Water treadmill (WT) exercise is gaining popularity among equine athletes as it allows for increased workload through the resistance posed by water. However, the effect of an artificial river (AR), which further increases this resistance, on equine fitness indicators has not yet been investigated. This study aimed to determine whether WT exercise with varying water depths and the presence of an AR influences physiological response indicators. Fifteen school horses (n = 15) underwent five treadmill exercise sessions: on a dry treadmill (DT), in fetlock-depth water with and without AR, and in carpal-depth water with and without AR. Physiological responses were assessed pre-exercise, during the highest workload, and at 30 min and 24 h post-exercise by measuring heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (LAC), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HGB), and the activity of three serum enzymes: creatine phosphokinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). HR and LAC increased significantly (p < 0.0001) from the pre-exercise resting state to the highest workload time point during treadmill exercise, regardless of session type. During the carpal-depth WT+AR session, horses achieved a fitness level characterized by the highest HR (p < 0.0001), LAC (p < 0.0001), and LDH activity (p = 0.001). Thus, horses’ physiological responses to walking on a WT with AR differ from those observed on a DT and a WT without AR. WT exercise with AR represents a low-to-moderate intensity aerobic workload for horses, which increases with water depth from fetlock to carpal levels. However, further research is required to evaluate its inclusion in training or rehabilitation programs for athletic horses and its potential beneficial effects.

Water treadmill (WT) exercise is used for horses’ rehabilitation and training. Given that each training needs to be individualized for each horse, the goal is to assess whether infrared thermography (IRT) can serve as a non-invasive tool for daily monitoring of individual training and rehabilitation progress in horses undergoing WT exercise. Fifteen Polish Warmblood school horses were subjected to five WT sessions: dry treadmill, fetlock-depth water, fetlock-depth water with artificial river (AR), carpal-depth water, and carpal-depth water with AR. IRT images, collected pre- and post-exercise, were analyzed for the mean temperature (Tmean) and maximal temperature (Tmax) across 14 regions of interest (ROIs) representing the body surface overlying specific superficial muscles. While on a dry treadmill, Tmean and Tmax increased post-exercise in all ROIs; wetting of the hair coat limited surface temperature analysis in ROIs annotated on limbs. Tmax over the m. brachiocephalicus, m. trapezius pars cervicalis, m. triceps brachii, and m. semitendinosus increased during walking in carpal-depth water, which therefore may be suggested as an indirect indicator of increased activity related to forelimb protraction and flexion–extension of the limb joints. Tmax over the m. latissimus dorsi and m. longissimus increased during carpal-depth WT exercise with active AR mode, which may be suggested as an indicator of increased workload including vertical displacement of the trunk.

Peritoneal fibrosis is a consequence of peritoneal dialysis, initiated by an inflammatory response in the peritoneum, whereas peritoneal adhesions represent intra-abdominal post-inflammatory complications. Given that the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway plays a central role in inflammation, this systematic review aims to compile research findings on the role of NF-κB in peritoneal fibrosis and adhesions. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge. Inclusion criteria covered research articles investigating NF-κB in peritoneal fibrosis and adhesions. Selected studies were categorized based on NF-κB-mediated regulation and NF-κB-targeted therapies. To date, the role of NF-κB in peritoneal fibrosis and adhesions has been described in 39 publications: 29 on fibrosis, 9 on adhesions, and 1 addressing both conditions. NF-κB activation was reported in human and animal studies, both in vitro and in vivo, in response to stimuli such as high glucose, inflammatory cytokines, growth factor, bacteria, and irritants. This activation led to upregulation of specific inflammatory, mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, fibrosis, and angiogenesis markers. All 21 therapeutic studies demonstrated inhibition of NF-κB activity and downregulation of related molecular markers—15 in fibrosis and 6 in adhesions. Controlling NF-κB activity in the peritoneal mesothelium may be beneficial in managing peritoneal dialysis and preventing peritoneal post-inflammatory complications.