Use of intra-articular administration of ethyl alcohol for arthrodesis of the tarsometatarsal joint in healthy horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular administration of ethyl alcohol for arthrodesis of tarsometatarsal joints in horses. ANIMALS: 8 healthy female horses without lameness or radiographic evidence of tarsal joint osteoarthritis. PROCEDURE: In each horse, 1 tarsometatarsal joint was treated with 4 mL of 70% ethyl alcohol and the opposite joint was treated with 4 mL of 95% ethyl alcohol. Lameness examinations were performed daily for 2 weeks, followed by monthly evaluations for the duration of the 12-month study. Radiographic evaluations of both tarsi were performed 1 month after injection and every 3 months thereafter. Gross and histologic examinations of the tarsi were undertaken at completion of the study. RESULTS: Horses had minimal to no lameness associated with the treatments. Radiography revealed that 8 of 16 joints were fused by 4 months after treatment, with significantly more joints fused in the 70% ethyl alcohol group. Fifteen of 16 joints were considered fused at postmortem examination at 12 months. Gross and histologic examinations revealed foci of dense mature osteonal bone spanning the joint spaces. Bony fusion appeared to be concentrated on the dorsolateral, centrolateral, and plantarolateral aspects of the joints. Significant differences were not detected between treatment groups for lameness or pathologic findings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of ethyl alcohol into the tarsometatarsal joint of healthy horses appeared to facilitate arthrodesis of the joint in a pain-free manner. Results warrant further investigation into the potential use of ethyl alcohol in horses clinically affected with osteoarthritis of the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints.     

Rapamycin-induced insulin resistance is mediated by mTORC2 loss and uncoupled from longevity

Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), extends the life spans of yeast, flies, and mice. Calorie restriction, which increases life span and insulin sensitivity, is proposed to function by inhibition of mTORC1, yet paradoxically, chronic administration of rapamycin substantially impairs glucose tolerance and insulin action. We demonstrate that rapamycin disrupted a second mTOR complex, mTORC2, in vivo and that mTORC2 was required for the insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Further, decreased mTORC1 signaling was sufficient to extend life span independently from changes in glucose homeostasis, as female mice heterozygous for both mTOR and mLST8 exhibited decreased mTORC1 activity and extended life span but had normal glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Thus, mTORC2 disruption is an important mediator of the effects of rapamycin in vivo.     

Yield and morphological responses of a forage sorghum to mefluidide

Abstract

Due to rapid growth, stem build‐up in forage sorghum crops often leads to considerable wastage by animals and consequent loss of production. In this study the potential of the chemical plant growth regulator, mefluidide, for modifying the morphology of forage sorghum was examined. Mefluidide was applied to two consecutive plantings of forage sorghum at 0; 0,14 and 0,28 kg/ha. Treatment with mefluidide suppressed stem elongation of sorghum plants and stimulated tillering 4–6 weeks after application. After 6 weeks the stem:leaf ratio of treated plants was significantly lower (P ≤0,05) than that of control plants. On average, total dry matter (DM) yield was marginally higher for the control, but DM yield of leaf material was significantly higher. (P ≤0,05) for treated plots from 6 weeks after mefluidide application. No significant differences were observed between levels of mefluidide but responses of different variables over time differed between plantings. This was associated with different stages of plant growth when mefluidide was applied and different environmental conditions for two plantings.     

Characterization of bovine coronavirus isolates/from eight different states in the USA.

Bovine coronavirus isolates from eight different states of the USA were compared for their antigenic properties and susceptibility to hygromycin B. Antigenic differences were observed among the isolates in a one-way hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test using a polyclonal antiserum against the Mebus bovine coronavirus isolate. Differences were observed on isoelectric focusing among viral proteins with isoelectric points between 4.45-4.65. Most of the BCV isolates were susceptible to hygromycin B (0.5 mM) whereas a few hygromycin B resistant isolates were also found.