Jan Peter Hartung from the SOAS in London, and for Iran, Reza Hajatpour, Katajun Amirpur and Roman Seidel who are all at present at German Universities. The part on Philosophy in the Ottoman Empire is written by Sait Özervarlı from the Yildiz Teknik Universitesi in Istanbul and for Turkey by Christoph Herzog from the University of Bamberg.

Subjektive Theorien von Lehrpersonen zu Kompetenzen und Bereitschaften von Sport unterrichtenden Lehrpersonen der Vorschul- und Primarschulstufe

Lehrpersonen benötigen für professionelles pädagogisches Handeln berufliche Kompetenzen. Aktuell wird in der Diskussion um Kompetenzen (Weinert, 2002, S. 27-28) von Lehrpersonen vermehrt auf das Modell professioneller Handlungskompetenz nach Baumert und Kunter (2006, S. 482) Bezug genommen, dies allerdings meist ohne spezifische Berücksichtigung der zu unterrichtenden Fächer bzw. der Fachdisziplin (Frey, 2006, S. 42). Das gilt insbesondere für bislang wenig untersuchte Kompetenzen von Lehrpersonen des Fachs Sport. Diese lassen sich u.a. im Rahmen von subjektiven Theorien (Groeben, Wahl, Schlee & Scheele, 1988) über den eigenen Fachunterricht erfassen, da handlungsleitende Kognitionen für die Unterrichtsgestaltung darstellen. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht vor dem Hintergrund des Modells professioneller Handlungskompetenz die subjektiven Theorien von Lehrpersonen über Kompetenzen und Bereitschaften von Sport unterrichtenden Lehrpersonen der Vorschul- und Primarschulstufe. In einem Mixed-Methods-Design wurden im Rahmen einer zweistufigen Delphi-Befragung Interviews mit Expertenlehrpersonen sowie Fachdidaktikerinnen und -didaktikern durchgeführt, mittels qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse ausgewertet und daraus Kompetenzen und Bereitschaften von Sport unterrichtenden Lehrpersonen abgeleitet. Die Kompetenzen und Bereitschaften wurden anschliessend in einer quantitativen Fragebogenuntersuchung von Lehrpersonen (N = 313) bezüglich ihrer Wichtigkeit eingeschätzt und mittels explorativer Faktorenanalyse auf ihre Struktur untersucht. Auf Basis subjektiver Theorien von Lehrpersonen werden mittels Delphi-Befragung 58 Kompetenzen und Bereitschaften entwickelt, welche für Sport unterrichtende Lehrpersonen der Vorschul- und Primarschulstufe zentral sind. Diese sind fachspezifisch konnotiert und lassen sich den Aspekten des Modells professioneller Handlungskompetenz (Baumert & Kunter, 2006) zuordnen. Die Kompetenzen und Bereitschaften können aufgrund der Einschätzungen zur Wichtigkeit faktorenanalytisch auf 41 Kompetenzen und Bereitschaften reduziert und analog zu Baumert und Kunter (2006) eingeteilt werden in acht fachspezifische Kompetenzfacetten bezüglich des Professionswissens (Wissen über die didaktisch-methodische Gestaltung des Sportunterrichts, Wissen über den Nutzen von Bewegung, Wissen über die Planung des Sportunterrichts anhand transparenter Ziele und Kriterien, Entwicklungspsychologisches Wissen, sportwissenschaftliches Wissen, Wissen über den Umgang mit Unfällen, Wissen über den Einsatz vielfältiger Bewegungsaufgaben, Wissen über die Organisation der Klasse) und in zwei Bereitschaftsfacetten (Sportives Selbstverständnis, Intentionale Individuumsförderung). Alle Kompetenz- und Bereitschaftsfacetten werden im Mittel als äusserst wichtig, wichtig oder eher wichtig beurteilt. Die Ergebnisse stellen zentrale Kompetenzen und Bereitschaften von Sport unterrichtenden Lehrpersonen der Vorschul- und Primarschulstufe auf Basis von subjektiven Theorien dar. Sie lassen sich in das Modell professioneller Handlungskompetenz einordnen, weisen aber eine hohe fachspezifische Akzentuierung auf. Die Ergebnisse stellen eine mögliche Orientierungshilfe für die Gestaltung der Ausbildung von Sport unterrichtenden Lehrpersonen dar. Baumert, J. & Kunter, M. (2006). Stichwort: Professionelle Kompetenz von Lehrkräften. Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, 9 (4), 469-520. Frey, A. (2006). Methoden und Instrumente zur Diagnose beruflicher Kompetenzen von Lehrkräften - eine erste Standortbestimmung zu bereits publizierten Instrumenten. In C. Allemann-Ghionda & E. Terhart (Hrsg.), Kompetenzen und Kompetenzentwicklung von Lehrerinnen und Lehrern: Ausbildung und Beruf. 51. Beiheft der Zeitschrift für Pädagogik (S. 30-46). Weinheim: Beltz. Groeben, N., Wahl, D., Schlee, J. & Scheele, B. (1988). Forschungsprogramm Subjektive Theorien. Eine Einführung in die Psychologie des reflexiven Subjekts. Tübingen: Francke. Weinert, F.E. (2002). Vergleichende Leistungsmessung in Schulen - eine umstrittene Selbstverständlichkeit. In F.E. Weinert (Hrsg.), Leistungsmessungen in Schulen (2. Aufl., S. 17-31). Weinheim: Beltz.