Complications and risk factors of castration with primary wound closure: Retrospective study in 159 horses.

Castration with primary wound closure reportedly has lower complication rates and shorter recovery periods compared to castration with second intention healing. However, little is known about risk factors associated with complications using primary wound closure. Medical records of 159 horses castrated and having primary wound closure were reviewed. Main short-term complications were: scrotal hematoma in 12 horses (7.6%), signs of colic in 6 horses (3.8%), fever in 4 horses (2.5%), and peri-incisional edema in 3 horses (1.9%). As for long-term complications, 24 out of 105 (23%) horses sustained some form of edema. One horse was euthanized because of a suspected inguinal abscess. Among tested parameters, horses aged 3 to 6 years old and French trotters appeared to be more at risk of developing complications. Intraoperative ligation of the cremaster muscle and use of electrocautery prevented complications. Overall, client satisfaction was excellent (98%).

Complications et facteurs de risque de la castration avec fermeture des plaies par première intention : étude rétrospective chez 159 chevaux. La castration avec fermeture des plaies par première intention a un taux de complications plus faible et une période de convalescence plus courte que la castration avec cicatrisation par seconde intention. Cependant, on en sait peu sur les facteurs de risque associés aux complications en utilisant la technique de fermeture des plaies par première intention. Les dossiers médicaux de 159 chevaux castrés de cette façon ont été examinés. Les complications à court terme sont les suivantes: hématome scrotal chez 12 chevaux (7,6 %), signes de coliques chez 6 chevaux (3,8 %), fièvre chez 4 chevaux (2,5 %) et de l'œdème péri-incisionel chez 3 chevaux (1,9 %). En ce qui concerne les complications à long terme, 24 sur 105 (23 %) chevaux ont présenté un certain degré d'œdème. Un cheval a été euthanasié à cause d'un probable abcès inguinal. Parmi les paramètres testés, les chevaux âgés de 3 à 6 ans et les Trotteurs Français semblent être plus à risque de développer des complications. En outre, la ligature peropératoire du muscle crémaster et l'utilisation du bistouri électrique semblent prévenir les complications. Dans l'ensemble, la satisfaction des clients était excellente (98 %).(Traduit par les auteurs).

A novel approach to discriminate the volatilome of Vitis vinifera berries by selected ion flow tube mass Spectrometry analysis and chemometrics.

This study investigated a quick way to discriminate grape varieties based on their composition in volatile compounds through a SIFT-MS scan coupled with simple chemometrics approaches such as analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical ascendant classification (HAC). The 23 studied grape varieties were distinguishable using O2+, H3O+ and NO+ as reagent ions, and the combination of these three ions. For its ability to ionize most compounds, to efficiently fragment them to generate ions with distinct m/z ratio, and to enhance the differentiation of compounds of similar masses, O2+ reagent ion should be preferentially considered. The use of one single ion rather than three enables to limit the time of analysis and the number of variables to be treated. The technique allowed the distinction of high and low aroma compounds producers as confirmed by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) analyses. SIFT-MS is a quick and interesting tool with potential application in various fields of viticulture such as phenotyping of grape varieties or non-targeted studies on the impact of environmental factors or viticultural practices on grape aroma composition.

Comparison of medial and lateral ultrasound-guided approaches for periarticular injection of the thoracolumbar intervertebral facet joints in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To compare ultrasound-guided lateral and medial approaches for periarticular injections of the thoracolumbar intervertebral facet joints (IFJ). STUDY DESIGN: Experimental cadaveric study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Adult equine cadavers (n=4). METHODS: IFJ (T12-T13 to L5-L6) were identified by ultrasound (transducer perpendicular to the spine axis) and insertion of a 13 cm, 18 g spinal needle monitored until bone contact using medial (right side) and lateral (left side) approaches. Number of needle insertions at each site, needle repositioning, and insertion depth were recorded. On bone contact 2 mL latex was injected. Intraarticular deposition, distance of latex from the closest articular margin, and presence of latex in the multifidus muscle were established by dissection. RESULTS: Of 96 attempts, only 1 site require reinsertion of the needle; however, 46% of the injections required needle repositioning. Mean ± SD insertion depth was 8.5 ± 1.1 cm. Most injections (86%) were intraarticular and 96% were at or within 0.5 cm of the closest articular margin. Needle insertion relative to the transducer (lateral, medial) had no effect on the distance from the latex to the closest articular margin and all injections were performed into the multifidus muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guidance facilitated accurate periarticular injection of thoracolumbar IFJ irrespective of using a medial or lateral approach.

Potential Contribution of Climate Change to the Protein Haze of White Wines from the French Southwest Region.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role played by climatic conditions during grape ripening in the protein instability of white wines produced in the French southwest region. For this purpose, basic wine analyses were carried out on 268 musts and the corresponding wines, all produced during the 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 vintages, with distinctive climatic conditions. Qualitative and quantitative variables were correlated with levels of protein haze determined by heat test (80 °C/2 h) in the wines using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), and classification and regression trees (CART). Our results show that the climatic change, with the increase in temperatures, and the decrease in precipitation during the grape ripening phase, tends to enhance the risk of protein instability in wines. Indeed, the values of pH, titratable acidity, and malic acid concentrations of the musts, which are good indicators of the conditions in which the grapes ripened and of the level of ripeness of the grapes, were also the variables that correlated best with the protein haze. By measuring these parameters at harvest before alcoholic fermentation, it may be possible to predict the risk of protein haze, and thus early and precisely adapt the stabilization treatment to be applied.

Study of the relationship between red wine colloidal fraction and astringency by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation coupled with multi-detection.

Macromolecules including condensed tannins and polysaccharides impact wine taste and especially astringency. Asymmetrical Flow-Field-Flow-Fractionation (AF4) coupled to UV detection (UV), multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and refractive index detection (dRI) has been proposed to separate red wine colloids. The present work aimed at relating AF4-mutidetection profiles with red wine astringency. Fifty commercial red wines characterized by a trained sensory panel were analysed by AF4-UV-MALS-dRI and UV-visible spectroscopy. The analytical data set was built by selecting the three variables most predictive of the astringency score from each table (UV, dRI, MALS, Mw distribution, and UV-visible spectra of whole wine, permeate and retentate A4F fractions) and analysed by principal component analysis. Red wine astringency was more related to variables extracted from the AF4 data than to UV- absorbance of the wine or permeate, confirming the relevance of AF4-multidetection for analysis of the colloidal fraction involved in this perception.

Fractionation and characterization of polyphenolic compounds and macromolecules in red wine by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation.

Red wine is a complex matrix containing macromolecules such as condensed tannins and polysaccharides. Wine macromolecular components and their interactions have been reported to impact taste properties such as astringency but the colloidal systems formed in wine are not well known. A key prerequisite to characterize these systems is the ability to work under analytical conditions as close as possible to the colloid environment, preserving the sample structure and limiting the denaturation of macromolecular complexes. A method of Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) coupled with UV detection, multi-angle light scattering (MALS), and differential refractometer index (dRI) (AF4-UV-MALS-dRI) has been developed to analyse macromolecules, including tannins and polysaccharides, and macromolecular complexes, in red wine. This method separates objects according to their hydrodynamic radius and does not require calibration to determine molecular weight (Mw). AF4 can provide native separation of wine colloidal matter while working with simulated wine as mobile phase. The channel was equipped with a 350-µm spacer and the membrane made in regenerated cellulose had a cut-off of 5kDa. Different parameters of crossflow rate were investigated using a generic red wine to optimize separation conditions. Then, purified fractions of polysaccharides and tannins were analysed using the selected AF4 parameters. The comparison of the peaks obtained for these fractions and for the wine sample allowed us to determine the retention time associated with these macromolecules. The AF4 fractogram of wine was divided into four fractions. The first three were assigned to higher Mw tannins coeluted with lower Mw polysaccharides such as rhamnogalacturonan II (F1), to intermediate Mw polysaccharides (F2), and to higher Mw mannoproteins (F3) whereas the last fraction (F4) was not identified. Furthermore, our results have shown that AF4-UV-MALS-dRI could be an efficient technique to separate large size tannins as well as polysaccharides and macromolecular complexes.

Investigating the Aroma of Syrah Wines from the Northern Rhone Valley Using Supercritical CO2-Dearomatized Wine as a Matrix for Reconstitution Studies.

This study aimed to investigate the key compounds involved in the aroma of French Syrah wines from the northern Rhone valley from two vintages characterized by distinct climatic conditions. The volatile composition of the wines was assessed through the determination of 76 molecules. After identifying the best matrix and best model for aroma reconstitution studies, omission tests were conducted using the Pivot profile method. For both vintages, 35 molecules with odor activity values (OAVs) above 0.5 were identified. While remarkably high levels of 2-furfurylthiol (FFT) were reported in both wines, rotundone and 3-sulfanylhexanol (3SH) enabled the strongest discrimination between the two wines. Wine dearomatized using supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) was identified as the best matrix. The best models built using this matrix were composed of molecules with OAV > 5 and OAV > 10 highlighting that this dearomatization approach can be valuable to reconstitute the aroma of wine using a small number of molecules. For the cool vintage wine, the omission of rotundone and FFT had the greatest impact on the olfactive profile for nonanosmic and anosmic respondents to rotundone, respectively. 3SH, whose omission decreased the rating of the "fruity" attribute, was identified as the main contributor to the aroma of Syrah wine produced in the warm vintage.

Ultrasonography-Guided Perineural Injection of the Ramus ventralis of the 7 and 8th Cervical Nerves in Horses: A Cadaveric Descriptive Pilot Study.

Objective: To describe the feasibility and dye diffusion of selective perineural injection of the 7 and 8th cervical nerve (C7 and C8) ramus ventralis under ultrasonographic guidance in horses. Study design: Prospective experimental pilot cadaver study. Animals: Four equine cadavers of similar body weight (420-480 kg) and neck conformation. Methods: Five C7 and five C8 rami were perineurally injected with a dye solution. Anatomic dissections including vertebral canal opening were conducted to confirm nerve dye staining and describe the extent of color diffusion. Results: The ramus ventralis of the spinal cervical nerves was visualized in all cadavers. All the injections were successful in staining a portion of the nerve trunk. Eight rami had a uniform transversal staining of the nerve trunk that longitudinally covered a distance >2 cm. One C7 and one C8 nerve trunk showed incomplete transversal staining with a more concentrated color on its half cranial aspect and a longitudinal coverage of <2 cm. Five injections resulted in dye extending proximally and medially into the epidural space. Volume had no appreciable effect on the extent of nerve staining. A greater proportion of epidural diffusion was found with injections done within less than one cm distally to the articular processes. All injections were considered to be selective for the targeted nerve. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Ultrasonography-guided perineural injection of C7 and C8 ramus ventralis is a feasible technique that may have multiple applications in multimodal analgesia in horses. Further clinical study will be necessary to determine the appropriate drug, dosage, and volume to inject and to confirm its usefulness.

A Self-Setting Hydrogel of Silylated Chitosan and Cellulose for the Repair of Osteochondral Defects: From in vitro Characterization to Preclinical Evaluation in Dogs.

Articular cartilage (AC) may be affected by many injuries including traumatic lesions that predispose to osteoarthritis. Currently there is no efficient cure for cartilage lesions. In that respect, new strategies for regenerating AC are contemplated with interest. In this context, we aim to develop and characterize an injectable, self-hardening, mechanically reinforced hydrogel (Si-HPCH) composed of silanised hydroxypropymethyl cellulose (Si-HPMC) mixed with silanised chitosan. The in vitro cytocompatibility of Si-HPCH was tested using human adipose stromal cells (hASC). In vivo, we first mixed Si-HPCH with hASC to observe cell viability after implantation in nude mice subcutis. Si-HPCH associated or not with canine ASC (cASC), was then tested for the repair of osteochondral defects in canine femoral condyles. Our data demonstrated that Si-HPCH supports hASC viability in culture. Moreover, Si-HPCH allows the transplantation of hASC in the subcutis of nude mice while maintaining their viability and secretory activity. In the canine osteochondral defect model, while the empty defects were only partially filled with a fibrous tissue, defects filled with Si-HPCH with or without cASC, revealed a significant osteochondral regeneration. To conclude, Si-HPCH is an injectable, self-setting and cytocompatible hydrogel able to support the in vitro and in vivo viability and activity of hASC as well as the regeneration of osteochondral defects in dogs when implanted alone or with ASC.

Ex Vivo Assessment of an Ultrasound-Guided Injection Technique of the Lumbosacral Disc in the Horse.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe an ultrasound-guided injection technique of the lumbosacral disc in horses through the cranial vertebral notch of the sacrum and to evaluate both accuracy and potential complications of the technique on equine cadavers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four injections of the lumbosacral area were performed on 12 equine cadavers shortly after euthanasia under ultrasound guidance with the horse in recumbency using two different dyes (one colour for each side). The lumbosacral area was dissected in each horse and the accuracy of the technique, as well as its potential complications, was evaluated detecting the dyes and the structures that have been coloured. RESULTS: The lumbosacral area was correctly reached in only 11/24 injections. However, this technique allowed a lumbosacral peridiscal injection in 7/12 horses. The main difficulty was reaching the ventral opening of the L6-S1 intervertebral foramen that is partially hidden by the iliac wing on ultrasound. Puncture of the vertebral canal has been observed in 11/24 cases. The L6 spinal nerve roots emerging through the intervertebral foramen could potentially be damaged when inserting the needle. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The described ultrasound-guided technique allows peridiscal injection in the lumbosacral space in less than 60% of cases with potential sciatic nerve damage. Further investigations are warranted before using this technique in clinical practice in horses suffering from lumbosacral lesions.

Modulating analytical characteristics of thermovinified Carignan musts and the volatile composition of the resulting wines through the heating temperature.

The impact of two temperature levels (50 °C and 75 °C) and heating times (30 min and 3 h) on the composition of thermovinified musts and wines from Carignan was investigated at the laboratory scale in 2014 and 2015. The heating temperature had a significant impact on the extraction of amino acids and a probable thermal degradation of anthocyanins was noted at 75 °C. In 2014, musts from grapes that underwent a heat treatment at 50 °C for 3 h had a similar level of phenolic compounds as those treated at 75 °C for 30 min. This indicates that the reduction of the heating temperature in some vintages can be compensated for through an extension of the heating period. Several grape-derived molecules were impacted by the rise in temperature and wines made from grapes treated at 50 °C in most cases contained larger concentrations of geraniol, ß-citronellol, ß-damascenone and 3-mercaptohexanol.

Changes in analytical and volatile compositions of red wines induced by pre-fermentation heat treatment of grapes.

Experiments were carried out on Grenache, Carignan and Fer grapes in order to characterize the changes in nitrogen content of the musts, conventional enological parameters and aroma compounds of the wines induced by pre-fermentation heating of the grapes followed by alcoholic fermentation in liquid phase or in solid phase. In comparison to a standard vinification, we showed that a two-hour heat treatment at 70 °C induced a significant loss in several grape-derived aroma compounds (terpenols, norisoprenoids and some phenols) associated with an increase in α-terpineol, guaiacol and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, which suggests thermal degradation. A significant increase in most of the ethyl esters, in acetates and in fatty acids were observed in wines fermented in liquid phase, together with a decrease in fusel alcohols. The substantial modification in the amino acid composition of the must seems to be a crucial element for the understanding of these changes.

Effects of in vitro low oxygen tension preconditioning of adipose stromal cells on their in vivo chondrogenic potential: application in cartilage tissue repair.

PURPOSE: Multipotent stromal cell (MSC)-based regenerative strategy has shown promise for the repair of cartilage, an avascular tissue in which cells experience hypoxia. Hypoxia is known to promote the early chondrogenic differentiation of MSC. The aim of our study was therefore to determine whether low oxygen tension could be used to enhance the regenerative potential of MSC for cartilage repair. METHODS: MSC from rabbit or human adipose stromal cells (ASC) were preconditioned in vitro in control or chondrogenic (ITS and TGF-ß) medium and in 21 or 5% O2. Chondrogenic commitment was monitored by measuring COL2A1 and ACAN expression (real-time PCR). Preconditioned rabbit and human ASC were then incorporated into an Si-HPMC hydrogel and injected (i) into rabbit articular cartilage defects for 18 weeks or (ii) subcutaneously into nude mice for five weeks. The newly formed tissue was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated by cartilage-specific immunohistological staining and scoring. The phenotype of ASC cultured in a monolayer or within Si-HPMC in control or chondrogenic medium and in 21 or 5% O2 was finally evaluated using real-time PCR. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: 5% O2 increased the in vitro expression of chondrogenic markers in ASC cultured in induction medium. Cells implanted within Si-HPMC hydrogel and preconditioned in chondrogenic medium formed a cartilaginous tissue, regardless of the level of oxygen. In addition, the 3D in vitro culture of ASC within Si-HPMC hydrogel was found to reinforce the pro-chondrogenic effects of the induction medium and 5% O2. These data together indicate that although 5% O2 enhances the in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of ASC, it does not enhance their in vivo chondrogenesis. These results also highlight the in vivo chondrogenic potential of ASC and their potential value in cartilage repair.

The effect of two- and three-dimensional cell culture on the chondrogenic potential of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells after subcutaneous transplantation with an injectable hydrogel.

Articular cartilage is an avascular tissue composed of chondrocytes, a unique cell type responsible for abundant matrix synthesis and maintenance. When damaged, it never heals spontaneously under physiological circumstances. Therefore, the delivery of mesenchymal stem cells using hydrogel has been considered for cartilage repair. This study aims at investigating the influence of in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hATSCs) on in vivo cartilage formation when associated with a cellulose-based self-setting hydrogel (Si-HPMC). hATSCs were characterized for their proliferation, surface marker expression, and multipotency. The in vitro chondrogenic potential of hATSCs cultured within Si-HPMC in control or chondrogenic medium was evaluated by measuring COL2A1, ACAN, SOX9, and COMP expression by real-time PCR. Alcian blue and type II collagen staining were also performed. To determine whether in vitro chondrogenically differentiated hATSCs may give rise to cartilage in vivo, cells differentiated as a monolayer or in pellets were finally associated with Si-HPMC and implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. Cartilage formation was assessed histologically by alcian blue and type II collagen staining. Our data demonstrate that hATSCs exhibited proliferation and self-renewal. hATSCs also expressed typical stem cell surface markers and were able to differentiate towards the adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Real-time PCR and histological analysis indicated that Si-HPMC enabled chondrogenic differentiation of hATSCs in inductive medium, as demonstrated by increased expression of chondrogenic markers. In addition, histological analysis of implants showed that chondrogenically differentiated hATSCs (monolayers or pellets) have the ability to form cartilaginous tissue, as indicated by the presence of sulphated glycosaminoglycans and type II collagen. This study therefore suggests that an in vitro induction of hATSCs in 2D was sufficient to obtain cartilaginous tissue formation in vivo. Si-HPMC associated with autologous hATSCs could thus be a significant tool for regenerative medicine in the context of cartilage damage.