This body of work encompasses two studies: the collection of canine tears via a novel polyester<br />rod and the comparison of VEGF-A concentrations in tears from dogs with normal and<br />vascularized corneas. The first study used polyester rods for tear collection in dogs. Fluid volume and VEGF recovery characteristics, as well as potential binding of VEGF to the rod, were determined. Tears were harvested from normal dogs using rods and glass capillary tubes. Tears were assayed for tear film VEGF using a commercial canine VEGF sandwich ELISA kit. Dilutions of VEGF standard were wicked into the rods or drawn into capillary tubes, eluted, and assayed. Percent volume recovery is adequate for polyester rods as is percent VEGF recovery. VEGF is detectable in normal canine tears.The second study harvested tear samples from eyes of dogs with vascularizing corneal disease, as well as the contralateral unaffected eye of unilaterally diseased dogs, and normal dogs. Vascularization scores were assigned to diseased eyes and tear film VEGF concentration was assayed as above. Mean tear film VEGF concentration of diseased eyes did not differ from control eyes, and was not correlated with disease process, extent of vascularization, or other parameters. Tear film VEGF in unaffected eyes was significantly higher than control and vascularized eyes. Canine tear film VEGF exceeds biologically active concentrations, but does not correlate with state of corneal vascularization. VEGF-related control of corneal vascularization may be mediated by other proangiogenic factors. / Master of Science

No description available.

Little research has focused on the involvement of oxidative stress as it relates to the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA); while inflammation has been extensively studied. The present study evaluates the ability to modulate the response of canine chondrocytes to both inflammation and oxidative stress in an in-vitro model. Chondrocytes were incubated and then stimulated to under-go oxidative stress by using hydrogen peroxide or inflammation using interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha. For inhibition of oxidative stress an antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine, was used prior to induction with hydrogen peroxide in a subset of chondrocytes. Measures of oxidative stress were superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione. Prostaglandin E2 was used as a measurement of inflammation. Chondrocytes responded appropriately to both oxidative stress and inflammation. The antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine provided adequate protection against oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and inflammation should be considered to play a role in the pathophysiology of canine OA.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Trained canines are commonly used as biological detectors for explosives; however, there are some areas of uncertainty that have led to difficulties in canine training and testing. Even though a standardized container for determining the accuracy of explosives-detecting canines has already been developed, the factors that govern the amount of explosive vapor that is present in the system are often uncertain. This has led to difficulties in comparing the sensitivity of canines to one another as well as to analytical instrumentation, despite the fact that this container has a defined headspace and degree of confinement of the explosive. For example, it is a common misconception that the amount of explosive itself is the chief contributor to the amount of odor available to a canine. In fact, odor availability depends not only on the amount of explosive material, but also the explosive vapor pressure, the rate with which the explosive vapor is transported from its source and the degree to which the explosive is confined. In order to better understand odor availability, headspace GC/MS and mass loss experiments were conducted and the results were compared to the Ideal Gas Law and Fick’s Laws of Diffusion. Overall, these findings provide increased awareness about availability of explosive odors and the factors that affect their generation; thus, improving the training of canines. Another area of uncertainty deals with the complexity of the odor generated by the explosive, as the headspace may consist of multiple chemical compounds due to the extent of explosive degradation into more (or less) volatile substances, solvents, and plasticizers. Headspace (HS) and solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to determine what chemical compounds are contained within the headspace of an explosive as well as NESTT (Non-Hazardous Explosive for Security Training and Testing) products. This analysis concluded that degradation products, plasticizers, and taggants are more common than their parent explosive.

Studies are currently being performed to determine the effects of bisphosphonate treatments on the structure and density of bone tissue. One of the pathways for gaining a better understanding of the effects of this and other treatments involves creating a computer simulation. Theory suggests that bone tissue structure and density are directly related to the manner in which the tissue is loaded. Remodeling is the process in which bone tissue is resorbed in areas of low stress distributions, and generated in areas of high stress distributions. Previous studies have utilized numerical methods and finite element methods to predict bone structure as a result of stress distributions within the tissues. The Finite Element method was chosen for this study. This study was done on a canine (beagle) rib. The goal of this study was to develop an FEA model of the rib that would be used in conjunction with a bone remodeling algorithm, to model the behavior of the bone tissue. Appropriate boundary conditions, loads, and loading cycles were determined from literature, and applied. Respiration was assumed as the dominating activity; therefore the muscles involved in respiration were the primary source of the rib loading. The model also included an integrated UMAT sub-routine, which utilized data from the FEA model to iterate bone tissue densities and structures. The model closely predicted the porosities of the bone tissue, when compared to actual tissue samples, as well as what literature describes.

This study tested different concentrations of egg yolk in canine freezing extender void of glycerol, a commonly used cryoprotectant, by examining the motility and morphology throughout the freezing process: initial (baseline after extender added), post-cool (after three hours at 5"C) and post-thaw (after freezing.)  Initial values of pH, osmolarity, motility and morphology were obtained for comparison of the samples.  Spermatozoa from six normal dogs as determined by progressive linear motility > 70% and normal morphology > 60% was used. Semen was collected and pooled for five freezing trials.  The concentrations of egg yolk used in the extender were: 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. Assessment of each sample was blinded to the treatments until all results were obtained and statistics had been analyzed. Based on this study a 20% egg yolk concentration is slightly superior to a 30% egg yolk concentration when assessing post-thaw motility, morphology and longevity and significantly superior to a 0%, 10% or 40% egg yolk concentration. The study also showed motility and normal post-cool and post-thaw sperm morphology did not always correlate.  Utilization of 0% and 10% concentrations of egg yolk has negative effects on semen quality as measured by the motility and/or morphology.  Results confirm freezing does not affect secondary sperm abnormalities, abnormalities of the tail and distal section of the middle piece, during cooling or freezing.  Primary abnormalities, abnormalities of the head and midpiece, increased in the 0% extender during cooling and all extenders during freezing. The pH of the extenders before the addition of sperm was significantly different. Once sperm was added to the extenders, there was no longer a significant difference in pH.  There was a positive correlation for both motility and normal morphology percentages post-cool and post-thaw for the extenders with similar osmolarity to the semen. / Master of Science

Introduktion: Höftledsartros är en vanligt förekommande ledsjukdom hos hundar. Där prevalencen ökar med hundarnas ålder. Orsaken till höftledsartros varierar, men särskilt framträdande hos hundar med höftledsartros är höftledsdysplasi, tidigare trauma eller övervikt. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt är att undersöka vilka fysioterapeutiska interventioner som har klinisk relevans för hundar med höftledsartros. Samt vilken effekt dessa har på smärta och funktion. Metod: En litteratursammanställning utfördes för att kunna svara på syftet. För att finna relevanta artiklar utfördes en systematisk sökning i databaserna Web Of Science, Scopus, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association och PubMed. Resultat: Sammanlagt inkluderades tio artiklar i denna litteraturöversikt, varav nio stycken var RCT studier och en prospektiv klinisk studie. Dessa artiklar involverar interventioner som hydroterapi, stötvågsbehandling, viktminskning, akupunktur och rörelseträning. Trots relativt korta interventionsperioder kunde goda resultat ses på interventionerna. Där exempelvis enbart viktreduktion som intervention minskade hundarnas VAS och NRS minskade inom 19 veckor. Detta kombinerades även med träning i en studie, vilket bidrog till en förlängd effekt av grundinterventionen. Konklusion: Denna litteraturstudie visar på att vissa fysioterapeutiska interventioner såsom hydroterapi, stötvågsbehandling, viktminskning, akupunktur och rörelseträning förefaller ha en positiv effekt på smärtminskning, ökat rörelseomfång och ökad aktivitet hos hundar med höftledsartros. Mer studier krävs för att fastställa dessa interventioner och även stärka säkerheten för det kliniska arbetet.

Many orthopedic conditions in dogs require the placement of bone screws in the proximal tibial metaphysis. Currently, both cortical and cancellous screws are used clinically depending on the surgeon’s preference; however, the ideal screw for use in the proximal tibia has not been determined. Currently, both the manual and power tapping techniques are used during surgical procedures of the proximal tibia in dogs. However, it is unknown if the use of power tapping when placing screws in the canine proximal tibial metaphysis affects screw purchase. Measurement of axial pull-out strength is traditionally used to evaluate and compare the holding power of screws inserted in bone. This study compares the axial pull-out strengths of 3.5 mm cortical and 4.0 mm cancellous screws inserted using manual and power tapping techniques in the proximal tibial metaphysis

No description available.

No description available.