Influence of oral glucosamine supplementation in young horses challenged with intra-articular lipopolysaccharide.

Fourteen yearling Quarter horses (351 to 470 kg) were utilized in a randomized complete block design to evaluate potential of glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl) to mitigate intra-articular inflammation following a single inflammatory insult. Horses were blocked by BW, age, and sex, and randomly assigned to treatments for a 98-d experiment. Treatments consisted of a control diet (CON; = 7) fed 1% BW per d (as-fed) of concentrate only or a treatment diet ( = 7) of concentrate top dressed with 30 mg/kg BW glucosamine HCl (99.6% purity; GLU30) offered at 12 h intervals. Horses were maintained in individual stalls and offered approximately 1% BW per d of coastal bermudagrass hay (). Plasma and synovial fluid samples were obtained every 14 and 28 d, respectively, and stored at -20°C, before analysis of glucosamine via HPLC. On d 84, an intra-articular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge was conducted on all horses to determine ability of dietary glucosamine HCl supplementation to mitigate joint inflammation and cartilage metabolism. Carpal joints were randomly selected to receive 1 of 2 intra-articular treatments and included sterile lactated Ringer's (control; Contra) only or 0.5 ng LPS solution (LPS) obtained from O55:B5 into the radial carpal joint. Synovial fluid was obtained at pre-injection h 0 and 6, 12, 24, 128, and 336 h post-injection, and was analyzed for prostaglandin E (PGE), carboxypeptide of type II collagen (CPII) and collagenase cleavage neopeptide (C2C) biomarkers by commercial ELISA kits. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED procedure of SAS. Plasma and synovial glucosamine tended ( = 0.10 and = 0.06, respectively) to increase over time in response to GLU30 compared to CON. There was a treatment by time interaction ( ≤ 0.01), with GLU30 increasing plasma glucosamine concentrations at 28 and 42 d when compared to CON. A treatment by time interaction ( ≤ 0.01) was observed with GLU30 increasing synovial glucosamine levels at d 28 and 84 ( ≤ 0.01 and = 0.05, respectively). Intra-articular LPS increased ( ≤ 0.01) synovial PGE, C2C, and CPII levels. GLU30 decreased synovial PGE and C2C concentrations when compared to CON ( = 0.04 and = 0.05, respectively), while synovial levels of CPII increased ( ≤ 0.01) in GLU30 horses. These results indicate the potential for oral glucosamine HCl to mitigate intra-articular inflammation and influence cartilage turnover in a young horse model.

The effect of a limit-fed diet and slow-feed hay nets on morphometric measurements and postprandial metabolite and hormone patterns in adult horses.

Modern horse management systems tend to limit a horse's opportunity to forage, rely on meal feeding, and may contribute to the increase in equine obesity. The use of slow-feed hay nets represents an opportunity to extend foraging time while feeding a restricted diet. The objectives of this study were to determine if limit feeding combined with a slow-feed hay net would affect morphometric measurements and postprandial metabolite and hormone patterns in overweight adult horses. Eight adult Quarter horses (BW 563 kg ± 4.6 kg; BCS 7.2 ± 0.3) were used in a randomized complete block design, with 4 horses assigned to feeding hay off the stall floor (FLOOR) and 4 horses assigned to feeding from a slow-feed hay net (NET). Horses were fed in individual stalls at 1% BW each day, split evenly between 2 meals at 0700 and 1600 h. Body weight, BCS, neck and girth circumference, cresty neck score, and ultrasound measurements of average rump fat, longissimus dorsi (LD) depth, and LD thickness were taken on d 0, 14, and 28. Three 24-h blood samplings were conducted on d 0, 14, and 28 and were analyzed for glucose, insulin, cortisol, and leptin concentrations. Samplings occurred every 30 min for 3 h postfeeding, with hourly samples occurring between feedings. Horses feeding from the FLOOR took less time to consume their hay meal compared with horses feeding from the NET ( < 0.001). All horses lost weight over the 28-d period ( < 0.0001); however, no difference was observed between treatments. There was no difference in BCS, neck and girth circumference, cresty neck score, rump fat, or LD depth between days or treatments ( ≥ 0.25). There was an effect of day on LD thickness in horses feeding from the NET. Longissimus dorsi thickness was lower on d 28 compared with that on d 0 ( = 0.0257). Only time to peak insulin and peak cortisol were affected by treatment ( ≤ 0.037), with horses feeding from the NET having lower values than horses feeding from the FLOOR. Average glucose, insulin, cortisol, and leptin were affected by day ( ≤ 0.0102). Glucose and insulin values increased, whereas cortisol and leptin levels decreased throughout the 28-d study. The use of a slow-feed hay net coupled with a limit-fed diet appears to be an effective method for decreasing BW and maintaining more homeostatic levels of postprandial metabolites and hormones when feeding overweight adult horses.

Topographical anatomy of the ciliary sulcus.

The topography of the ciliary sulcus area in humans was examined by slitlamp biomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Characteristics of this area included the following: the sulcus was angulated anteriorly; the ciliary processes were of unequal length; the zonules did not insert on the tips of the ciliary processes but, instead, inserted slightly posteriorly; the contour of the sulcus area was irregular; bands stretched from the base of the ciliary processes to the posterior surface of the iris, making the sulcus a potential space in some areas of the eye. Effects of this topography on IOL implantation are postulated.

Boost irradiation of breast carcinoma: teletherapy vs. brachytherapy.

BACKGROUND: The results of adjuvant radiotherapy including a boost dose after breast-conserving surgery of mamma carcinoma were retrospectively analysed to relate local tumor control, survival, and cosmetic results to the boost technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 229 female patients who were treated in the period 1986--1997. Group A consisted of patients where the primary irradiation was hyperfractionated (two fractions per day) and the boost was applied by reduced portals, also at two fractions per day. In group B the 'boost' was applied interstitially intraoperatively and the 'primary' irradiation followed at one fraction per day. The cosmetic results and the late changes to the mamma were the subjects of follow-up examinations and were assessed using the EORTC score. RESULTS: 129 patients formed group A, median follow-up 4.2 years, and 100 patients with median follow-up of 9.4 years formed group B. 59% of group A and 60% of group B were in stage pT1, 38% and 39% were in pT2, and 25% and 39% were in stage N1 or N2 (no significant differences). Tumors were mostly poorly to moderately differentiated. The upper outer quadrant was most afflicted. Local recurrence occurred in two and five cases, lymph-node recurrence in two cases each, while there were ten and 12 cases of distant metastases. There were no deaths in group A and in group B six with obvious distant metastases and eight with other causes of death. The cosmetic results and late side-effects (induration, teleangiectasis, ulcers) were significantly worse in the interstitial group B. Multivariate analysis revealed that only the total applied dose significantly affected the severity of late radiation side-effects. The cosmetic results worsened with time, the tendency for lymph edemas in the irradiated side increased. Induration decreased continuously after pure teletherapy but increased continuously after interstitial therapy. These trends did not change in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Both therapy schemes resulted in successful local tumor control with good cosmetic results and few side effects, but the interstitial boost therapy was clearly less favourable. Longer-term follow-up is required to compare the late side-effects even further.

A novel interactive electronic protocol review system.

This report describes a new protocol review system which was designed as a Lotus Notes database. This system encompasses all elements of investigator protocol generation, review and approval by the laboratory animal veterinarian and institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC), and notification of approval to personnel responsible for animal ordering. Unique features of the system are interactive dialog between IACUC members and the investigator and confidential protocol discussion among IACUC members. The advantages of the system are multiple: 1. it allows for interactive protocol discussion online; 2. it is an essentially paperless process; 3. inclusion of the outside IACUC member is easily accomplished by using an offsite personal computer and secure remote local-area network access; 4. the time required for protocol generation, review, and approval is streamlined due to the automatic features of the database and the speed of e-mail; and 5. all documentation relating to the protocol and the approval process is archived online.

[Acute osteomyelitis in childhood]. / Akute Osteomyelitis im Kindesalter.

Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) is an inflammation of bone caused by bacteria that reach the bone via the hematogenous route. Neonatal osteomyelitis differs from the disease in older children. Staphylococcus aureus is the most predominant organism, accounting for infection in about 80% of patients. The lower extremities are most commonly affected. Because of the intracapsular metaphysis of proximal femur and humerus, there is a higher risk of concomitant septic arthritis in these joints. AHO always means an emergency with high diagnostic and therapeutic demands. The successful outcome depends on early diagnosis and prompt, adequate therapy. Therefore good cooperation with the pediatricians and radiologists is essential. The principles of treatment are symptomatic measures, bedrest and operative intervention, if necessary, with drainage of pus and débridement of any necrotic material, together with antibiotic treatment in sufficient concentration and for sufficient duration. The goal of treatment is to prevent complications such as concomitant septic arthritis with its high risk of persistent joint damage, growth disturbance or chronic osteomyelitis.

[Polydactyly of the foot]. / Die Polydaktylie des Fusses.

Polydactyly may be preaxial or tibial (hallux-side), postaxial or ulnar (side of the little toe) and central (middle toes). The duplication may appear at the distal and medial phalanges or at the whole digit. The metatarsal bone may be part wise or completely duplicated, the accessory toes may share only one metatarsal. Surgical intervention may be indicated in shoe problems, for esthetic reasons or, especially in duplication of the metatarsales, because of secondary deviation of the toes and therefore shoe problems or plantar callosities. Preoperative analysis including x-ray is of great importance to achieve good functional and cosmetic results.

Bone apposition to plasma-sprayed cobalt-chromium alloy.

The use of porous metallic coatings for fixation of total joint prostheses by bone ingrowth has become a widespread alternative to fixation with PMMA bone cement. However, concerns about such coatings include long-term effects of metal ion release, potential coating loss, and decreased substrate fatigue strength. The biological fixation capability of a nonporous, high-integrity plasma-sprayed CoCr coating with low surface area was compared to a conventional sintered bead coating in goat cortical and cancellous bone sites after 8 and 16 weeks of implantation. Histological evaluation showed substantial variations in fixation quality between individual animals and between surgical sites with no consistent difference between implant types. Shear testing of bone/implant interfaces showed that although conventional porous coating exhibited higher overall average shear strengths in cortical bone sites at both time periods, the differences were not statistically significant. In cancellous sites, the average shear strengths achieved with conventional porous and plasma-sprayed coatings were essentially equal. Analysis using average paired differences, however, revealed that when porous and plasma-coated implants are placed in identical sites of contralateral limbs, the plasma coatings consistently yielded higher shear strengths in cancellous bone sites at the later time period. Since current design theory for biological fixation favors metaphysical fixation, this surface may offer potential advantages over conventional porous coatings.

Evaluation of the Unilink microvascular anastomotic device in the dog.

This experimental study reports the evaluation of a mechanical, non-suture technique for the repair of small blood vessels under the operating microscope. The method uses the Unilink implantable pinned rings on which the vessel ends are everted 90 degrees and impaled on small pins. An instrument approximates the rings and completes the anastomosis. The device was used for the end-to-end anastomosis of 80 vessels in ten beagle dogs. Both arteries (ulnar and saphenous) and veins (cephalic and saphenous) were included in the study. Vessels were assessed for patency and harvested for histologic examination and scanning electron microscopy at 4-, 16-, and 32-week implantation times. Both longitudinal and cross sections were stained using hematoxylin and eosin, Verhoeff-Van Gieson techniques for elastin, and a modified Masson's trichrome for muscle and collagen, and examined under light microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was completed on longitudinally bisected anastomoses. Patency rates, histology, and SEM at all implantation times of the mechanical anastomoses compared favorably with experimental investigations of suturing techniques that have appeared in the literature. This microvascular anastomotic technique provided a rapid, safe, and efficacious method for the end-to-end repair of severed peripheral arteries and veins in the dog model.