Exposure to Environmental Toxins: Potential Implications for Stroke Risk via the Gut- and Lung-Brain Axis.

Recent evidence indicates that exposure to environmental toxins, both short-term and long-term, can increase the risk of developing neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., Alzheimer's disease and other dementias) and acute brain injury (i.

Prognosis for survival to discharge and racing performance in Thoroughbred foals treated for single joint septic arthritis (2009-2016).

Background: Haematogenous septic arthritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in foals. Previous research has demonstrated a variable prognosis for athletic performance in foals diagnosed with septic arthritis.

Objective: To determine the racing prognosis for Thoroughbred foals, 6 months of age or less with single septic joint of presumed haematogenous origin without recognised systemic sepsis or other serious comorbidity compared with a group of maternal sibling controls.

Comparative results of 3 treatments for medial femoral condyle subchondral cystic lesions in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Objectives: To compare 3 different methods for treatment of medial femoral condyle (MFC) subchondral cystic lesions in Thoroughbred horses <24 months old based on the criterion of ability to race post-treatment.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Animals: Thoroughbreds (n = 107, age < 24 months) diagnosed with MFC subchondral cystic lesions.

Recent advances in positron emission particle tracking: a comparative review.

Positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) is a technique which allows the high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of particulate and multiphase systems, including systems which are large, dense, and/or optically opaque, and thus difficult to study using other methodologies. In this work, we bring together researchers from the world's foremost PEPT facilities not only to give a balanced and detailed overview and review of the technique but, for the first time, provide a rigorous, direct, quantitative assessment of the relative strengths and weaknesses of all contemporary PEPT methodologies. We provide detailed explanations of the methodologies explored, including also interactive code examples allowing the reader to actively explore, edit and apply the algorithms discussed.

Comparative Transcriptomics of Non-Embryogenic and Embryogenic Callus in Semi-Recalcitrant and Non-Recalcitrant Upland Cotton Lines.

Somatic embryogenesis-mediated plant regeneration is essential for the genetic manipulation of agronomically important traits in upland cotton. Genotype specific recalcitrance to regeneration is a primary challenge in deploying genome editing and incorporating useful transgenes into elite cotton germplasm. In this study, transcriptomes of a semi-recalcitrant cotton ( L.

In Situ Crystal Growth Rate Distributions of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.

Single-particle tracking of crystal growth performed in situ enables substantial improvements in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for recovered crystal nucleation and growth rates by nonlinear optical microscopy. Second harmonic generation (SHG) is exquisitely sensitive to noncentrosymmetric crystals, including those produced by many homochiral active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Accelerated stability testing at elevated temperatures and relative humidity informs design of pharmaceutical formulations.

Osteochondral fragments of the pastern joint at the origin of the collateral ligament of the distal sesamoid bone: performance after arthroscopic removal (2000-2015).

Objective: To describe the presence of fragments in the dorsal proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and to report flat racing performance after surgical treatment.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Sample Population: Thirty-nine affected thoroughbred flat racehorses and 169 age- and sex-matched maternal siblings.

Ultrasonic debridement with stem cell therapy of suspensory branch desmitis in an equine patient.

Ultrasonic debridement as a treatment for tendinopathy and desmitis is a relatively new approach in orthopedic surgery. Previously only used in limited cases, this procedure shows promise for treating ligament-bone and tendon-bone interface injuries. We present a case study of a 2-yr-old thoroughbred male horse, unable to train due to recalcitrant symptoms after extensive conservative management of suspensory branch desmitis.

Clinical outcomes after colopexy through left ventral paramedian incision in 156 thoroughbred broodmares with large colon disorders (1999-2015).

Objective: To describe a technique for colopexy via a left ventral paramedian incision and report postoperative clinical outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: One hundred fifty-six thoroughbred broodmares treated with a colopexy through a left ventral paramedian incision between 1999 and 2015.

Three-dimensional spatiotemporal tracking of fluorine-18 radiolabeled yeast cells via positron emission particle tracking.

A method for Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) based on optical feature point identification techniques is demonstrated for use in low activity tracking experiments. A population of yeast cells of approximately 125,000 members is activated to roughly 55 Bq/cell by 18F uptake. An in vitro particle tracking experiment is performed with nearly 20 of these cells after decay to 32 Bq/cell.

Duration of disease influences survival to discharge of Thoroughbred mares with surgically treated large colon volvulus.

Reasons For Performing Study: Large colon volvulus results in strangulating obstruction requiring surgical treatment. Duration of this disease prior to surgical treatment is likely to influence survival directly.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of duration of large colon volvulus on patient survival to discharge.

Factors influencing foaling rate following colic surgery in pregnant Thoroughbred mares in Central Kentucky.

Reasons For Performing Study: Clinical experience has suggested that foaling rates following colic surgery in the pregnant mare are influenced by days of gestation. This premise has not been supported in previous studies. We also aimed to determine the effects of other potential influencing factors.

Complications after two transphyseal bridging techniques for treatment of angular limb deformities of the distal radius in 568 Thoroughbred yearlings.

Reasons For Performing Study: Surgical correction of carpal angular limb deformities by growth retardation is commonly undertaken with a screws and tension band wire loop technique (S&W) or a single transphyseal screw (STS). This study compares complications after S&W and STS bridging in the distal radius of Thoroughbred yearlings.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of complications serious enough to require follow-up radiographs following either S&W or STS surgery for growth manipulation in the distal radius of Thoroughbred yearlings.

Size and geometry of apical sesamoid fracture fragments as a determinant of prognosis in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Reason For Performing Study: Analysis was performed to examine a method for refining the preoperative prognosis for horses that had surgery to remove apical fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs).

Objectives: To determine if: 1) there was a difference in size or configuration of apical fractures between the different anatomical locations of the PSBs, which have been shown to affect the prognosis; and 2) the size or configuration could predict the prognosis for racehorses with these fractures.

Methods: The study included 110 weanlings and yearlings and 56 training racehorses that underwent surgery to remove apical PSB fractures.

Management and assessment of prognosis after gastrocnemius disruption in Thoroughbred foals: 28 cases (1993-2007).

Reasons For Performing Study: Few studies have evaluated the athletic prognosis of foals affected by gastrocnemius disruption.

Objective: To examine the diagnosis and management of gastrocnemius disruption in Thoroughbred (TB) foals, determine short-term survival rate and assess future racing performance. The hypothesis was that Thoroughbred foals with gastrocnemius disruption are able to perform as racehorses comparably to their age matched maternal siblings.

Media ion composition controls regulatory and virulence response of Salmonella in spaceflight.

The spaceflight environment is relevant to conditions encountered by pathogens during the course of infection and induces novel changes in microbial pathogenesis not observed using conventional methods. It is unclear how microbial cells sense spaceflight-associated changes to their growth environment and orchestrate corresponding changes in molecular and physiological phenotypes relevant to the infection process. Here we report that spaceflight-induced increases in Salmonella virulence are regulated by media ion composition, and that phosphate ion is sufficient to alter related pathogenesis responses in a spaceflight analogue model.

Calculation of attainable superheats and predicted embryonic flux rates in commercial water isotope targets.

Phase change in a fluid subject to a large spectrum of radiations is examined. The statistical variation in the fluid energy is considered in concert with the radiation field attributes to establish conditions for spinodal decomposition and bulk nucleation. This approach is developed in general and carried forward for the specific case of (18)O-enriched water used in commercial targets for the production of (18)F.

Space flight alters bacterial gene expression and virulence and reveals a role for global regulator Hfq.

A comprehensive analysis of both the molecular genetic and phenotypic responses of any organism to the space flight environment has never been accomplished because of significant technological and logistical hurdles. Moreover, the effects of space flight on microbial pathogenicity and associated infectious disease risks have not been studied. The bacterial pathogen Salmonella typhimurium was grown aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-115 and compared with identical ground control cultures.

Racing performance after arthroscopic removal of apical sesamoid fracture fragments in Thoroughbred horses age < 2 years: 151 cases (1989--2002).

Reasons For Performing Study: Studies on arthroscopic removal of apical proximal sesamoid fracture fragments in Thoroughbred (TB) horses age > or = 2 years have reported a high success rate. However, there are no reports documenting the racing prognosis of TB horses that undergo such surgery as weanlings or yearlings.

Objectives: To describe the incidence of apical proximal sesamoid fractures in immature TB horses, age < 2 years and determine probability and quality of racing performance after arthroscopic removal of such fractures in 151 TB weanlings and yearlings.

Racing performance after arthroscopic removal of apical sesamoid fracture fragments in Thoroughbred horses age > or = 2 years: 84 cases (1989-2002).

Reasons For Performing Study: Studies have shown that surgical removal of apical fracture fragments in Standardbred racehorses carries the best prognosis for return to racing performance, but there are no reports involving mature Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses.

Objectives: To describe the incidence of apical proximal sesamoid fractures in TB racehorses and determine probability and quality of racing performance after arthroscopic removal of such fractures in TB racehorses age > or = 2 years.

Methods: Medical records and pre- and post operative race records of TB racehorses age > or = 2 years that underwent arthroscopic surgery for removal of apical proximal sesamoid fracture fragments were reviewed.

Radiotherapy of a recurrent ossifying fibroma in the paranasal sinuses of a horse.

A 7-year-old female Thoroughbred was admitted with a history of labored breathing, stridor, and exercise intolerance. Examination revealed a mass in the left paranasal sinuses that was determined to be an ossifying fibroma. Initial treatment consisted of surgical removal of the mass alone; however, the mass recurred 9 months after surgery.

In vitro biomechanical properties of 2 compression fixation methods for midbody proximal sesamoid bone fractures in horses.

Objective: To evaluate 2 methods of midbody proximal sesamoid bone repair--fixation by a screw placed in lag fashion and circumferential wire fixation--by comparing yield load and the adjacent soft-tissue strain during monotonic loading.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Sample Population: 10 paired equine cadaver forelimbs from race-trained horses.

Long-term outcome of horses with a slab fracture of the central or third tarsal bone treated conservatively: 25 cases (1976-1993).

Objective: To determine clinical features of horses with a slab fracture of the central or third tarsal bone and to report outcome of horses in which treatment did not include surgery.

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: 25 horses (14 Standardbreds, 6 Thoroughbreds, 5 Quarter Horses).

Biodegradable drug delivery systems for gentamicin release and treatment of synovial membrane infection.

Objective: This study investigated two biodegradable drug delivery systems (BDDS) for elution of gentamicin and elimination of synovial membrane infection.

Study Design: The effect of BDDS on control and infected synovial explants was determined.

Animals Or Sample Population: Synovial explants from four adult equine cadavers.