Effects of oral treatment with chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine in an experimental model of metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis in horses.

BACKGROUND: Combined chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine (GlcN) has been widely used in oral formulations to prevent and treat osteoarthritis. CS is effective for controlling pain in osteoarthritic patients, whereas GlcN can stimulate glycosaminoglycan synthesis, thus reducing extracellular matrix degradation. Although several studies have been published on this topic, the effectiveness of treatment with oral CS and GlcN remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to analyze the progression of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses and verify the effectiveness of an oral compound based on CS and GlcN to treat and/or modulate this disease. The study analyzed the metacarpophalangeal joint of the left thoracic limb of 16 horses divided into two groups, with eight horses treated with CS and GlcN in the treated group (GT) and eight untreated horses in the control group (GC). Chondral lesions were induced through arthroscopy, which was defined as time-point zero (T0). Physical, ultrasonographic, and radiographic examinations and synovial fluid biomarkers measurements were performed on days 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120. At the end of the experiment (T4), arthroscopy was performed again to macroscopically evaluate the joints and collect material for microscopic analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between groups in some evaluated parameters, such as visual lameness assessment, synovial concentrations of prostaglandin E2, and ultrasound examination. However, the GT still presented slightly improved results for joint flexion angle, analysis of lameness using sensors, and histopathological analysis of chondral repair tissue, however, without the statistical significance (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment was considered effective in the clinical modulation of experimental osteoarthritis, with improvement of some parameters in the GT. However, this type of treatment may not be entirely effective to change the catabolic process in articular cartilage and the progressive induced chondral damage.

Evaluation of platelet-rich plasma applied in the coronary band of healthy equine hooves.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a widely used hemocomponent that holds great promise in equine medicine due to its feasible production and regenerative therapy potential. Its use has been considered as a treatment for chronic laminitis, mainly in terms of its analgesic properties and because it can induce growth in affected hooves. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on hoof growth attributable to PRP applied in the coronary band of clinically healthy horses by comparing the responses to PRP, saline, and trimming alone. After randomization, the forelimbs of 9 horses received specific treatment at intervals of 33 days and were trimmed, measured, and radiographed at the same time. Neither hoof growth nor hoof angles were different between the treatment groups at any time point. The application of PRP in the coronary band of horses may be a safe procedure; however, it had no effect on the growth or conformation of hooves in clinically healthy horses.

Évaluation du plasma riche en plaquettes appliqué dans la bande coronaire de sabots équins sains. Le plasma riche en plaquettes (PRP) est un hémo-composant largement utilisé qui est très prometteur en médecine équine en raison de sa production réalisable et de son potentiel de thérapie régénérative. Son utilisation a été considérée comme un traitement de la fourbure chronique, principalement en termes de ses propriétés analgésiques et parce qu'elle peut induire la croissance des sabots atteints. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer l'effet sur la croissance des sabots attribuable au PRP appliqué dans la bande coronaire de chevaux cliniquement sains en comparant les réponses au PRP, à la solution saline et à la taille seule. Après randomisation, les membres antérieurs de neuf chevaux ont reçu un traitement spécifique à des intervalles de 33 jours et ont été taillés, mesurés et radiographiés au même moment. Ni la croissance ni les angles des sabots n'étaient différents entre les groupes de traitement à aucun moment. L'application de PRP dans la bande coronaire des chevaux peut être une procédure sûre; cependant, il n'a eu aucun effet sur la croissance ou la conformation des sabots chez les chevaux cliniquement sains.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Effects of Joint Lavage with Dimethylsulfoxide on LPS-Induced Synovitis in Horses-Clinical and Laboratorial Aspects.

Several studies in human and equine medicine have produced controversial results regarding the role of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a therapeutic agent. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of joint lavage with different DMSO concentrations on biomarkers of synovial fluid inflammation and cartilage degradation in joints with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced synovitis. Twenty-six tibiotarsal joints of 13 horses were randomly distributed into four groups (lactated Ringer's solution; 5% DMSO in lactated Ringer's; 10% DMSO in lactated Ringer's; and sham). All animals were evaluated for the presence of lameness, and synovial fluid analyses were performed at 0 h, 1 h, 8 h, 24 h, and 48 h (T0, T1, T8, T24, and T48, respectively). The white blood cell counts (WBC), total protein (TP), urea, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hyaluronic acid (HA), and chondroitin sulfate (CS) concentrations were measured. The WBC counts and PGE2, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TP concentrations increased in all groups at T8 compared to baseline values (p<0.05). At T48, only the 5% DMSO and 10% DMSO groups showed a significant decrease in WBC counts (p<0.05). Furthermore, the 10% DMSO group had lower concentrations of PGE2 and IL-1ß at T48 than at T8 (p<0.05) and presented lower IL-6 levels than the5% DMSO and lactated Ringer's groups at T24. All groups showed an increase in CS concentration after LPS-induced synovitis. Joint lavage with 10% DMSO in lactated Ringer´s has anti-inflammatory but not chondroprotective effects.

Effects of medical ozone upon healthy equine joints: Clinical and laboratorial aspects.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify whether transient inflammatory reactions induced by intra-articular medicinal ozone administration affect joint components, by in vivo evaluation of inflammatory (prostaglandin E2, Substance P, Interleukin-6, Interleukine-1, Tumor Necrosis Factor), anti-inflammatory (Interleukin-10) and oxidative (superoxide dismutase activity and oxidative burst) biomarkers and extracellular matrix degradation products (chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid) in synovial fluid. METHODS: The effects of medicinal ozone were analyzed at two ozone concentrations (groups A and B, 20 and 40 µg/ml, respectively), using oxygen-injected joints as controls (group C); each group received ten treatments (15 ml gas per treatment). Physical evaluation, evaluation of lameness, ultrasonography, and synovial fluid analysis were performed. RESULTS: All joints presented mild and transient effusion throughout the study. Group B exhibited the highest lameness score on day 14 (P<0.05), detected by the lameness measurement system, probably because of the higher ozone concentration. All groups exhibited increased ultrasonography scores on day 14 (P < 0.05). Groups A and B exhibited increased proteins concentrations on day 21 (P<0.05). There was no change in hyaluronic acid concentration or the percentage of high-molecular weight hyaluronic acid throughout the experiment. Chondroitin sulfate concentrations decreased in group B, and did not change in group A and C, indicating that neither treatment provoked extracellular matrix catabolism. Cytokine and eicosanoid concentrations were not significantly changed. CONCLUSIONS: The ozonetherapy did not cause significant inflammation process or cartilage degradation, therefore, ozonetherapy is safe at both evaluated doses.