Relationship between biomarkers of cartilage in serum and degenerative joint disease in lusitanian horses

Cartilage degradation biomarkers are a potential tool for early diagnosis of degen- erative joint disease (DJD). In young horses, Coll2-1 and Coll2-1NO2 have been studied in serum and reported to be useful in the assessment of joint disease. Fib3-2 has been described to be higher in serum of humans with osteoarthritis but has not been assessed in horses. The aim of the current study was to evaluate biomarkers’ changes with age, sex, and exercise and correlate them with DJD. Blood collection and radiographic examination were performed in 51 Lusitanian horses. Moreover, inertial sensor-based detection of lameness was used to assess pain together with sub- jective examination. Females presented significantly higher concentrations of Coll2- 1 (P5.015) and Coll2-1NO2 (P5.014) compared to males. We found significant influence of high level of work in lower concentration of Coll2-1 (P5.001) and sig- nificant influence of sex in concentration of Coll2-1NO2 (P5.030). There was no influence of sex, age and work on Fib3-2. All biomarkers were increased in the DJD group (n535) compared to healthy controls (n516). This difference was significant for Coll2-1 (P5.015). When sorted by sex and age groups, significant difference in Coll2-1 between disease and healthy controls disappeared in old horses and females. Coll2-1 is a good marker of cartilage degradation in horses with DJD, being more specific in young horses and males. Fib3-2 may be further explored to help identify disease in particular cases.

Relationship between biomarkers of cartilage in serum and degenerative joint disease in Lusitano horses

Introduction: Cartilage degradation biomarkers are a potential tool for early diagnosis of degenerative joint disease (DJD). In young horses, Coll2-1 and Coll2-1NO2 have been studied in serum and reported to be useful in the assessment of joint disease. Fib3-2 has been described to be higher in serum of humans with osteoarthritis but was never assessed in horses. The aim of the current study was to evaluate biomarkers’ changes with age, sex and exercise and correlate them with DJD. Material and Methods: Blood collection and radiographic examination were performed in 51 Lusitanian horses. Moreover, inertial sensor-based detection of lameness was used to assess pain together with subjective examination. Results: Females presented significantly higher concentrations of Coll2-1 (p = 0.015) and Coll2-1NO2 (p = 0.014) compared to males. We have found significant influence of high level of work in lower concentration of Coll2-1 (p = 0.001) and significant influence of sex in concentration of Coll2-1NO2 (p = 0.030). There was no influence of sex, age and work on Fib3-2. All biomarkers were increased in the DJD group (n= 35) compared to healthy controls (n = 16). This difference was significant for Coll2-1 (p = 0.015). When sorted by sex and age groups, significant difference in Coll2-1 between disease and healthy controls disappeared in old horses and females. Discussion/ Conclusion: Coll2-1 is a good marker of cartilage degradation in horses with DJD, being more specific in young horses and males. Fib3-2 may be further explored to help identify disease in particular cases.

Clínica e cirurgia de equinos

O presente relatório de estágio, elaborado como etapa final do curso de Mestrado Integrado de Medicina Veterinária na Universidade de Évora, refere-se ao estágio curricular realizado na Clínica Equicare – Serviços Médico-Veterinários Lda., em Coimbra, Portugal, no âmbito da clínica e cirurgia de equinos. Este encontra-se dividido em três partes, onde, numa primeira fase se realiza uma descrição da casuística observada durante os seis meses de estágio, inseridas nas áreas de controlo e clínica reprodutiva, medicina preventiva e identificação equina, clínica médica e clínica cirúrgica. De seguida, realiza-se uma monografia sobre a doença degenerativa articular da extremidade distal de equinos e, por fim, uma apresentação de quatro casos clínicos onde se detetava a presença da mesma; EQUINE CLINICS AND SURGERY ABSTRACT: The present report was carried out as the final step of the Master of Science degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Évora and refers to the curricular externship held at the Equicare Clinic in Coimbra, Portugal, performed in Equine Clinics and Surgery. The report is divided in three parts, where initially takes place a casuistic analysis of the followed activities and clinical cases during the six month period of the externship, set in the areas of reproductive clinics, preventive medicine and equine identification, internal medicine and surgery. Afterwords a literature review about Degenerative Joint Disease of the distal limb in horses is performed and, finally, four clinical cases, about this same disease, are presented.

Antioxidant activity and cholinesterase inhibition studies if four flavoring herb from Alentejo.

In Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, the loss of cholinergic neurons leads to the progressive reduction of acetylcholine in the brain, resulting cognitive impairment. Inhibition of the hydrolysis of acetylcholine by blocking acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) has been considered as a potential target in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Essential oils and extracts of aromatic plants may have an important role in the oxidative stress protection. Traditionally, in Alentejo (Portugal), aromatic herbs Calamintha nepeta, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha spicata and Thymus mastichina are often used by local population as condiments in food preparations. In this study, essential oils (EOs) and aqueous extracts (decoction waters) of these flavouring herbs were selected in order to evaluate its antioxidant potential and ability to inhibit AChE and BChE activities. Results suggest the potential use of EOs and extracts as nutraceutical or pharmaceutical preparations in the prevention of the oxidative stress and degenerative diseases.

Self-care in older people with functional deficit: needs of long-term care.

The group of 65-year-olds is becoming more numerous and with greater needs for health care. So, is necessary the reflection about new models of provision, organization, and allocation of health resources. According to the United Nations Organization, 2015, in 2050 elderly people will reach two million people (20% of the world’s population), what mean that the number of people over 60 years old will exceed a population of young people under 15 years. Parallel to aging, less healthy lifestyles have contributed to the prevalence of chronic diseases, especially cerebrovascular diseases. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are risk factors and increase predisposition to other diseases. With aging, there is an increased risk for developing chronic, oncological and degenerative diseases, which account for more than 50% of the burden of diseases, with profound implications on independency, use of health care and services.