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Background High-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) has been increasingly investigated as a possible tool in the treatment of multiple tumor entities. However, there is only little knowledge on the effect of HIUS on the peritoneum. This preliminary study aims to investigate HIUS’ potential for altering the peritoneal surface and potentially improving current treatments for peritoneal metastases. For this purpose, HIUS’ qualitative and quantitative structural effects on the peritoneal tissue were analyzed by means of light, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Methods Proportional sections were cut from the fresh postmortem swine peritoneum. Peritoneal surfaces were covered with a 6 mm thick liquid film of 0.9% NaCl. HIUS was applied in all tissue samples for 0 (control), 30, 60, 120 and 300 s. Peritoneal tissues were analyzed using light-, fluorescence and electron microscopy to detect possible structural changes within the tissues. Results Following HIUS, a superficial disruption of peritoneal tissue was visible in light microscopy, which amplified with increased time of HIUS’ application. Fluorescence microscopy showed both peritoneal and subperitoneal disruption with tissue gaps. Electron microscopy revealed structural filamentation of the peritoneal surface. Conclusion Our data indicate that HIUS causes a wide range of effects on the peritoneal tissue, including the formation of small ruptures in both peritoneal and subperitoneal tissues. However, according to our findings, these disruptions are limited to a microscopical level. Further studies are required to evaluate whether HIUS application can benefit current therapeutic regimens on peritoneal metastases and possibly enhance the efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on tendon and ligament injury treatment in horses. Twenty six horses with tendinopathies were randomly assigned to a HILT treated or to a non-treated group. Each horse was subjected to the same rehabilitation programme. Horses from the treatment group underwent a series of fifteen HILT treatments with the same parameters. Clinical and ultrasound assessments were performed by the same veterinarian and were carried out before (day 0), during (day 13&ndash, 15) and after treatment (day 38&ndash, 40). Clinical evaluation included: pain, swelling and lameness of the affected limb. The ultrasound examination evaluated lesion echogenicity and lesion percentage. After the treatment, pain, swelling and lameness were significantly improved by HILT compared with the control group (p = 0.023, 0.008 and 0.044, respectively). No significant changes were found in lesion echogenicity degree between both groups in measurements taken during treatment (p = 0.188) and after treatment (p = 0.070). For lesion percentage reduction, the statistical modelling showed a significant improvement in the HILT group compared with the control group during (p = 0.038) and after treatment (p = 0.019). In conclusion, HILT promoted analgesic and anti-oedema effects, with visual lameness reduction in horses with tendon and ligament injuries, and reduced lesion percentage but did not influence change in lesion echogenicity.

One of the fastest growing areas of veterinary medicine over the past decade has been and still is the regenerative medicine. It focuses on the reconstruction of damaged tissues/organs to restore their physiological and functional performance. The aim of study was the use of cells called mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as an alternative treatment method of osteoarthritis. Twelve dogs have been chosen for experiment aged 5 to 11 years. All animals were diagnosed with the degeneration of the elbow joint. The dogs were divided into 2 groups: 8 dogs formed the test group and the remaining 4 dogs formed the control group. The dogs from the first group were treated with autologous stem cells. The dogs in the control group received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) − mavacoxib for a period of 6 months. Clinical examination on the first day of the experiment showed signs of lameness of the 3rd and 2nd degree in all 12 dogs. The clinical tests performed on day 180 in the control group showed signs of gait disturbance at the unchanged level. The dogs undergoing treatment with the use of autologic stem cells did not show any movement disorders. The obtained results allow drawing the conclusion that the combination of the lowest concentrations of metamizol may significantly increase the cytophysiological activity of the stem cells accompanied by the lack of morphological changes. The obtained data can be a valuable source of information for practicing veterinary doctors who introduce stem cells to treat musculoskeletal system diseases in both small and large animals. Keywords: stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), osteoarthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), mavacoxib

This study investigated the effect of exposure to zearalenone (ZEN) and its metabolites on the characteristics of epididymal spermatozoa, testicular and epididymal biometry and histology, and the concentration of testosterone in blood plasma in male wild boars. The study was performed during more than one year on 18 clinically healthy male wild boars with initial and final body weight, of 39 ± 4 kg and 59 ± 3 kg, respectively. The animals were divided into two experimental groups (group I and group II) and one control group (group C) comprising 6 boars per group. Group I animals were administered per os pure zearalenone (ZEN) at 150 μg/kg BW for 7 consecutive days every two months, while group II animals received a dose of 50 μg/kg BW/day via feed that was naturally contaminated with ZEN. These male wild boars were exposed to ZEN over a period of 1 year. Control animals were fed a placebo. Testicles with epididymides of the boars were collected on the last day of the experiment within 3 min after slaughter. Blood samples were collected from each of the male wild boars. Testes and epididymides were measured and sampled for histological examination. Epididymides were dissected and epididymal spermatozoa were harvested. The spermatozoa were diluted with swine-specific BTS extender and stored at 17°C for 144 h. Sperm motility was analyzed with CASA, and other parameters including viability, acrosome integrity, DNA fragmentation index, lipid peroxidation and apoptosis were assessed with flow cytometry. In these wild boars, per os exposure to natural sources of ZEN or a combination of ZEN and its metabolites changed the testicular interstitium and led to modification of some epididymal sperm parameters. The interstitial glands in testes of experimental group I were markedly reduced and hyperemic with evident blood stasis in small capillaries. Also in group I were single degenerating seminiferous tubules. In both groups I and II, immediately after dilution of spermatozoa with BTS remarkable decreases in motility rate as well as in progressive motility and the subpopulation of cells with rapid movement were noted compared with the control group (P 0.05). But unexpectedly, after 24 h incubation of boar semen in the BTS diluent, these sperm properties improved and were not significantly different from the control group. Thus, exposure to ZEN has no lasting but only a temporary, reversible effect on wild boar sperm motility. There was no influence of exposure to ZEN and its metabolites on the integrity of membranes, intensity of lipid peroxidation and apoptosis or on sperm chromatin structure. This study is the first using these direct measures of sperm motility and integrity to show a redundant adverse effect of ZEN exposure on wild boar sperm characteristics. There were no effects of exposure to ZEN and its metabolites on body weight, testicular and epididymal biometry, gonadosomatic index and the concentration of testosterone in blood plasma in the male wild boars.

The aim of this study was to determine whether exposure to low doses of ZEN + DON induces changes in serum biochemical and hematological parameters in pre-pubertal gilts. In the evaluated groups, minor but statistically significant changes were noted in selected serum biochemical parameters, including glucose, total cholesterol, ALT, AST, AP, total bilirubin, Pin, Fe, K and Cl, and in hematological parameters, including WBC, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, Ht, Hb, MCHC, HDW and PLT. A statistical analysis of the results revealed significant differences between groups in the values of WBC, eosinophils, basophils, Hb, Ht, PLT, glucose, ALT, AP, total bilirubin, Fe and K. Change trends were noted mainly in weeks II and V-VI. An analysis of the metabolic profile of pre-pubertal gilts exposed to ZEN + DON indicates that homeostasis and biotransformation of ZEN + DON can be toned down at the expense of the animals' energy reserves. Body weight gains were lower in group E, and BW gains were not observed in weeks II and VI. The activity levels of gilts decreased in the first weeks of exposure (I and II), but the drop was minimized by a compensatory effect, or in the last two weeks of exposure due to nutrient deficiency or insufficient supply of protein and energy with feed and feed additives, which decreased BW gains. Low doses of mycotoxins induce completely different changes in the metabolic test than higher doses. The above can probably be attributed to: (i) a negative compensatory effect, (ii) initiation of adaptive mechanisms and stimulation of the immune system, probably due to the allergizing properties of mycotoxins, (iii) excessive loss of energy and protein due to more effective feed utilization, or (iv) involvement in detoxification processes which leads to fatigue. Depending on the body's energy stores, the above processes tend to tone down the biotransformation of low doses of the examined mycotoxins but in the present study, the BW of gilts did not increase under exposure to a combination of ZEN + DON.

The study was performed on 18 clinically healthy female wild boars with initial body weight of 35 ± 2 kg. The animals were divided into two experimental groups (group I and group II) and one control group (group C) of 6 female wild boars per group. Group I animals were administered per os pure zearalenone (ZEN) at 150 μg/kg BW every two months for 7 subsequent days, whereas group II animals received feed naturally contaminated with ZEN at 50 μg/kg BW/day. Female wild boars were exposed to ZEN over a period of 1 year. Control group animals were fed a placebo. Tissue samples (dorsal muscles, left lobe of liver, left kidney, spleen, apical part of the cardiac muscle, cranial lobe of lung, left ovary, central part of the left horn of the uterus) were collected on the last day of the experiment within 3 min after slaughter. In group I, the highest ZEN levels were noted in the spleen (19.813 ng/g), cardiac muscle (18.105 ng/g) and kidneys (14.555 ng/g). In group II, the highest concentrations of ZEN were observed in muscle tissue (12.033 ng/g), uterus (10.821 ng/g) and kidneys (10.463 ng/g). The highest values of the carry-over factor were noted in the same tissues. In the examined female wild boars, per os exposure to natural sources of the parent substance or a combination of ZEN and its metabolites led to different concentrations of ZEN in the analyzed tissues. Zearalenone concentrations were compatible with CF values in both experimental groups.

e16045 Background: The penetration of chemotherapeutic drugs into metastatic peritoneal nodules remains at levels well below 1 mm, thus significantly limiting the antitumor effect of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC). Recently, high-Intensity ultrasound (HIUS) has been discovered as a potential tool to improve peritoneal diffusion rates. Despite promising preliminary data, basic aspects regarding its technical feasibility, safety and possible limitations remain unclear. This study aims to enhance our current understanding of HIUS and test its applicability using an ex-vivo swine model. Methods: Three postmortem swine were subject to laparotomy with consecutive lavage with 0.9%NaCl saline and HIUS application. For this purpose, a large HIUS radiating pen was introduced into the abdominal cavity and HIUS was applied on two of the four abdominal quadrants for 300 seconds each at an output power of 70 W, 50 % amplitude and 20 kHz frequency. Following the procedure, small intestinal tissue samples were removed for further analyses. Results: In all specimen, peritoneal and subperitoneal layers showed structural changes only visible on a microscopic level. The peritoneal layer was transformed into a mash-like structure while the subperitoneal layer (depth of 142 +/- 28 µm) exhibited microcavities and vascular detachment from surrounding tissues. No bowel rupture or vascular perforations were observed. Conclusions: Our data indicate that HIUS is a technically feasible add-on procedure for IPC with measurable microscopic changes on the peritoneal surface and no apparent bowel toxicity. Pretreatment of the abdominal cavity with HIUS could significantly improve IPC efficacy. Further studies are required to optimize and evaluate this novel approach.

This paper presents the case of a 26-year-old female patient in whom descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) developed as a complication of an odontogenic purulent infection of the mouth. Despite the efforts of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the patient died with symptoms of septic shock and multiple organ failure. According to the literature, and as confirmed by our own observations, successful treatment requires early tomographic diagnosis, radical surgery, combination antibiotic therapy, and intensive care.

Background: Intracranial subdural hematoma is an exceptionally rare but life-threating complication of epidural and spinal anesthesia. The diagnosis is rather difficult because the initial symptoms mimic post-dural puncture headache. Case report: A 33-year-old primipara was admitted to the hospital at 38 weeks gestation for a cesarean section due to premature rupture of membranes and meconium stained amniotic fluid. During the procedure a single puncture between L2 and L3 vertebrae was made with the use of a 26-gauge, pencil-point needle. The amount of 2.8 ml of analgesic solution was administered in order to obtain subarachnoid analgesia at the level of Th4 and Th5 vertebrae. Postpartum recovery was uneventful for the first two days. On the third day the patient developed strong headache in the forehead area and tinnitus. An anesthesiologist diagnosed post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). The patient received 1g of Paracetamol every 6 hours intravenously, together with 3000 ml of crystalloid solution for 24 hours. As a result, the patient recovered and was discharged home with her infant. Five days later the patient presented at the neurology clinic because of strong and chronic temporal lobe headache. No other complaints were reported. Upon admission, the patient had a head CT, followed by an MRI examination, which revealed cranial hematomas localized bilaterally in the area of the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes, spreading from the cranial vault to the skull base. The width of the hematomas was: 3-4 mm on the left and 5-6 mm on the right side. Hematomas infiltrated the anterior part of the medial longitudinal fissure. Magnetic resonance angiography showed normal images of the arteries, veins, and the dural venous sinuses. No vascular malformations, which may be a source of intracranial hemorrhage, were found. Other tests showed normal results. Patient condition during hospitalization was stable. Conservative treatment was implemented, i.e. fluids administered intravenously, anti-edematous drugs, analgesic medications and bed rest. All pain complaints subsided and a control CT scan showed that hematomas evolved as expected i.e. their HU density decreased. About 6 weeks later the patient had a CT head scan, performed in outpatient settings, which showed complete absorption of extravasated blood. Conclusion: The presented case shows headaches in obstetric patients require thorough diagnostic examinations and appropriate management. In addition to the most typical PDPH, it may be the first sign of life-threatening intracranial pathology.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a metabolic disorder characterized by excessive obesity and or/regional adiposity, insulin resistance (IR) and prior or current laminitis. In the course of the EMS, an important role exert systemic inflammation caused by excessive expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of the current investigation was to examine relationships between expression IL-6 and TNF-α in adipose tissue and their concentration in peripheral blood in horses with EMS. On the basis of range of research procedures, horses were divided into two groups: group A (EMS horses, n=8) and group B (healthy horses with overweight, n=8). The concentration of the proinflammatory cytokines in the peripheral blood and their expression in the adipose tissue were determined. The results of the EMS group showed numerous macrophages and lymphocytes infiltration and increased diameters of adipocytes (P

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a disease entity characterized by a set of clinical sings such as significant obesity, increased insulin and glucose level and development of laminitis. This syndrome occurs more frequently in draft and/or pony horses. The diagnosis process of EMS is difficult and still not fully recognized. The screening tests, recommended for proper recognition of EMS, can be affected by external factors such as pain and/or stress. Moreover diagnosis poses life threatening situation for the patient. Searching for an appropriate and noninvasive method for the assessment of EMS symptoms, the authors decided to evaluate the usefulness of SEM-EDX technique. This analytical method was used to determinate chemical composition of hairs collected form healthy and EMS horses. Comparison of Pb, Cr, Ca and Fe content revealed statistically significant differences between investigated groups of animals. Basing on the obtained results authors recommend SEM-EDX method as an adjunctive diagnostics tool in equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) diagnosis.

Research into the determination of intestinal parasitic levels in free-living animals can provide knowledge enabling action to be taken to improve their health status. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the carcass weight of wild boars and the degree of endoparasite infection. The research was performed on 165 culled wild boars, from which a representative group (n = 50) was separated and divided according to sex (males n = 24, females n = 26) and age (2-3 years). Separate weight groups were defined for males (< 70 kg, n = 6; 70-80 kg, n = 9; > 80 kg, n = 9) and females (< 45 kg, n = 10; 45-60 kg, n = 10; > 60 kg, n = 6). Oesophagostomum spp., Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, Eimeria spp. and Strongyloides ransomi were observed and defined in the study population. A statistically significant effect of the overall infection on carcass weight was obtained (F = 9.96; P ≤ 0.01). In the case of overall infection, a more than 7 kg lower carcass weight was observed in infected males. A carcass weight over 15 kg lower was noted for overall infection of females (F = 38.47; P ≤ 0.01), for which average EPG was 2946.67 ± 6485.31 with a median of 400 (50-25 300). Correlations were proven between sex and the average number of Eimeria spp. oocysts, and carcass weight for males (r = –0.84, P ≤ 0.05). In the case of females, correlations were noted between carcass weight and infection by nematodes (r = –0.63, P ≤ 0.05). Studies have shown that there is a need to monitor the environment in order to improve the condition of free-living animals.

In this article we demonstrate the efficiency of autologous transplantations of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for equine bone spavin treatment. Horses qualified to the study were divided into three groups: (i) research - treated with intra-articular injections of autologous stem cells, (ii) comparison treated with steroid drugs and (iii) control - untreated. All animals underwent comprehensive clinical examination before and after treatment. Our research confirms the long-term beneficial influence resulting from stem cell therapy in horse bone spavin treatment, in contrast to routine steroid usage.

A main symptom of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) in ponies is pathological obesity characterized by abnormal accumulation of fat deposits and inflammation. In this study, we analyzed the expression of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), in subcutaneous adipose tissue and the correlation with serum concentrations in peripheral blood of Welsh ponies. Based on clinical examination findings, the animals were divided into two groups: ponies affected with EMS (n = 8) and obese ponies (n = 8). The adipose tissue was examined using immunohistochemical analysis while concentrations IL-6 and TNF-a were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Additionally, histological characterization of the adipose tissue was performed. The results obtained showed that IL-6 expression in adipose tissue biopsies derived from animals with EMS was enhanced while TNF-α levels of both groups were comparable. Compared to the obese ponies, EMS animals also had significantly elevated levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α. Histological analysis revealed macrophage infiltration and fibrosis in adipose tissue preparations from the EMS group. These data suggest that IL-6 may play a key role in the course of EMS in Welsh ponies. Our findings also demonstrated that analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in serum may serve as an additional tool for diagnosing EMS.

Background Tumors of the skin and subcutaneous tissue are the largest group of canine neoplasms. Total excision is still the most effective method for treatment of these skin tumors. For its universal properties the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser appears to be an excellent surgical instrument in veterinary surgery. Laser techniques are alternatives to traditional methods for the surgical management of tumors. The aim of this study was to compare various types of laser techniques in skin oncologic surgery: excision, ablation and mixed technique and to suggest which technique of CO2 laser procedure is the most useful in particular case of tumors in dogs. Findings The study was performed on 38 privately-owned dogs with total number of 40 skin tumors of different type removed by various CO2 laser operation techniques from 2010–2013. The treatment effect was based on the surgical wound evaluation, the relative time of healing and possible local recurrence of the tumor after 3 months post surgery. Local recurrence was observed in two cases. The study showed that in 30 cases time needed for complete resection of lesions was less than 10 minutes. Time of healing was longer than 12 days in 6 cases (42.8%) with tumor excision and in 14 cases (87.5%) where excision with ablation technique was performed. Conclusions The advantages of the CO2 laser surgery were better hemostasis, precision of working, non-contact dissection, less instruments at the site of operation and minimum traumatization of the surrounding tissues.