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Commercially available nylon cable ties were used as a method of internal fixation for displaced rib fractures in 8 equine neonates. The procedure was effective, well-tolerated, rapid, and inexpensive. The use of nylon cable ties as internal fixation for displaced rib fractures in foals is an effective surgical procedure.

Objective: To determine messenger RNA expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin- (IL)-1beta from cultured equine smooth muscle cells (SMC)., Sample Population: Segments of palmar digital artery harvested from 6 clinically normal adult horses., Procedure: Explants were collected from the tunica media of arteries for primary culture of SMC. Equine mononuclear cells were used as control cells. Subcultured vascular SMC and control cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (20 microg/ml and 100 ng/ml, respectively). Northern blot analysis with equine-specific probes for COX-2, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta was performed, using isolated total cellular RNA., Results: Although no message was detected for IL-1beta or TNF-alpha in control or endotoxin-exposed equine vascular SMC from all horses, COX-2 underwent a distinct substantial up-regulation after endotoxin exposure. Endotoxin-exposed equine mononuclear cells had up-regulation of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Increased expression of COX-2 mRNA by equine vascular SMC may be an important early pathophysiologic event in the onset of endotoxemia in horses. Potentiated local vascular production of various prostanoids after increased expression of mRNA for COX-2 may result in vasoactive events observed with laminitis.

Instability of the collateral ligaments of the carpal or metacarpophalangeal joint occurred in 2 foals. The instability was repaired using commercial suture anchors. In foals, commercial suture anchors combined with external coaptation can be used successfully to repair collateral ligament instability of the carpus or the metacarpophalangeal joint.

An 8-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding was evaluated because of an open fracture involving the left radius. The horse had fallen during training and became immediately non-weight-bearing in the left forelimb. On initial evaluation, the horse was unable to bear weight on that limb; radiography revealed a long oblique fracture of the distal metaphysis of the radius with minimal displacement of the fracture fragments. Because of the configuration of the fracture, we recommended surgical intervention with internal fixation. A condylar screw implant and 4.5-mm broad dynamic compression plate were applied to the medial and dorsolateral aspects of the radius, respectively. The horse recovered in a sling and full-limb bandage. Six months after discharge, the horse was reevaluated because of a grade 4/5 lameness in the same limb. Palpation revealed signs of severe pain over the distomedial aspect of the radius. Radiography of the left radius revealed severe osteolysis beneath the distal aspect of the condylar screw implant. Surgical removal of the medial plate was performed. Sixteen months after the initial fracture repair, the horse had returned to light training without signs of lameness. Removal of the dorsal plate may be indicated if this horse is to return to aggressive training or becomes lame in the left forelimb.

Transabdominal ultrasonography is frequently used to diagnose small intestinal intussusceptions in foals. We demonstrate that transabdominal ultrasonography also provides a rapid and accurate diagnosis of small intestinal intussusception in adult horses. A detailed description of the ultrasonographic appearance is provided.

Objective: To develop methods to isolate, culture, and characterize smooth muscle cells (SMC) from equine palmar digital arteries., Sample Population: Segments of the medial or lateral palmar digital arteries from the forelimbs of 6 horses., Procedure: To obtain smooth muscle explants, arterial segments were incised longitudinally. The tunica intima was gently scraped from the underlying tunica media, and explants were obtained from the tunica media. Approximately 18 to 24 explants were obtained from each palmar digital arterial segment. A substrate-attached technique was used to initiate primary culture of SMCCultured cells were identified as SMC, using light microscopy, electron microscopy, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and northern blot analysis. The replication index and serum dependence of equine SMC in culture was characterized by use of bromodeoxyuridine., Results: The SMC of equine palmar digital arteries were successfully cultured, as confirmed by RT-PCR and northern blot analysis techniques for smooth muscle alpha-actin and detection of SMC-specific organelles during electron microscopy. When characterized by light and electron microscopy, SMC were found to have undergone phenotypic modulation to a more synthetic phenotype in culture while retaining characteristics of SMC., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Culture of SMC from equine palmar digital arteries via an explant protocol is a viable technique for studying vascular biological mechanisms in horses. In vitro studies of SMC may aid investigators in determining cellular mechanisms involved in disease processes such as laminitis.

Suture ligature failure is a potential complication during laparoscopic ovariectomy techniques utilizing ligatures as a means of hemostasis. This complication in the standing mare and the successful use of laparoscopic electrosurgical instrumentation as the sole means of providing hemostasis to the mesovarium of a mare are described.

Creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) was measured in serum by a fluorometric enzyme immunoassay on the Stratus analyzer and by an immunochemiluminometric assay using the Ciba Corning Magic Lite System. Both methods were standardized against purified CK-MB, with Stratus underestimating by 20 percent and Magic Lite overestimating by 28 percent. The assays proved sensitive and linear; however, at a CK-MB concentration of 7.0 micrograms per L, Stratus gave unacceptable inter-assay precision. No cross-reactivity was observed with CK-MM or CK-BB and elevated triglycerides, bilirubin, and hemoglobin did not interfere. Correlations with an immunoradiometric assay (Embria), using 522 samples, gave: Stratus = 0.999 (Embria) -3.3; r = 0.969, and Magic Lite = 1.225 (Embria) -3.03; r = 0.971. When using Magic Lite, results from 40 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients gave a mean CK-MB value of 93.8 micrograms per L (range: 9.2 to 428 micrograms per L) at the peak of enzyme release and a mean value of 69.6 micrograms per L (range: 6.7 to 319 micrograms per L) when using Stratus. Both methods proved to be highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of AMI; however, the need for standardization of CK-MB assays is stressed.

Dietary regulation of jejunal glycolytic regulatory enzymes and disaccharidases were studied in 9 obese subjects, aged 9 to 18 years. These subjects were divided into two groups on the basis of altered carbohydrate metabolism as measured by circadian insulin levels and flux of glucose, inorganic phosphorus, and insulin measured during a 5-hr oral glucose tolerance test. Those patients with nocturnal hyperinsulinemia and abnormal carbohydrate flux showed no adaptation of jejunal enzymes. These data suggest that both glycolytic regulatory enzymes and disaccharidases are susceptible to insulin regulation.

The in vivo incorporation of radioactivity from [U-14C]glucose was reduced in undernourished rat pups at ages 6, 10, and 17 days for brain lipids, and at age 10 days for brain amino acids. Brain glucose concentrations were lower at age 20 days (controls 1.58 +/- 0.26 vs. test 1.14 +/- 0.07 mumol/g) but other alterations in brain glucose, glycogen, ATP, or phosphocreatine concentrations were not found. Brain mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase activity was 21% and 30% lower in undernourished animals at ages 10 and 20 days, respectively. Brain mitochondrial and supernatant isocitrate dehydrogenase activities and pyruvate kinase activity were similar for undernourished and control animals. Brain glycogen levels were 2-4 times higher in late fetal and newborn control animals (13.6 and 15.3 mumol/g) than in older animals (4.2-5.7 mumol/g). Brain glucose, ATP, and phosphocreatine levels increased from the 15-day fetus to the newborn, but thereafter showed no further increase.