RESUMO
In orthopaedics, erythropoietin (EPO) is applied in the preoperative management of anaemic patients, but also as a stimulating factor to assist bone regeneration due to its angiogenic and osteoinductive potential. Since orthopaedists mainly rely on their clinical experience to assess bone healing, additional and more objective methods such as studying the dynamics of bone markers are needed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the plasma activity of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), the N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP), the C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) during the first 2 months of healing of comminuted fractures in cats, either non-stimulated or locally stimulated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). The study included twelve cats of mixed breeds, aged 7.2 ± 4 months, weighing 2.11 ± 1.1 kg, with comminuted diaphyseal fractures of the femur. Surgical treatment with plate osteosynthesis was performed in all animals. The cats were randomly divided into two groups-a control (n = 6) and an EPO group (n = 6). The locally applied EPO leads to the increased activity of bone formation markers (BALP and PINP) during the second week after the osteosynthesis, preceding the peaks in the control group by two weeks. The studied bone resorption markers (DPD, CTX) varied insignificantly during the studied period. In conclusion, erythropoietin could serve as a promoter of bone healing in comminuted fractures in cats.
RESUMO
Vultures play a very important role in ecosystems by feeding on dead animals and preventing the spread of pathogens. In the mid-20th century in Bulgaria, all species of vultures experienced a rapid population decline and conservation measures include captive breeding and release via adaptation aviaries. Knowledge of the baseline blood biochemical parameters is crucial for the care, rehabilitation and prior to the release of endangered birds of prey. Plasma levels provide valuable information for the evaluation of the physical condition of animals. Between 2020 and 2022, we took blood samples from captive Bearded, Griffon, Cinereous and Egyptian Vultures in Bulgaria (n = 118). We determined the values of 18 parameters - alanine transaminase, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate transaminase, calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatine kinase, creatinine, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, magnesium, phosphorus, total bilirubin, total protein, triglycerides and uric acid. This research determined the mean blood biochemical indices for aviary Bearded, Griffon, Cinereous and Egyptian Vultures in Bulgaria and compared the values amongst the four vulture species, to serve in determining clinical pathology and nutrition for scavenger birds of different species, age groups and genders in the country. The results of this study suggested that there are significant differences between many of the indicators of the four vulture species. There are fewer differences in the indicators of different ages of birds of a given species and almost no differences are found between the two sexes of a species. These values could be used by scientists, veterinary pathologists, wildlife rehabilitation centres and other researchers. Furthermore, the use of such parameters in assessing population health may enable conservationists to further research environmental conditions affecting the vultures' reproduction and survival.
RESUMO
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of local and systemic application of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on the healing of rat calvarial defects. Twenty-four male skeletally-mature Wistar rats were used. Two bone 5 mm critical size defects were created in calvarial bones of each rat. In rats from experimental group I (n = 12), EPO was applied locally on a collagen cone in left defects, whereas a collagen cone soaked with physiological saline was placed in right defects. The rats from experimental group II were injected once intraperitoneally with 4900 IU/kg EPO; a collagen cone was only placed in left defects, whereas the right defects were left empty. The systemic effect of EPO treatment was monitored by haematological analyses on days 0, 30 and 90. Bone healing was monitored via radiography and computed tomography on the same time intervals. The results demonstrated that local EPO application had no significant effect on haemopoiesis, unlike the systemic application. At the same time, it resulted in new bone formation and therefore, could be successfully used as a means of promoting bone regeneration.
