Effect of Gelatin Hydrogel Sheet Containing Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on Proximal Sesamoid Bone Transverse Fracture Healing in the Horse

Our objective in this study was to examine the effect of gelatin hydrogel (GH) sheets containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on healing of proximal sesamoid bone transverse fractures in the horse. Ten healthy adult Thoroughbreds were used. The lateral proximal sesamoid bone of the left forelimb and the medial proximal sesamoid bone of the right forelimb were osteotomized, while the horses were under general anesthesia, and subsequently repaired by lag screw fixation using a single 4.5-mm cortical screw. A GH sheet containing 100 μg of bFGF was then sutured to the synovial membrane adjacent to the osteotomized proximal sesamoid bone. In the control group, the fracture was fixed with a lag screw, and the articular capsule was sutured. Fracture healing was assessed by radiographic examination once a week for 16 weeks after the operation. Radiographic examination of bone healing revealed significantly lower demineralization of the fracture line in the GH sheet-treated group than in the control group. The rate of demineralization of the fracture line in the GH sheet-treated group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the operation. In this study, we demonstrated that the use of a GH sheet containing bFGF promotes healing of proximal sesamoid bone fracture in the horse. Therefore, it is believed that this treatment strategy would be useful for quick recovery from bone fracture in the horse.     

The Impact of Horse Age,Sex, and Number of Riders on Horse Performance in British Eventing Horse Trials

Limited research has been undertaken to determine the impact of horse age, sex, and number of riders on horse performance in British Eventing (BE) horse trials. Improved understanding of this can aid professionals in planning a competition horse’s career. To investigate the impact of age, sex, and number of riders on the peak performance of horses at each of the main levels of BE competitions. The best score from each horse competing in BE horse trials in the years 2008–2018 was recorded, and principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. Basic data analysis was used to identify variables associated with particular better-performing clusters of horses. The interplay of the combinatory variables was then used to map out the trends in career trajectory for horses competing at each level of competition in the best-performing and worst-performing clusters. The peak performance of mares was worse than geldings and stallions at all levels. At Novice to Advanced, stallions did not perform as consistently with multiple riders as geldings. The age at which the best-performing groups peaked was similar for mares and geldings in all classes, although stallions peaked at an older age than mares and geldings at Novice and Intermediate level. All horses were a minimum of 4-years-old at the time of competition, as per BE rules.     

Limb Fractures in the Dog and Cat—II Histological, Clinical and Radiographical Aspects of Fracture Healing

Abstract— A review is presented of the histological, clinical and radiographical features of fracture healing with particular reference to limb fractures in the dog and cat.
Résumé— Une étude est présentée sur les conditions histologiques, cliniques et radiographique de la guérison des fractures avec une mention particulière aux fractures des membres chez le chat et le chien.
Zusammenfassung— Ein Überblick wird über charakteristische histologische, klinische und radio-graphische Merkmale bei Bruchverheilung mit bescnderem Hinweis auf Gliederbrüche bei Hunden und Katzen gegeben.     

Effect of Coherin™ on intraocular pressure,pupil size and heart rate in the glaucomatous Beagle: a pilot study

Objective To evaluate effects of Coherin? on intraocular pressure (IOP), pupil size (PS), and heart rate (HR) in glaucomatous Beagles in single‐dose studies in a pilot study. Materials and methods Intraocular pressure, PS, and HR were measured in eight glaucomatous Beagles. One randomly chosen eye received single 50 μL doses of differing concentrations of Coherin? (treated eye) or vehicle (placebo‐treated eye), and the fellow eye served as the untreated control. After the first measurements, a single dose of either Coherin? or sterile water vehicle was instilled in the drug and placebo eyes, respectively. Results The mean ± SEM diurnal changes in IOP after 0.005%, 0.01%, 0.2%, 0.284%, 1%, 2%, and 4% topical Coherin? once daily were 7.6 ± 3.2 mmHg, 15.5 ± 5.3 mmHg, 11.2 ± 4.4 mmHg, 11.8 ± 4.4 mmHg, 19.1 ± 3.8 mmHg, 5.0 ± 1.8 mmHg, and 8.8 ± 2.8 mmHg, respectively. The declines in IOP were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the untreated control eyes with the 0.2% and 0.284% Coherin?‐treated eyes and suggestive for 1% Coherin? concentrations. No signs of irritation, significant PS, and HR changes were detected in the Coherin?‐treated eyes. Conclusion Of seven different concentrations, 2% and 0.248% Coherin? produced significant declines in IOP in the glaucomatous beagle in single‐dose studies when compared to both untreated control and placebo‐treated eyes. One percent Coherin? solution produced significant IOP decreases compared with the placebo‐treated eye but not the untreated control eyes. No local ocular irritation, PS and HR changes were observed in Coherin?‐treated eyes. This pilot study suggests that topical Coherin? has potential as an ocular hypotensive agent.     

Radiographic, Densitometric, and Biomechanical Effects of Recombinant Canine Somatotropin in an Unstable Ostectomy Gap Model of Bone Healing in Dogs

Objective —To determine the effect of recombinant canine somatotropin (STH) on radiographic, densitometric, and biomechanical aspects of bone healing using an unstable ostectomy gap model.
Study Design —After an ostectomy of the midshaft radius, bone healing was evaluated over an 8–week period in control dogs (n = 4) and dogs receiving recombinant canine STH (n = 4).
Animals or Sample Population—Eight sexually intact female Beagle dogs, 4 to 5 years old. Methods—Bone healing was evaluated by qualitative and quantitative evaluation of serial radiographs every 2 weeks. Terminal dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and three-point bending biomechanical testing were also performed.
Results —Dogs receiving STH had more advanced radiographic healing of ostectomy sites. Bone area, bone mineral content, and bone density were two to five times greater at the ostectomy sites of treated dogs. Ultimate load at failure and stiffness were three and five times greater in dogs receiving STH.
Conclusions —Using the ostectomy gap model, recombinant canine STH enhanced the radiographic, densitometric, and biomechanical aspects of bone healing in dogs. Clinical Relevance—Dogs at risk for delayed healing of fractures may benefit from treatment with recombinant canine STH.     

Preliminary Notes on Equine Tissue Transglutaminase Serology and A Case of Equine Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy and Dermatitis in an 11-Year-Old Dutch Warmblood Horse

It has been suggested that gluten may play a role in equine inflammatory small bowel disease (ISBD). Previous work showed an association between equine gluten-sensitive enteropathy and IgA antibodies to tissue transglutaminase (TGA) in serum. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of IgA antibodies to TGA in a group of healthy non–gluten-free sport ponies and to present a case of tentative gluten-sensitive enteropathy and dermatitis in a horse. Blood samples were obtained from 40 healthy jumping ponies. The ponies comprised 12 mares, 8 stallions, and 20 geldings with an average age of 9.0 ± 3.8 years (±SD; range 3–19 years). Sera were tested for IgA antibodies against human recombinant TGA. Significance (P < .05) of the correlation between TGA titer and age in these ponies was assessed using Pearson test (two tailed). In addition, to further illustrate tentative equine gluten-sensitive enteropathy and dermatitis, the clinical course in an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood sport horse gelding has been described. The average TGA titer was 21.4 ± 13.6 AU/mL (range 2–65 AU/mL). There was a significant (P = .013) correlation (r = 0.389) between age and TGA titer in ponies. One of the 40 ponies (2.5%) showed an elevated TGA titer. An elevated TGA titer decreased after a gluten-free ration for 3 months in an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding with a tentative diagnosis of ISBD associated with full remission of the generalized skin reaction. To our best knowledge, this is the first study assessing TGA antibodies in sera from healthy non–gluten-free ponies and showing a correlation with age. The presented case could be the first one of a horse with a tentative diagnosis of gluten-sensitive enteropathy combined with dermatitis. Given the reported findings, this study warrants further investigations into gluten-sensitive enteropathy and dermatitis in individual horses affected with ISBD.     

Radial and Tibial Fracture Repair with External Skeletal Fixation: Effects of Fracture Type, Reduction, and Complications on Healing

Twenty-eight consecutive fractures of the canine radius and tibia were treated with external skeletal fixation as the primary method of stabilization. The time of fixation removal (T1) and the time to unsupported weight-bearing (T2) were correlated with: (1) bone involved; (2) communication of the fracture with the external environment; (3) severity of the fracture; (4) proximity of the fracture to the nutrient artery; (5) method of reduction; (6) diaphyseal displacement after reduction; and (7) gap between cortical fragments after reduction. The Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance was used to test the correlation with p less than .05 set as the criterion for significance. The median T1 was 10 weeks and the median T2 was 11 weeks. None of the variables correlated significantly with either of the healing times; however, there was a strong trend toward longer healing times associated with open fractures and shorter healing times associated with closed reduction. Periosteal and endosteal callus uniting the fragments were observed radiographically in comminuted fractures, with primary bone union observed in six fractures in which anatomic reduction was achieved. Complications observed in the treatment of these fractures included: bone lysis around pins (27 fractures), pin track drainage (27 fractures), pin track hemorrhage (1 fracture), periosteal reaction around pins (27 fractures), radiographic signs consistent with osteomyelitis (12 fractures), degenerative joint disease (2 dogs), and nonunion (1 fracture). Valgus or rotational malalignment resulted in 16 malunions of fractures. One external fixation device was replaced and four loose pins were removed before the fractures healed. One dog was treated with antibiotics during the postoperative period because clinical signs of osteomyelitis appeared.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The Effect of Cimetidine and Aminoguanidine on Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in the Horse

In this study, six horses each had three subcutaneous tissue chambers. Each horse was pretreated with intravenous saline (control), cimetidine, or aminoguanidine with a 4-week washout period. On day 0, a carrageenan (NaCl inflamed) was instilled in 1 tissue chamber. Blood and all tissue chamber fluids were sampled on days -1 to 3 and measured for activity levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6. The T_max for all cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6) was 0.5 and 1 day post-inflammation in tissue chamber fluid. In the tissue chamber fluid, NaCl inflamed (NaCl-I), cimetidine, and aminoguanidine groups showed significant increases in IL-1 production. In the NaCl-I and cimetidine, tissue chamber fluid IL-6 was significantly increased when compared with NaCl noninflamed (NaCl-N) for the periods of study -1 to 1, -1 to 2, and -1 to 3. The cimetidine tissue chamber fluid [TCF] appeared to have a delayed, but greater, IL-6 response than the NaCl-I treatment. Even with cimetidine and aminoguanidine pretreatment, the resulting decrease in NO production demonstrated in our previously reported results in these same animals appeared to be too late to decrease the early cytokine response. However, it may assist in preventing the subsequent NO-induced upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production.     

Effect of Concentrate form on blood and gastric fluid variables in ponies

Eight ponies were used in a two-period, crossover design experiment to determine if the physical form of a concentrate feed affected selected gastric fluid and blood variables. Each pony had been surgically fitted with a gastric cannula 2 years prior to the study. In each 29-day period, four ponies received hay and a pelleted concentrate and four ponies received hay and a textured (sweet feed) concentrate. The concentrate portions of the diets were identical except for physical form and contained 57.5% corn, 25% oat, 8.5% soybean meal, 7% molasses and 2% minerals and vitamins. On day 15 of each period, the ponies received a concentrate meal (.4% of body weight) and blood and gastric fluid samples were obtained for 9 h after feeding.Feeding a concentrate meal resulted in increased plasma glucose, serum insulin, gastric fluid glucose and gastric fluid L-lactate concentrations. The pH of gastric fluids before feeding ranged from 1.4 to 8.36, but gastric fluid pH was at least 5.0 within 30 min of eating in all ponies. Few effects of concentrate form were observed, but plasma glucose concentrations at 150 and 180 min after feeding were higher (P < .05) when the ponies received the pelleted feed than when they received the textured feed. One objective of the study was to evaluate rate of gastric emptying by making total gastric collections at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after feeding on days 22 and 29 of each period. Unfortunately, the gastric cannulae did not prove suitable for making total gastric collections, thus no con- clusions regarding the effect of concentrate form on rate of digesta passage from the stomach could be made.     

Effect of an Immunosuppressor (Dexamethasone) on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eperythrozoon</Emphasis> Infection

The aim was to study the relationship between the infection rate of Eperythrozoon suis and the status of the immune system. Four pigs with chronic eperythrozoonosis were divided into experimental and control groups. Immunosuppression of the experimental group was accomplished by injecting with high-dose glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) on 3 consecutive days. Microscopic examination of blood smears was performed to observe the change of infection rate after administration. The blood samples of each group were collected on day 7 after administration for half-nested PCR assay. The microscopic results showed that the infection rate of the experimental group rose distinctly by 40 h late and remained at 90% in the days following administration. No changes were observed in the control group. PCR results showed a single expected 250 bp fragment in each group, which validated the positive microscopic results. This study demonstrated the significant effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on Eperythrozoon infection.     

Effects of Whole Body Vibration on the Horse: Actual Vibration,Muscle Activity,and Warm-up Effect

Whole body vibration (WBV) exercise has been introduced into human and recently also into equine training. Only a few studies about physical and physiological effects on horses are available. This study should clarify the actual physical vibration of a commercially available WBV plate itself and on the horse as well as the muscular activity in the limbs and back. Furthermore, the effects of WBV warm-up on clinical parameters and body surface temperatures were compared to standard warm-up exercises. Ten sound horses (vibration and muscle activity of six horses) were recorded while standing (control) and during 15 and 25 Hz (manufacturer information) vibration exercise. The vibration of plate, hoof, fetlock, withers, and sacrum was analyzed for frequency, peak-to-peak displacement, and peak acceleration. Activity of M. triceps, quadriceps, and longissimus dorsi was assessed using surface electromyography. Warm-up effects were compared between four different warm-up scenarios: standing (control), 10-minute vibration, 10-minute lunging (walk), and 12-minute lunging (walk and trot). Maximal body surface temperature of upper forelimb, thigh, and back was measured. Actual plate vibration frequency was 7 or 11 Hz with a maximum peak-to-peak displacement of 9 mm in longitudinal direction. WBV exercise induced no increase in electromyographic activity, clinical parameter, or body surface temperature. It was concluded that actual plate vibration was mainly longitudinal with a lower frequency than proposed and 10-minute exercise had no significant effect. Different vibration protocols and vibration acting in the vertical direction might enable more effective exercise in horses.     

利福平、硫酸阿米卡星与青链霉素治疗猪呼吸道疾病的疗效比较

试验用利福平、硫酸阿米卡星、青链霉素3种药物对猪的呼吸道疾病进行治疗试验,以探讨利福平、硫酸阿米卡星、青链霉素对猪的呼吸道疾病的治疗效果.试验共分3个不同药物组,治疗1个疗程为4d:Ⅰ组利福平的治愈率为87.1%,治疗有效率为100%.Ⅱ组硫酸阿米卡星的治愈率为34.4%,治疗有效率为87.5%.Ⅲ组青链霉素的治愈率为28.1%,治疗有效率为84.4%.治疗结果经x2检验,Ⅰ组与Ⅱ、Ⅲ组组间差异极显著(P<0.01);Ⅱ组与Ⅲ组组间差异不显著(P>0.05).治疗效果,试验Ⅰ组比Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别提高50%、60%,疗效显著.     

Effects of Firocoxib and Tepoxalin on Healing in a Canine Gastric Mucosal Injury Model

Background: Little is known about the effect of dual cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase inhibition on canine gastric mucosal healing.
Objective: This study compares the effects of putative dual COX and 5-lipoxygenase inhibition with that of COX-2 selective inhibition on gastric mucosal lesion healing in dogs.
Animals: Six normal adult mixed-breed research dogs.
Methods: Gastric body and pyloric lesions were induced by endoscopic biopsy. Dogs were treated with tepoxalin, firocoxib, or placebo for 7 days in a randomized 3-way crossover study design. Healing was evaluated on days 2, 4, and 7 of treatment by endoscopic lesion scoring. Eicosanoid concentrations in plasma and at the lesion margins were determined on days 2, 4, and 7. Repeated measures analyses were performed. All hypothesis tests were 2-sided with P < .05. Multiple comparisons were adjusted using Tukey's test.
Results: Significant treatment differences were noted in the pyloric lesion area measurements. Overall, the firocoxib group had larger lesions than the placebo ( P = .0469) or tepoxalin ( P = .0089) groups. Despite larger pyloric lesions in the firocoxib group, mucosal prostaglandin production did not differ significantly from placebo. In contrast, the tepoxalin group had significantly lower pyloric mucosal prostaglandin production compared with the firocoxib ( P < .0001) or the placebo ( P < .0001) groups but pyloric lesions were not significantly larger than those of the placebo group ( P = .7829).
Conclusion: COX-2 inhibition by firocoxib slowed wound healing by a mechanism independent of prostaglandin synthesis. Suppression of mucosal prostaglandin production by tepoxalin did not alter mucosal lesion healing compared with placebo.