Clinical, biochemical, and histologic effects of intra-articular administration of autologous conditioned serum in horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical, biochemical, and histologic effects of intra-articular administration of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) in the treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses. ANIMALS: 16 horses. PROCEDURES: Osteoarthritis was induced arthroscopically in 1 middle carpal joint of all horses. In 8 placebo- and 8 ACS-treated horses, 6 mL of PBS solution or 6 mL of ACS was injected into the osteoarthritis-affected joint on days 14, 21, 28, and 35, respectively; PBS solution was administered in the other sham-operated joints. Evaluations included clinical assessment of lameness and synovial fluid analysis (performed biweekly); gross pathologic and histologic examinations of cartilage and synovial membrane samples were performed at necropsy. RESULTS: No adverse treatment-related events were detected. Horses that were treated with ACS had significant clinical improvement in lameness, unlike the placebo-treated horses. Among the osteoarthritis-affected joints, ACS treatment significantly decreased synovial membrane hyperplasia, compared with placebo-treated joints; although not significant, the ACS-treated joints also appeared to have less gross cartilage fibrillation and synovial membrane hemorrhage. The synovial fluid concentration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (assessed by use of mouse anti-interleukin-1 receptor antagonist antibody) was increased following treatment with ACS. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this controlled study indicated that there was significant clinical and histologic improvement in osteoarthritis-affected joints of horses following treatment with ACS, compared with placebo treatment. On the basis of these findings, further controlled clinical trials to assess this treatment are warranted, and investigation of the mechanisms of action of ACS should be pursued concurrently.     

Extensive DNA inversions in the B. fragilis genome control variable gene expression

The obligately anaerobic bacterium Bacteroides fragilis, an opportunistic pathogen and inhabitant of the normal human colonic microbiota, exhibits considerable within-strain phase and antigenic variation of surface components. The complete genome sequence has revealed an unusual breadth (in number and in effect) of DNA inversion events that potentially control expression of many different components, including surface and secreted components, regulatory molecules, and restriction-modification proteins. Invertible promoters of two different types (12 group 1 and 11 group 2) were identified. One group has inversion crossover (fix) sites similar to the hix sites of Salmonella typhimurium. There are also four independent intergenic shufflons that potentially alter the expression and function of varied genes. The composition of the 10 different polysaccharide biosynthesis gene clusters identified (7 with associated invertible promoters) suggests a mechanism of synthesis similar to the O-antigen capsules of Escherichia coli.     

Temporal and spatial variability in root reinforcement of streambanks: Accounting for soil shear strength and moisture

Riparian vegetation exerts a number of mechanical and hydrologic controls on bank stability, which can affect the delivery of sediment to channels. Estimates of root reinforcement of soils have commonly been attained using perpendicular root models that simply sum root tensile strengths and consider these as an add-on factor to soil strength. A major limitation of such perpendicular models is that tensile strength and resistance is wrongly considered to be independent of soil type and moisture, and therefore variations according to these bank properties are omitted in conventional models. In reality, during mass failure of a streambank, some roots break, and some roots are pulled out of the soil intact; the relative proportions of roots that break or pull out are determined by a combination of soil moisture and shear strength. In this paper an equation to predict the frictional resistance of root–soil bonds was tested against field data collected at Long Creek, MS, under two soil moisture conditions. The root pullout equations were then included in the root-reinforcement model, RipRoot, and bank stability model runs for Goodwin Creek, MS, were carried out in order to examine the effects of spatial and temporal variations in soil shear strength and rooting density, on streambank factor of safety. Model results showed that at smaller root diameters breaking forces exceeded pullout forces, but at larger root diameters pullout forces exceed breaking forces. The threshold diameter between root pullout and root breaking varied with soil shear strength, with increasing soil shear strength leading to a greater proportion of roots failing by breaking instead of pullout. Root-reinforcement estimates were shown to reflect changes in soil shear strength, for example, brought about by variations in soil matric suction. Resulting Factor of safety (F_S) values for the bank during the period modeled ranged from 1.36 to 1.74 with 1000 grass roots/m², compared to a range of 0.97 to 1.37 for the non-vegetated bank. Root reinforcement was shown to increase bank stability under the entire range of soil moisture conditions modeled. However, the magnitude of root reinforcement varied in both space and time as determined by soil shear strength and soil moisture.     

THE EFFECT OF VARYING ECHO TIME USING T2‐WEIGHTED FSE SEQUENCES ON THE MAGIC ANGLE EFFECT IN THE COLLATERAL LIGAMENTS OF THE DISTAL INTERPHALANGEAL JOINT IN HORSES

Eight skeletally mature equine cadaver distal forelimbs were imaged using T2‐weighted fast spin echo (FSE) sequences in a 1.0 T horizontal bore magnet. Each limb was parallel to the main magnetic field and with 16° angulation of the limb relative to the main magnetic field, which places one of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint at or near the magic angle. Each limb was imaged using an echo time (TE) of 80, 100, 120, and 140 ms. Reversal of the magic angle effect was achieved at echo time of 140 ms. However, given the alterations in tissue contrast and subjective decrease in the signal‐to‐noise ratio at this TE, it may be preferable to use a shorter TE for clinical imaging. A T2‐weighted FSE sequence with an echo time of 120 ms maintained image quality while subjectively minimizing the magic angle effect. A sequence with long TE can be used to aid in the differentiation of pathologic change from artifactual increases in signal intensity in collateral ligaments of the equine distal interphalangeal joint, but could decrease the sensitivity for small or low contrast lesions. Multiple factors should be considered when selecting the TE for a T2‐weighted FSE sequence that will be utilized in a musculoskeletal protocol including evaluation of equine feet.     

Glycosylation restores survival of chilled blood platelets

Cooling of blood platelets clusters the von Willebrand factor receptor complex. Macrophage alphaMbeta2 integrins bind to the GPIbalpha subunit of the clustered complex, resulting in rapid clearance of transfused, cooled platelets. This precludes refrigeration of platelets for transfusion, but the current practice of room temperature storage has major drawbacks. We document that alphaMbeta2 is a lectin that recognizes exposed beta-N-acetylglucosamine residues of N-linked glycans on GPIbalpha. Enzymatic galactosylation of chilled platelets blocks alphaMbeta2 recognition, prolonging the circulation of functional cooled platelets. Platelet-associated galactosyltransferase produces efficient galactosylation when uridine diphosphate-galactose is added, affording a potentially simple method for storing platelets in the cold.     

环斑猛猎蝽对烟蚜若虫的捕食作用

【目的】明确环斑猛猎蝽（Sphedanolestes impressicollis Stal.）对烟田烟蚜［Myzus persicae（Sulzer）］若虫的捕食潜力,为田间应用环斑猛猎蝽防控烟蚜提供参考。【方法】实验室条件下,在培养皿中设置1头饥饿24 h的环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫与不同密度梯度的1~4龄烟蚜若虫,统计环斑猛猎蝽的捕食量并通过GrapPad Prism 8.0、DPS等软件进行生物学统计分析,明确环斑猛猎蝽对烟蚜若虫的功能反应和搜寻效应;以不同密度的环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫与烟蚜4龄若虫在不同温度梯度及空间格局条件下,通过控制单一变量法并构建线性回归方程,明确环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫种内干扰对捕食率的影响以及自身密度、温度、空间格局对捕食量的影响,评估环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对烟蚜4龄若虫的捕食功能反应模型。【结果】环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对烟蚜若虫的捕食功能反应符合Holling-II模型,其种内干扰及自身密度对捕食量的影响分别符合Hassell模型和Watt模型。环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对1~4龄烟蚜若虫中的3龄和4龄若虫捕食具有偏好性,对4龄若虫的捕食量最大,最大日捕食量为55.7头,其次为3龄烟蚜（55.3头）。在空间一定和烟蚜若虫定量条件下,环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫个体间存在种内干扰,干扰系数为1.31,并随着自身密度的增加干扰增强,平均捕食量下降。在不同空间且烟蚜若虫密度一定的条件下,随着空间的增大,环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对猎物的捕食量减少。在16~32℃的温度梯度下,环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对烟蚜若虫的捕食量随着温度的升高而逐渐增强,32℃下的日捕食量最大,达23头。【结论】环斑猛猎蝽在烟田中具有防治烟蚜的潜力。     

Standing MRI lesions of the distal interphalangeal joint and podotrochlear apparatus occur with a high frequency in warmblood horses

Foot pain is a common presenting complaint in Warmblood horses. The aim of this retrospective, cross‐sectional study was to determine the spectrum of foot lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Warmblood horses used for dressage, jumping, and eventing. The medical records of 550 Warmblood horses with foot pain that were scanned using standing MRI were reviewed and the following data were recorded: signalment, occupation, lameness, diagnostic analgesia, imaging results, treatments, and follow‐up assessments. Associations between standing MRI lesions and chronic lameness following treatment were tested. Abnormalities of the navicular bone (409 horses, 74%), distal interphalangeal joint (362 horses, 65%), and deep digital flexor (DDF) tendon (260 horses, 47%) occurred with the highest frequency. The following abnormalities were significantly associated (P < .05) with chronic lameness following conservative therapy: moderate to severe MRI lesions in the trabecular bone of the navicular bone, mild or severe erosions of the flexor surface of the navicular bone, moderate sagittal/parasagittal DDF tendinopathies, and moderate collateral sesamoidean desmopathies. Also, identification of concurrent lesions of the DDF tendon, navicular bone, navicular bursa, and distal sesamoidean impar ligament was associated with chronic lameness after conservative therapy. Development of effective treatment options for foot lesions that respond poorly to conservative therapy is necessary.