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peer reviewed | OBJECTIVE: To determine the detailed computed tomography (CT) anatomy of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint in healthy horses. SAMPLE POPULATION: 10 cadaveric forelimbs from 10 adult horses without orthopedic disease. PROCEDURES: CT of the MCP joint was performed on 4 forelimbs. In 1 of the limbs, CT was also performed after intra-articular injection of 30 mL of contrast medium (40 mg of iodine/mL). Transverse slices 1-mm thick were obtained, and sagittal and dorsal planes were reformatted with a slice thickness of 2 mm. The CT images were matched with corresponding anatomic slices from 6 additional forelimbs. RESULTS: The third metacarpal bone, proximal sesamoid bones, and proximal phalanx could be clearly visualized. Common digital extensor tendon; accessory digital extensor tendon; lateral digital extensor tendon; superficial digital flexor tendon (including manica flexoria); deep digital flexor tendon; branches of the suspensory ligament (including its attachment); extensor branches of the suspensory ligament; collateral ligaments; straight, oblique, and cruciate distal sesamoidean ligaments; intersesamoidean ligament; annular ligament; and joint capsule could be seen. Collateral sesamoidean ligaments and short distal sesamoidean ligaments could be localized but not at all times clearly identified, whereas the metacarpointersesamoidean ligament could not be identified. The cartilage of the MCP joint could be assessed on the postcontrast sequence. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: CT of the equine MCP joint can be of great value when results of radiography and ultrasonography are inconclusive. Images obtained in this study may serve as reference for CT of the equine MCP joint.

peer reviewed | Gastrointestinal disorders, especially strangulating intestinal obstructions, are still a major cause of illness and death in the horse. Circulating lipopolysaccharides may activate both neutrophils and monocytes. The activated neutrophils release myeloperoxidase (MPO), a specific enzyme with strong oxidative activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPO concentrations in the plasma and peritoneal fluid (PF) of horses with colic and to check the hypothesis that these concentrations would be higher in a case of strangulating obstruction than in cases of nonstrangulating disease. By using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for equine MPO, we determined the MPO concentrations in horses admitted to a clinic for colic. Horses with nonstrangulating or strangulating obstruction of the large intestine (NSLI or SLI), strangulating obstruction of the small intestine (SSI), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were compared with healthy horses. The horses with SLI, SSI, or IBD had significantly higher MPO levels in plasma and PF than did those in the other 2 groups. The mean plasma level was significantly higher in the horses with NSLI than in the healthy horses. High MPO values in PF indicated necrotic bowel. These results show that neutrophil activation occurs during nonstrangulating and strangulating intestinal obstruction in horses and that the plasma and PF MPO concentrations may be a marker of the severity of the disease.

The testis and epididymis are important organs of the male reproductive system; the function is to produce, mature, transport, and store sperm. It is important to understand the localization and expression of specific proteins based for the studies of its physiological processes. In the study, we investigated the expression and distribution of galectin-3, one beta-galactoside-binding proteins, in the testis and epididymis of mouse using western blot and immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of galectin-3, 29 kDa protein, was low in the testis. In the epididymis, high expression was detected in the body and tail part, but moderate expression in the head part. By immunohistochemical analysis, we found that positive localization of galectin-3 was detected in some myoid cells and Leydig cells in the testis, but few in the seminiferous tubules. In the epididymis, galectin-3 was intensely expressed in the epithelium of epididymis, especially in the epithelium of both body and tail epididymis. Collectively, these results suggest that galcetin-3 is constitutively expressed in the testis and epididymis of mouse with varying intensity, and the role of galectin-3 in the male reproductive organ may be involved in the specific function of its structures.

A method for the quantification of eugenol in the medicinal herb Clove was developed and validated. For preparation of sample solutions clove was dried at 60℃ for 2h and ground by mixer and extracted with 95% ethanol for shaking extraction. The elutes were analyzed by HPLC system included a reversed phase column, a isocratic mobile phase of 60% methanol and PDA detector set at 280 nm. Calibration graphs were linear with very good correlation coefficients(r² greater then 0.9999) from 0.0125~1 ㎍/ml. The limit of detection per sample injection (20 ㎕) was 0.81 ng/㎕ and limit of quantification was 2.47 ng/㎕. The method showed good intra-day precision (%RSD 0.08~0.27%) and inter-day precision (%RSD 0.32~1.19%).

This study was carried out to evaluate the antitumor, hepatoprotective and antimutagenic activities on hot water extract of Phellinus gilvus (PGE). Growth of tumor in mice that were orally given 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 gㆍkg-¹ dose of PGE was inhibited in a dose-dependant manner (p less than 0.05). The hepatoprotective effect of PGE in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-intoxicated rats was studied. In CCl₄+PGE groups, PGE was orally administered with 100 mg/kg/day dose 7 days before the treatment of CCl₄. The serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in CCl₄+PGE group were decreased at a rate of 59.6% and 54.1% compared with those in CCl₄ group, respectively (p less than 0.05). Also, total cholesterol and triglyceride in CCl₄+PGE group were significantly decreased at a rate of 90% and 73.6% compared with those in CCl₄ group (p less than 0.05). In the Ames test, we confirmed PGE doesn't have any activity as a mutant, and PGE showed inhibitory effect against mutagenesis induced by 2-amino fluride and sodium azide in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100 and TA 1535 in a dose-dependent manner. From the above results, we may suggest that PGE might have useful as a material for functional food and/or animal pharmaceutics.

In veterinary medicine amitraz has been used as an insecticide to eliminates mites, lice, and ticks in dogs, cats, goats, swine and cattle. The objective of present study was to developed an analytical method using one-step extraction and determination of the amitraz in veterinary drugs by liquid chromatography (LC). The amitraz was analyzed by LC equipped with Waters XTerra RP18 (4.8×250 mm; 5 ㎛; Waters, USA) analytical column, using 75% acetonitrile (acetonitrile/D.W; 75/25) at 1.0 ml/min. The UV-VIS detection of amitraz was made at 290 nm. Calibration graphs were linear with very good correlation coefficients (r² greater than 0.9999) from 80~120 ㎍/ml. The limit of detection was 0.09 ㎍/ml and limit of quantification was 0.27 ㎍/ml. The method showed good intra-day precision (CV 0.05~0.09%) and inter-day precision (CV 0.06~0.18%).

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are ubiquitous and can contaminate the food chain. A study monitoring PCD/Fs in imported meat was conducted at the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS, Republic of Korea) in order to maintain food safety from the bioaccumulative PCDD/Fs. Seventeen PCDD/Fs with toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) established by World Health Organization (WHO, 1998) were analyzed in imported beef, pork, and chicken by high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HR-GC/MS). Results of the monitoring for the last 5 years are presented. The levels of PCDD/Fs were similar to other studies except two unusually high concentrations in pork and beef. Excessive levels greater than the Korean provisional maximum residue limit of PCDD/Fs were found in a sample of pork imported from Chile and a sample of beef imported from U.S, and those products were rejected and returned. These was no obvious trend or differences with respect to time or origin of meat in this study.

The trend in the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in Korean dairy cattle was investigated in relation to test programs used between 1961 and 2004, during which a total of 8,961,061 dairy cows were tested and 10,248 confirmed to have BTB. The annual prevalence increased in the late 1960s, then decreased during the 1970s and 1980s, and started to increase again from the late 1990s. It seemed that the prevalence varies according to the different test program used. The prevalence of BTB was higher when the tests were performed with heat-concentrated synthetic medium (HCSM) or purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin alone compared to that when using combined HCSM and PPD tuberculin testing.