Identification of infrared absorption spectral characteristics of synovial fluid of horses with osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of the use of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy within the midinfrared range to differentiate synovial fluid samples of joints with osteochondrosis from those of control samples. ANIMALS: 33 horses with osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint and 31 horses free of tarsocrural joint disease. PROCEDURES: FTIR spectroscopy of synovial fluid was used. Sixty-four synovial fluid samples from the tarsocrural joint were collected. Of these, 33 samples were from horses with radiographic evidence of osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint and 31 from control joints. Disease-associated features within infrared spectra of synovial fluid were statistically selected for spectral classification, and the variables identified were used in a classification model. Linear discriminant analysis and leave-one-out cross-validation were used to develop a classifier to identify joints with osteochondrosis. RESULTS: 12 significant subregions were identified that met the selection criteria. The stepwise discriminant procedure resulted in the final selection of 6 optimal regions that most contributed to the discriminatory power of the classification algorithm. Infrared spectra derived from synovial fluid of joints with osteochondrosis were differentiated from the control samples with accuracy of 77% (81% specificity and 73% sensitivity). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The disease-associated characteristics of infrared spectra of synovial fluid from joints with osteochondrosis may be exploited via appropriate feature selection and classification algorithms to differentiate joints with osteochondrosis from those of control joints. Further study with larger sample size including age-, breed-, and sex-matched control horses would further validate the clinical value of infrared spectroscopy for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis in horses.

In vitro heterogeneity of osteogenic cell populations at various equine skeletal sites.

Bone cell cultures were evaluated to determine if osteogenic cell populations at different skeletal sites in the horse are heterogeneous. Osteogenic cells were isolated from cortical and cancellous bone in vitro by an explant culture method. Subcultured cells were induced to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts. The osteoblast phenotype was confirmed by immunohistochemical testing for osteocalcin and substantiated by positive staining of cells for alkaline phosphatase and the matrix materials collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Bone nodules were stained by the von Kossa method and counted. The numbers of nodules produced from osteogenic cells harvested from different skeletal sites were compared with the use of a mixed linear model. On average, cortical bone sites yielded significantly greater numbers of nodules than did cancellous bone sites. Between cortical bone sites, there was no significant difference in nodule numbers. Among cancellous sites, the radial cancellous bone yielded significantly more nodules than did the tibial cancellous bone. Among appendicular skeletal sites, tibial metaphyseal bone yielded significantly fewer nodules than did all other long bone sites. This study detected evidence of heterogeneity of equine osteogenic cell populations at various skeletal sites. Further characterization of the dissimilarities is warranted to determine the potential role heterogeneity plays in differential rates of fracture healing between skeletal sites.

Relationship between objective measures of physical activity and weather: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The weather may be a barrier to physical activity but objective assessment of this hypothesis is lacking. Therefore we evaluated the effect of temperature, rain or snow, and wind speed on the daily physical activity of adults. METHODS: This report contains data from 25 males (BMI (mean +/- SD): 28.7 +/- 3.83 kg/m2) and 177 females (BMI: 29.2 +/- 5.92 kg/m2) enrolled in an intervention to increase physical activity. Steps/day of the participants was measured by pedometer. Weather data were obtained from Environment Canada. A total of 8,125 observations were included in a mixed linear model analysis. RESULTS: Significant weather related variables (at the 5% level) impacting steps/day included: seasonal effects related to the interaction between weekday and month; mean temperature, total rainfall, interactions between gender, BMI and total snow, interactions between maximum wind speed and BMI, and the amount of snow on the ground. The estimated magnitudes for the various effects were modest, ranging from approximately 1% to approximately 20%. Thus for an average individual taking approximately 10,000 steps/day, weather-dependent changes in physical activity could reach 2,000 steps/day. CONCLUSION: We conclude that weather had modest effects on physical activity of participants in an intervention to increase their activity. It should be stressed that these effects may be different for less or more motivated people. With this in mind, we suggest that the effect of weather on physical activity in the general population needs to be objectively assessed to better understand the barrier it poses, especially as it relates to outdoor recreation or work activities.

Use of infrared spectroscopy for diagnosis of traumatic arthritis in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate use of infrared spectroscopy for diagnosis of traumatic arthritis in horses. ANIMALS: 48 horses with traumatic arthritis and 5 clinically and radiographically normal horses. PROCEDURES: Synovial fluid samples were collected from 77 joints in 48 horses with traumatic arthritis. Paired samples (affected and control joints) from 29 horses and independent samples from an affected (n = 12) or control (7) joint from 19 horses were collected for model calibration. A second set of 20 normal validation samples was collected from 5 clinically and radiographically normal horses. Fourier transform infrared spectra of synovial fluids were acquired and manipulated, and data from affected joints were compared with controls to identify spectroscopic features that differed significantly between groups. A classification model that used linear discriminant analysis was developed. Performance of the model was determined by use of the 2 validation datasets. RESULTS: A classification model based on 3 infrared regions classified spectra from the calibration dataset with overall accuracy of 97% (sensitivity, 93%; specificity, 100%). The model, with cost-adjusted prior probabilities of 0.60:0.40, yielded overall accuracy of 89% (sensitivity, 83%; specificity, 100%) for the first validation sample dataset and 100% correct classification of the second set of independent normal control joints. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The infrared spectroscopic patterns of fluid from joints with traumatic arthritis differed significantly from the corresponding patterns for controls. These alterations in absorption patterns may be used via an appropriate classification algorithm to differentiate the spectra of affected joints from those of controls.

Summary results from a pilot study conducted around an oil production platform on the Northwest Shelf of Australia.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducted a pilot study around the Harriet A oil production platform on the Northwest Shelf of Australia. We evaluated hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) in bile and immunodetection of CYP1A-like proteins in two Australian tropical fish species, Gold-Spotted Trevally (Carangoides fulvoguttatus) and Bar-Cheeked Coral Trout (Plectropomus maculatus) to assess exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons associated with produced formation water (PFW). Additionally, the incidence of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria isolated from the liver and bile of all fish captured was examined. Low EROD activity was found in both species, with EROD activity in C. fulvoguttatus showing significant site differences. FACs and CYP1A protein levels in C. fulvoguttatus showed a clear trend in hydrocarbon exposure consistent with hydrocarbon chemistry data: Harriet A>Harriet C>reference site. P. maculatus showed elevated levels of FACs at Harriet A as compared to the reference site and demonstrated detectable levels of CYP1A-like proteins at these two sites. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were found in the liver and bile of both species, yet there was no correlation by sites. Our results demonstrate that C. fulvoguttatus and P. maculatus have potential as indicator species for assessing the effects from exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons. Both FACs and CYP1A are providing warning signs that there is potential for biological effects on fish populations exposed to PFW around the Harriet A production platform.

Health benefits of a pedometer-based physical activity intervention in sedentary workers.

BACKGROUND: Inactivity is a leading contributor to chronic health problems. Here, we examined the effects of a pedometer-based physical activity intervention (Prince Edward Island-First Step Program, PEI-FSP) on activity and specific health indices in 106 sedentary workers. METHODS: Participants were recruited from five workplaces where most jobs were moderately-highly sedentary. Using subjects as their own control, physical activity (pedometer-determined steps per day) was compared before and after a 12-week intervention. Changes in body mass index (BMI), waist girth, resting heart rate, and blood pressure were evaluated. RESULTS: The PEI-FSP was completed by 59% of participants. Steps per day increased from 7,029 +/- 3,100 (SD) at baseline to a plateau of 10,480 +/- 3,224 steps/day by 3.96 +/- 3.28 weeks of the intervention. The amount that participants were able to increase their steps per day was not related to their baseline BMI. On average, participants experienced significant decreases in BMI, waist girth, and resting heart rate. Reductions in waist girth and heart rate were significantly related to the increase in steps per day. In contrast, reductions in BMI were predicted by the initial steps per day. CONCLUSIONS: The PEI-FSP increased physical activity in a sedentary population. Importantly, those with a higher BMI at baseline achieved relatively similar increases in their physical activity as participants with a lower BMI.