Arthroscopic autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty for the treatment of subchondral cystic lesion in the medial femoral condyle in a horse

An 11-year-old, Hungarian half-bred stallion was presented with a history of mixed left hindlimb lameness of 6 months duration. Subchondral bone cyst of the medial femoral condyle and injury of the medial meniscus were diagnosed. Osteochondral autograft transplantation (mosaic arthroplasty) was performed, taking grafts from the less weight-bearing medial border of the medial femoral trochlea of the affected limb, and transplanting them into the cyst during arthroscopy. The lameness was evaluated prior to and one year after the operation with a motion analysis system during treadmill exercise. Considerable improvement of the lameness and the clinical signs as well as successful transplantation of the grafts, and a new hard joint cartilage surface of the medial femoral condyle could be detected during follow-up arthroscopy. Osteochondral autograft transplantation seems to bee a possible alternative for treating subchondral cystic lesions of the medial femoral condyle in horses. A new technique for the surgical treatment of a subchondral cystic lesion of the medial femoral condyle in the horse is described

Fibrinolysis in a lipid environment: modulation through release of free fatty acids

Background: Thrombolysis is conventionally regarded as dissolution of the fibrin matrix of thrombi by plasmin, but the structure of clots in vivo includes additional constituents (proteins, phospholipids) that modulate their solubilization. Objective: We examined the presence of free fatty acids in thrombi and their effects on distinct stages of fibrinolysis (plasminogen activation, plasmin activity). Methods and Results: Using the fluorescent probe acrylodated intestinal fatty acid-binding protein, variable quantities (up to millimolar concentrations) of free fatty acids were demonstrated in surgically removed human thrombi. Oleic acid at relevant concentrations reversibly inhibits more than 90% of the amidolytic activity of plasmin on a synthetic substrate (Spectrozyme PL), but only partially inhibits its fibrinolytic activity measured using turbidimetry. Chromogenic assays detecting the generated plasmin activity show that plasminogen activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is completely blocked by oleic acid in the fluid phase, but is accelerated on a fibrin matrix. A recombinant derivative of t-PA (reteplase) develops higher fibrin specificity in the presence of oleic acid, because both the inhibition of plasminogen activation in free solution and its enhancement on fibrin template are stronger than with wild-type t-PA. Conclusion: Through the stimulation of plasminogen activation on a fibrin template and the inhibition of plasminogen activators and plasmin in the fluid phase, free fatty acids confine the action of fibrinolytic proteases to the site of clotting, where they partially oppose the thrombolytic barrier function of phospholipids

Decreased plasma nociceptin/orphanin FQ levels after acute coronary syndromes

Foregoing researches made on the N/OFQ system brought up a possible role for this system in cardiovascular regulation. In this study we examined how N/OFQ levels of the blood plasma changed in acute cardiovascular diseases. Three cardiac patient groups were created: enzyme positive acute coronary syndrome (EPACS, n = 10), enzyme negative ACS (ENACS, n = 7) and ischemic heart disease (IHD, n = 11). We compared the patients to healthy control subjects (n = 31). We found significantly lower N/OFQ levels in the EPACS [6.86 (6.21–7.38) pg/ml], ENACS [6.97 (6.87–7.01) pg/ml and IHD groups [7.58 (7.23–8.20) pg/ml] compared to the control group [8.86 (7.27–9.83) pg/ml]. A significant correlation was detected between N/OFQ and white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count (PLT), creatine kinase (CK), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and cholesterol levels in the EPACS group.Decreased plasma N/OFQ is closely associated with the presence of acute cardiovascular disease, and the severity of symptoms has a significant negative correlation with the N/OFQ levels. We believe that the rate of N/OFQ depression is in association with the level of ischemic stress and the following inflammatory response. Further investigations are needed to clarify the relevance and elucidate the exact effects of the ischemic stress on the N/OFQ system

Histological studies on embryonic development of the rabbit heart

Two experiments were performed to evaluate the normal development of the rabbit heart. In the first experiment the most intensive period of heart development was determined in rabbit embryos. The second experiment studied the most intensive period of heart development, determined in the first experiment, by concentrated sampling at 8-hour intervals. After cutting open the uterine wall opposite the discoid placenta, rabbit embryos were removed from the ampullae of the uterus using capillary tubes, under stereomicroscope at fivefold magnification. The embryos were subsequently placed into 4% formalin solution for 24 h. After fixation, slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin were made for histological examination. In the first experiment 51 embryos were examined, while during the second experiment a total of 113 embryos, representing different stages of development, were collected. Finally the data obtained on rabbits were compared with the well-known development of the heart in humans and mice

Multiple cardiac anomaly in sheep: A case study and review of the literature

A multiple cardiac anomaly in sheep is presented to show how complicated the result of abnormal development can be. The heart of a 12-hour-old sheep was fixed in 8% formaldehyde solution and subsequently dissected by an anatomical method, and the abnormalities were recorded on digital pictures. The abnormal anatomy is described and compared with the simple developmental anomalies. Developmental abnormalities were found in the distal portion of the bulbus, the aortic arches and the interatrial septum. A special type of the double-outlet right ventricle was observed, which was not a real double-outlet ventricle because it occurred in combination with pulmonary atresia. Coarctation of the aorta was seen, the ductus arteriosus was absent, and there were five vessels originating from the aortic arch instead of one vessel seen in normal cases, as a result of the abnormal development of the aortic arches

Book reviews

Klaus-Dieter Budras, Patrick H. McCarthy, Wolfgang Fricke, Renate Richter: Anatomy of the Dog. An Illustrated Text. 4th edition with Aaron Horowitz and Rolf Berg. Schlütersche GmbH & Co. KG Verlag und Druckerei, Hannover, Germany. 222 pages, 71 large-sized colour plates including several illustrations, radiographs, drawings and photographs. 9¾ × 13½", hardcover. ISBN 3-87706-619-4. Price: Ł54 / € 86. Kees J. Dik: Atlas of Diagnostic Radiology of the Horse - Diseases of the Front and Hind Limbs. Second extended and revised edition, Schlütersche, Hannover, 2002. 300 pages with 702 radiographs, 82 drawings. 9¾ ×13½", hardcover. ISBN 3-87706-651-8. Price:€ 144 / USD 179.5 / £ 89

Pollen morphology of fruit species

Size and surface morphology of pollen has been studied in 87 twit varieties of 10 fruit species during the period of 1990-1995. No preceding work of that type came to our knowledge, yet. The samples comprised a wide variety of cultivars included male sterile, self-incompatible, partially self-fertile stone fruits, diploid and hexaploid plums, diploid and triploid apples. The large number of species and varieties facilitated the comparison of items within and between the respective species. It was stated that the size, shape and surface morphology of pollen is genetically determined and those data, combined with other variety characters, are suitable for the classification and distinction of varieties. In assessment of pollen size and shape, their moisture content is crucial. The major diameter of the swollen pollen as well as the length and width of the dry grains are characteristic to species and/or to variety. The width and shape changes largely with moisture content. Large grains are proper to quince, apricot, peach and almond, medium sizes are found in apple, sweet cherry, sour cherry, European plum, whereas small size is typical to Japanese plums. The low number of varieties studied does not allow conclusions concerning differences within pears, quinces and almonds as species. In the rest of species, valid differences have been registered as between varieties. Within species, as apple and plum, the effect of ploidy (i.e. number of chromosomes) was expressed in the size of their pollen. In stone fruit species, the correlation between size. of anthers and size of pollen grains was positive. Genetic relations between the self-fertile sour cherry varieties of the Pándy type (Debreceni bőtermő, Kántorjánosi, Újfehértói fürtös) as well as the self-incompatible apricots of "giant" fruit size are supposed to be analysed by pollen studies but there did not turn out any decisive conclusion, yet. Other characters also should be considered. The assembly of pollen characters is decisive in the determination of the variety. The ratio of empty pollen grains, the grain size and the density as well as the size of the pits on the surface are best suited to distinguish pollen lots. &nbsp

Pollen morphology of fruit species

Size and surface morphology of pollen has been studied in 87 twit varieties of 10 fruit species during the period of 1990-1995. No preceding work of that type came to our knowledge, yet. The samples comprised a wide variety of cultivars included male sterile, self-incompatible, partially self-fertile stone fruits, diploid and hexaploid plums, diploid and triploid apples. The large number of species and varieties facilitated the comparison of items within and between the respective species. It was stated that the size, shape and surface morphology of pollen is genetically determined and those data, combined with other variety characters, are suitable for the classification and distinction of varieties. In assessment of pollen size and shape, their moisture content is crucial. The major diameter of the swollen pollen as well as the length and width of the dry grains are characteristic to species and/or to variety. The width and shape changes largely with moisture content. Large grains are proper to quince, apricot, peach and almond, medium sizes are found in apple, sweet cherry, sour cherry, European plum, whereas small size is typical to Japanese plums. The low number of varieties studied does not allow conclusions concerning differences within pears, quinces and almonds as species. In the rest of species, valid differences have been registered as between varieties. Within species, as apple and plum, the effect of ploidy (i.e. number of chromosomes) was expressed in the size of their pollen. In stone fruit species, the correlation between size. of anthers and size of pollen grains was positive. Genetic relations between the self-fertile sour cherry varieties of the Pándy type (Debreceni bőtermő, Kántorjánosi, Újfehértói fürtös) as well as the self-incompatible apricots of "giant" fruit size are supposed to be analysed by pollen studies but there did not turn out any decisive conclusion, yet. Other characters also should be considered. The assembly of pollen characters is decisive in the determination of the variety. The ratio of empty pollen grains, the grain size and the density as well as the size of the pits on the surface are best suited to distinguish pollen lots. &nbsp