Synovial fluid inflammatory cytokines and proteins in clinically healthy and arthritic joint of dromedary camels [Camelus dromedarius]

Analyzing the synovial fluid is one of the common methods to diagnose the articular problems to detect the stage and express the prognosis. Such gross, cytological, and biochemical analysis of synovial fluids can aid in the diagnosis of various joint diseases. Normal values for synovial fluid in the camels have been described previously; however, there are no reports regarding concentration of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines in camelids synovial fluid. Hence, the present study tried to compare the synovial fluid inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins in clinically healthy and arthritic tarsal joints of dromedary camels. 46 male dromedary camels, 5 to 10 years old, were used in this study. 33 camels did not have any clinical articular abnormalities while 13 camels had gross articular problems such as lameness and swollen tarsal joints. Collecting the synovial fluids was extracted from the healthy and arthritic tarsal joints immediately after slaughter. Then, the concentration of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma were measured in samples. Concentration of all measured parameters in arthritic joints were significantly higher than clinically healthy joints [p<0.05]. The synovial fluid concentration of serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma were 5.379, 4.285, 25.503, and 1.904 times higher in arthritic joints than normal joints, respectively. The articular inflammatory processes can increase the synovial fluid concentration of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines. Information about the normal values of these parameters and their changing patterns may help camel rearing systems during arthrititis by assessing the health status of joints in the camels; in addition, the information about normal values can be diagnostically valuable when considering diseased animals

Correlations among homocysteine, cardiac troponin I and cardiac enzymes in different ages of clinically healthy male dromedary camels

Information regarding serum biochemical profile can reflect cardiovascular performance in animals. Although studies have evaluated the inter-relationship among cardiovascular biomarkers in animals and human beings, there are no reports of such a probable relationship in camelids. The aim of the present study was to provide data on the correlations among cardiovascular biomarkers in different ages of clinically healthy male dromedary camels to provide a basis for assessing cardiac muscle healthiness in this species. Thirty clinically healthy dromedary camels [Camelus dromedarius] were selected and divided into four age groups including 1-3 [n=7], 4-6 [n=7], 7-9 [n=8], and above 10 [n=8] years old. Blood samples were collected and sera were separated. Serum concentrations of homocysteine [Hcy], cardiac troponin I [cTnI], creatine kinase-myocardial specific isoenzymes [CK-MB], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] were evaluated. The results of the present study showed that there were significant correlations among cTnI and CK-MB [r=-0.853; p=0.015] and Hcy [r=0.916; p=0.004] in the 4 to 6-years-old group of clinically healthy male dromedary camels. LDH was significantly correlated with CK-MB in the 7 to 9-year-old group [r=-0.710; p=0.045]. There were no significant correlations among different factors of 1-3 and above 10-year-old groups [p>0.05]. The data provided here is the first report on cardiac health assessment parameters in dromedary camels. Moreover, the data is valuable in camel racing clubs, when an overall cardiac health and fitness is to be assessed. The correlation reported here might also be helpful for easier analysis of cardiac health status in dromedary camels. The data may be useful for assessing suspected cases of myocardial diseases and its changes maybe of prognostic value

Kidney traansplantation in children: Results of ten years experience in Imam Reza Hospital

Advances in nephrology and pediatric urology have increased the number of children who survive renal disease and become candidates for renal transplantation. Ten years of experience in pediatric renal transplantation are reviewed to determine the rates of patient morbidity and graft survival. Of the 450 renal transplantations performed in Imam Reza Hospital [1989-1999], fifty-one were done on children [6-18yrs.]. Causes of renal failure included: reflux nephropathy, 8 cases; neurogenic bladder, 5 cases; posterior urethral valve, one case; prune belly syndrome, 1 case; small kidney due to chronic glomerulonephritis, 8 cases; the remaining failures were of unknown etiology. All kidneys were harvested from living donors,30 related and unrelated.20 Immunosuppressive therapy was given with three drugs in all children: prednisolone, azathioprine, and cyc1osporine, with the exception of 6 recipients of HLA-identical siblings who did not receive cyclosporine. The Kaplan-Meier curve was constructed to assess graft and patient survival and the Log rank test was used to assess the effect of kidney source and date of renal transplant. Immediate diuresis occurred in all grafts. Surgical complications included two urinary fistulae and one clinical lymphocele which were all repaired surgically. There were eleven acute rejections. The most common causes of graft failure were chronic rejection and recurrence of primary renal diseases. The graft survival rates after 1, 2, 5 and 10 years were 95%, 84%, 76%, and 62% respectively. By all measures, renal transplantation is still the treatment of choice for children with ESRD. Renal transplantation in children results in improvement in physical growth, mental development and rate of survival. Hypertension, chronic rejection, infection, obesity and medical noncompliance continue to be problematic