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- Author or Editor: Stuart D. Carter x
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Abstract
Objective—To assay concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in canine sera and synovial fluid (SF), to compare COMP concentrations in clinically normal dogs and dogs with joint disease, and to analyze changes in COMP concentrations in dogs with experimentally induced acute synovitis.
Animals—69 control dogs without joint disease, 23 dogs with naturally occurring aseptic arthropathy, and 6 dogs with experimentally induced synovitis.
Procedure—Serum (n = 69) and SF (36) were obtained from control dogs. Samples of serum (n = 23) and SF (13) were obtained from dogs with naturally occurring aseptic arthropathy with or without radiographic features of osteoarthritis (OA). Serum and SF were obtained before and 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after induction of synovitis. The COMP concentrations were determined by use of an inhibition ELISA that had canine cartilage COMP and monoclonal antibody against human COMP.
Results—Concentrations of COMP in serum and SF of control dogs were 31.3 ± 15.3 and 298.7 ± 124.7 μg/ml, respectively. In naturally occurring OA, COMP concentrations in serum (44.9 ± 17.7 μg/ml) and SF (401.7 ± 74.3 μg/ml) were significantly higher than corresponding concentrations in control dogs. The COMP concentration in SF peaked 24 and 48 hours after induction of synovitis, whereas concentration in serum peaked on day 3.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—These results supported the hypothesis that COMP concentration in serum and SF of dogs may be altered after cartilage degradation or synovitis. Measurement of COMP concentrations can be useful when differentiating arthropathies in dogs. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:598–603)
Abstract
Objective—To assess 2 methods of RNA purification by use of different quality metrics and identify the most useful metric for quality assessment of RNA extracted from articular cartilage from dogs with osteoarthritis.
Sample Population—40 articular cartilage specimens from the femoral heads of 3 clinically normal dogs and 37 dogs with osteoarthritis.
Procedures—RNA was extracted from articular cartilage by 2 purification methods. Quality metrics of each sample were determined and recorded by use of a UV spectrophotometer (Spec I; to determine the 260 to 280 nm absorbance ratio [A260:A280 ratio]), a second UV spectrophotometer (Spec II; to determine A260:A280 and A260:A230 absorbance ratios), and a microfluidic capillary electrophoresis analyzer (to determine the ribosomal peak ratio [RR], degradation factor [DF], and RNA integrity number [RIN]). The RNA was extracted from affected (osteoarthritic) articular cartilage and assessed with the same quality metrics. Metric results were compared with visual analysis of the electropherogram to determine the most useful RNA quality metric.
Results—No differences in methods of RNA purification were determined by use of quality metrics. The RNA extracted from unaffected (normal) cartilage was of higher quality than that extracted from affected (osteoarthritic) cartilage, as determined by the RIN and Spec II A260:A230 ratio. The RIN and RR were the most sensitive metrics for determining RNA quality, whereas the DF was most specific. A significant proportion (32%) of RNA extracted from osteoarthritic articular cartilage specimens was determined as being of low quality.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—No single metric provided a completely sensitive and specific assessment of the quality of RNA recovered from articular cartilage.
Abstract
Objective—To determine whether the concentration of airborne virulent Rhodococcus equi varied by location (stall vs paddock) and month on horse farms.
Sample—Air samples from stalls and paddocks used to house mares and foals on 30 horse breeding farms in central Kentucky.
Procedures—Air samples from 1 stall and 1 paddock were obtained monthly from each farm from January through June 2009. Concentrations of airborne virulent R equi were determined via a modified colony immunoblot assay. Random-effects logistic regression was used to determine the association of the presence of airborne virulent R equi with location from which air samples were obtained and month during which samples were collected.
Results—Of 180 air samples, virulent R equi was identified in 49 (27%) and 13 (7%) obtained from stalls and paddocks, respectively. The OR of detecting virulent R equi in air samples from stalls versus paddocks was 5.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.1 to 13.1). Of 60 air samples, virulent R equi was identified in 25 (42%), 18 (30%), and 6 (10%) obtained from stalls during January and February, March and April, and May and June, respectively. The OR of detecting virulent R equi from stall air samples collected during May and June versus January and February was 0.22 (95% confidence interval, 0.08 to 0.63).
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Foals were more likely to be exposed to airborne virulent R equi when housed in stalls versus paddocks and earlier (January and February) versus later (May and June) during the foaling season.
