Comparison of hematologic variables among Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and Western stock horse breeds.

BACKGROUND: Hematology is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate the health status of horses. However, breed differences are often not considered. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to compare complete blood count variables among Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and stock horses (SH). METHODS: Ninety-six healthy horses were grouped by breed (Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and SH). Samples were collected through venipuncture for complete blood count analysis. One-way ANOVA with Tukey's tests or Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn's post hoc tests were used to compare hematologic variables among groups. RESULTS: Warmbloods had a significantly lower total white blood cell (WBC) count (6.08 ± 1.11 × 109/L) and lymphocyte count (1.76 ± 0.41 × 109/L) than Thoroughbreds (7.28 ± 1.45; 2.28 ± 5.16 × 109/L, respectively; P < .001) and SH (7.21 ± 1.18 × 109/L, P < .01; 2.10 ± 5.17 × 109/L; P < .05). Warmbloods had a significantly lower red blood cell count (7.7 ± 0.8 × 1012/L) and higher mean corpuscular volume (MCV, 49.4 ± 2.2 fL) than Thoroughbreds (8.42 ± 1.2 × 1012/L, P < .01; 47.3 ± 3.0 fL). Warmbloods had lower MCVs than SH (49.4 ± 2.2 vs 51.2 ± 2.6 fL). The mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was higher in Warmbloods (35.0, 33.8-36.2 g/dL) and Thoroughbreds (34.9, 33.4-35.7 g/dL) than in SH breeds (34.0, 33.4-35.4 g/dL; P < .001, both). Total protein concentrations were significantly lower in Thoroughbreds (67, 59-80 g/L) compared with SH (71, 64-83 g/dL) (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Warmbloods had decreased WBC and lymphocyte counts compared with Thoroughbreds and SH, and Thoroughbreds had increased red blood cell counts. Thoroughbreds had lower total protein concentrations than SH. Clinicians should consider breed differences when interpreting hematologic values.

Validation of deuterium incorporation against sterol balance for measurement of human cholesterol biosynthesis.

To examine the validity of the deuterium (D) incorporation technique for measurement of human cholesterol synthesis rates, D uptake from D2O into cholesterol was compared to sterol balance in 13 subjects each under three controlled diet settings. Subjects (age 62 +/- 3.6 yr, body weight 74 +/- 4.0 kg, BMI 27 +/- 1.4) consumed weight maintenance diets enriched in either corn oil, beef tallow, or stick corn oil margarine over a 5-week period. During the final week of the study period, subjects were given 1.2 g/D2O per kg body water. D enrichment was measured in plasma water and total cholesterol over 24 h. Also, during the final week, dietary intake and fecal elimination rates of cholesterol were assessed over one 6-day period to calculate sterol balance. There was no significant difference (t = 0.858, P = 0.397) between D incorporation into cholesterol (1,183 +/- 92 mg/day) and sterol balance (1,316 +/- 125 mg/day). Among diets, net cholesterol biosynthesis measured by D incorporation agreed (r = 0.745, P = 0.0001) with values derived from sterol balance. The degree of association between methods was not influenced by the wide range of fatty acid composition of the diet fat. These data demonstrate the utility of the simple, non-restrictive deuterium incorporation method as a reliable means of determining cholesterol biosynthesis in free-living humans.

Determination of moisture on thorium dioxide by a coulometric electrolytic measurement with electronic integration.

The coulometric electrolytic principle is utilized for the measurement of moisture sorbed on sintered thorium dioxide. Moisture is removed from the sample by heating and is swept by dry argon gas through a hygrometer. The resulting hygrometer output is converted into frequency pulses and counted cumulatively. The instrument is calibrated by use of standard hydrated chemicals. The number of counts/mu;g of water obtained from standards compares favourably with the theoretical number of counts/mu;g calculated from performance specifications of the components employed. The error is <5% for 1-350mu;g of water. A high sensitivity and low operating blank recommends application of this method to materials other than thorium dioxide, having very low moisture contents.