Evaluation of locally injected Mycobacterium cell wall fraction in horses with sarcoids

A reformulation of Mycobacterium cell wall fraction immunotherapeutic can be used to successfully treat sarcoids in horses. Sarcoids are reported to be the most common equine skin tumors with tumor type and location influencing the choice of treatment. Wide surgical excision is curative for many tumors, but may not always be feasible. Previous studies have reported sarcoid regression after injection with mycobacterial cell wall immunotherapeutics. A new formulation of the Mycobacterium phlei cell wall fraction immunostimulant (Immunocidin® Equine) was utilized to treat cutaneous tumors in horses. Equids with skin tumors diagnosed as sarcoids were enrolled in the study. Sarcoids were injected at the initial visit with Immunocidin® Equine and subsequently at approximately 2-week intervals. Of 17 cases, 9 cases were completely resolved at the end of the study period evaluation or at time of final follow up (52.9%). Three cases were reported as improved (smaller), but not resolved (17.6%). Three cases were discontinued from the study as the respective masses were growing larger or not resolving (17.6%). One case (5.8%) with two masses had resolution of one mass, whereas the other tumor had a small regrowth 5 months after the last treatment. One case (5.8%) was lost to follow up. All cases had mild to moderate swelling of the injection site, and some cases had discharge after the second, third, or fourth injections. No serious systemic side effects or complications were encountered during the study

In vitro evaluation of the modified forwarder knot used to end a continuous suture pattern in large‐gauge suture

Objective To evaluate the strength and size of forwarder end (FE) knots modified to end continuous suture lines compared with Aberdeen (AB), square (SQ), and surgeon's (SU) knots. Study design In vitro mechanical study. Study population Knotted suture. Methods Knots were tied with 2 USP (United States Pharmacopeia) polydioxanone, 2 USP, and 3 USP polyglactin 910 and tested on a universal testing machine under linear tension. Mode of failure and knot holding capacity (KHC) were recorded, and relative knot security (RKS) was calculated. Knot volume and weight were determined by digital micrometer and balance. Knot holding capacity, RKS, size, and weight between knot type, number of throws, and suture type and size were compared by using analysis of variance testing, with P  .080). Forwarder end/AB knots failed by suture breakage at the knot, whereas some SQ/SU knots unraveled. Forwarder end knots in 2 and 3 USP polyglactin 910 were 21.1% to 44.4% (1.2‐1.4 fold) smaller compared with SQ/SU knots (P < .028). Forwarder end knots in 2 and 3 USP polyglactin 910 were 40% to 99% (1.4‐2.0 fold) larger compared with AB knots (P < .001). Conclusion Forwarder end knots provided increased KHC/RKS compared with SQ/SU knots. Clinical relevance Forwarder end knots should be considered for closures when suture is placed under tension

Multicentric T-Cell Rich B-Cell Lymphoma in a Mule

"Hank", a 25-year-old castrated mule presented at Iowa State University Equine Surgery Service for bilateral surgical removal of third eyelids.This presentation is from the 58th AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) Annual Convention (2012): 20 pp. Posted with permission.</p

How To Make, Place, and Remove Transphyseal Staples

Foals can have angular and flexural limb deformities with or without a rotational component. Most foals are born with at least some degree of limb deformity of either type, and carpal valgus is the most frequently encountered type. Methods employed to surgically correct angular limb deformities include hemicircumferential transection of periosteum and periosteal elevation (or periosteal stripping) and transphyseal bridging (or growth retardation). Transphyseal bridging is accomplished with screws and wires, staples, or with a lag screw across the physis. Combinations of stripping and growth retardation have also been used. Corrective trimming of the hoof is almost always recommended, and owners are instructed to restrict exercise.This is a manuscript of a proceeding from 56th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (2011): 1-3. Posted with permission.</p

Hernia formation after single-stage umbilical vein marsupialization in three foals diagnosed with omphalophlebitis

Objective: To describe the clinical presentation and long-term outcome of three Percheron foals with omphalophlebitis that developed abdominal hernias following one-stage umbilical marsupialization treatment. Study Design: Short case series Animals : Three Percheron foals Methods : Omphalophlebitis is a common disease process resulting in a variety of morbidities and sometimes mortality. Complete resection of affected umbilical remnants is highly successful, but when total resection cannot be accomplished umbilical vein marsupialization can be implemented with minimally reported complications. Umbilical vein marsupialization was performed on three foals with extensive omphalophlebitis using the one-stage paramedian translocation technique in conjunction with long term antimicrobial therapy. Results: Long term follow-up revealed herniation at the marsupialization site in all three foals. Two foals were treated with herniorrhaphy at the prior marsupialization site. One foal died due to septic peritonitis three months after marsupialization. Conclusion: This case series highlights hernia formation as a potential complication following one-stage umbilical vein marsupialization in foals diagnosed with omphalophlebitis and should be considered as a possible post-operative complication.This is a pre-print of the article Chelsea Klein, Stephanie Caston, Jarrod Troy. Hernia formation after single-stage umbilical vein marsupialization in three foals diagnosed with omphalophlebitis. Authorea. July 08, 2021. DOI: 10.22541/au.162573531.11905193/v1. Posted with permission.</p

Evaluation of locally injected Mycobacterium cell wall fraction in horses with sarcoids

A reformulation of Mycobacterium cell wall fraction immunotherapeutic can be used to successfully treat sarcoids in horses. Sarcoids are reported to be the most common equine skin tumors with tumor type and location influencing the choice of treatment. Wide surgical excision is curative for many tumors, but may not always be feasible. Previous studies have reported sarcoid regression after injection with mycobacterial cell wall immunotherapeutics. A new formulation of the Mycobacterium phlei cell wall fraction immunostimulant (Immunocidin® Equine) was utilized to treat cutaneous tumors in horses. Equids with skin tumors diagnosed as sarcoids were enrolled in the study. Sarcoids were injected at the initial visit with Immunocidin® Equine and subsequently at approximately 2-week intervals. Of 17 cases, 9 cases were completely resolved at the end of the study period evaluation or at time of final follow up (52.9%). Three cases were reported as improved (smaller), but not resolved (17.6%). Three cases were discontinued from the study as the respective masses were growing larger or not resolving (17.6%). One case (5.8%) with two masses had resolution of one mass, whereas the other tumor had a small regrowth 5 months after the last treatment. One case (5.8%) was lost to follow up. All cases had mild to moderate swelling of the injection site, and some cases had discharge after the second, third, or fourth injections. No serious systemic side effects or complications were encountered during the study.This is a manuscript of an article published as Caston, Stephanie S., Brett A. Sponseller, Katarzyna A. Dembek, and Jesse M. Hostetter. "Evaluation of locally injected Mycobacterium cell wall fraction in horses with sarcoids." Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (2020): 103102. DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103102. Posted with permission.</p

In vitro evaluation of the modified forwarder knot used to end a continuous suture pattern in large-gauge suture

Objective To evaluate the strength and size of forwarder end (FE) knots modified to end continuous suture lines compared with Aberdeen (AB), square (SQ), and surgeon's (SU) knots. Study design In vitro mechanical study. Study population Knotted suture. Methods Knots were tied with 2 USP (United States Pharmacopeia) polydioxanone, 2 USP, and 3 USP polyglactin 910 and tested on a universal testing machine under linear tension. Mode of failure and knot holding capacity (KHC) were recorded, and relative knot security (RKS) was calculated. Knot volume and weight were determined by digital micrometer and balance. Knot holding capacity, RKS, size, and weight between knot type, number of throws, and suture type and size were compared by using analysis of variance testing, with P  Results In all suture types and number of throws, FE knot KHC/RKS was 28% to 66.99% (1.2‐1.6 fold) stronger compared with SQ/SU knots (P  .080). Forwarder end/AB knots failed by suture breakage at the knot, whereas some SQ/SU knots unraveled. Forwarder end knots in 2 and 3 USP polyglactin 910 were 21.1% to 44.4% (1.2‐1.4 fold) smaller compared with SQ/SU knots (P  Conclusion Forwarder end knots provided increased KHC/RKS compared with SQ/SU knots. Clinical relevance Forwarder end knots should be considered for closures when suture is placed under tension.This article is published as Gillen, Alex, Amelia Munsterman, Erin Barrett, Stephanie Caston, Kevin Kersh, Dane Tatarniuk, Tamara Swor, and R. Reid Hanson. "In vitro evaluation of the modified forwarder knot used to end a continuous suture pattern in large-gauge suture." Veterinary Surgery (2020). DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13519. Posted with permission.</p