Physiological Concentrations of Acute-Phase Proteins and Immunoglobulins in Equine Synovial Fluid

Synovial fluid (SF) is capable of reflecting infectious, immunological, or inflammatory joint conditions in horses by altering its composition and appearance. Although plasma and SF compositions are quantitatively different, this latter compartment reflects changes in plasma macromolecules. Therefore, changes in serum immunoglobulin protein concentrations tend also to alter intracapsular levels. Therefore, it is necessary to know the physiological concentrations of proteins present in SF. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of total protein, albumin, transferrin, haptoglobin, α1-acid glycoprotein, ceruloplasmin, and immunoglobulins A and G in SF of six healthy horses. The synovial proteinogram was obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The SF proteins reached a maximum of 25% of serum concentrations, varying inversely with molecular weight of the protein, except for the ceruloplasmin. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Pharmacokinetics of tetracycline in plasma, synovial fluid and milk using single intravenous and single intravenous regional doses in dairy cattle with papillomatous digital dermatitis

The purpose of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of tetracycline in plasma, synovial fluid, and milk following either a single systemic intravenous (i.v.) injection or a single i.v. regional antibiosis (IVRA) administration of tetracycline hydrochloride to dairy cattle with papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD). To this end, plasma and synovial fluid tetracycline concentrations were compared with the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the major bacteria, which are known to cause digital diseases and thus assess its efficacy in PDD. Residual tetracycline concentrations in milk from cows treated by both methods were also determined. Twelve Holstein cows with various stages of PDD were randomly assigned to two groups of six animals. Group 1 received a single systemic i.v. injection of 10 mg/kg of tetracycline hydrochloride. Group 2 received 1000 mg of tetracycline hydrochloride by IVRA of the affected limb. Blood, synovial fluid and milk samples were taken prior to tetracycline administration (time 0 control), and then at 22, 45 and 82 min, and 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h following drug administration. Tetracycline concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Mean tetracycline plasma and milk concentrations in Group 1 were higher than Group 2. The opposite was observed for synovial fluid concentrations. Group 2 synovial fluid concentrations were higher than the MIC value over 24 h for the bacteria most frequently responsible for claw disease. Compared with i.v. administration, IVRA administration of tetracycline produced very high synovial fluid and low plasma and milk concentrations.

Anatomofisiologia da bainha tendínea sinovial digital dos eqüinos

Os autores abordam a descrição morfológica da bainha tendínea sinovial digital dos eqüinos e sua função, bem como o processo de formação de seu líquido sinovial, indicando a importância do estudo de tal estrutura.

Características físico-químicas e citológicas do líquido sinovial da bainha tendínea digital de eqüinos

Foram estudadas as características físico-químicas e citológicas do líquido sinovial da bainha tendínea digital de nove eqüinos hígidos. Verificou-se que o líquido é viscoso, amarelo claro, límpido, livre de partículas e que não coagula à temperatura ambiente. Sua concentração média de ácido hialurônico foi 60,20mg/dl, a taxa de glicose, similar à plasmática e sua concentração protéica não ultrapassou 1,74g/dl, com relação média albumina:globulina de 0,94. O número médio de células nucleadas foi de 313 células/µl, com predominância de grandes células mononucleares e linfócitos. Houve correlação significativa (r = - 0,649, P<0,01) entre o aumento da concentração de ácido hialurônico e a diminuição percentual de linfócitos. As mensurações das características pesquisadas no líquido sinovial da bainha tendínea digital de eqüinos são de execução simples e passíveis de implantação na rotina de atendimentos clínico-cirúrgicos.

Adenosine deaminase activity as a biochemical marker of inflammatory response in goats infected by caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparação entre as administrações tópica e sistêmica de oxitetraciclina no tratamento de vacas com dermatite digital papilomatosa

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Alterações no líquido sinovial do joelho de cães com osteoartrite induzida pelo modelo Pond e Nuki

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação radiográfica e ultrassonográfica do aparato podotroclear de cavalos Quarto de Milha diagnosticados com síndrome do navicular

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as alterações do aparato podotroclear de 22 cavalos da raça Quarto de Milha acometidos pela síndrome do navicular utilizando o acesso transcuneal. Esses equinos foram submetidos ao exame radiográfico e ultrassonográfico. No exame radiográfico foi observado a presença de invaginação sinovial de diferentes tipos, além de calcificação da bursa podotroclear e tendão flexor digital profundo, entesiófitos, osteófitos e alteração do limite córtico-medular. No exame ultrassonográfico observou-se alterações da bursa podotroclear, aderência e irregularidades nos bordos do tendão flexor digital profundo, diminuição do coxim digital, calcificação do ligamento sesamóide distal ímpar e irregularidade da superfície flexora do osso sesamóide distal. Todos os equinos que apresentavam alterações radiográficas também apresentaram alterações no exame ultrassonográfico compatíveis com a síndrome do navicular. O exame ultrassonográfico utilizando o acesso transcuneal foi um método prático e eficiente para avaliação das lesões do aparato podotroclear dos eqüinos, sendo um método complementar ao exame radiográfico.

Study About the Development of the Temporomandibular Joint in the Human Fetuses

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a highly specialized articulation that differs from all the other synovial articulations for many reasons. In children, different from what we observe in adults, these articulations have rarely been studied under the morphofunctional aspect, mainly in the embryonary and fetal stages. In this study 10 fetuses with ages varying from 16 to 39 weeks of intrauterine life were used, and it could be observed that the fibers and thickness of the articular disc, as well as the articular capsule and the condylar process, suffer modifications according to age. It was also observed that the superior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle inserts itself in the articular disc and capsule in all the ages studied. Also, the maturation of the articular tissues, especially of the articular disc, as well as, the associated muscles, suggests that the TMJ was able to carry out mandibular movements since the 24(th) week of intrauterine life.

Plasma rico em plaquetas no tratamento de lesões condrais articulares induzidas experimentalmente em equinos: avaliação clínica, macroscópica, histológica e histoquímica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of lidocaine on lipopolysaccharide-induced synovitis in horses

Injetou-se lidocaína (100mg 2%) na articulação do carpo para avaliar a resposta inflamatória induzida pela injeção (1,5ng) intra-articular de lipopolissacarídeo (LPS) de E. coli. Utilizaram-se 17 cavalos Mangalarga não castrados, entre dois e três anos, divididos em três grupos. No carpo esquerdo (CE) administrou-se solução fisiológica a 0,9% (SAL) e no carpo direito (CD) uma das seguintes combinações: grupo A (n=6) LPS mais SAL, grupo B (n=6) LPS mais lidocaína e grupo C (n=5) lidocaína mais SAL. Amostras do líquido sinovial e de sangue foram colhidas imediatamente antes da injeção de LPS (T0) e às 1,30 (T1), 3 (T2), 6 (T3), 12 (T4) e 36 horas (T5) após a injeção. Variáveis clínicas e físicas, e características bioquímicas e celulares do líquido sinovial foram avaliadas nos mesmos tempos. A resposta inflamatória local e sistêmica foi mensurada pela concentração do TNF-alfa no soro e líquido sinovial. Observou-se aumento da concentração do TNF-alfa nas articulações injetadas com LPS às 3h no grupo A e de 1,30 às 3h no grupo B. Concluiu-se que o LPS induziu o processo inflamatório e que a lidocaína não inibiu nem atenuou a sinovite induzida pelo LPS, nem a síntese e liberação de TNF-alfa .

Produção de antígeno e separação da proteína p28 por microfiltragem seriada para sorodiagnóstico da artrite encefalite caprina por ensaio imunoenzimático

Este estudo teve como objetivo produzir um antígeno (Ag) a partir de cultura de células de membrana sinovial caprina (MSC) infectadas com o vírus de artrite encefalite caprina (CAEV), pela técnica de microfiltração seriada, substituindo a ultracentrifugação em colchão de sacarose (UCCS) para utilização em ELISA indireto (ELISA-i). Amostras de 188 soros caprinos, que previamente foram testados pelo Western blot (WB) com Ag UCCS, foram submetidas à análise pelo ELISA-i com o novo antígeno produzido, que mostrou concordância de 92% em relação ao antígeno UCCS. A sensibilidade e a especificidade do ELISA em relação ao WB foram de 95,6% e 88,5%, respectivamente. A nova técnica, criada a partir de microfiltrações, mostrou-se efetiva e de baixo custo para o diagnóstico sorológico de anticorpos para CAEV em comparação ao antígeno ultracentrifugado, e constitui uma alternativa viável para produção de antígeno purificado de lentivírus de pequenos ruminantes.

Intra-articular pressure profiles of the cadaveric equine fetlock joint in motion

The study of the influence of motion and initial intra-articular pressure (IAP) on intra-articular pressure profiles in equine cadaver metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints was undertaken as a prelude to in vivo studies, Eleven equine cadaver MTP joints were submitted to 2 motion frequencies of 5 and 10 cycles/min of flexion and extension, simulating the condition of lower and higher (double) rates of passive motion. These frequencies were applied and pressure profiles generated with initial normal intra-articular pressure (-5 mmHg) and subsequently 30 mmHg intra-articular pressure obtained by injection of previously harvested synovial fluid.The 4 trials performed were 1) normal IAP; 5 cyles/min; 2) normal IAP; 10 cycles/min; 3) IAP at 30 mmHg; 5 cycles/min and 4) IAP at 30 mmHg; 10 cycles/min. The range of joint motion applied (mean +/- s.e.) was 67.6 +/- 1.61 degrees with an excursion from 12.2 +/- 1.2 degrees in extension to 56.2 +/- 2.6 degrees in flexion, Mean pressure recorded in mmHg for the first and last min of each trial, respectively, were 1) -5.7 +/- 0.9 and -6.3 +/- 1.1; 2) -5.3 +/- 1.1 and -6.2 +/- 1.1; 3) 58.8 +/- 8.0 and 42.3 +/- 7.2; 4) 56.6 +/- 3.7 and 40.3 +/- 4.6. Statistical analyses showed a trend for difference between the values for the first and last minute in trial 3 (0.05>P<0.1) with P = 0.1 and significant difference (P = 0.02) between the mean IAP of the first and last min in trial 4. The loss of intra-articular pressure associated with time and motion was 10.5, 16.9, 28.1 and 28.9% for trials 1-4, respectively. As initial intraarticular pressure and motion increased, the percent loss of intra-articular pressure increased.The angle of lowest pressure was 12.2 +/- 1.2 (mean +/- s.e.) in extension in trials 1 and 2, In trials 3 and 4, the lowest pressures were obtained in flexion with the joints at 18.5 +/- 2.0 degrees (mean +/- s.e.). This demonstrated that the joint angle of least pressure changed as the initial intra-articular pressure changed and there would not be a single angle of least pressure for a given joint.The volume of synovial fluid recovered from the MTP joints in trial 3 compared to 4 (trials in which fluid was injected to attain IAP of 30 mmHg) was not significantly different, supporting a soft tissue compliance change as a cause for the significant loss of intra-articular pressure during the 15 min of trial 4.The pressure profiles generated correlate well with in vivo values and demonstrated consistent pressure profiles. Our conclusions are summarised as follows:1. Clinically normal equine MTP joints which were frozen and then later thawed were found to have mostly negative baseline intra-articular pressures, as would be expected in living subjects,2. Alternate pressure profiles of the dorsal and plantar pouch at baseline intra-articular pressure document the presence of pressure forces that would support 'back and forth' fluid movement between joint compartments. This should result in movement of joint fluid during motion, assisting in lubrication and nutrition of articular cartilage,3. If joint pressure was initially greater than normal (30 mmHg), as occurs in diseased equine MTP joints, joint motion further increased joint capsule relaxation (compliance) and, therefore, reduced intra-articular pressure.4. Peak intra-articular pressures reached extremely high values (often >100 mmHg) in flexion when initial pressure was 30 mmHg. Joint effusion pressures recorded for clinical MCP joints are frequently 30 mmHg. These IAP values are expected to produce intermittent synovial ischaemia in clinical cases during joint flexion.5, Additional in vivo studies are necessary to confirm our conclusions from this study and to identify the contributions of fluid absorption and the presence of ischaemia in a vascularised joint.

Differential arthritogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from biological samples

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common agent of septic arthritis that is a severe, rapidly progressive and destructive joint disease. Superantigens produced by S. aureus are considered the major arthritogenic factors. In this study, we compared the arthritogenic potential of five superantigen-producing staphylococcal strains.Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were intravenously infected with ATCC 19095 SEC+, N315 ST5 TSST-1+, S-70 TSST-1+, ATCC 51650 TSST-1+ and ATCC 13565 SEA+ strains. Clinical parameters as body weight, arthritis incidence and clinical score were daily evaluated. Joint histopathological analysis and spleen cytokine production were evaluated at the 14th day after infection.Results: Weight loss was observed in all infected mice. ATCC 19095 SEC+, N315 ST5 TSST-1+ and S-70 TSST-1+ were arthritogenic, being the highest scores observed in ATCC 19095 SEC+ infected mice. Intermediate and lower clinical scores were observed in N315 ST5 TSST-1+ and S-70 TSST-1+ infected mice, respectively. The ATCC 13565 SEA+ strain caused death of 85% of the animals after 48 h. Arthritis triggered by the ATCC 19095 SEC+ strain was characterized by accentuated synovial hyperplasia, inflammation, pannus formation, cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Similar joint alterations were found in N315 ST5 TSST-1+ infected mice, however they were strikingly more discrete. Only minor synovial proliferation and inflammation were triggered by the S-70 TSST-1+ strain. The lowest levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17 production in response to S. aureus stimulation were found in cultures from mice infected with the less arthritogenic strains (S-70 TSST-1+ and ATCC 51650 TSST-1+). The highest production of IL-17 was detected in mice infected with the most arthritogenic strains (ATCC 19095 SEC+ and N315 ST5 TSST-1+).Conclusions: Together these results demonstrated that S. aureus strains, isolated from biological samples, were able to induce a typical septic arthritis in mice. These results also suggest that the variable arthritogenicity of these strains was, at least in part, related to their differential ability to induce IL-17 production. © 2013 Colavite-Machado et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

The role of cytokines in inflammatory bone loss

Chronic inflammatory processes close to bone often lead to loss of bone in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis, loosened joint prosthesis and tooth implants. This is mainly due to local formation of bone resorbing osteoclasts which degrade bone without any subsequent coupling to new bone formation. Crucial for osteoclastogenesis is stimulation of mononuclear osteoclast progenitors by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) which induces their differentiation along the osteoclastic lineage and the fusion to mature, multinucleated osteoclasts. M-CSF and RANKL are produced by osteoblasts/ osteocytes and by synovial and periodontal fibroblasts and the expression is regulated by pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines also regulate osteoclastic differentiation by direct effects on the progenitor cells. In the present overview, we introduce the basic concepts of osteoclast progenitor cell differentiation and summarize the current knowledge on cytokines stimulating and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis by direct and indirect mechanisms. © Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.