• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.105-114
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• 2021

Intra-articular injection of ELHLD peptide is considered to have a therapeutic effect in osteoarthritis (OA) through the inhibition of transforming growth factor-β1. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of intra-articular injections of high-dose ELHLD peptide (100 ㎍/kg) in canine stifle OA. Six client-owned dogs diagnosed with stifle OA were included. Selected dogs were treated with an intra-articular injection of high-dose ELHLD peptide (100 ㎍/kg). Outcome measures, including orthopedic examination, gait analysis, and Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) score, were evaluated four times after injection. Orthopedic examination, gait analysis, and owner's assessment (CBPI) improved significantly from 4 weeks after injection. In conclusion, we obtained sufficient evidence from this small sample that high-dose ELHLD peptide improves clinical signs of canine OA not only through subjective assessment but also through objective evaluation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.200-206
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• 2019

This study was performed to assess the anti-inflammatory and cartilage regenerative effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on canine chondrocytes. Proliferation and migration assays under both normal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory conditions were performed with various concentrations of PRP (1% to 10%). The expression levels of genes related to osteoarthritis were evaluated in the following groups: PRP group, LPS group and LPS + PRP group. mRNA expression levels were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Proliferation assays showed significantly enhanced proliferation in all PRP-treated groups compared with the no serum group. Compared with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), PRP concentrations above 3% in the normal condition and 1% to 7% PRP in the LPS-induced inflammatory condition were found to significantly promote chondrocyte proliferation. In the normal condition, all PRP-treated groups showed significantly increased cell migration compared with the no serum group. Chondrocyte migration was decreased with LPS-induced inflammation, but PRP treatment resulted in significantly enhanced migration compared with the other groups in this condition. According to RT-PCR, the LPS + PRP group showed significantly higher levels of COL1A1, IL-6, aggrecan and lower levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$, MMP-1, MMP-3 mRNA expression compared to the LPS group. The results of this study suggest that PRP application can enhance the proliferation and migration of canine chondrocytes and improve canine articular cartilage regeneration.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.144-148
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• 2006

Apoptotic death of articular chondrocytes has been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) has been used for several years as a marker enzyme of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. This study investigated the activity of TRAP in media of apoptotic cell death-induced canine chondrocyte. We exposed canine chondrocyte to capsaicin and the results showed that capsaicin induced cell death in a dose dependent manner. And we measured TRAP activity in media of chondrocyte death induced by capsaicin treatment and the results capsaicin significantly increased the activity of TRAP in media for dose dependent. We also investigated whether the combination treatment with capsaicin and TRAIL enhance apoptotic cell death in canine chondrocyte. We exposed canine chondrocyte to capsaicin for 24 hrs at the indicated dose, and then treated with recombinant TRAIL protein for 24 hrs. TRAIL alone did not induce cell death after 24 hours, but the combined treatment of both induced more cell death compared with capsaicin alone in a dose dependent manner. Also, the combination treatment with capsaicin and TRAIL increased the activity of TRAP in culture media. These results suggest that TRAP can flow out into extracellular after chondrocyte damage, and TRAP may be a successful biomarker for detection of joint disease such as osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.190-193
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• 2006

Two weeks of therapy with intra-articular hyaluronic acid and oral caprofen failed to improve the clinical signs of hip osteoarthritis radiologically confirmed in a dog. Then, over the period of 30 days (7 sessions at 5-day intervals), bee- venom acupuncture (BV-AP, injection of bee venom at acupoints, also called apitoxin-aquapuncture) plus Trigger Point (TP) therapy was used. Five acupoints on the affected right limb were injected each time: GB30(as local point), plus ST35, GB33, BL40 and LIV08 (as distant points). The injection mixture (0.2 ml/point; total 1 ml/session) was saline + apitoxin + 2% lidocaine, so that the injected solution contained $100{\mu}g$ apitoxin diluted in 0.2% lidocaine-saline solution/ml. The total dose of apitoxin used was, therefore, $100{\mu}g/session$, divided over the 5 acupoints. One TP in the middle of the right quadriceps muscle was injected with 2% lidocaine (0.2 ml/point) each time. BV-AP improved the clinical signs rapidly; lameness and ataxia were disappear after 7 sessions (30 days); the right hind limb muscular atrophy was much improved and the hip radiograph was almost normal two weeks after 7 sessions (44 days). The present patient was a case with canine hip osteoarthritis which showed favorable therapeutic response by BV-AP plus TP therapy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2009

Chondrocytes and synovial fluid derived markers are used to monitor for osteoarthritis(OA). Specific inhibitors, known as tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases(TIMP), regulate the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP). This study investigated whether MMP and TIMP levels were altered in synovial fluid and cartilage following the experimental induction of OA in canines. Twenty mature beagle dogs underwent a unilateral surgical transection of the cranial cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament as well as a medial meniscectomy. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and MMP-9 levels were assayed using Western blot and TIMP-2 levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays four weeks after OA induction. Increased MMP-2 expression was observed in chondrocytes isolated from cartilage following OA induction, but MMP-9 expression decreased. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and MMP-9 levels in synovial fluid from the OA induced joint significantly increased compared to those of the sham group. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 concentrations were higher in chondrocytes from the OA cartilage, yet TIMP-2 remained lower in the synovial fluid of OA. This suggests the elevated release of MMP-9 over MMP-2 into the synovial fluid following the cartilage degradation-related death of chondrocytes after OA. Osteoarthritis can be further deteriorated by increased MMP activity in the synovial fluid because TIMP-2 exist low concentration into the extracellular matrix. As a result, MMP activity, particularly MMP-9 activity, can be useful as a biomarker in diagnosing and monitoring the early stages of canine OA.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.53.1-53.12
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• 2020

Background: The TightRope System is a device developed to provide extracapsular stabilization of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in canine stifles. I was then also employed for the extra-articular treatment of shoulder instability and for the intra-articular treatment of hip luxation in dogs and cats. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of the Mini-TightRope (mTR) System for the intraarticular treatment of CCL rupture in small breed dogs. Methods: A cadaveric canine model was used to record the steps of the surgical procedure. Five client owned dogs weighing from 8 to 10 kg and from 2 to 12 years of age were enrolled in the prospective study in which the mTR device was implanted in the stifle joint to replace the ruptured CCL. The dogs were graded using the Bologna Healing Stifle Injury Index (BHSII) and radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) scores. Results: The outcomes obtained at the time of the surgery (T0) and for the following 12 months (T12) showed an improvement in the functional parameters (BHSII from a median of 74.3 [range, 58.1-82.4] at T0 to 95.6 [range, 94.1-99.3] at T12]). The OA did not change in 3 dogs and increased by only 1 point in 2 dogs. Conclusions: In this preliminary study, the mTR was a successful and repeatable intraarticular surgical procedure for all dogs. Additional studies related to the clinical application of the technique in medium-large dogs should be encouraged.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.325-330
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• 2007

This study was to determine whether canine model which produce acute permanent joint instability in short period without postoperative exercise have a degenerative changes and also evaluated its suitability as an appropriate animal OA models. Ten skeletally mature beagle dogs underwent a unilateral surgical transection of the cranial cruciate ligament and, the medial collateral ligament as well as a medial meniscectomy. The contra-lateral joint was used as control. After 12 weeks, After 12 weeks, the amount of joint damage, inflammation and biochemical change of synovial fluid was evaluated. Histological analysis showed chondrocyte clone formation, hypertrophy of the cartilage and moderate loss of proteoglycans in the experimental joints compared to control joints. In addition, the synovial inflammation in the experimental joints was observed. Biochemical analysis of SF showed significantly increased MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) -2 and -9 in experimental joints compared to control joints. This canine OA model shows the characteristics of degenerative joint disease, and may have a advantages of reducing the time and cost because postoperative exercise is not needed in this OA model.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.278-285
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• 2003

This study was performed to compare early stage changes following the administrations of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Carprofen and their combinations in the experimental canine cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Twenty five mongrel dogs were divided into five groups; Groups 1, 2, and 3 received a sectioning the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) of the right stifle joint, and were administered CLA (250 mg/kg/day/orally), carprofen (4.4 mg/kg/day/orally), and their combinations for 4 weeks beginning 4 weeks postsurgery, respectively. Group 4 received sectioning CCL and no treatment. Group 5 was composed of unoperated normal dogs. The macroscopic observation of cartilage erosions on both the condyles and plateaus were evaluated, and the severity of the cartilage lesions and synovial inflammation was examined histologically at eight weeks after surgery. Histological examinations including hematoxylin and eosin stain, standard toluidine blue method, PAS technique and Masson trichrome technique, hematologic and radiographic evaluation were perfonned after experimental surgery. Slight yellowish discoloration of the surface was found in some of the experimental dogs. However macroscopic findings showed no significant differences among the groups. In radiographic findings, cranial displacement of the proximal tibia relative to the femoral condyles in all groups was observed but no significant differences among the groups was seen. This study showed that oral administration of CLA, carprofen and their combinations revealed no early stage change in the canine stifle joint following experimental rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.679-685
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• 2010

Many animal models of osteoarthritis (OA) have been developed, aimed at understanding the long-term progression of OA and difficulty of identifying patients in the initial stage of the disease. In canines, coxofemoral luxation and hip dysplasia are common orthopedic ailments related to OA in the hip joint. Transecting the ligament of the head of the femur (LHF) aids in diagnosis of coxofemoral joint OA. Presently, mobility of this joint was increased by transected LHF in 10 mature, 2-3-year-old (average $2.57{\pm}0.20$ years), healthy male beagles. The animals were normally gaited 1-week post-operatively. During the experimental period, examinations including X-ray, complete blood count and serum chemistry were unremarkable. Proteomic examination revealed protein alterations in synovial fluid, with significant increases in Vitamin D-binding protein precursor (ANOVA, p < 0.004) and Kinogen-1 (ANOVA, p < 0.039). Both proteins correlated with arthritis.