Chronic eosinophilic granulomatous tenosynovitis in a Quarter Horse mare

A 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare was presented to the Michigan State University Equine Surgery Service for evaluation of a right hind metatarsophalangeal joint injury. On presentation, the horse was a grade 4/5 lame. Radiographs and ultrasonography showed peritendinous ossification/mineralisation of soft tissue structures and digital flexor tenosynovitis with profound intracapsular mineralisation. A digital flexor tendon sheath tenoscopy was performed with a plantar annular ligament desmotomy and a manica flexoria ligament tenotomy. During surgery, a significant amount of tan granular material was found within the digital tendon sheath. Approximately 80% of this material was removed, and a sample was sent for histopathology. The horse was diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatous tenosynovitis. Long-term follow-up revealed improvement with four treatments of intralesional triamcinolone given 2–4 weeks apart. The horse became serviceably sound (grade 1/5) and was beginning light work under the saddle approximately 5 months post-tenoscopy.     

Phosphofructokinase and Malate Dehydrogenase Participate in the In Vitro Maturation of Porcine Oocytes

Oocyte maturation depends on the metabolic activity of cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) that performs nutritive and regulatory functions during this process. In this work, the enzymes [phosphofructokinase (PFK) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH)] were tested to elucidate the metabolic profile of porcine COCs during the in vitro maturation (IVM). Enzymatic activity was expressed in U/COC and U/mg protein (specific activity) as mean ± SEM. In vitro maturation was performed with 2‐oxoglutarate (5, 10 and 20 mm ) or hydroxymalonate (30, 60 and 100 mm ) inhibitors of PFK and MDH, respectively. The PFK and MDH activities (U) remained constant during maturation. For PFK, the U were (2.48 ± 0.23) 10^?5 and (2.54 ± 0.32) 10^?5, and for MDH, the U were (4.72 ± 0.42) 10^?5 and (4.38 ± 0.25) 10^?5 for immature and in vitro matured COCs, respectively. The specific activities were significantly lower after IVM, for PFK (4.29 ± 0.48) 10^?3 and (0.94 ± 0.12) 10^?3, and for MDH (9.08 ± 0.93) 10^?3 and (1.89 ± 0.10) 10^?3 for immature and in vitro matured COCs, respectively. In vitro maturation percentages and enzymatic activity diminished with 20 mm 2‐oxoglutarate or 60 mm hydroxymalonate (p < 0.05). Viability was not affected by any concentration of the inhibitors evaluated. The U remained unchanged during IVM; however, the increase in the total protein content per COC provoked a decrease in the specific activity of both enzymes. Phosphofructokinase and MDH necessary for oocyte IVM would be already present in the immature oocyte. The presence of inhibitors of these enzymes impairs the meiotic maturation. Therefore, the participation of these enzymes in the energy metabolism of the porcine oocyte during IVM is confirmed in this study.     

A role for interaction of the RNA polymerase flap domain with the sigma subunit in promoter recognition

In bacteria, promoter recognition depends on the RNA polymerase sigma subunit, which combines with the catalytically proficient RNA polymerase core to form the holoenzyme. The major class of bacterial promoters is defined by two conserved elements (the -10 and -35 elements, which are 10 and 35 nucleotides upstream of the initiation point, respectively) that are contacted by sigma in the holoenzyme. We show that recognition of promoters of this class depends on the "flexible flap" domain of the RNA polymerase beta subunit. The flap interacts with conserved region 4 of sigma and triggers a conformational change that moves region 4 into the correct position for interaction with the -35 element. Because the flexible flap is evolutionarily conserved, this domain may facilitate promoter recognition by specificity factors in eukaryotes as well.     

Infectivity and virulence of Australian strains of Moraxella bovis for the murine and bovine eye in relation to pilus serogroup sub-unit size and degree of piliation

The degree of piliation of 29 haemolytic and 4 non-haemolytic Australian strains of Moraxella bovis representing 7 different pilus antigen groups was determined. The infectivity and virulence for the eye was measured in steroid-treated mice and in cattle. Non-piliated strains failed to infect the murine eye. Most moderately or heavily piliated strains reproducibly produced the highest infectivity and virulence scores in mice when compared with lightly or very lightly piliated strains (p less than 0.05). Non-haemolytic, piliated strains were infective and in one instance virulent for mice. Almost similar levels of infectivity and virulence were observed for 7 representative haemolytic strains tested in both cattle and mice. The relative molecular weight of pilin sub-units was compared using sodium dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three classes of pili, alpha, beta and gamma of ascending sub-unit size were identified among the 7 pilus antigen serogroups. Pilin sub-unit size bore no relationship to the degree of piliation but most strains that were highly virulent in mice and cattle expressed alpha and gamma sub-units. Some strains appeared capable of switching from alpha to beta or form beta to gamma sub-unit production.     

Investigation of the immediate analgesic effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treatment of navicular disease in horses

OBJECTIVES: To measure the acute analgesic properties of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in horses with navicular disease using objective ground reaction forces (GRF). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: Nine client-owned horses with unilateral forelimb lameness caused by navicular disease. METHODS: Horses were trotted at 3 m/s over a force plate to record pre-treatment GRF of the lame and contra-lateral forelimbs. After ESWT of the lame limb, applied with a radial unit to each of the frog and heel bulb areas with 1500 pulses at 4 bar and 10 Hz, GRF measurements were repeated at 15 minutes and 24-hour intervals for 7 days. From the 5 trials recorded at each time, peak vertical force (PVF) was calculated and averaged. Data were compared between limbs and over time using a 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Mean (+/-SD) PVF was significantly different between lame (day 1; 4339+/-626 N) and contra-lateral (day 1; 5236+/-515 N) limbs pre-treatment (P<.05). After ESWT treatment, this difference remained unchanged at 15 minutes and from days 1 to 7. To confirm navicular disease, palmar digital analgesia significantly reduced the lameness (lame 5144+/-430 N; contralateral 5082+/-586 N; P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Single ESWT treatment applied in this manner does not influence lameness in horses with navicular disease. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although many equine regulatory commissions currently ban the use of ESWT before competition, our results suggest that such regulations may be unfounded. Further research is required to determine the long-term analgesic properties of this frequently used treatment modality in equine athletes.     

Heat Shock Protein 70 and Sex Steroid Receptors in the Follicular Structures of Induced Ovarian Cysts

The purpose of this study was to estimate the expression and relative amounts of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) and their isoforms as well as heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in ovaries of rats with induced cystic ovarian disease (COD). Primary, secondary, tertiary, atretic and cystic follicles were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and total ovarian proteins were analyzed by Western blot. In the granulosa layer, growing and cystic follicles in the treated group have a higher expression of ERα than growing follicles of control individuals. In the theca interna layer, tertiary follicles presented a significantly higher expression of ERα in the treated group. An increase in total ERα protein was detected in the treated group. Granulosa cells of all growing, atretic and cystic follicles show a lower expression of ERβ in animals with COD, and the total protein expression of ERβ was lower in this group. The expression of PR was lower in the granulosa cell layer of tertiary and cystic follicles in treated animals, and theca interna layer had less intense immunostaining in this group. Although there were no differences in the expression of PR-B by Western blotting, the expression of PR-A was higher and the expression of PR-C was smaller in the treated group. An intense HSP70 immunostaining was observed in the cells of cystic follicles. By Western blotting, higher protein expression of HSP70 was detected in the ovarian samples of the control group than those of the treated ones. Ovaries of animals with COD exhibited an altered steroid receptor expression and subtype balance as compared with control animals, and an increase in HSP70 immunoexpression.     

Arthroscopic removal of an osteochondral fragment from the caudal pouch of the lateral femorotibial joint in a colt.

An osteochondral fragment was removed from the caudal pouch of the lateral femorotibial joint in a 2-year-old Trakehner colt by use of arthroscopic surgery and a lateral approach. The approach to this aspect of the femorotibial joints was developed in another horse. The fragment was not attached and resembled an osteochondritis dissecans lesion. The intermittent lameness associated with the fragment resolved after surgical removal. A positive response to diagnostic anesthesia of the femorotibial joint in the absence of a confirmed diagnosis (following radiographic and arthroscopic evaluations of the other aspects of the stifle joint) is an indication for arthroscopic exploration of the caudal pouches of the femorotibial joints of stifles in horses.     

Long-term effects of desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor muscle in standardbreds: 23 cases (1979-1989).

Desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor muscle (inferior check desmotomy) permitted Standardbred foals affected with flexural deformities to reach their full athletic potential. Long-term effects of inferior check desmotomy were examined in 23 Standardbreds over a 10-year period. Six of 11 foals that were treated surgically either raced 6 times and obtained a race record or were training sound (if yearlings). All 12 horses with flexural deformity that did not receive an inferior check desmotomy had an unfavorable outcome (no race record). Foals that had surgery performed at a younger age apparently had a better chance of racing or training sound because no foals treated surgically after 8 months of age had a favorable outcome and only 1 foal that was older than 5 months at the time of surgery had a favorable outcome. In 5 foals that had surgery with an unsuccessful outcome, 3 were greater than or equal to 1 year old at the time of surgery and were lame when training was started on the limb(s) with the desmotomy.     

Testing Usability of Butylated Hydroxytoluene in Conservation of Goat Semen

The objective of this study was to investigate whether butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) could be used as a suitable supporter or alternative of egg yolk during preservation of goat spermatozoa. Three in vitro experiments and a fertility test were conducted to evaluate the effect of BHT on viability of chilled‐stored semen as well as motility and kidding rate of frozen‐thawed spermatozoa. In the first two experiments, ejaculates (n = 30/experiment) were collected from 10 bucks, split, diluted with egg yolk‐based and egg yolk‐free extenders supplemented with or without 0.3, 0.6, 2, 5 and 8 mm BHT and stored at 5°C for 168 h. In the third experiment, 30 ejaculates were collected from the above‐mentioned bucks, split and diluted with egg yolk‐free extenders supplemented with or without 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mm BHT and egg yolk‐based extenders supplemented with or without 5 mm BHT. Diluted semen was cooled to 5°C over a period of 4 h, frozen and thawed in the form of 0.3‐ml pellets. In the fertility test, 75 ejaculates were collected from two proven fertile bucks, split, diluted with egg yolk‐free extenders containing 0.6 mm BHT and egg yolk‐based extenders supplemented with or without 5 mm BHT, frozen and thawed as described above. An insemination volume of 0.6 ml containing 120–140 × 10⁶ progressively motile spermatozoa was used for a single cervical insemination of cloprostenol‐synchronized does (n = 230). The results showed that addition of 5 mm BHT to egg yolk‐deficient (2.5%) extenders significantly improved viability of chilled‐stored semen together with motility (48.5%) and fertility (62.5%) of frozen‐thawed spermatozoa. Replacement of egg yolk in semen extenders by 0.6 mm BHT could sustain not only viability of chilled‐stored semen but also post‐thaw motility (47.5%) and fertility (53.75%) of frozen‐thawed spermatozoa. In conclusion, supplementation of semen diluents with BHT can ameliorate preservability of goat sperm.     

Epiglottic augmentation by use of polytetrafluoroethylene to correct dorsal displacement of the soft palate in a standardbred horse.

A 2-year-old 400-kg Standardbred colt with a history of exercise intolerance was determined to have dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). Standing endoscopy revealed a soft, flaccid, and hypoplastic epiglottis and arytenoid cartilages that moved symmetrically and abducted fully. Lateral laryngeal radiography was used to calculate a corrected thyroepiglottic length of 6.48 cm. Videoendoscopy during exercise on a high-speed treadmill at standardized treadmill speeds was performed weekly for 3 consecutive weeks. The soft palate dorsally displaced at each examination. A sternohyoideus/sternothyroideus myectomy was followed by 2 weeks of stall rest and 2 weeks of treadmill training. Because endoscopy during exercise at standardized treadmill speeds caused the horse to dorsally displace the soft palate once a week for 3 weeks after the myectomy, this surgery was deemed ineffective in this horse. Epiglottic augmentation was performed by injecting 7 ml of polytetrafluoroethylene into the ventral submucosal space of the epiglottis. After 21 days of stall rest and 5 weeks of pasture rest, the horse was placed on a 2-month treadmill conditioning program. Using endoscopy at standardized treadmill speeds, exercise efforts to encourage DDSP were unsuccessful, which suggested that epiglottic augmentation by use of polytetrafluoroethylene was an effective surgical treatment to correct dorsal displacement of the soft palate in this horse. It is believed that polytetrafluoroethylene increases the rigidity of the epiglottis, allowing it to maintain the ventral position of the soft palate.