The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of cell-based regenerative therapy for elbow joints affected by osteoarthritis. Interest was focused on two intra-articular applications of amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (A-MSCs) to a group of different breeds of dogs with elbow osteoarthritis (13 joints). Two injections were performed 14 days apart. We evaluated synovial fluid biomarkers, such as IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-15, IL-10, MCP-1, TNF-α, and GM-CSF, by multiplex fluorescent micro-bead immunoassay in the treated group of elbows (n = 13) (day 0, day 14, and day 28) and in the control group of elbows (n = 9). Kinematic gait analysis determined the joint range of motion (ROM) before and after each A-MSCs application. Kinematic gait analysis was performed on day 0, day 14, and day 28. Kinematic gait analysis pointed out improvement in the average range of motion of elbow joints from day 0 (38.45 ± 5.74°), day 14 (41.7 ± 6.04°), and day 28 (44.78 ± 4.69°) with statistical significance (p < 0.05) in nine elbows. Correlation analyses proved statistical significance (p < 0.05) in associations between ROM (day 0, day 14, and day 28) and IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-15, MCP-1, TNF-α, and GM-CSF concentrations (day 0, day 14, and day 28). IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-15, MCP-1, GM-CSF, and TNF- α showed negative correlation with ROM at day 0, day 14, and day 28, while IL-10 demonstrated positive correlation with ROM. As a consequence of A-MSC application to the elbow joint, we detected a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in concentration levels between day 0 and day 28 for IFN-γ, IL-6, and TNF-α and statistically significant increase for IL-10. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was detected in TNF-α, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF concentrations between day 14 and the control group as well as at day 28 and the control group. IL-6 concentrations showed statistical significance (p < 0.05) between day 14 and the control group.

The cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCLR) is characterized by chronic inflammation and osteoarthritis (OA) of the stifle joint and extracellular matrix (ECM) degeneration of the ligament itself in dogs. Generally, OA may arise from chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. We assessed the possible relationship of inflammatory markers in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of affected stifle joints in comparison to a control. Moreover, no study has shown the possible association between PB and SF levels of inflammatory markers in CrCLR stifles of dogs in veterinary medicine yet. We also evaluated components of ECM of CrCLR and finally compared the tibial plateau angle (TPA) and the anatomical-mechanical angle (AMA) between groups. Samples from PB and SF were examined for mRNA expression of interleukins, TNF-α and INF-γ. ECM components—collagen 1A1 and 3A1 and elastin—were examined for mRNA expression from SF. The level of relative expression for IL-1β, IL-8 and IFN-γ was significantly increased in both PB and SF in CrCLR stifles as compared with the control. Collagens were also significantly increased in CrCLR stifles. TPA was not significantly different; however, the AMA angle significantly increased in the CrCLR group. Our results suggest a possible relationship between PB and SF levels of inflammatory markers in CrCLR stifles of dogs.

Noninvasive Doppler ultrasonography (US) examination is a standard method for the clinical evaluation of the carotid arteries. Extracranial cerebral circulation includes the common carotid artery (CCA), the external carotid artery (ECA), and the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The present study was conducted with the objective of assessing physiological normative values and describing the appearance of spectral waveforms of extracranial arteries in 104 healthy dogs of eight breeds divided into four groups according to weight. We also focused on searching for correlations for carotid blood velocities with the resistive index (RI), body weight and diameter, and differences between observers and the influence of sex in the calculations of Doppler parameters. In the evaluated breeds, significant differences were found in the velocity of peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV). There was a strong correlation between body weight and peak systolic velocity, the RI index and CCA diameter. The intra-observer agreement for the PSV and EDV parameters in each vessel was considered excellent reliability, and overall interobserver agreement showed very good reliability. This study could improve the descriptions of physiological values and waveforms recorded in carotid arteries. Defining the physiological values of velocity and the resistive index (RI) helps in the easier identification of pathology and diagnosis of disease. Our results may be used for further studies of vascular diseases in veterinary medicine that correlate with the pathology of neurological disorders of ischemic origin, further in thromboembolism, oncologic disease and degenerative, proliferative and inflammatory diseases of the arteries that lead to stenosis

The main aims of the study were to describe bone alignment differences in Yorkshire Terriers (YT) with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR), patellar luxation (PL), or with a combination of both (CCLR + PL); to verify the theory of increased strain on cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) due to PL as a predisposing factor; and to evaluate intra- and inter-observer variability of the protocols developed for measurement of femoral and tibial alignment in Yorkshire Terriers. Fifty-five hindlimbs of YT were divided into four groups: Control, CCLR, PL, and CCLR + PL. Thirty parameters were radiographically evaluated including hip joint, femoral, tibial, and intercondylar fossa (ICF) parameters. Three observers evaluated all parameters on two separate occasions with a twelve-week interval between measurements. Significant differences in conjunction with CCLR and PL theories between groups were noticed in: Norberg angle (NA), quadriceps angle (Qa), anatomic lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), femoral varus (FVA), mechanical cranial proximal tibial angle (mCrPTA), mechanical caudal proximal tibial angle (mCdPTA), tibial plateau angle (TPA), distal tibial axis/proximal tibial axis angle (DPA). Some interesting findings are the similarity of values between Control and CCLR vs. CCLR + PL and PL groups in Na, Qa, aLDFA; between CCLR + PL and PL in FVA and a significantly lower age of dogs in CCLR + PL compared to CCLR group. Based on our results, we can conclude that YT with different clinical findings have differing bone morphology. Moreover, these findings may support PL as a predisposing factor for CCLR in small breeds. Measurements in which excellent inter- observer agreement was achieved may be used for surgical planning or for further discussions.

Exosomes are nanovesicles that are involved in inter-cellular communication and are secreted by many types of cells. Exosomes secreted by stem cells can effectively transport bioactive proteins, messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) and microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) organelles and play important roles in intercellular communication and the regulation of tissue regeneration. This transfer of bioactive molecules plays a main role in: tumor invasion and metastasis, immune and inflammation modulation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and neurobiology. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) exosomes provide new perspectives for the development of an off-the-shelf and cell-free MSC therapy for the treatment of cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis. This report describes the progress in exosome studies and potential clinical use for osteoarthritis treatment.

This study was conducted to compare angles physically set on the stifle joints of cadaveric limbs of dogs with the results by four different radiographic methods for stifle angle measurement. Thirteen pelvic limbs from various large breeds and skeletally-mature dogs were used. The stifles were fixed at four angles: 125°, 130°, 135° and 140°. Altogether 52 radiographs were done. Each stifle angle set on the cadaver limbs was radiographically measured using four sets of landmarks (the goniometric, long axis, eminence and kinematic methods). We found similarity between angles physically set on cadaver limbs and radiographically measured using the long axis method ( P > 0.05). The goniometric method showed similarity in group of limbs with the stifle fixed at 140° ( P > 0.05), and other measurements differed significantly ( P < 0.05). Eminence and kinematic method measurements were different compared to the angle of fixation of the stifle on the cadaver ( P < 0.05) but similar compared to each other ( P > 0.05). The method of stifle joint angle measurement should be considered when comparing similar studies, and also in pre-operative measurements for some tibial osteotomies aimed at stabilizing the joint after cranial cruciate ligament rupture.