This study demonstrates sexual dimorphism of feline bones, based on a morphometric analysis of 38 dried feline skulls and pelvic bones (20 males, 18 females). A total of 44 parameters (skull = 12, mandible = 10, pelvis = 22) were measured using a digital vernier calliper. In morphological observation of these bones, there were three hallmarks indicating a remarkable difference between sexes: the coronoid process of the mandible (accuracy rate = 88.2%); and the os coxae - caudal ventral iliac spine (accuracy rate = 94.4%), and the angle of the ischiatic arch (accuracy rate = 74.3%). In addition, based on morphometric characteristics, six parameters were found to be significantly different (P < 0.05) between males and females, consisting of one in the mandible and five in the pelvis, but no parameters in the skull. Effective equations to discriminate gender were generated through a stepwise discriminant analysis from feline mandible and pelvic bones. Our findings showed that an equation from the pelvic bones, Y = [-16.066*T/O] + [2.559*IC/PS] + [13.357*TTL/ISA] - [4.478], appeared to be more applicable with a 97.3% accuracy rate, while a function from the mandible gave a 64.9% accuracy rate. In conclusion, we suggest that an equation from feline pelvic measurements and three hallmarks, one on the mandible and two on the os coxae, can be used for sex estimation.

BackgroundThe objectives are to compare the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IA-HA) alone and in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs (IA-HA + AI), corticosteroids (CS) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in clinical trials and in vivo and in vitro studies of osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsData in the BIOSIS, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Medline databases were collected and analyzed. Random effects models were used to compute the effect size (ES) of the mean difference in pain reduction scores from baseline and the relative risk (RR) of adverse events. The ES of histological scores in vivo and cartilage metabolism in vitro were also calculated. We conducted sensitivity analysis of blinding and intention-to-treat (ITT), compared IA-HA combined with CS vs. IA-HA alone in trials, and compared the effects of HA + AI vs. AI alone in vitro, including anabolic and catabolic gene expression.ResultsThirteen out of 382 papers were included for data analysis. In clinical trials, the ES of pain reduction scores within the 1st month was −4.24 (−6.19, −2.29); 2nd–12th month, −1.39 (−1.95, −0.82); and within one year, −1.63 (−2.19, −1.08), favoring IA-HA + AI (P < 0.001). The ES of RR was 1.08 (0.59, 1.98), and histological scores was 1.38 (−0.55, 3.31). The ES of anabolic gene expression was 1.22 (0.18, 2.25), favoring HA alone (P < 0.05); catabolic gene expression was 0.74 (−0.44, 1.53), favoring HA alone; and glycosaminoglycans remaining was −2.45 (−5.94, 1.03).ConclusionsIA-HA + AI had greater efficacy for pain relief than IA-HA alone within a one-year period. However, HA + AI down-regulated the ACAN gene when compared with HA alone in vitro.

The purposes of this study were to examine the cartilage degradation effects of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on normal and osteoarthritic (OA) primary canine chondrocytes and cartilage explants and to examine the cartilage degradation effects of TA in combination with low-molecular-weight hyaluronan (LMWHA). To assess the effects of these drugs on cell culture, 3,[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and real-time PCR were used to measure chondrotoxicity and determine gene expression, respectively. Uronic acid and hydroxyproline remaining in cartilage and histopathology were used to estimate the effects of these drugs on cartilage explants. In chondrocyte cultures, TA reduced chondrocyte viability in a concentration-dependent manner. LMWHA 2.5 mg/ml combined with TA at IC20 (0.09 mg/ml) could increase the viability of normal chondrocytes when compared with TA-treated alone. TA at IC20 induced down-regulation of ACAN and induced up-regulation of ADAMTS5 in canine normal chondrocytes. TA at IC20 (0.11 mg/ml) up-regulated ADAMTS5, MMP2, MMP3, MMP13, and ACAN expression in canine OA chondrocytes. In explant culture, TA at 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/ml increased the severity of structural damage, chondrocyte loss and cluster formation, and proteoglycan loss in OA cartilage. LMWHA could decrease the chondrotoxicity of TA at IC20 only in normal chondrocytes, as observed by chondrocyte viability. The combination of LMWHA and TA did not show clearly beneficial effects in all other normal and OA samples. Consequently, using TA alone or in combination with LMWHA in OA cartilage should be of concern because it may lead to cartilage destruction.

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are frequently used for septic arthritis. Increased antibacterial activity has been associated with mammalian cell cytotoxicity that may increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis. This study compared the direct effects of two different FQs, enrofloxacin (Enro) and marbofloxacin (Mar), on normal primary canine chondrocytes and inflammatory-stimulated chondrocytes, in addition to their administration in combination with hyaluronan (HA). Cell viability, cell apoptosis, s-GAG production, and expression patterns of inflammatory, extracellular matrix (ECM) component and protease genes were measured. Enro co-culturing with HA could modify s-GAG synthesis compared with the negative control group. Co-treatment with both FQs and HA significantly decreased cell viability and induced more total apoptotic cell death compared with the negative control and pre-IL-1β-stimulated group. Enro regulated IL-1β-stimulated cells to overexpress IL-1β, TNF, and MMP3, whereas Mar induced upregulation of PTGS2 and NFKB1 and enhanced the expression of ECM component genes HAS1, COL2A1, and ACAN as well as TIMP1 and MMP9. Simultaneous use of HA with Enro can effectively reduce the expression of IL-1β, TNF, and MMP3 in pre-IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. These results suggest the beneficial effects of HA in reducing the adverse effects of Enro treatment at the transcriptional level.

The elemental composition was investigated and applied for identifying the sex and habitat of dugongs, in addition to distinguishing dugong tusks and teeth from other animal wildlife materials such as Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) tusks and tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) canine teeth. A total of 43 dugong tusks, 60 dugong teeth, 40 dolphin teeth, 1 whale tooth, 40 Asian elephant tusks and 20 tiger canine teeth were included in the study. Elemental analyses were conducted using a handheld X-ray fluorescence analyzer (HH-XRF). There was no significant difference in the elemental composition of male and female dugong tusks, whereas the overall accuracy for identifying habitat (the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand) was high (88.1%). Dolphin teeth were able to be correctly predicted 100% of the time. Furthermore, we demonstrated a discrepancy in elemental composition among dugong tusks, Asian elephant tusks and tiger canine teeth, and provided a high correct prediction rate among these species of 98.2%. Here, we demonstrate the feasible use of HH-XRF for preliminary species classification and habitat determination prior to using more advanced techniques such as molecular biology.

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BackgroundIntra-articular injection of corticosteroids is used to treat the inflammatory pain of arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA), but our previous study found a deleterious effect of these steroids on chondrocyte cells. Hyaluronic acid (HA) injection has been suggested as a means to counteract negative side effects through replenishment of synovial fluid that can decrease pain in affected joints. To better understand the effects of corticosteroids on these processes, dexamethasone (Dex) and prednisolone (Pred) were administered to porcine cartilage explants at several concentrations with and without HA. We examined corticoid effects by determining sulfate-glycosaminoglycan (s-GAG) and uronic acid (UA) content of the explant media, and safranin-O staining of the cells. Analysis of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was conducted to assess cell cytotoxicity.ResultsDex treatment significantly reduced cellular cytotoxicity compared to the other treatment groups, especially with regards to the release of s-GAG, and protects against superficial proteoglycan damage. However, there was no difference between Pred and Dex, with and without HA, in the UA content remaining in porcine cartilage explants.ConclusionsThe data suggest that combinations of Dex and Pred with HA did not have a significant effect on protection or enhancement of the articular cartilage matrix under the current conditions.

Intra-articular injection with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is used to treat inflammatory joint disease, but the side effects of NSAIDs include chondrotoxicity. Hyaluronan has shown positive effects on chondrocytes by reducing apoptosis and increasing proteoglycan synthesis. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effects of low molecular weight hyaluronan (low MW HA), carprofen 25 mg/ml, carprofen 12.5 mg/ml, and a combination of HA and carprofen on canine osteoarthritis (OA) articular chondrocytes and a cartilage explant model in terms of cell viability, extracellular matrix remaining, and gene expression after exposure. In chondrocyte culture, MTT assay was used to evaluate the chondrotoxicity of IC50 and IC80 of carprofen with HA. In cartilage explant culture, two kinds of extracellular matrix (uronic acid and collagen) remaining in cartilage were used to evaluate cartilage damage for 14 d after treatment. Expression of COL2A1, AGG, and MMP3 was used to evaluate the synthesis and degradation of the matrix for 7 d after treatment. In chondrocyte culture, low MW HA could preserve OA chondrocyte viability but could not reduce the chondrotoxicity level of carprofen (P < 0.05). In explant culture, low MW HA combined with 12.5 mg/ml carprofen caused less destruction of uronic acid and collagen structure when compared with the control (P < 0.05). Low MW HA caused high expression levels of COL2A1 and AGG in OA cartilage (P < 0.05); HA combined with carprofen resulted in higher COL2A1 and AGG expression levels than carprofen alone.