Measurement and clinical significance of equine fetal protein in pregnant mares serum

An assay for the determination of the concentration of an equine fetal protein (EQFP) in pregnant mares serum was developed and used to quantitate more than 2000 serum samples from Thoroughbred mares during pregnancy. The concentration of EQFP increased throughout pregnancy. Mares with unproblematic (normal) pregnancies were used to establish the reference values at given gestational ages (GA). Mares with pregnancy failures (n=58) were found to have EQFP concentrations outside the reference values established at given GA's; 10 were high and 48 were low. Twin pregnancies (n=21), placentitis and impending abortion (n=71) were associated with elevated concentration. Twin pregnancies were detected by elevated EQFP concentration, in one case as early as 12 days after breeding.     

Epistaxis in two horses with dacryohemorrhea.

Unilateral epistaxis in 2 horses was caused by inflammation of the distal portion of the lacrimal system. The origin of epistaxis was identified during physical examination by observing hemorrhage emanating from the nasal opening of the nasolacrimal duct. Dacryohemorrhea caused by bacterial infection was successfully treated with antibacterial drugs administered systemically and instilled into the lacrimal system.     

Isolation and characterization of lymphocytes from bovine intestinal epithelium and lamina propria

The lymphocyte populations of the bovine gut lamina proprial (LP) and epithelial tissues were isolated and characterized with respect to cells bearing surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (Ig). Functional characteristics of cells from the two tissues, including responsiveness to Concanavalin A (Con A), anti-bovine immunoglobulin (anti-Ig), Con A supernatants of bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes (bConA sup) and recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2), were also assessed. Less than 1% of the mononuclear cells in the epithelial tissue (IEL) stained for cytoplasmic Ig, and 9% stained positively for surface Ig. IEL did not proliferate in response to anti-Ig, although cells of this population did respond to Con A, bConA sup, and rhIL-2. Twenty-seven percent of bovine gut LP lymphocytes stained for surface Ig, while 39% of these cells were positive for cytoplasmic Ig. LP lymphocytes proliferated in response to all four stimulants used, Con A, anti-Ig, bConA sup and rhIL-2.     

Intraoperative pain responses following intraovarian versus mesovarian injection of lidocaine in mares undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy

OBJECTIVE: To compare intraoperative pain responses following intraovarian versus mesovarian injection of lidocaine in mares undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 15 mares between 4 and 20 years old. PROCEDURE: Standard bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy was performed. Prior to manipulation of the ovary, 2% lidocaine (10 mL) was injected into the ovary and saline (0.9% NaCI) solution (10 mL) was injected into the mesovarium on 1 side, with saline solution (10 mL) injected into the ovary and 2% lidocaine (10 mL) injected into the mesovarium on the other side. Presence (yes vs no) and severity (visual analogue scale) of pain were scored at 5 times (grasping of the ovary, dissection of the mesosalpinx, tightening of the first loop ligature, tightening of the second loop ligature, and transection of the ovarian pedicle) by 2 individuals blinded to treatment and each other's observations. RESULTS: During 4 of the 5 observation periods, significantly fewer mares had signs of pain following mesovarian injection of lidocaine, and during 2 of the 5 observation periods, visual analogue scale score was significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that mesovarian injection of lidocaine is associated with significantly lower pain responses, compared with intraovarian injection, in horses undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy.     

Ex vivo investigation of the use of hydrothermal energy to induce chondrocyte necrosis in articular cartilage of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of hydrothermal ablation of articular cartilage for arthrodesis in horses through investigation of the effects of joint lavage with physiologic saline (0.9% NaCI) solution (80 degrees C) for various treatment times on chondrocyte viability in the articular cartilage of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of cadaveric horse limbs. Sample Population-7 pairs of metacarpophalangeal and 8 pairs of metatarsophalangeal joints from 8 Thoroughbreds. PROCEDURE: The horses were euthanatized for reasons unrelated to musculoskeletal disease. On a random basis, 1 joint of each pair underwent intra-articular lavage for 5, 10, or 15 minutes with heated saline solution (80 degrees C); the other joint underwent sham treatment of similar duration with saline solution at 22 degrees C (control). Cartilage samples from the distal articular surface of metacarpus III (or metatarsus III), the proximal surface of the proximal phalanx, and the lateral and medial proximal sesamoid bones were assessed for chondrocyte viability via confocal microscopy and viability staining following enzymatic digestion. RESULTS: Compared with the control joints, findings of both viability assays indicated that the percentage of sites containing viable chondrocytes in heat-treated joints was decreased.Treatment hazard ratios of 0.048 (confocal microscopy) and 0.2 (digestion assay) were estimated. Histologically, periarticular soft tissues had minimal detrimental effects after heat treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ex vivo intra-articular lavage with saline solution at 80 degrees C resulted in the death of almost all articular chondrocytes in the joint. This technique may be a satisfactory method for extensive cartilage ablation when performing arthrodesis by minimally invasive techniques.     

Use of high-power ultrasonic shears for laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares

A method for performing laparoscopic ovariectomy with high-power ultrasonic shears in mares is described, along with results in 10 mares. Briefly, after epidural administration of detomidine and local anesthesia with mepivacaine, 3 cannulas were placed in each paralumbar fossa. A laparoscope was placed through the most dorsal cannula, and a grasping forceps was placed through the most ventral cannula and used to grasp and manipulate the ovary. The ultrasonic shears was then placed through the middle cannula. The jaws of the ultrasonic shears were closed across a portion of the ovarian pedicle, and the instrument was discharged until tissue within the jaws was transected; the process was repeated until the entire ovarian pedicle was transected. Following removal of the right ovary, it was passed to the left side of the abdomen and both ovaries were removed through an incision in the left paralumbar fossa. No major complications were identified in any of the 10 mares. However, excessive bleeding necessitating reapplication of the ultrasonic shears (2 ovaries) or application of ligating clips (8) was encountered with 10 of the 20 ovaries. Laparoscopic ovariectomy with a high-power ultrasonic shears appears to be safe in mares.     

Converting ceria polyhedral nanoparticles into single-crystal nanospheres

Ceria nanoparticles are one of the key abrasive materials for chemical-mechanical planarization of advanced integrated circuits. However, ceria nanoparticles synthesized by existing techniques are irregularly faceted, and they scratch the silicon wafers and increase defect concentrations. We developed an approach for large-scale synthesis of single-crystal ceria nanospheres that can reduce the polishing defects by 80% and increase the silica removal rate by 50%, facilitating precise and reliable mass-manufacturing of chips for nanoelectronics. We doped the ceria system with titanium, using flame temperatures that facilitate crystallization of the ceria yet retain the titania in a molten state. In conjunction with molecular dynamics simulation, we show that under these conditions, the inner ceria core evolves in a single-crystal spherical shape without faceting, because throughout the crystallization it is completely encapsulated by a molten 1- to 2-nanometer shell of titania that, in liquid state, minimizes the surface energy. The principle demonstrated here could be applied to other oxide systems.