The association between subchondral bone cysts and tibial cartilage volume and risk of joint replacement in people with knee osteoarthritis: a longitudinal study

Introduction  

To examine the natural history of subchondral bone cysts and to determine whether knee cartilage loss and risk of joint replacement is higher in knees with cysts, compared with those with bone marrow lesions (BMLs) only or those with neither BMLs nor cysts.     

Effect of a disinfection strategy on the methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC398 prevalence of sows,their piglets and the barn environment

Aims

To assess, in a cleaned and disinfected barn environment, the efficacy of an animal disinfection strategy to reduce the livestock‐associated methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA‐MRSA) prevalence in sows, their offspring and the barn environment.

Methods and Results

On each farm, six sow rounds were sampled; sows were divided into either a test or control group. Per round, 20 sows and 40 of their piglets were sampled at different time points together with the barn environment. The disinfection strategy of the test groups consisted of washing the sows with a shampoo followed by disinfection of the skin with a solution containing chlorhexidine digluconate and isopropanol. On the first day of disinfection and 6 days after stopping the disinfection, a significant decrease (P < 0·01) of on average 68 and 66% in sow MRSA prevalence was observed on both farms, whereas no decrease was seen in the control groups. Just before weaning, 21–28 days after the end of the disinfection strategy, the difference in MRSA prevalence between both groups was reduced to 4% and no longer significant (P = 0·20). The MRSA prevalence of the piglets in the test groups was significantly lower (26%; P < 0·01) 6 days after the end of disinfection. Just before weaning, this difference was reduced to 5% but still significant (P < 0·01). In the swine nursery unit, no significant difference (P = 0·99) was seen between both groups. Based on semi‐quantitative counts, a relationship (r² > 0·6; P < 0·01) was seen between MRSA contamination in the barn environment and the MRSA prevalence in pigs.

Conclusion

Results show that the tested disinfection strategy reduces temporarily the sow and piglet MRSA status, but does not result in a final reduction in MRSA at weaning or in the nursery unit.

Significance and Impact of the Study

First report on the efficacy of an animal disinfection strategy to reduce LA‐MRSA prevalence in sows, their offspring and the barn environment.     

Longitudinal assessment of cyst-like lesions of the knee and their relation to radiographic osteoarthritis and MRI-detected effusion and synovitis in patients with knee pain

Introduction  

The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of cystic lesions and cyst-like bursitides in subjects with frequent knee pain and to assess their relation to radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) severity; to describe bilaterality and size fluctuation of the lesions over 6 months; and to assess relations between the prevalence of synovium-lined lesions communicating with the joint capsule and severity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected effusion and synovitis.     

Plasma concentrations of cortisol and PGF<Subscript>2α</Subscript> metabolite in Danish sows during mating,and intrauterine and conventional insemination

Background  

The aims of the present work was to study whether there are any relationships between cortisol and PG-metabolite in mated sows or inseminated with the intrauterine technique and compare these to changes occurring in conventionally inseminated sow.     

Exercise increases interleukin-10 levels both intraarticularly and peri-synovially in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction  

The microdialysis method was applied to the human knee joint with osteoarthritis (OA) in order to reveal changes in biochemical markers of cartilage and inflammation, intraarticularly and in the synovium, in response to a single bout of mechanical joint loading.     

Computation of the kinematics and the minimum peak joint moments of sit-to-stand movements

Background  

A sit-to-stand (STS) movement requires muscle strength higher than that of other daily activities. There are many elderly people, who experience difficulty when standing up from a chair. The muscle strength required (or the load on the joints) during a STS task is determined by the kinematics (movement pattern). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the kinematics and resultant joint moments of people standing up from a chair in order to determine the minimum peak joint moments required for a STS task.     

The Inhibition of Subchondral Bone Lesions Significantly Reversed the Weight-Bearing Deficit and the Overexpression of CGRP in DRG Neurons,GFAP and Iba-1 in the Spinal Dorsal Horn in the Monosodium Iodoacetate Induced Model of Osteoarthritis Pain

Background

Chronic pain is the most prominent and disabling symptom of osteoarthritis (OA). Clinical data suggest that subchondral bone lesions contribute to the occurrence of joint pain. The present study investigated the effect of the inhibition of subchondral bone lesions on joint pain.

Methods

Osteoarthritic pain was induced by an injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the rat knee joint. Zoledronic acid (ZOL), a third generation of bisphosphonate, was used to inhibit subchondral bone lesions. Joint histomorphology was evaluated using X-ray micro computed tomography scanning and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The activity of osteoclast in subchondral bone was evaluated using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. Joint pain was evaluated using weight-bearing asymmetry, the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and spinal glial activation status using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba-1) immunofluorescence. Afferent neurons in the DRGs that innervated the joints were identified using retrograde fluorogold labeling.

Results

MIA injections induced significant histomorphological alterations and joint pain. The inhibition of subchondral bone lesions by ZOL significantly reduced the MIA-induced weight-bearing deficit and overexpression of CGRP in DRG neurons, GFAP and Iba-1 in the spinal dorsal horn at 3 and 6 weeks after MIA injection; however, joint swelling and synovial reaction were unaffected.

Conclusions

The inhibition of subchondral bone lesions alleviated joint pain. Subchondral bone lesions should be a key target in the management of osteoarthritic joint pain.     

Bacteria in milk from anterior and posterior mammary glands in sows affected and unaffected by postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PPDS)

Background  

The performance of piglet weight gain is strongly dependent on the sow's ability to meet the demand for adequate milk. Postparturient disorders, especially those subsumed under the term postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PPDS), can alter or reduce the milk production sensitively, resulting in starving piglets. The aim of this study was to gather further information about the prevalence of different bacterial species in the anterior and posterior mammary glands of sows with respect to the clinical appearance of PPDS.     

Post mortem findings in sows and gilts euthanised or found dead in a large Swedish herd

Background  

The aim of this study was to get information on post mortem diagnoses of sows found dead or euthanised and to understand the diagnoses aetiology (causative background). Moreover, the study was to evaluate the association between the clinical symptoms observed on farm and post mortem findings.     

Sow responsiveness to human contacts and piglet vocalization during 24 h after onset of parturition

Sow responsiveness towards external disturbances and concurrent postural changes are proposed to be an important cause of early piglet crushing. The aim of the present study was to assess whether loose housed sows change their responsiveness over time within the first 24 h after birth of the first piglet upon exposure to different types of human contact and towards piglets’ scream. The responsiveness of the sows (n = 17) was scored during: (i) blood sampling of the sow during 24 h after the onset of parturition, (ii) human handling of a piglet at 0, 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after birth, (iii) screaming when a piglet was trapped underneath the sow and (iv) exposure to playback of piglets’ screams at 10 and 24 h after the onset of parturition. A sow was scored as responsive if she changed her posture in response to the stimuli. The behavioral scores were analyzed during three predefined periods: parturition (from birth of first piglet to birth of last piglet), phase 1 (from birth of last piglet to 12 h after birth of first piglet) and phase 2 (from 12 h after birth of first piglet to 24 h after birth of first piglet). The responsiveness of sows towards humans during blood sampling differed between the three periods (p < 0.01), whereas it did not differ between periods during human handling of piglets. During blood sampling, fewer sows were responsive during phase 1 (5%) compared to during parturition (11%) and the later phase 2 (17%). We did not detect any temporal changes in sow responsiveness towards natural incidences of screaming of own trapped piglet between the three periods (it remained high: 80%), whereas sows exposed to playback of piglet screams had a higher probability (p < 0.05) to react at 12 h (50%) than at 24 h (25%). In conclusion, the responsiveness of sows toward direct human contact was lower during the first 12 h postpartum. The careful handling of piglets in the home pen had a minimal effect on the probability of postural changes in sows. However, sows were highly reactive towards the screaming of own trapped piglet during the whole 24 h period pp. The relative lower responsiveness towards playbacks, decreasing from 12 to 24 h pp, cast doubt upon the piglet scream playback test as a useful approach to evaluate maternal responsiveness in sows.     

Effect of propofol on oxidative stress status in erythrocytes from dogs under general anaesthesia

Background

Piglets are born with eight sharp teeth that during nursing can cause facial lesions on littermates and teat lesions on the sow. Teeth grinding in piglets is therefore often practiced to reduce these lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of grinding piglet teeth in regard to the occurrence of lesions. In this study the piglets' teeth were grinded in 28 litters, and in 36 litters the piglets' teeth were kept intact. Twice, one time during the first week and one time during the second week after birth facial lesions of the piglets were scored and the teats of the sows were examined for lesions. The facial lesion score accounted for the amount and severity of lesions. The individual observations on piglets in the litter were synthesized in a litter facial lesion score.

Findings

69.8% and 43.5% of the piglets had facial lesions in week 1 and week 2 respectively. The effect of treatment was not significant on litter facial lesion score. The litter facial lesion score was higher in week 1 than in week 2 (p < 0.001) and higher in large litters (p = 0.003) than in small litters. Mortality between week 1 and week 2 was higher in litters with intact teeth (p = 0.02). Sow teat lesions only occurred if litters had intact teeth.

Conclusions

According to our results teeth grinding is only justifiable in large litters.     

Chondrogenic differentiation potential of osteoarthritic chondrocytes and their possible use in matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation

Introduction  

Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) is a routine technique to regenerate focal cartilage lesions. However, patients with osteoarthritis (OA) are lacking an appropriate long-lasting treatment alternative, partly since it is not known if chondrocytes from OA patients have the same chondrogenic differentiation potential as chondrocytes from donors not affected by OA.     

Maternal vaccination as a Salmonella Typhimurium reduction strategy on pig farms

Aims

The control of Salmonella in pig production is necessary for public and animal health, and vaccination was evaluated as a strategy to decrease pig prevalence.

Methods and Results

The study examined the efficacy of a live Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine, administered to sows on eight commercial farrow‐to‐finish herds experiencing clinical salmonellosis or Salmonella carriage associated with S. Typhimurium or its monophasic variants. Results of longitudinal Salmonella sampling were compared against eight similarly selected and studied control farms. At the last visit (~14 months after the start of vaccination), when all finishing stock had been born to vaccinated sows, both faecal shedding and environmental prevalence of Salmonella substantially declined on the majority of vaccinated farms in comparison to the controls. A higher proportion of vaccine farms resolved clinical salmonellosis than controls. However, Salmonella counts in positive faeces samples were similar between nonvaccinated and vaccinated herds.

Conclusions

The results suggest that maternal vaccination is a suitable option for a Salmonella Typhimurium reduction strategy in farrow‐to‐finish pig herds.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Salmonella vaccines have the potential to reduce the prevalence of Salmonella in pigs and result in a reduction of human cases attributed to pork.     

Combined application of life cycle assessment and data envelopment analysis as a methodological approach for the assessment of fisheries

Background, aim, and scope  

The synergistic use of life cycle assessment (LCA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) is proposed as a new methodological approach to link environmental and socioeconomic assessments of fisheries. Therefore, the goal is to combine LCA and DEA in order to increase the assessment ability of both tools when applied to these fisheries. Specifically, the joint inclusion of economic aspects and the consideration of currently underrepresented environmental impact categories are tackled.     

Relationship between body adiposity measures and risk of primary knee and hip replacement for osteoarthritis: a prospective cohort study

Introduction  

Total joint replacement is considered a surrogate measure for symptomatic end-stage osteoarthritis. It is unknown whether the adipose mass and the distribution of adipose mass are associated with the risk of primary knee and hip replacement for osteoarthritis. The aim of the present investigation was to examine this in a cohort study.     

Dynamic activation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling in collagen-induced arthritis supports their role in joint homeostasis and disease

Introduction  

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease affecting peripheral joints and leading to loss of joint function. The severity and outcome of disease are dependent on the balance between inflammatory/destructive and homeostatic or repair pathways. Increasing evidence suggests a role for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in joint homeostasis and disease.     

A profile of immune response to herpesvirus is associated with radiographic joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction  

Progression of joint damage despite appropriate therapy remains a significant problem for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was undertaken to identify profiles of immune response that correlate with radiographic joint damage as a first step toward the discovery of new pathogenic mechanisms of joint destruction in RA.     

On the effects of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) administered per os or intraperitoneal infusion to sows during days 63 to 70 of gestation

Six pregnant sows of 180.6 ± 5.6 kg were fed either a Fusarium-contaminated (4.42 mg DON and 48.3 μg ZON per kg, DON per os, n = 3) or a control diet (0.15 mg DON and 5 μg ZON/kg) in the period of days 63 and 70 of gestation. On day 63 of gestation, sows fed the control diet were implanted with an intraperitoneal osmotic minipump (delivery rate of 10 μL/h, for 7 days) containing 50 mg pure (98%) DON in 2 ml 50% DMSO (DON ip, n = 3). Frequent plasma samples were taken to estimate the kinetics after oral and ip DON exposure. The intended continuous delivery of DON by the intraperitoneal minipump could not be shown, as there was a plasma peak (C_max) of 4.2–6.4 ng DON/mL either immediately (sow IP-2+3) or 2.5 h (sow IP-1) after implantation of the pump followed by a one-exponential decline with a mean half-time (t_1/2) of 1.75–4.0 h and only negligible DON plasma concentrations after 12 h. Therefore, the DON ip exposure has to be regarded as one single dose 1 week before termination of experiment. The DON per os sows showed a mean basis level (after achieving a steady state) of DON plasma concentration of about 6–8 ng/mL, as also indicated by the plasma DON concentration at the termination of the experiment. On day 70, caesarean section was carried out, the fetuses were killed immediately after birth, and samples of plasma, urine, and bile were taken to analyze the concentration of DON and its metabolite de-epoxy-DON. At necropsy there were no macroscopic lesions observed in any organ of either sows or piglets. Histopathological evaluation of sows liver and spleen revealed no alterations. The proliferation rate of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with or without stimulation was not affected by the kind of DON treatment. The exposure of pregnant sows at mid-gestation (days 63–70, period of organogenesis) to a Fusarium toxin-contaminated diet (4.42 mg DON and 0.048 mg ZON per kg) or pure DON via intraperitoneal osmotic minipump did not cause adverse effects on health, fertility, maintenance of pregnancy, and performance of sows and their fetuses. However, DON was detected in fetus plasma, indicating that this toxin can pass the placental barrier and may cause changes in the proportion of white blood cells (lower monocyte and neutrophil and higher lymphocyte proportion in DON per os fetuses).     

Filarioid nematodes in cattle,sheep and horses in Finland

Background  

In autumn 2006, Finnish meat inspection data revealed lesions in tendons, muscles and ligaments of bovine hind legs leading to partial condemnation of carcasses. In gross pathological examination at Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Oulu (now Fish and Wildlife Health) Research Unit, Onchocerca sp. (Filarioidea; Onchocercidae) nematodes were detected in lesions. Due to this, a pilot study was made in order to find out what filarioid nematodes do occur in cattle, horses and sheep in Finland.