Polymorphisms in selected genes and analysis of their relationship with osteochondrosis in Polish sport horse breeds.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the polymorphisms of selected genes and to find their potential effect on the occurrence of osteochondrosis in Polish Warmbloods (sport horse breeds). The study was conducted on a group of 198 horses subjected to official performance tests. Investigated joints-fetlock, hock and stifle-were X-rayed twice, once before and again at the end of the tests (first and second examination), and on this basis the degree of disease was evaluated. Based on the results of previous research, 13 candidate genes potentially associated with the occurrence of osteochondrosis were selected and, among them, 32 polymorphisms were tested. Seven SNPs located in the MATN1, CPVL, HYAL1, XIRP2, FRZB, COL5A2 and IGF1 genes were found to be associated with occurrence of osteochondrotic lesions in different joints. These intragenic polymorphisms seem to provide valuable information about the genetic basis of osteochondrosis in sport horse breeds.

The influence of selected factors and sport results of endurance horses on their saliva cortisol concentration.

The aim of the study was to define the influence of the selected factors (gender, age, transportation time, riding distance and air temperature during the ride) on the cortisol secretion and finding a correlation between the hormone level and the horses' sport results (veterinary parameters and the ride route parameters). The research was performed on 38 Arabian pure breed horses taking part in the endurance rides. The cortisol level was measured with enzyme-immunological method in saliva samples, taken four times from each horse. In order to verify the differences between the mean results the repeated measures design was applied. The significance of the differences between the mean values was determined by the Tukey test. To evaluate the interrelations between the analysed attributes Pearson's correlation analysis was applied. The cortisol level at rest was not affected by any of the analysed factors. In case of other results, the most significant influence (P < or = 0.05) was related to the gender, as well as the ride distance and air temperature during the ride. Higher cortisol level was noted in mares, horses running the longest distances and at the highest temperatures. A significant increase in the cortisol level was noted when the ride distance was longer. There were no clear correlation between the adrenal cortex activity and the veterinary parameters at different riding speed. High cortisol concentration can negatively affect the heart rate (HR) by increasing it, but it can simultaneously stimulate the body to fight dehydration.

Differences between horse selection based on two forms of osteochondrosis in fetlock.

Horses lose potential opportunities because of health problems. Available breeding strategies are not effective enough, probably also because of the different definition used and its genetic usefulness. The aim of the study was to compare the genetic background estimated by the genome-wide association study (GWAS) for osteochondrosis using two different scaling osteochondrosis (OC)/healthy and osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD)/healthy systems for evaluating the disease status of investigated fetlock joints. Two hundred one Warmblood horses trained for performance tests (87 stallions and 114 mares) were phenotyped and genotyped. Four fetlock x-ray images per horse were collected using the RTG Girth HF 80 and Vet Scan ray 3600. The DNA of each horse was genotyped using the BeadChip 70K. To identify SNPs that significantly affect the probability of osteochondrosis, two different methods were applied: the Cochran-Armitage test based on an additive mode of inheritance and logistic regression. The genetic background for osteochondrosis, expressed in the number of SNPs found with significant associations with osteochondrosis, was higher by evaluation in the scale of OCD/healthy horses (16 SNPs on several chromosomes mainly on the ECA1 and ECA10) than OC/healthy (2 SNPs on the ECA15 and one SNP on the ECA10). Detailed definition of osteochondrosis is needed in breeding and in veterinary practice. The genetic background for osteochondrosis and osteochondrosis dissecans seems not the same. Suggestive SNPs could be the candidate markers for osteochondrosis but should be checked on a larger population before usage.

[Results of surgical treatment of mediastinal neoplasms]. / Wyniki chirurgicznego leczenia guzów sródpiersia.

The results of radical and partial surgical treatment of 146 patients with mediastinal tumors have been assessed. All patients were operated at the Specialistic Hospital in Zakopane from the 1st January, 1967 to the 31st December, 1989. Hundred twenty one patients (82.9%) suffered from malignancy and 25 (17.1%) from non-malignant mediastinal tumors. Mortality rate was 2.0%. Late results have been expressed in terms of survival period, and they have been as follows: 44.4% of patients survived 20 years after surgery, 36.5% of patients survived 15 years, 42.9% of patients--10 years, and 56.1% of patients survived 5 years. More than 50% of operated patients resumed their previous work.