Monitoring the fate of autologous and allogeneic mesenchymal progenitor cells injected into the superficial digital flexor tendon of horses: preliminary study

Autologous mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) purified from bone marrow aspirates are being used in the treatment of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries in the horse with promising results. In this study the fate of autologous and allogeneic MPCs following injection into the SDFT was monitored by stable transfection of MPCs with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Small lesions were created manually in one forelimb SDFT of 2 horses and injected with autologous MPCs, allogeneic MPCs or bone marrow supernatant alone. Post mortem examinations performed after 10 or 34 days revealed GFP labelled cells located mainly within injected lesions, but with a small proportion integrated into the crimp pattern of adjacent healthy areas of tendon. Furthermore, there was no visible cell mediated immune response to allogeneic MPCs in either of the host horses.     

Burst Conditions of Explosive Volcanic Eruptions Recorded on Microbarographs

Explosive volcanic eruptions generate pressure disturbances in the atmosphere that propagate away either as acoustic or as shock waves, depending on the explosivity of the eruption. Both types of waves are recorded on microbarographs as 1- to 0.1-hertz N-shaped signals followed by a longer period coda. These waveforms can be used to estimate burst pressures and gas concentrations in explosive volcanic eruptions and provide estimates of eruption magnitudes.     

Phase-matched generation of coherent soft X-rays

Phase-matched harmonic conversion of visible laser light into soft x-rays was demonstrated. The recently developed technique of guided-wave frequency conversion was used to upshift light from 800 nanometers to the range from 17 to 32 nanometers. This process increased the coherent x-ray output by factors of 10(2) to 10(3) compared to the non-phase-matched case. This source uses a small-scale (sub-millijoule) high repetition-rate laser and will enable a wide variety of new experimental investigations in linear and nonlinear x-ray science.     

Hematuria in a 3-month-old filly with an internal umbilical abscess and internal iliac artery aneurysm

A 3-month-old foal with a history of acute hematuria was evaluated. Hydronephrosis and hydroureter were visualized upon renal ultrasonography of the left kidney. Cystoscopy identified a blood clot occluding the left ureter. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large retroperitoneal abscess at the level of the aortic bifurcation and a left internal iliac aneurysm. Due to the severity of the lesions and the poor prognosis, the filly was euthanized and the clinical findings were confirmed by post-mortem examination. This report emphasizes the value of obtaining a precise diagnosis via CT in order to avoid unviable treatment approaches when confronted with this unusual secondary complication of omphaloarteritis.Key clinical message:Umbilical complications are routinely diagnosed in equine neonatal medicine, and commonly lead to septicemia, physitis, and septic arthritis; severe internal umbilical abscessation, and subsequent vascular and urinary disorders are uncommon sequelae.