Clinical assessment and grading of back pain in horses

BackgroundThe clinical presentation of horses with back pain (BP) vary considerably with most horse''s willingness to take part in athletic or riding purpose becoming impossible. However, there are some clinical features that are directly responsible for the loss or failure of performance.ObjectivesTo investigate the clinical features of the thoracolumbar region associated with BP in horses and to use some of the clinical features to classify equine BP.MethodsTwenty-four horses comprised of 14 with BP and 10 apparently healthy horses were assessed for clinical abnormality that best differentiate BP from normal horses. The horses were then graded (0–5) using the degree of pain response, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and overall physical dysfunction of the horse.ResultsThe common clinical features that significantly differentiate horses with BP from non-BP were longissimus dorsi spasm at palpation (78.6%), paravertebral muscle stiffness (64.3%), resist lateral bending (64.3%), and poor hindlimb impulsion (85.7%). There were significantly (p < 0.05) higher scores for pain response to palpation, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and physical dysfunction among horses with BP in relation to non-BP. A significant relationship exists between all the graded abnormalities. Based on the cumulative score, horses with BP were categorized into mild, mild-moderate, moderate and severe cases.ConclusionsBP in horse can be differentiated by severity of pain response to back palpation, back muscle hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness, physical dysfunctions and their cumulative grading score is useful in the assessment and categorization of BP in horses.     

Flow-cytometric Studies of the Phagocytic Capacities of Equine Neutrophils

Methodological aspects of flow-cytometric evaluation of the phagocytic properties of equine neutrophils were elucidated. The kinetics of attachment and ingestion were studied, and the phagocytic process was more rapidly completed when serum-opsonized yeast cells were used than with use of IgG-opsonized yeast cells. Trypan blue was successfully used to quench fluorescence of non-ingested yeast cells. There were only minor differences in the kinetics of phagocytosis between quenched and un-quenched samples, indicating that attachment is rapidly followed by ingestion. Trypan blue quenching caused loss of cells with light scattering properties of granulocytes, although this did not affect the determined frequencies of truly phagocytic neutrophils. Aggregation of yeast cells proved to be a disturbance but not an obstacle to the determination of frequencies of actively phagocytic cells. Flow cytometry is well suited for studies of phagocytosis of yeast cells by equine neutrophils, and the trypan blue quenching provides a means of eliminating false-positive events due to aggregation of yeast cells. The main advantage of the flow-cytometric method is the possibility of rapid processing of a large number of samples, making the method useful for studies of herds.     

ZBED6基因敲除猪肾脏转录组分析

【目的】探究锌指BED结构域结合蛋白6(zinc finger BED domain-containing protein 6,ZBED6)基因敲除对猪肾脏组织基因转录表达的影响,并解析ZBED6基因调控猪肾脏代谢的靶基因及其通路。【方法】对8月龄ZBED6基因敲除巴马香猪(ZBED6 KO)和同月龄野生型巴马香猪(WT)的肾脏组织(n=3)进行总RNA提取,利用实时荧光定量PCR检测胰岛素样生长因子2(insulin-like growth factor 2,IGF2)和差异基因的表达量;以Illumina Hiseq高通量测序技术对ZBED6 KO和WT猪肾脏组织mRNA进行转录组测序(RNA-Seq),用猪Sus scrofa 11.1作为参考基因组序列,通过生物信息学软件TopHat、Cufflink、Cuffmerge和Cuffdiff对测序数据进行分析,筛选ZBED6 KO和WT猪肾脏组织中的差异表达基因,对差异表达基因进行层次聚类和KEGG通路富集分析,并通过实时荧光定量PCR验证RNA-Seq结果中差异表达基因的可靠性。【结果】实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,ZBED6 K...     

电脉冲及6-DMAP对小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活的研究

实验研究了不同电脉冲条件、6-DMAP作用不同时间以及二者联合使用时对注射hCG后18～19h采集的小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活及发育的效果。结果表明:小鼠卵母细胞电激活后,放入2mmol/L6-DMAP的CZB中作用6h,其激活率和囊胚率都显著高于单独使用一种激活方法。其中场强2.0kv/cm,脉宽80μs,3次脉冲结合6-DMAP组的激活率和囊胚发育率最高,与其他两组差异显著。     

Serum Biomarkers of Clinical and Cytologic Response in Dogs with Idiopathic Immune‐Mediated Polyarthropathy

Background

Immune‐mediated polyarthopathy (IMPA) is common in dogs, and is monitored by serial arthrocenteses.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Plasma C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and CXCL8 (interleukin‐8) would serve as noninvasive markers of joint inflammation in IMPA.

Animals

Nine client‐owned dogs with idiopathic IMPA; 6 healthy controls.

Methods

Prospective study. Plasma CRP, IL‐6, and CXCL8 were measured by ELISA at baseline, 2, and 4 weeks during treatment with prednisone at 50 mg/m²/day. Arthrocenteses, the canine brief pain inventory (CBPI), and accelerometry collars were used to assess joint inflammation, lameness, and mobility at all 3 time points.

Results

C‐reactive protein concentrations were higher in IMPA dogs (median 91.1 μg/mL, range 76.7–195.0) compared with controls (median <6.3 μg/mL, <6.3–13.7; P = .0035), and were significantly lower at week 2 (10.6 μg/mL, <6.3–48.8) and week 4 (<6.3 μg/mL, <6.3–24.4; P < .001).C‐reactive protein was correlated with median CBPI scores (r = 0.68; P = .0004), joint cellularity (r = 0.49, P = .011), and mobility by accelerometry (r = −0.42, P = .048). Plasma IL‐6 concentrations were also higher in IMPA dogs (median 45.9 pg/mL), compared with controls (median <15.7 pg/mL; P = .0008). IL‐6 was lower in IMPA dogs by week 4 (<15.7 pg/mL; P = .0099), and was modestly correlated with CBPI scores (r = 0.47, P = .023). CXCL8 did not differ significantly between IMPA and healthy dogs.

Conclusions

Plasma CRP and IL‐6 might be useful surrogate markers of synovial inflammation and disease activity in dogs with IMPA.     

The bispectral index during recovery from halothane and sevoflurane anaesthesia in horses

ObjectiveTo record the bispectral index (BIS) when horses moved during either halothane or sevoflurane anaesthesia and when they made volitional movements during recovery from these anaesthetics.Study designRandomized prospective clinical study.AnimalsTwenty-five client-owned horses undergoing surgery aged 8.8 (± 5.3; 1–19) years (mean ± SD; range).MethodsBaseline BIS values were recorded before pre-anaesthetic medication (BIS_B) and during anaesthesia (BIS_A) maintained with halothane (group H; n = 12) or sevoflurane (group S; n =13) at approximately 0.8–0.9 × minimum alveolar concentrations (MAC). Bispectral indices were recorded during the surgery when unexpected movement occurred (BIS_MA), during recovery when the first movement convincingly associated with consciousness was observed (BIS_M1) and once sternal recumbency was achieved (BIS_ST).ResultsNo significant difference in BIS_M1 was found between halothane- (85 ± 7; 75–93) and sevoflurane- (87 ± 10; 70–98) anaesthetized horses although BIS_A was significantly (p = 0.0002) lower in group S (62 ± 7; 53–72) than group H (74 ± 7; 60–84). Differences between BIS_M1 and BIS_A were significant in sevoflurane (p = 0.00001) and halothane recipients (p = 0.002) but were greater in group S (25 ± 9; 4–38) compared with group H (12 ± 10; ?9–25). In six of eight horses, BIS_MA values ranged between those recorded during anaesthesia and at first movement.Conclusions and clinical relevanceBispectral indices appear to approximate levels of unconsciousness, suggesting that monitoring the BIS may assist equine anaesthesia. However, it does not predict intra-operative movement.     

Anti-obesity activity of diglyceride containing conjugated linoleic acid in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice

This study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of diglyceride (DG)-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) containing 22% CLA as fatty acids in C57BL/6J ob/ob male mice. There were four experimental groups including vehicle control, DG, CLA, and DG-CLA. The test solutions of 750 mg/kg dose were orally administered to the mice everyday for 5 weeks. CLA treatments significantly decreased mean body weight in the obese mice throughout the experimental period compared to the control (p < 0.01). All test solutions significantly decreased the levels of triglyceride, glucose and free fatty acids in the serum compared with control (p < 0.05). The levels of total cholesterol were also significantly reduced in DG and DG-CLA groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05). CLA significantly decreased weights of renal and epididymal fats compared with the control (p < 0.05). DG and DG-CLA also significantly decreased the epididymal fat weights compared with the control (p < 0.05). A remarkable decrease in the number of lipid droplets and fat globules was observed in the livers of mice treated with DG, CLA, and DG-CLA compared to control. Treatments of DG and CLA actually increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. These results suggest that DG-CLA containing 22% CLA have a respectable anti-obesity effect by controlling serum lipids and fat metabolism.