The association between the serum concentration of canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) and the size of the canine prostate.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disorder in the intact male dog that is associated with an increase in the prostatic size. Ultrasonography gives a reliable estimate of the prostatic size, but a method for screening the prostate size using a serum sample has advantages, such as requiring less expensive equipment. The primary aim of the study was to study the association between the concentration of the circulating biomarker canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) and prostatic size. Seventy-nine dogs that were four years old or older were included in the study. Ultrasonography was used for calculating the volume of the prostate. The calculated volume was divided by an estimate of the normal prostatic volume in dogs aged one to four years, to determine the relative prostatic size: the size of the prostate in relation to the normal size in dogs 1-4 years old (Srel). CPSE was analyzed from serum samples. Multiple linear regression analysis was used for studying associations between variables. Prediction intervals for the relative prostatic size based on CPSE concentrations were calculated, as were receiver operating curves for CPSE concentrations predicting Srel. The concentration of CPSE was associated with the relative size and contour of the prostate (P < 0.001). All dogs with clinical signs of BPH had an Srel ≥ 2.5. A CPSE concentration of 200 ng/mL predicted Srel to 2.5 (95% P.I: 1.2-4.8). Based on ROC analysis, the optimal discrimination threshold for CPSE concentration for Srel ≥ 2.5 was estimated as 90 ng/mL (95% confidence interval: 50-140), with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 72%. Screening for CPSE is of potential value in the aging intact male dogs. Although many dogs with an Srel ≥ 2.5 show no clinical signs, the insidious nature of BPH supports further investigations of the prostate in these dogs, corresponding to a CPSE concentration of approximately 90 ng/mL or higher.

Days-lost to training and competition in relation to workload in 263 elite show-jumping horses in four European countries.

Orthopaedic, or other, injuries in sports medicine can be quantified using the 'days-lost to training' concept. Both the training regimen and the surface used in training and racing can affect the health of racehorses. Our aim was to associate 'days-lost to training' in elite-level show-jumpers to horse characteristics, training and management strategies, and the time spent working on various training and competition surfaces. We designed a longitudinal study of professional riders in four European countries. Data were recorded using training diaries. Reasons for days-lost were classified into non-acute and acute orthopaedic, medical, hoof-related, and undefined. We produced descriptive statistics of training durations, relative to type of training, surfaces used, and days-lost. We created zero-inflated negative-binomial random-effects models using the overall days-lost as outcome. In the whole dataset, duration variables related to training surfaces were analysed as independent. The Swedish data only were also used to test whether duration variables were related to competition surfaces. Thirty-one riders with 263 horses provided data on 39,028 days at risk. Of these, 2357 (6.0%) were days-lost (55% and 22% of these were due to non-acute and acute orthopaedic injuries, respectively) in 126 horses. In the all-country model, controlling for season, a significant variable was country. Switzerland and the UK had lower incidence-rate ratios (IR) compared to Sweden (IRs 0.2 and 0.03, respectively). Horses with previous orthopaedic problems had almost a doubled IR (1.8) of days-lost due to orthopaedic injury, compared to baseline. If the horse had jumping training more than 1 min per day at risk the IRs were 6.9-7 (compared to less than this amount of time); this was, however, likely an effect of a small baseline. Variation in training was a protective factor with a dose-response relationship; the category with the highest variation had an IR of 0.1. In the Swedish model, controlling for season, there was an association of year (IR 2.8 year 2010). Further, if the horse rested >17-25% of the days at risk, or >33% of the DAR2, had IRs 3.5 and 3.0, compared to less time. Horses ≥ 6 years had IRs of 1.8-2.0, compared to younger horses. Limited training use of sand surface was a risk-factor (IR 2.2; >4 ≤ 12 min/day at risk), compared to not training on sand. Training/competing on sand-wood was a protective factor (IRs 0.4-0.5) compared to not using this surface.