Current Strategies for Prevention and Treatment of Equine Postoperative Ileus: A Multimodal Approach

Equine paralytic (postoperative) ileus generally refers to an acute condition of impaired gastrointestinal motility. Paralytic ileus is most frequently seen following abdominal surgery on the small intestine in horses. Three main mechanisms are involved separately or simultaneously in its causation, namely neurogenic-endocrinic, inflammatory-endotoxic and pharmacological mechanisms. Regardless of the cause, equine paralytic ileus can be fatal, if not properly diagnosed and treated. Over the past 22 years (1997–2019), we have diagnosed and treated more than 180 horses with postoperative ileus using differing methods. Based on our results and experience, and that of others, we have developed a multimodal strategy to reduce the incidence of postoperative ileus. This has resulted in effective treatment of ileus-diagnosed patients in 94% of cases, a significant improvement in survival rates over the last 20 years. In this review, we described pre-, intra-, and postoperative multiple supplementary preventative and treatment procedures that cure this condition. These methods are dependent on individual cases but include the control of endotoxemia and inflammation, as well as using the least traumatic surgical techniques, carrying out the pelvic flexure colotomy, improved anesthesia techniques, treating with continuous postoperative peritoneal lavage, the use of fluid, antibiotic and NSAIDs therapy, according to a scheme the use of different prokinetic agents (including metoclopramide, neostigmine methylsulfate and domperidone), nasogastric decompression, management to minimize the surgical and postoperative stress reaction and judicious timing of postoperative feeding of horses

Retrospective examination of small colon pathology in 72 horses

U radu su retrospektivno prezentovani dijagnostika, konzervativno i hirurško lečenje različnih patologija na malom kolonu kod 72 konja, koji su primljeni sa abdominalnim bolom (kolikom) na veterinarsku kliniku „Novi Vek“ Moskovske državne akademije za veterinarstvo i biotehnologiju (po imenu Skrabina). Pregledi su vršeni u periodu 2007-2019. godina kada je primljeno i pregledano 1810 količnih konja od kojih je kod 72 utvrđena patologija na malom kolonu što čini 3,97% svih slučajeva. Najveći uzrok patologije malog kolona bile su opstipacije fecesom u 49 slučajeva. Od ukupno 72 hospitalizovana i lečena konja njih 62 je uspešno izlečeno što čini 86,1%.The paper retrospectively presents diagnostics, conservative and surgical treatment of various small colon pathologies in 72 horses, which were admitted with abdominal pain (colic) to the Veterinary clinic "Novi Vek" of the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology (named Skrabina). Examinations were performed from the year 2007 to 2019, when 1810 colic horses were received and examined, of which 72 horses, i.e. 3.97% of all cases, were diagnosed with a small colon pathology. The most frequent cause of a small colon pathology was constipation that was diagnosed in 49 cases. Out of 72 hospitalized and treated horses, 62 horses, i.e. 86.1%, were successfully cured

SPECIALIST IN ENVIRONMENT AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: SOCIAL PROOF AND SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM FOR BACHELOR’S TRAINING

Статья посвящена актуальной теме подготовки новой категории специалистов экологов-международников. Рассмотрены предпосылки, обусловившие данное направление в экологическом образовании; вопросы институализации экологизации международных отношений и востребованности данной категории специалистов. Приведены особенности профессиональной подготовки экологов-международников в рамках реализации собственного образовательного стандарта.The article is dedicated to actual theme of education of the bachelors in environment and international relations. The article describes factors that determine this direction in environmental education such as greening of international relations and increasing employability that kind of specialists. In the article also considers specific features of education of bachelors in environment and international relations within the implementation of the original educational standard

Gene Therapy Using Plasmid DNA Encoding Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 164 Genes for the Treatment of Equine Proximal Suspensory Desmitis: Case Reports

Injury to the proximal part of the equine suspensory ligament (SL), called proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD), commonly causes lameness in horses. PSD is extremely difficult to manage and treat, with present methods often unable to achieve full recovery, especially in chronic cases. The present study was the first to use gene therapy to restore moderate and severe injuries of the proximal suspensory ligament in horses. Plasmid DNA encoding species specific bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF164) was injected into the site of proximal suspensory ligament injury, followed by box rest and a controlled exercise program. Clinical observations and ultrasound imaging was used to evaluate effectiveness over a period of 12 months. No negative side effects were observed. Clinical improvements were observed, especially in the forelimb affected horses, by day 30. In horses with chronic hindlimb PSD few clinical improvements were reported. Echogenicity and the fiber alignment scoring improved but no concomitant changes to cross section area, dorsopalmar thickness or lateromedial width of the proximal suspensory ligament were observed. The transfer of BMP2 and VEGF164 genes into the equine PSL exhibited beneficial effects in horses with acute or subacute forms of lesions, primarily in the forelimb

Gene Therapy Using Plasmid DNA Encoding VEGF164 and FGF2 Genes: A Novel Treatment of Naturally Occurring Tendinitis and Desmitis in Horses

This clinical study describes the intralesional application of the plasmid DNA encoding two therapeutic species-specific growth factors: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF164) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in seven horses to restore naturally occurring injuries of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) (tendinitis) and in three horses with suspensory ligament branch desmitis. Following application all horses were able to commence a more rapid exercise program in comparison to standardized exercise programs. Clinical observation and ultrasonic imaging was used to evaluate the regeneration rate of the tendon and ligament injury recovery and to confirm the safety of this gene therapy in horses, throughout a 12 month period. Follow-up data of the horses revealed a positive outcome including significant ultrasonographic and clinical improvements in 8 out of 10 horses with SDFT and suspensory ligament branch lesions, with return to their pre-injury level of performance by 2–6 months after the completion of treatment. The ninth horse initially presenting with severe suspensory ligament branch desmopathy, showed no significant ultrasonographic improvements in the first 2 months after treatment, however, it improved clinically and became less lame. The final horse, presenting with severe tendinitis of the SDFT returned to their pre-injury level of performance, but experienced re-injury 6 months after treatment. This data is highly promising, however, further research in experimental models, with the histopathological, immunohistochemical and gene expression evaluation of the equine tendon/ligament after gene therapy application is required in order to fully understand the mechanisms of action. This treatment and the significant clinical impacts observed represents an important advancement in the field of medicine

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements