Differential cell analysis in ovine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: Effect of different sampling methods and seasons.

Background: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a method for collecting the cellular and fluid components of the airway surface in the lungs. The assessment of differential cell profiles is potentially valuable in the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases, but there is no information about the normal BAL profiles in the Gezel breed. Aim: This study aimed to characterize the normal cryptologic findings of BAL with Gezel sheep. Methods: Twenty healthy sheep (15 females: 5 males, bodyweight: 55-65 kg) were sedated with xylazine (0.02-0.04 mg/kg IV). Two methods; the transtracheal bronchoalveolar lavage technique and the bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage using a scope were evaluated. Sampling was performed in the summer and winter seasons. Results: Normal value (Mean ± SEM) for total cell, macrophage, lymphocyte, neutrophil, epithelial, and bronchial cells in BAL sampled in summer were (343.75 ± 30.23), ) 24.50 ± 2.62), (2.81 ± 0.51), (1.43 ± 0.88), and (3.12 ± 0.32), respectively. The normal values for the total cell, macrophage, lymphocyte, neutrophil, epithelial, and bronchial cells in BAL sampled in winter were (355.55 ± 37.67), (59.11 ± 4.30), (21.33 ± 3.10), (3.88 ± 1.07), (8.88 ± 3.78), and (6.33 ± 1.44), respectively. Conclusion: No significant change in the percentage of neutrophils was detected between seasons, although the percentages of bronchial and epithelial cells in winter were significantly high (p < 0.05). Except for the mentioned cases, neither the total cell number nor the percentage differential cell populations of BAL changed significantly (p < 0.05) in different sampling methods and seasons. Normal BAL profiles in the Gezel breed were determined and could be used in result interpretations. Also, both sampling methods can be used without significantly affecting the results.

Comparison effects of platelet-rich plasma on healing of infected and non-infected excision wounds by the modulation of the expression of inflammatory mediators: experimental research.

INTRODUCTION: Microbial invasion in soft tissue is believed to cause infectious wounds and increase healthcare costs, anxiety, and distress. The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of topical use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on infected wound-healing process in rats. METHODS: Following the induction of a circular wound, the animals were divided into three groups, including (1) standard control: infected wounds treated with mupirocin (SDCL), (2) non-infected wounds treated with PRP (PRP), and (3) infected group in which the rats were infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and treated with PRP (INF + PRP). To evaluate the effects of PRP on the wound-healing rate, total bacterial count, histopathological assessment, the serum concentrations of sialic acid, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, and fibrinogen were assessed. Additionally, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-3, NF-κB, iNOS, PDGF, and EGF mRNA level expressions were assessed employing the qRT-PCR method. RESULTS: The results indicated that topical application of PRP could significantly decrease total bacterial count, the level of C-reactive protein, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) compared to the SDCL group. The administration of PRP also promoted re-epithelization rate by increasing the expression of EGF mRNA level. CONCLUSION: We could recommend the use of PRP for the treatment of infected wounds owing to its efficiency in decreasing colonization of tissue bacteria, tissue inflammation, and stimulating wound heal-up.

Platelet Indices of Selenium Status in Healthy and Selenium-Deficient Sheep: a Comparison with Selenium Indices in Plasma, Whole Blood, and Red Blood Cells.

Several biomarkers have been used to evaluate selenium (Se) status in livestock. However, there is no report on the potential usefulness of the Se indices of platelets in diagnosis of Se deficiency in large animals. In the current study, Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in platelets of 38 healthy and 142 Se-deficient ewes were assessed, and their correlation with plasma Se concentration, plasma GPx activity, whole blood Se concentration, and erythrocyte GPx activity was determined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff values of Se concentration and GPx activity of the platelets and to summarize the diagnostic performance of these biomarkers. In Se-deficient ewes, consistent with other indices, Se concentration and GPx activity in platelets were significantly lower than those of the healthy ewes. There was a positive significant correlation between Se concentration and GPx activity in platelets with plasma Se concentration, whole blood Se concentration, and erythrocyte GPx activity. Based on the ROC curve analysis, the best cutoff value to predict inadequate plasma selenium concentration was ≤0.0055 attogram/platelet for the platelet Se concentration, with a sensitivity of 100.0 %, specificity of 92.4 %, and AUC of 0.94. For platelet GPx activity, the cutoff value was ≤203.6 U/g protein with a sensitivity of 97.4 %, specificity of 77.7 %, and AUC of 0.90. The results of this study suggested that the platelet Se concentration and GPx activity can be considered a reliable and valid intermediate-term surrogate parameter in assessment of dietary Se intake in sheep.

Assessment of serum thyroid hormone concentrations in lambs with selenium deficiency myopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in serum concentrations of thyroid hormones associated with selenium deficiency myopathy in lambs. ANIMALS: 35 lambs with selenium deficiency myopathy and 30 healthy lambs. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture from lambs with selenium deficiency myopathy and healthy lambs. Activities of markers of selenium deficiency myopathy (erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] and plasma creatine kinase [CK]) and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and total thyroxine (tT(4)) and total triiodothyronine (tT(3)) concentrations were assessed; values in affected lambs were compared with those in healthy lambs. Correlations of erythrocyte GSH-Px and plasma CK activities with serum concentrations of TSH, tT(4), and tT(3) were investigated, and the tT(3):tT(4) concentration ratio was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with findings in healthy lambs, erythrocyte GSH-Px activity, serum tT(3) concentration, and tT(3):tT(4) concentration ratio were significantly decreased and serum concentrations of tT(4) and TSH and the activity of plasma CK were significantly increased in affected lambs. Analysis revealed a significant negative correlation in the affected group between erythrocyte GSH-Px activity and each of the following: plasma CK activity (r = -0.443), serum TSH concentration (r = -0.599), serum tT(4) concentration (r = -0.577), and serum tT(3) concentration (r = -0.621). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that notable changes in circulating amounts of thyroid hormones develop in association with selenium deficiency in lambs. Such alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism may be involved in the high incidence of disorders, such as stillbirths and neonatal deaths, in selenium-deficient flocks.