Intra-articular bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy improves lameness from naturally occurring equine osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) can be debilitating and is related to impaired resolution of synovial inflammation. Current treatments offer temporary relief of clinical signs, but have potentially deleterious side effects. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) are a rich source of macrophage progenitors that have the ability to reduce OA symptoms in people and inflammation in experimentally-induced synovitis in horses.

Pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in adult horses with mechanically induced lameness.

Background: Acetaminophen has been used clinically in horses alone or combined with traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment of musculoskeletal pain in horses.

Objectives: To determine the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of acetaminophen at two doses in horses with mechanically induced lameness compared with phenylbutazone or placebo control.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy raises mechanical nociceptive threshold in horses with thoracolumbar pain.

Background: Although extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a common treatment for horses with back pain, effects on mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) and multifidus muscle cross sectional area (CSA) in the spine are unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate effects of ESWT on spinal MNT and multifidus muscle CSA in horses with thoracolumbar pain.

Study Design: Non-randomised trial.

Can levamisole upregulate the equine cell-mediated macrophage (M1) dendritic cell (DC1) T-helper 1 (CD4 Th1) T-cytotoxic (CD8) immune response in vitro?

Background: Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a common and devastating neurologic disease of horses in the United States. Because some EPM-affected horses have decreased immune responses, immunomodulators such as levamisole have been proposed as supplemental treatments. However, little is known about levamisole's effects or its mechanism of action in horses.

In vitro effects of three equimolar concentrations of methylprednisolone acetate, triamcinolone acetonide, and isoflupredone acetate on equine articular tissue cocultures in an inflammatory environment.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of 3 equimolar concentrations of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA), triamcinolone acetonide (TA), and isoflupredone acetate (IPA) on equine articular tissue cocultures in an inflammatory environment. SAMPLE Synovial and osteochondral explants from the femoropatellar joints of 6 equine cadavers (age, 2 to 11 years) without evidence of musculoskeletal disease. PROCEDURES From each cadaver, synovial and osteochondral explants were harvested from 1 femoropatellar joint to create cocultures.

Characterization of basal and lipopolysaccharide-induced microRNA expression in equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells using Next-Generation Sequencing.

The innate immune response to lipopolysaccharide contributes substantially to the morbidity and mortality of gram-negative sepsis. Horses and humans share an exquisite sensitivity to lipopolysaccharide and thus the horse may provide valuable comparative insights into this aspect of the inflammatory response. MicroRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules acting as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, have key roles in toll-like receptor signaling regulation but have not been studied in this context in horses.

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Horses Presented for Coggins Testing in Southwest Virginia and Change in Positive Test Results Approximately 1 Year Later.

Background: Lyme disease can affect people, dogs, and horses, but it remains poorly understood, especially in the horse. Determining the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in horses in different geographic areas will enable better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease, thus improving diagnosis and treatment of affected animals.

Hypothesis: To determine the seroprevalence of B.

Adiposity, plasma insulin, leptin, lipids, and oxidative stress in mature light breed horses.

Background: Increased blood insulin levels are associated with an increased risk of pasture-associated laminitis in equids.

Objective: To determine the relationship between plasma insulin, leptin, and lipid levels, and measures of oxidative stress with adiposity in mature light breed horses.

Animals: 300 randomly selected light breed horses, aged 4-20 years.

Relationships between body condition score and plasma inflammatory cytokines, insulin, and lipids in a mixed population of light-breed horses.

Background: Obesity and hyperinsulinemia increase the risk of laminitis in horses and ponies. In mares, obesity also has been associated with increased circulating concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The association of other proinflammatory cytokines with body condition score (BCS) and insulin requires further determination.

Farriery for hoof wall defects: quarter cracks and toe cracks.

Conditions that result in the loss of the structural integrity of the hoof wall, such as quarter and toe cracks, are not uncommon and usually manifest in lameness. The successful management of these problems involves identifying and addressing the underlying causes, stabilization of the foot, and committed follow-up.

Prevalence of overconditioning in mature horses in southwest Virginia during the summer.

Background: The prevalence of obesity in horses in the eastern United States is not well documented.

Objective: To determine body condition and risk factors for obesity in horses in Southwest Virginia during summer.

Animals: A sample of 300 mature (4-20 years old), light breed horses (140 mares, 151 geldings, and 9 stallions) from the VMRCVM Equine Field Service practice equine database.

Managing obesity in pasture-based horses.

Obesity - a common problem in pasture-based horses - warrants intervention because it is associated with an increased risk for development of laminitis. Treating obesity in pasture-based horses is relatively simple and generally involves reducing caloric intake by using grazing muzzles and/or increasing caloric expenditure through exercise. To prevent recurrence of obesity after weight loss, clients should be educated on how to monitor body condition and to adjust feeding and management programs to maintain proper body condition.

Effects of high and moderate non-structural carbohydrate hay on insulin, glucose, triglyceride, and leptin concentrations in overweight Arabian geldings.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of high and moderate non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) hay on insulin, glucose, triglyceride, and leptin concentrations in overweight Arabian geldings. Eight adult overweight (average BCS 7 [9-point scale]) Arabian geldings were fed each of two orchardgrass hays, high NSC (18% DM) and moderate NSC (12% DM), in a cross over design during two 28-day periods. Body weight and body condition score assessment along with blood sampling to measure insulin, glucose, leptin, and triglyceride concentrations were performed on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of each period.

Estimated operator exposure for hand holding portable X-ray units during imaging of the equine distal extremity.

Hand holding of portable X-ray units is common in large animal ambulatory veterinary practice. Portable X-ray equipment manuals, veterinary teaching institutions, and state regulations discourage, or prohibit, hand holding of portable X-ray units. Our goal was to quantify surface radiation leakage of a typical portable X-ray unit and to measure operator exposure at simulated hand and collar positions during imaging of the equine distal extremity.

Resistance exercise and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women.

The specific aims of this study were to quantify the effects of 12 weeks of resistance training, as well as a single session of resistance exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in obese, postmenopausal women. 21 obese, postmenopausal women, not on hormone replacement therapy (age=65.9 ± 0.

Clinical assessment of nutritional status and feeding programs in horses.

Veterinarians are a primary source of nutritional information and advice for horse owners. This article reviews methods for clinical assessment of nutritional status and feeding programs that can be applied to an individual horse or group of horses. Physical examination, including measurement of body weight and evaluation of body condition score, estimation of nutrient requirements and the nutrient content of the horse's diet, and evaluation of the feeding method are important components of the assessment.

Vascular distribution of contrast medium during intraosseous regional perfusion of the distal portion of the equine forelimb.

Objective: To describe the vascular distribution pattern of contrast medium during intraosseous regional perfusion (IORP) of the distal portion of the equine forelimb.

Sample Population: 13 cadaveric forelimbs from 12 horses without forelimb diseases.

Procedures: Serial lateromedial radiographic views were taken of the distal portion of 10 heparinized cadaveric forelimbs at 0, 1, 2, 6, 15, and 30 minutes during IORP of the third metacarpal bone (MCIII) by use of iodinated contrast medium and a tourniquet placed over the proximal portion of MCIII.

Estimating equivalency values of microbial phytase for amino acids in growing and finishing pigs fitted with steered ileo-cecal valve cannulas.

Ten crossbred barrows (48.3 +/- 2.3 kg of initial BW) fitted with steered ileo-cecal valve cannulas were used to investigate the effects of supplemental microbial phytase on the apparent ileal digestibilities (AID) of AA, Ca, P, N, and DM, and the apparent total tract digestibilities of Ca, P, N, and DM.

Technical Note: Improved technique for fitting pigs with steered ileocecal valve cannulas.

Collection of ileal digesta to evaluate AA digestibilities has become increasingly important in swine nutrition research. Steered ileocecal valve cannulation of pigs permits total collection of ileal digesta, while still allowing normal digesta flow during noncollection periods. This technique was modified and used with 64 crossbred barrows in five trials.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy in the mare.

Objective: To develop a minimally invasive, hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy (HALS-OHE) technique in the mare and to evaluate safety and any associated complications.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Animals: Eight, 11-24-year-old mares with anatomically normal urogenital tracts.

Elution of metronidazole and gentamicin from polymethylmethacrylate beads.

Objective: To characterize the elution and bioactivity of metronidazole and gentamicin sulfate polymerized, individually and in combination, with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

Study Design: In vitro experimental study.

Methods: PMMA beads containing metronidazole (3 concentrations), gentamicin sulfate, or metronidazole and gentamicin sulfate were immersed in 5 mL of phosphate-buffered saline in triplicate.

Evaluation of the harmonic scalpel for laparoscopic bilateral ovariectomy in standing horses.

Objective: To evaluate use of the Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Cincinnati, OH) for performing laparoscopic bilateral ovariectomy in standing horses.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Experimental evaluation of urinary bladder marsupialization in male goats.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of urinary bladder marsupialization in male goats.

Study Design: Prospective, experimental study.

Animals: Six healthy mixed-breed male goats.

Arthroscopic anatomy of the equine temporomandibular joint.

Objective: To develop an arthroscopic approach to, and describe the arthroscopic anatomy of, the equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Study Design: Cadaveric study, after which the technique was tested in horses.

Animals Or Sample Population: Ten cadaveric equine heads and 5 normal horses (age, 5-13 years; weight, 425-545 kg).