Stem cells and platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of naturally occurring equine tendon and ligament injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stromal or stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated as treatments for equine tendon and ligament injuries, but little consensus exists on the efficacy of these treatments. The study sought to evaluate the efficacy of PRP and MSC treatments by systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A systematic review was performed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines.

Review of cellular therapies provides new insights into the potential treatment of diverse neurologic diseases in horses and dogs.

Neurological diseases and injuries in veterinary patients (horses, dogs, and cats) are complex, and effective treatment options are limited. Neuronal loss, damage to nerve conduction pathways, and inflammation and scarring associated with spinal cord injury pose major challenges in managing many neurological diseases. Furthermore, most of these neuropathologies lack definitive pharmacological treatments, driving interest and research into novel interventions.

Literature review details and supports the application of platelet-rich plasma products in canine medicine, particularly as an orthobiologic agent for osteoarthritis.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other platelet-derived products represent a subset of regenerative medicine and have been researched in the veterinary community for the treatment of osteoarthritis, soft tissue wounds, tendinopathies, periodontitis, and fracture repairs. PRP is simple to produce, relatively affordable, safe, and can be delivered on site, making it an appealing therapeutic agent in veterinary medicine. As an orthobiologic for the treatment of osteoarthritis, it is one of few interventions with clinical study support that possess anabolic potential.

Lumbar vertebral bone density is decreased in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

Background: Pathological fractures have been reported in equids with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) but their prevalence and pathogenesis is unknown.

Objectives: To compare: (1) bone mineral density (BMD) in weight bearing and nonweight bearing bones in PPID equids and aged and young PPID controls; and (2) biomechanical properties of the fourth lumbar vertebral body in PPID equids and aged PPID equids.

Study Design: Case-control study: five PPID equids and six aged and four young PPID control horses.

Exercising sheep as a preclinical model for musculoskeletal research.

Objective: To establish an orthopedic, preclinical, ovine model of controlled exercise using an equine walker.

Animals: 20 Dorset-Polypay sheep.

Procedures: Sheep underwent 11 weeks of exercise, 4 days per week.

Effects of phenylbutazone, firocoxib, and dipyrone on the diuretic response to furosemide in horses.

Background: Treatment with phenylbutazone (nonselective COX inhibitor) decreases the diuretic and natriuretic effects of furosemide by nearly 30% but the effects of COX-2 specific inhibitors (firocoxib) and atypical NSAIDs (dipyrone) are unknown.

Hypothesis: Furosemide-induced diuresis after pretreatment with firocoxib or dipyrone is diminished to a lesser extent than after pretreatment with phenylbutazone.

Animals: Eight healthy mares.

A comparison of rectal versus fetlock temperatures in dorsally recumbent horses during general anesthesia.

Objective: To investigate the effect of isoflurane anesthesia on thermoregulation and peripheral heat loss in dorsally recumbent horses.

Study Design: Prospective, clinical study.

Animals: Seven adult horses (2.

Intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide injection results in increases in systemic insulin and glucose concentrations in horses without insulin dysregulation.

Background: Corticosteroids are a commonly used, inexpensive intra-articular treatment for osteoarthritis which may increase the risk for laminitis in horses due, in part, to hyperinsulinaemia. Humans with metabolic syndrome experience increases in insulin and glucose concentrations post-injection, but responses in horses are unknown.

Objectives: To determine the effect of a single intra-articular (IA) dose of triamcinolone acetate (TA) on blood insulin and glucose concentrations.

Pharmacokinetics and plasma protein binding of a single dose of clodronate disodium are similar for juvenile sheep and horses.

Objective: To determine the single-dose pharmacokinetics of clodronate disodium (CLO) in juvenile sheep and the plasma protein binding (PPB) of CLO in juvenile sheep and horses.

Animals: 11 juvenile crossbred sheep (252 ± 6 days) for the pharmacokinetic study. Three juvenile crossbred sheep (281 ± 4 days) and 3 juvenile Quarter Horses (599 ± 25 days) for PPB analysis.

Interactions Between Biologic Therapies and Other Treatment Modalities.

Biologic therapies are becoming increasingly utilized by veterinarians. The literature regarding the interaction of biologic therapies with other therapeutics is still in its infancy. Initial studies have examined the effects of exercise, stress, various pharmaceutical interventions, extracorporeal shockwave, therapeutic laser, and hyperbaric oxygen on biologic therapies.

Clodronate disodium is neither cytotoxic nor cytoprotective to normal and recombinant equine interleukin-1β-treated joint tissues in vitro.

Objective: To determine the effects of clodronate disodium (CLO) on control and recombinant equine interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-treated equine joint tissues.

Study Design: In vitro experimental study.

Sample Population: Cartilage explants, chondrocytes, and synoviocytes (n = 3 horses).

Is the Use of Bisphosphonates Putting Horses at Risk? An Osteoclast Perspective.

Osteoclasts are unique and vital bone cells involved in bone turnover. These cells are active throughout the individual's life and play an intricate role in growth and remodeling. However, extra-label bisphosphonate use may impair osteoclast function, which could result in skeletal microdamage and impaired healing without commonly associated pain, affecting bone remodeling, fracture healing, and growth.

Current use of biologic therapies for musculoskeletal disease: A survey of board-certified equine specialists.

Objective: To evaluate the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), autologous conditioned serum (ACS), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and autologous protein solution (APS) for the treatment of equine musculoskeletal disease by diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgery (ACVS), and American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Sample Population: Diplomates (n = 423).

Average stride length and stride rate of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses during racing.

The main factors influencing speed in athletes are stride length (SL) and stride rate (SR). However, conflict remains whether SL or SR is the key determinant of higher speeds. Quarter Horses (QH) generally reach higher speeds in their races than do Thoroughbreds (TB).

Multimodal characterization of Yucatan minipig behavior and physiology through maturation.

Brain injuries induced by external forces are particularly challenging to model experimentally. In recent decades, the domestic pig has been gaining popularity as a highly relevant animal model to address the pathophysiological mechanisms and the biomechanics associated with head injuries. Understanding cognitive, motor, and sensory aspects of pig behavior throughout development is crucial for evaluating cognitive and motor deficits after injury.

Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cell Subsets within the Murine Spleen, Bone Marrow, Lymph Nodes and Synovial Tissue in an Osteoarthritis Model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases, affecting patients suffering from pain and physical limitations. Recent evidence indicates a potential inflammatory component of the disease, with both T-cells and monocytes/macrophages potentially associated with the pathogenesis of OA. Further studies postulated an important role for subsets of both inflammatory cell lineages, such as Th1, Th2, Th17, and T-regulatory lymphocytes, and M1, M2, and synovium-tissue-resident macrophages.

Mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of musculoskeletal disease in horses: Relative merits of allogeneic versus autologous stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used for treatment of musculoskeletal diseases in horses, but there is ongoing debate regarding the relative safety and efficacy of allogeneic MSCs, compared with autologous equine MSCs. This review summarises the currently available published data regarding the therapeutic use of autologous and allogeneic MSCs in horses. Arguments that have been advanced against the use of allogeneic MSCs include higher risk of immunological reactions and shorter cell survival times following injection.

Single and repeated intra-articular injections in the tarsocrural joint with allogeneic and autologous equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are safe, but did not reduce acute inflammation in an experimental interleukin-1β model of synovitis.

Background: Allogeneic and autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSCs) have been administered in equine joints for their anti-inflammatory effects. However, allogeneic BMDMSC offer multiple clinical and practical advantages. Therefore, it is important to determine the relative effectiveness of allogeneic vs autologous BMDMSCs.

Can Extracorporeal Shockwave Promote Osteogenesis of Equine Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro

Both bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSCs) and extracorporeal shockwave (ESW) have shown promise for enhancing fracture repair. If exposure of BMDMSCs to ESW enhances osteogenic differentiation, these therapies may be combined in vivo or used as a method for preconditioning BMDMSCs. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ESW on the osteogenic ability of equine BMDMSCs.

Induction of Synovitis Using Interleukin-1 Beta: Are There Differences in the Response of Middle Carpal Joint Compared to the Tibiotarsal Joint?

The effects of recombinant interleukin-1β (rIL-1β) have been described for the middle carpal joint (MCJ). However, we are unaware of any studies that have described the cytological response of the tibiotarsal joint (TTJ) to rIL-1β or compared the clinical and cytological responses of the MCJ to the TTJ following the administration of intra-articular rIL-1β. Such information is critical for researchers planning to use rIL-1β to create acute synovitis models in horses.

Effect of culture duration on chondrogenic preconditioning of equine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in self-assembling peptide hydrogel.

Ex vivo induction of chondrogenesis is a promising approach to improve upon the use of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cartilage tissue engineering. This study evaluated the potential to induce chondrogenesis with days of culture in chondrogenic medium for MSCs encapsulated in self-assembling peptide hydrogel. To simulate the transition from preconditioning culture to implantation, MSCs were isolated from self-assembling peptide hydrogel into an individual cell suspension.

In Vitro Effects of High-Intensity Laser Photobiomodulation on Equine Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Viability and Cytokine Expression.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the influence of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiation on equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) viability, proliferation, and cytokine expression in vitro.

Background: Photobiomodulation of cells using monochromatic light is a technique designed to influence cellular processes. Previous studies have shown dose-dependent effects of low-level laser irradiation on cell proliferation and cytokine expression in a range of cell types and species.

Evaluation of two methods for topical application of contrast medium to the pharyngeal and laryngeal region of horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine the pharyngeal and laryngeal distribution of radiopaque contrast medium administered orally or via nasopharyngeal catheter to standing horses. ANIMALS 5 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES A crossover study was conducted.