International audience

peer reviewed | Objective-To compare measurements of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in plasma, laminar tissues, and skin obtained from control horses and horses given black walnut heartwood extract (BWHE). Animals-22 healthy 5- to 15-year-old horses. Procedures-Horses were randomly assigned to 4 groups as follows: a control group given water (n = 5) and 3 experimental groups given BWHE (17) via nasogastric intubation Experimental groups consisted of 5, 6, and 6 horses that received BWHE and were euthanatized at 1.5, 3, and 12 hours after intubation, respectively. Control horses were euthanatized at 12 hours after intubation. Plasma samples were obtained hourly for all horses. Laminar tissue and skin from the middle region of the neck were harvested at the time of euthanasia. Plasma and tissue MPO concentrations were determined via an ELISA; tissue MPO activity was measured by use of specific immunologic extraction followed by enzymatic detection. Results-Tissues and plasma of horses receiving BWHE contained significantly higher concentrations of MPO beginning at hour 3. Laminar tissue and skin from horses in experimental groups contained significantly higher MPO activity than tissues from control horses. Concentrations and activities of MPO in skin and laminar tissues were similar over time. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-in horses, BWHE administration causes increases in MPO concentration and activity in laminar tissue and skin and the time of increased MPO concentration correlates with emigration of WBCs from the vasculature. These findings support the hypothesis that activation of peripheral WBCs is an early step in the pathogenesis of acute laminitis.

International audience | Objective-To evaluate the efficacy of tiludronate for the treatment of horses with signs of pain associated with lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column. Animals-29 horses with clinical manifestations of pain associated with lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column and abnormal radiographic findings indicative of osteoarthritis of the articular processes-synovial intervertebral joints. Procedures-Horses were initially examined in accordance with a standardized protocol, which included radiographic, ultrasonographic, and scintigraphic examinations. Fifteen horses were randomly assigned to receive tiludronate (1 mg/kg, IV, as a slow-rate infusion), and 14 horses received a control substance (day 0). Horses were monitored for the subsequent 120 days. Clinical evaluations were performed on days 60 and 120. Horses that had no evidence of clinical improvement on day 60 were administered tiludronate. Statistical analyses were performed to compare efficacy at day 60, improvement of dorsal flexibility at day 120, and dorsal flexibility before and 60 days after administration of tiludronate. Results-Horses treated with tiludronate had significant improvement in dorsal flexibility between days 0 and 60, compared with control horses. Clinical improvement in dorsal flexibility was still evident at day 120. The percentage of positive responses was higher in the tiludronate group at 60 days. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Tiludronate had efficacy in the treatment of horses with signs of pain induced by osteoarticular lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column, causing a significant improvement in dorsal flexibility. Tiludronate may offer a treatment option for the management of horses with interverteloral lesions and the associated pain.

The importance of milk for the growth and health of a newborn offspring is well known. Milk contains immunoglobulin G (Ig G), Ig A, lactoperoxidase, lactoferin, cytokines, and growth factors. Osteopontin, one of the multifunctional proteins, is secreted by macrophages, T cell, and epithelial cells. Although osteopontin production in bovine milk have been documented, the precise expression levels in bovine milk have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to observe the expression of osteopontin, in bovine milk during the lactation period or bovine mammary glands.

The left main descending artery (LMDA) of left coronary artery (LCA) in rats runs around the left side of conus arteriosus after arising from the aortic sinus and descends to the apex of heart with branching several branches into the wall of left ventricle (LV). The ligation site of LMDA for myocardial infarction (MI) is the 2~4 mm from LCA origin, between the pulmonary trunk and left auricle. The characteristics that rat heart has no interventricular groove on the surface and its coronary arteries run intramyocardially with branching several branches give the difficulty in surgery for MI which resulted in expected size.

This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidative effects of Houttuynia cordata root on non-lipid oxidative damage. The antioxidative effects of methanolic (MeOH) extract of Houttuynia cordata root on non-lipid, including liposome oxidation, oxidation of deoxyribose, protein oxidation, chelating, scavenging, and 2'-deoxyguanosine (2'dG) oxidation were investigated. Houttuynia cordata root exhibited high antioxidative effect in a liposome model system. The inhibitory effect of MeOH extract on deoxyribose damage exhibited antioxidative effect and it afforded considerable protection against damage to deoxyribose.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an important bacterial pathogen that causes chronic gastritis and is associated with gastroduodenal ulcer disease, adenocarcinoma of the distal stomach, and gastric lymphoma in humans. The differences of host susceptibility of H. pylori infection associated with host age have not been well-defined in human. To evaluate the difference in host susceptibility to infection in relation to age of acquisition of H. pylori infection, we designed an experiment involving inoculation of H. pylori ATCC 43504 at different ages of Mongolian gerbils.

A fourteen years old male oriental white stork from Korea Institute of Oriental White Stork Rehabilitation Research was presented to Veterinary Medical Center of Chungbuk National University with anorexia and lameness for 5 days. Bilateral intertarsal joint swellings were observed in physical examination. The radiographic findings indicated degenerative changes of joint cartilage and surrounding bones. In cytologic examination of synovial fluids, mononuclear leukocytic inflammation was identified. In blood films, a few fungal hyphae were observed and 2 fungal colonies were identified in blood culture on Sabroud dextrose agar.

A 3-year-old, intact female, Shih-tzu dog was presented with a 15-day history of vomiting, depression, and anorexia. On physical examination, systolic ejection murmurs with precordial thrill at the left heart base were detected. A diagnosis of congenital pulmonic stenosis (PS) was made mainly from the thoracic radiography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. On complete blood counts and serum biochemistry profiles, the dog had already chronic renal failure (CRF). Thoracic radiography confirmed that main pulmonary artery was tremendously buldged and electrocardiography was suggestive of severe right ventricular hypertrophy.

This study was carried out to investigate the pathogenesis and pathogenicity of the porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) Korean isolate from weaned pigs. Twenty four weaned pigs, PCV2, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine parvovirus (PPV) antibodies free, were allocated to 4 groups (n=6). Six pigs were inoculated intranasally with PCV2 alone, 6 with PCV2 and PRRSV, 6 with the combined PCV2/PRRSV/PPV inoculum, and 6 were remained as a uninoculated negative control. Pigs were killed 3 and 6 weeks after inoculation and tissue samples examined for gross and microscopic lesions and for the presence of PCV2 antigens and nucleic acids.