Iron profile in Thoroughbreds during a standard training program.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the modifications of some haematological parameters and iron profile during an 80-day training program and their relationship with athletic performance of performance horses. METHODS: During the training period, 20 Thoroughbreds were subjected to a standardised exercise test, previously standardised for gallopers to evaluate athletic performance. The test was performed immediately before the beginning of the training program (T0) and after 30 days (T30), 60 days (T60) and 90 days (T90). For each horse, their velocities at blood lactate concentrations of 2 and 4 mmol/L (V2 and V4) and a heart rate of 200 beats/min (V200) were calculated to assess the effect of the training program on athletic performance. Blood samples were collected at 20-day intervals over a period of 80 days from the beginning of the training program. RESULTS: One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a statistically significant effect of days of training (time) on iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation and unsaturated iron-binding capacity (P < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed the influence of the intensity and duration of exercise on iron metabolism. These findings may be useful for evaluating the athletic status of horses during training and to assess the degree of training adaptability, providing an opportunity to modify the training schedule to achieve the desired performance.

Changes in blood coagulation induced by exercise training in young athletic horses.

Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated Partial Prothrombin Time (APTT), Fibrinogen concentration (Fbg) and Platelet number (Plt) were evaluated in 20 young athletic horses during a training program. A standardized exercise test (SET) was performed every month for three months. The V4 variations (the speed, in m/min, reached at the blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l) obtained for each test were calculated to assess the effect of training program on athletic performance. Blood samples were collected at 20-day intervals over a period of 80 days from the beginning of the training program. The V4 (P < 0.001), PT (P < 0.001), APTT (P < 0.01), Fbg (P < 0.01) and Plt (P < 0.001) varied throughout the training period showing that the modifications of clotting mechanism in response to training period may be considered as a normal physiological response of the hemostatic system to training exercise.

ADP-induced platelet aggregation after addition of tramadol in vitro in fed and fasted horses plasma.

Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in fed and fasted horses after addition of tramadol hydrochloride was evaluated in vitro. On 10 horses citrated blood samples were collected 2h after feeding (fed animals) and 21 h after feeding (fasted animals). Final concentrations of ADP 1 and 0.5 µM, and tramadol hydrochloride (1, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after the addition of tramadol) were used to determine the maximum degree and initial velocity of platelet aggregation. Repeated measures multifactor analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to evaluate the effect of feeding/fasting condition, ADP concentration and addition of tramadol. Findings showed statistical differences (P≤0.05) on studied parameters after addition of tramadol to different ADP concentrations in fed and fasted horses. The clinical relevance of these results is that tramadol provides many advantages as a therapeutic option; in fact, it is an inexpensive and a relatively new analgesic in equine veterinary medicine. Further investigations would be appropriate to compare the effects of different opioids but also using different concentrations of tramadol associated with other drugs in order to have substances which can regulate the functional activity of the platelets and to extend the knowledges on equine platelet aggregation.

Electrophoretic serum protein fraction profile during the different physiological phases in Comisana ewes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different physiological phases on serum total proteins and their fractions of ten Comisana ewes housed in Mediterranean area. From each animal, blood samples were collected at different physiological phases: late pregnancy, post-partum, early, mid-, end lactation and dry period. On all samples serum total proteins were determined by the biuret method, and albumin, α-globulins, ß(1) -globulins, ß(2) -globulins and γ-globulins concentrations were assessed using an automated system. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was applied to determine the significant effect of different physiological phases on the parameters studied. During the late pregnancy and post-partum, total proteins, ß1- and ß2-globulins and γ-globulins showed the highest values. Starting from post-partum, α-globulins increased to reach their peaks in mid-lactation. Early lactation was characterized by low γ-globulins values. The increase in serum albumin concentration and the drop in some globulin fractions determined the significant increase in albumin/globulin ratio. The obtained results contributed to improve the knowledge on electrophoretic profile during the different physiological phases in ewes, confirming that pregnancy and lactation periods affect the protein metabolism. Particularly, serum protein fractions pattern could give information about dehydration, plasma volume expansion and hepatic function, which occur during the different physiological phases. Dynamics of the protein profile - from pregnancy to dry period - which are provided by our results, could be considered as guidelines for the management strategies to guarantee the nutritional needs of these animals during the different physiological phases and to avoid a decline of productive performance and consequently an economic loss.

Modifications of some acute phase proteins and the white blood cell count in thoroughbreds during training.

The concentrations of plasma fibrinogen and serum haptoglobin and the white blood cell count (WBC) were assessed in 17 thoroughbreds. All horses were trained for 80 days, six days a week, with one day of rest per week. Blood samples were collected from each animal by jugular venepuncture, at 06.00, every 20 days for a period of 80 days, and the fibrinogen and haptoglobin concentrations and WBC were determined. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance, followed by the Bonferroni test, was used to determine significant differences. Training was associated with a significant increase in the concentrations of plasma fibrinogen (P<0.01) and serum haptoglobin (P<0.0005), but had no significant effect on the WBC count.

Daily rhythms of serum and salivary parameters in goats.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the daily rhythms of urea, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus secretion in the serum and saliva of goats and whether there is a relationship between them. DESIGN: Ten non-gravid, non-lactating does underwent a 30-day preconditioning period (natural 24-h photoperiod, environmental temperature 19-21 degrees C, relative humidity 40-50%, the same feeding regimen, offered as a single meal at 07:00 hours, and water ad libitum), following which saliva and blood samples were collected from each subject every 4 h for 2 days (starting at 08:00 hours) for measurement of urea and electrolytes. RESULTS: Data analysis was conducted by one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and by the single cosinor method. ANOVA showed a significant effect of time (0.001 < P < 0.01) on all the studied parameters in saliva and serum on both days. Cosinor analysis identified the periodic parameters and their acrophases (expressed in hours) during the 2 days of monitoring. Serum and salivary acrophases were all diurnal and were observed between 11:40 and 16:24 hours. No circadian rhythmicity was found for bicarbonate, magnesium or potassium in either saliva or serum. CONCLUSION: There was a daily rhythm of secretion for the majority of the measured parameters, suggesting the potential role of saliva as an additional, reliable index for physiological, clinical, nutritional and chronophysiological studies.

Daily pattern of some fatty acids in the athletic horse.

In the sport field, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are important for the physical performance during the aerobic exercise of short intensity and long duration. In man, rat, goat and in the sedentary horse studies on the chronometabolism showed the presence of a circadian rhythm of the plasmatic concentration of NEFA while data for the athletic horse are lacking. To define a chronogram helpful for a specific planning and the differentiation of the training programmme in the athletic horse, the circadian pattern of some fatty acids (NEFA, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids) was studied in five Sella Italiana horses. These horses trained following a daily model of activity consisting of walk, trot, gallop and jump of obstacles of different heights. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein every 4 h, starting at 08:00 hours, for 2 days to assess the concentrations of total NEFA (by spectrophotometry), palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids (by gas chromatography). anova for repeated measures showed a statistical significant effect of the time of the day in NEFA, oleic and linolenic acids. The application of the periodic model showed the periodic pattern of NEFA, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. Acrophases were in the afternoon for all parameters. The results obtained showed a different trend of the circadian pattern of the studied parameters in the athletic horse than in the sedentary one because the physical activity and the post-prandial metabolism acted as zeitgebers.

Daily rhythm of tear production in normal dog maintained under different Light/Dark cycles.

This study was conduced to assess the daily rhythm of tear production in clinically healthy dog. For our study eight female purebred Beagles were subjected to three different Light/Dark schedules: 12/12L/D, 24/0L/D and 0/24L/D cycles. In all subjects Schirmer tear test I was performed at 4h intervals over a 24h period. A statistical significant effect of photoperiod was observed comparing the three different L/D schedules, and a statistical significant difference was observed comparing left and right eye during the 12/12L/D schedule. We demonstrated daily variation of tear production in dogs maintained under an L/D cycle. We also provided strong evidence that the rhythm of tear production is endogenously generated because it persisted in constant darkness. Although the range of excursion of the daily/circadian oscillation in STT I (about 2mm/min) is likely too narrow to be of clinical significance, it is statistically significant and may have physiological implications not yet appreciated.

The influence of exercise on the daily rhythm of serum homocysteine in horses.

The aim of this study was to determine the daily rhythms in the blood serum of homocysteine in horses. Ten thoroughbred horses, five athletic (trained for 1 h, 6 days a week) and five sedentary, were used. Blood samples were collected on each subject every 4 h for two days by means of the jugular vein. On each individual sample, the serum concentration of homocysteine was assessed. The results obtained during the experimental period indicated the existence of a daily rhythm of serum homocysteine in sedentary and athletic horses. They also demonstrated that in horses, physical exercise influences the daily rhythm of serum homocysteine.

Amino acid concentrations in blood serum of horses performing long lasting low-intensity exercise.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the changes in the concentrations, after two rides different for distance covered, of different amino acids in endurance horses. Blood samples have been collected from horses just before the start, at the top of a steep slope (819 m difference in height) and just at the end of a 32-km endurance ride. A second group, competing in a 72 km endurance ride, has also been sampled immediately before and after the race. In serum samples, the concentrations of alanine, arginine, asparagine, glycine, isoleucine, histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine, ornithine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine have been measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). anova and t-test have been used to study the differences in the concentrations of the amino acids. The pre-ride concentrations of the free amino acids were different between the two races, except for methionine and leucine. Differences between start and end race have been found for both groups for all the considered parameters except asparagine, isoleucine, leucine and lysine for the 72 km ride. Increases have been recorded for the shorter and decreases for the longer ride in the blood serum concentrations. Significant increases have also been found between the starting sampling and the second, at the top of the slope, only for alanine, arginine, asparagines, phenylalanine and lysine. The ride length has a significant impact on blood serum amino acids mobilization and uptake; in the shorter race the increases stand only for mobilization, whereas in the longer the decrease can be considered the effect of the onset of the amino acids catabolism.

Blood serum branched chain amino acids and tryptophan modifications in horses competing in long-distance rides of different length.

During long-distance exercise, branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism could lead to an increase in the blood tryptophan/BCAA ratio and an early onset of 'central fatigue'. Based on these considerations, we studied the modifications of blood serum BCAA and tryptophan (Try) levels in 30 endurance horses competing in rides varying in distance from 20 to 72 km. From all horses, blood samples were drawn just before and just after the end of the ride. Samples were analysed for their leucine (Leu), valine (Val), isoleucine (Iso) and Try levels. Data were processed by anova, using sampling moment and ride as factors, and by LSD post hoc test. Significant differences were recorded among the different distance rides for Leu, Val, Iso, Try, Try/BCAA ratio; the same trend was recorded between samples taken at the start and the end of the race for Val and Leu. The main effect observed was an increase of BCAA levels for all rides, except the 72-km ride; for Try, a significant increase was present in all races, except the 50-km ride. The Try/BCAA ratio decreased in 20- and 50-km races and increased in the others. These data confirm that long-distance exercise involves a mobilization of BCAA. The utilization of BCAA seems to be important in prolonged exercise: in the 72-km ride, we observed a decrease in BCAA blood serum levels, while a major role of Try was indicated by its increase, resulting in a rise of the Try/BCAA ratio.

Electrocardiographic changes induced by physical exercise in the jumper horse

The authors conducted an electrocardiographic investigation on eight jumpers of Sella Italiana breed to evaluate cardiovascular changes associated with specific competitions. Electrocardiographic recordings were carried out using an electrocardiograph with a deflection of 10 mm/mV and a paper speed of 25 mm/sec. Recordings were conducted under the following experimental conditions: at rest, after warm up, after a jumping trial, and 15 and 30 minutes after the end of the trial. Significant reductions were observed in the duration of the P wave, of the P-Q interval, and of the R-R intervals immediately after the test. Significant elevations were observed immediately after the test in the range of the T and P waves of the heart rate. The observed changes can be attributed mainly to increase of the sympathetic tone connected with increase of heart rate necessary to satisfy the elevation of the cardiac range. These results are useful to plan and monitor specific training programmes.

[Differential diagnostic problems in metastatic ovarian tumors of intestinal origin. Description of a clinical case]. / Problemi diagnostici differenziali dei tumori ovarici metastatici di origine intestinale. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

The authors report the case of a patient undergoing gynecological surgery to the presence of a right ovarian mass with a maximum of diameter of 23 cm which was found to be a secondary tumour. Histologically analysis showed that this mass was the metastasis of a tumour of intestinal origin, a finding that was then confirmed by flow cytometry. The authors draw attention to the need for patients with suspected ovarian tumour to undergo preoperative diagnostic tests to evaluate the possibility of neoplastic pathology in the gastrointestinal tract in order to optimise surgery and antiblastic treatment.

[Pregnancy and jejuno-ileal bypass]. / Gravidanza e by-pass digiuno-ileale.

The A. describe a full-term pregnancy following jejunoileal by-pass for extreme obesity. They review the problems reported by other A. about pregnancy evolution following this operation.