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Biomedical subjects

M Marcoux

Publications and source records attributed to M Marcoux.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of laparoscopic equipment to divide abdominal adhesions in a filly.

Exploratory laparoscopy of the right dorsal portion of the abdominal cavity was performed on a Standardbred filly because of signs of mild abdominal pain of 7 days' duration. On the basis of clinical examination, diagnosis was suppurative peritonitis, abdominal adhesions in the area of the right ovary, and right displacement and impaction of the pelvic flexure of the ascending colon. During laparoscopy, an abdominal adhesion between the right uterine horn, the cecum, and the pelvic flexure was identified. The abdominal adhesions were either stretched with laparoscopic forceps used as a probe or dissected bluntly with the tips of a pair of 10-mm laparoscopic Kelly forceps. Antibiotics were administered for 21 days after surgery. The horse fully recovered and raced 11 months after the surgery.

Abdominal Pain

Risks for sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Identification of risk factors for development of diabetic sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy (DSPN) and diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DNA) may help to prevent or modify these complications. The ABCD Trial, a prospective study of diabetic complications, has identified risk factors of the presence and staging of peripheral neuropathy based on neurological symptom scores, neurological disability scores, autonomic function testing and quantitative sensory examination. DSPN is independently associated with diabetes duration [odds ratio (OR) = 1.5 per 10 years], body weight (OR = 1.1 per 5 kg), age (OR = 1.8 per 10 years), retinopathy (OR = 2.3), overt albuminuria (OR = 2.5), height (OR = 1.2 per 10 cm), duration of hypertension (OR = 1.1 per 10 years), insulin use (OR = 1.4), and race/ethnicity [African American vs. non-Hispanic white (OR = 0.4) and Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic white (OR = 0.8)]. DAN is independently associated with diabetes duration (OR = 1.2 per 10 years), body weight (OR = 1.1 per 5 kg), glycosylated hemoglobin (OR = 1.1 per 2.5%), overt albuminuria (OR = 1.6), and retinopathy (OR = 1.8).

Adult

Serum osteocalcin concentration in horses treated with triamcinolone acetonide.

The effect of triamcinolone acetonide (0.09 mg/kg of body weight, IM) on serum osteocalcin concentration was studied. Two groups of horses were investigated and included clinically normal horses (group 1, n = 5) and horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (group 2, n = 5). Before treatment, results of a t-test did not reveal any significant difference in serum osteocalcin concentration between the 2 groups. After treatment, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum osteocalcin concentration was observed for both groups. Osteocalcin concentration in individual horses reached a minimum by 24 to 48 hours after treatment. In both groups of horses, serum osteocalcin response to glucocorticoid administration was similar. In 7 of 10 horses, return to pretreatment values was observed after 28 days. Pretreatment values for the other 3 horses were reached between 62 and 150 days.

Animals

Sex does not influence serum osteocalcin levels in standardbred horses of different ages.

The influence of sex on serum osteocalcin levels was studied in 99 Standardbred horses, 52 males and 47 females. The age varied between the day of birth and five years old. A significant inverse correlation (r = -0.87, p < 0.01) was observed between serum osteocalcin level and the age of the animal. Sex did not influence serum osteocalcin level (p > 0.05). When the subjects were divided into five age groups of six months or less, 6 to 18, 18 to 24, 24 to 36 and between 36 and 60 months, no significant influence of sex was noted. A predictive model for serum osteocalcin levels (y = 52.19 - 0.026 age in days, r2 = 0.76) for Standardbred horses aged between the day of birth and five years is described.

Aging

Clinical relevance of radiographic findings in proximal sesamoid bones of two-year-old standardbreds in their first year of race training.

Radiographs of all 4 fetlocks of 71 Standardbred racehorses were obtained at 3-month intervals for 1 year. Radiographic findings in the abaxial surface of the proximal sesamoid bones were classified into 3 types according to the severity of lesions, and correlation was made with clinical findings at time of examination. Type-1 lesions (1 or 2 linear defects less than or equal to 1 mm wide) were detected in 55% of horses at the start of training; clinical signs of disease were not manifested, and lesions did not become clinically relevant. Type-2 lesions (3 or more linear defects less than or equal to 1 mm wide) were detected in horses not manifesting clinical signs of disease, and were more frequently observed after 3 months of training. However, 66% of horses affected with diseases of the suspensory apparatus, including superficial flexor tendinitis and suspensory desmitis, also manifested this type of lesion. When lameness was observed, it was associated with the soft tissue problem, and the sesamoid bone changes were considered secondary. Type-3 lesions (wide, abnormally shaped linear defects) were detected in 7 horses at the start of the study; lesions remained in horses throughout the study and were consistently associated with lameness during training. Type-3 lesions were considered clinically relevant and indicative of primary sesamoiditis.

Animals

Circadian rhythms of osteocalcin in equine serum. Correlation with alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphate and total protein levels.

The purpose of the study was to determine whether there were circadian variations in serum osteocalcin in normal horses and to determine whether it was important to regulate the time of blood sampling in clinical investigations. Osteocalcin or bone Gla-protein (BGP), alkaline phosphatase, total calcium, phosphate and total protein were studied over a 24 h period. Blood samples were taken every 60 min from nine adult Standardbred horses. There was a correlation between serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.3, p less than 0.01), phosphate (r = 0.42, p less than 0.01) and serum osteocalcin levels. There was a very marked individual effect on serum levels of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (p less than 0.01). This effect was present for phosphate levels but not significant for total calcium. The individual effect was lower and time effect was higher for serum osteocalcin if the subjects were divided into two age groups, one of horses of five years or less (n = 4) and a second group older than five years (n = 5). In both groups a circadian rhythmicity was observed. Serum osteocalcin showed a biphasic pattern. Levels were constant during daytime (light period) and underwent significant variations during the night (dark period), going through a nadir at 2000 h and through a maximum peak at 0500 h. It was concluded that in normal horses the blood osteocalcin level follows a circadian variation. Also daytime (light period) seems to be the more appropriate period for blood sampling.

Alkaline Phosphatase

Serum osteocalcin or bone Gla-protein, a biochemical marker for bone metabolism in horses: differences in serum levels with age.

Levels of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin or bone Gla-protein, a new marker of bone metabolism, were analyzed in blood samples of 50 clinically normal female Standardbred horses between four months and twenty years of age. Samples were collected in the morning before exercise. Serum osteocalcin was measured by radioimmunoassay using bovine antibodies. There was a significant inverse correlation between alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and the age of the animals up to 48 months. The decrease in osteocalcin levels in serum was very marked during the first 30 months of life. The mean osteocalcin concentration was respectively 47.3, 35.7 and 6.7 ng/mL for animals less than one year, between 1.5 and 2.5 years of age and older than 3.5 years. Alkaline phosphatase serum activity was higher in foals less than one year of age (means = 856 U/L) than in the two older groups (meansII = 339, meansIII = 351 U/L). We believe that osteocalcin is a useful parameter for the evaluation of bone metabolism in growing animals and in adults and is probably more specific than alkaline phosphatase.

Aging

Osteochondrosis-like lesion of the anconeal process in two horses.

A suspected lesion of osteochondrosis dissecans involving the anconeal process of the humeroradial joint (elbow) was found in 2 horses. In horse 1, the lesion was found during routine lameness examination, during which alleviation of the lameness was achieved after intra-articular anesthesia of the elbow. In horse 2, the lesion was found at necropsy. Horse 1 responded satisfactorily to intra-articular treatment with hyaluronic acid. Both horses also had other joints affected with osteochondrosis dissecans.

Animals

A possible case of osteodystrophia fibrosa cystica in a horse.

A case of unilateral front leg lameness with bone changes in the pedal bone suggestive of osteodystrophia fibrosa cystica is reported in an eight year old crossbred gelding. The changes were diagnosed at postmortem examination. The known possible causes are briefly reviewed.

Animals