Parameters of the center of pressure displacement on the saddle during hippotherapy on different surfaces

Background: Hippotherapy uses horseback riding movements for therapeutic purposes. In addition to the horse's movement, the choice of equipment and types of floor are also useful in the intervention. The quantification of dynamic parameters that define the interaction of the surface of contact between horse and rider provides insight into how the type of floor surface variations act upon the subject's postural control. Objective: To test whether different types of surfaces promote changes in the amplitude (ACOP) and velocity (VCOP) of the center of pressure (COP) displacement during the rider's contact with the saddle on the horse's back. Method: Twenty two healthy adult male subjects with experience in riding were evaluated. The penetration resistances of asphalt, sand and grass surfaces were measured. The COP data were collected on the three surfaces using a pressure measurement mat. Results: ACOP values were higher in sand, followed by grass and asphalt, with significant differences between sand and asphalt (anteroposterior, p=0.042; mediolateral, p=0.019). The ACOP and VCOP values were higher in the anteroposterior than in the mediolateral direction on all surfaces (ACOP, p=0.001; VCOP, p=0.006). The VCOP did not differ between the surfaces. Conclusion: Postural control, measured by the COP displacement, undergoes variations in its amplitude as a result of the type of floor surface. Therefore, these results reinforce the importance of the choice of floor surface when defining the strategy to be used during hippotherapy intervention. .

A Histologic Demonstration of Siliceous Materials in Simian Lung Mite Infected Lung Tissues by Microincineration

Approximately 90% of freshly imported macaques and other Old World Monkeys are known to be infected with respiratory mites. The lung associated pigments are integral components of pulmonary acariasis in Old World Monkeys; at least three distinctive pigmental bodies are identified in association with lung mite infection. Two major components of pigments are recently identified as silica by using elemental analysis using a high voltage electron microscope and an energy-dispersive X-ray analysis technique. Since a limited number of infected monkey lung tissues and associated pigments can be examined by this tedious procedure, it was important for us to examine much greater number of specimens to verify our initial observation. Ten microincineration technique described provided a unique and practical way to identify the mineral elements in as many 27 histologic sections within a short span of time. Silica and silicates are heat resistant whereas majority of organic materials including lung mite parasites disintegrated under the extreme temperature. Mineral elements were exclusively located within the polarizable white ash. More than 90% of total pigmental bodies identified were found to be related to siliceous materials in 20 incinerated infected monkey lung tissues whereas five noninfected lungs similarly examined did not reveal any pigmental bodies. Other than a small of fine granular mucin substances which were PAS positive, the majority of lung mite associated pigments such as large granules of hemosiderin, needle-like crystals and other fine granules engulfed by macrophages were identified to be siliceous materials as they have persisted even after microincineration. Mite parasites and other organic materials were completely disintegrated. Similar pigmental bodies examined by microscope X-ray analysis were positive for silicate. This finding suggests that lung mite infection in Old Monkeys apparently predisposed silicosis. Therefore, until the link between lung mite infection and silicosis is clarified, expreimental inhalation toxicologic findings in mite-infected Old World monkeys should be interpreted cautiously.

Testes biopsy analysis and hormonal reproduction levels of pig tail macaque (Macaca nemestrina) injected with testosterone enanthate (TE) and depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA).

The objective of this study is to analyse the testes biopsy and to know the lnrmone level reproduction of pig tail macaque (Macaca nemestrina) injected with testosterone enanthate (TE) and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). Six pig tail male macaques, age 6 - 8 years old were used as sanrple. Three months after adaptation period, each animal was injected intra muscularly with 32 mg TE each week starting at week zero up to the sixth week. The treatment was continued every 3 weeks after the sixth week up to the 24th week. 40 mg of DMPA was injected intramuscularly at week zero, and continued every week up to week 18. Volume of the testes was taken every three weeks and blood samples for examination of gonadotropin hormone and steroid hormone were taken at 6 week intervals. Testes biopsy was perfomed at week 30 and week 48. Preparation of testes histological slides were made using the paraffin method and stained with hematoxylin-Eosin (HE). The results of this study showed that both testes volume decreased i.e. 18.35 cm3 ± 9.35 and 19.02cm3 ± 10.88 (at week zero) to 6.70 cm3 ± 3.80 and 7.02 cm3 ± 4.61 (lowest volume at week 21). In recovery period, the testes volume increased to 20.34 cmr ± 7.87 and 21.75 cm3 ± 7.09. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the score of spermatogenesis (right and left testes) at week 30 were 0.13 mm ± 0.027 and 0.13 mm ± 0.026 and score were 5.08 ± 2.67 and 5.41 ± 2.51. At week 48, both diameter of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenesis score increased to become 0.18 mm ± 0.029 and 0.18 mm ± 0.026, and score were 7.51 ± 2.14 and 7.57 ± 1.59, During this period, hyalinization and fibrosis of seminiferous tubule occurred. By week 6, the total testosterone, free testosterone, and estrogen hormone levels increased quite sharply and then decreased but still higher than base levels of hormone. In the recovery period, estrogen hormone increased significantly until the end of observation (week 48). FSH and LH hormone levels decreased until week 6, then the FSH hormone levels increased until the end of observation, while the LH hormone level is still lower than base level. Conclusion of this study is the injection of TE and DMPA combination will alter the histological structure of the pig tailed macaque testes i.e. decreasing the diameter of the seminiferous tubules, suppressing spermatogenesis and hyalinisation and fibrosis of seminiferous tubules. The damages of this structure are likely caused by inhibition of feedback mechanism of hypothalamus-hypophysis-testes.

In vivo and in vitro studies on the morphological change in the monkey epidermal Langerhans cells following exposure to dengue 2 (16681) virus.

A direct comparison of skin Langerhans cell (LC) morphologic change following in vivo and in vitro exposure to dengue-2 (DEN-2) virus (16681) was performed in the monkey to investigate any differences in functional activity profiles. Time-lapse study of skin biopsy at the intradermal (id) virus injection sites, and thin skin sheets removed from the monkey with exposure to virus in culture medium, revealed a highly active migration of epidermal LCs in both sets of experimental specimens. The migration led to a relatively higher number of dendritic cells (DC) which appeared in active migrational profiles, in the superficial dermis. Moreover, obvious cytoplasmic structural changes, corresponding to their immunologic function, were observed in these superficial dermal DCs 2 hours after exposure. Despite their similar changes, early and late endosomes with degraded virus-like particles could be seen in the skin sheets owing to lagging in cellular physiological process in vitro, but none in the skin biopsies. Existence of these endosomes, which was extremely difficult to visualize in vivo, highlighted the mode of antigen processing by the endocytic pathway. The present study showed that the epidermal LC was a potent antigen-presenting cell for eliciting the success of id immunization and carried out the immunological activity in vivo or in vitro in the like manner, in respect to the physiological conditions.