Mathie, R., Baitson, E., Hansen, L., Elliott, M., Hoare, J.

Veterinary Record 2010;166:234-237: Journal of the British Veterinary Association  

Abstract

Twelve Faculty of Homeopathy veterinarians recorded data systematically at 777 consecutive homeopathic appointments for horses over a period of 12 months. A spreadsheet enabled the recording of information, which included the date of appointment; horse and owner identity (anonymised); sex of horse; main medical problem treated; whether the condition was chronic or acute; whether the appointment was new or a follow-up; owner-assessed clinical outcome on a seven-point scale, ranging from -3 to +3, compared with the first appointment; homeopathic medicine(s) prescribed; and whether any conventional or other complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) was being used concurrently to treat the condition. Data from 289 horses comprised a total of 305 individual conditions identified as chronic in nature, of which 234 had a follow-up assessment. At the final appointment for chronic cases during the study period, 4.3 per cent were receiving conventional medication and 17.1 per cent were being given another CAM treatment in addition to homeopathy. The eight chronic conditions most frequently treated with homeopathy were: arthritis, headshaking, laminitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sweet itch, dermatitis, sarcoidosis and Cushing's syndrome.

When our apemen ancestors began to interact with animals they developed empathy and the ability to communicate, claims anthropologist Pat Shipman.

Humans became masters of the planet for a startling reason: our love of animals gave us unsurpassed power over nature. This is the claim of a leading American anthropologist who says our prehistoric ancestors' intense relationships with other creatures – including those we hunt, keep as pets and use for food – propelled humanity towards global domination. Interacting with animals on an intimate basis led humans to develop sophisticated tools and evolve enhanced communication skills, including language itself, Dr Pat Shipman of Pennsylvania State University told the Observer. Animals also taught us that others – even other species – have emotions, needs and thoughts, while they also helped us to evolve the vital skills of empathy, understanding and compromise. "The longest and enduring trend in human evolution has been a gradual intensification of our involvement with animals," she added. "But now our world is becoming increasingly urbanised and we are having less and less contact with them. The consequences are potentially catastrophic."

Shipman traces humanity's animal connection to the period 2.5 million years ago when our hominid ancestors first made tools. These crafted pieces of stone still litter sites in eastern Africa, including the Olduvai Gorge in Kenya, and bear testimony to the mental transformation in our ancestors' brains. "These apemen didn't just pick up stones and use them to hammer or pound prey or plants," said Shipman. "They shaped those rocks for specific purposes. They had a mental image of the kind of tools they needed and created them by chipping away at a large piece of stone until they got what they wanted." And what they wanted were tools for cutting up carcasses. In other words, the sharp stone flakes spread over Olduvai were not used primarily as weapons to kill animals or to hack down plants, but to process dead animals that had already been brought down by other carnivores. Apemen had begun to scavenge for meat from carcasses of prey killed by leopards, cheetahs and other carnivores. Armed with sharp blades, they could cut off chunks of antelope or deer and escape quickly before being eaten themselves by an enraged lion, they discovered.

And that was the crucial point that began our special relationship with the animal kingdom, said Shipman, whose book, The Animal Connection, is published this week. "Until that point, we had been a prey species. Carnivores ate us. Then we began scavenging before going on to hunt on our own behalf. Meat provided our ancestors with a wonderful, rich source of sustenance. However, scavenging for it left us in a very vulnerable position. We were still just as likely to be consumed when confronted by a carnivore as we were to kill in our own right. To survive, we had to learn about the behaviour of a vast number of different species – the ones we wanted to kill and the ones we wanted to avoid. "For example, we would have learned to spot when lions were preparing to mate – when a male was showing off to a female – so that we could take some its prey while it was otherwise occupied. We would have also built up knowledge about the migration of species such as wildebeest and other animals." In the end, this expertise would have become crucial to human survival, a point illustrated in the cave paintings in Lascaux and Chauvet in France and the other caves painted by humans 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. They show us that after 2 million years of evolution, humans had become utterly fixated by animals.

"These paintings are stunningly beautiful and superbly crafted," said Shipman. "Sometimes scaffolding was erected in the caves. At the same time, artists went to enormous lengths to get their pigments mixed with the right binding agents and placed in exactly the right spot. And what did they depict when they got things just right? Animals, animals and more animals. "There are no landscapes and only a handful of poorly executed depictions of humans. By contrast the paintings of lions, stags, horses, bulls and the rest are magnificent. We were besotted with animals because our lives depended on our relationships with them." Not long after these paintings were created, the first animal – the dog – was domesticated, followed some time later by the horse, sheep, goat and others. The development was crucial. In each case, humans had to learn to put themselves in the minds of these creatures in order to get them to do our bidding. In this way our senses of empathy and understanding, both with animals and with members of own species, were enhanced.

Our special relationship with animals is revealed today through our desire to have pets. "Humans are the only species on Earth to have one-to-one relationships with a member of another species," said Shipman. "No other creature would waste resources on a member of another family, let alone a member of another species. But we do and that is because we have evolved such close ties with specific animals over the millennia and because we are adapted to empathise with other creatures. It is a unique human attribute. We get so much from animals, much more than we appreciate."

Unfortunately, as society becomes increasingly urbanised those ties are being stretched and broken, added Shipman. "Our links to the animal world are precious and shouldn't be taken for granted," she said.

Robin McKie, The Observer, 2.10.11

Objectives—We explored the effects of a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet on vascular responses in baboons and the potential response-attenuating effects of vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation.

Design—We used a longitudinal design by subjecting 21 baboons (Papio hamadryas) to sequential dietary challenges.

Results—After being maintained for 3 months on a baseline diet (low in fat and cholesterol), 21 baboons were challenged with an HFHC diet for 7 wk. The serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations did not change. Subsequent supplementation of the HFHC diet with the antioxidant vitamin E (250, 500, or 1000 IU/kg diet) for 2 wks reduced serum CRP concentrations from 0.91 ± 0.02 to 0.43 ± 0.06 mg/dL. Additional supplementation with CoQ10 (2 g/kg diet) further reduced serum CRP to ≈30% of baseline (0.28 ± 0.03 mg/dL; P = 0.036 compared with the HFHC diet). Introduction of the HFHC diet itself significantly decreased serum P-selectin (from 48.8 ± 7.2 to 32.9 ± 3.7 ng/dL, P = 0.02) and von Willebrand factor (from 187.0 ± 10.1 to 161.9 ± 9.0%, P = 0.02) concentrations. However, neither vitamin E alone nor vitamin E plus CoQ10 significantly altered the serum concentrations of P-selectin or von Willebrand factor.  

Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with vitamin E alone reduces the baseline inflammatory status that is indicated by the CRP concentration in healthy adult baboons. Co-supplementation with CoQ10, however, significantly enhances this anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin E.

Reference: Wang., Xing Li., David L Rainwater, Michael C Mahaney & Roland Stocker

Cosupplementation with vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 reduces circulating markers of inflammation in baboons. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 September ; 80(3): 649–655.

The genus Aloe belongs to the Asphodelaceae family, Alooideae subfamily, and comprises about 420 species of succulent plants. They are indigenous to southern and eastern Africa and Madagascar but have been introduced in other tropical countries, the Mediterranean area and the West Indies. Aloe has been used as a folk medicine for 3000 years and in the last decade Aloe vera is being extensively used in health drinks, topical creams, toiletries and cosmetics. From the leaves of Aloe plants, three types of commercial products are obtained namely, the dried exudate, excreted from the aloin cells present in the zone of the vascular bundle, the gel, a mucilaginous juice present in the centre of the leaf and the oil, extracted by organic solvents. The dried exudate is used as a bitter in alcoholic beverages while the oil, comprising the fatty fraction of the leaf is used primarily in the cosmetic industry as a pigment carrier and soothing agent. Studies have shown that the gel component has antiinflammatory activity that is mediated through antibradykinin activity and inhibition of prostaglandin production. However, no studies have been undertaken with regard to the antiinflammatory activity of the leaf exudate. Accordingly, in this study, we have evaluated the antiinflammatory potential of Aloe vera leaf exudate as also demonstrated that this antiinflammatory activity is mediated partly via reduction of nitric oxide production in macrophages.

Research trial

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the mechanism of action mediating the acute and chronic antiinflammatory activity of leafy exudate of Aloe vera (AVL) in animal models of inflammation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The acute antiinflammatory activity of AVL was evaluated using carrageenan and dextran as phlogistic agents while its chronic antiinflammatory effect was investigated in a complete Freund's adjuvant-induced model of arthritis. The degree of inflammation in all models was measured plethysmographically. The effect of AVL on nitric oxide production in mouse peritoneal macrophages was measured by the Griess reagent.

RESULTS: AVL (25 mg/kg) significantly reduced carrageenan and dextran-induced pedal edema in rats by 61.9% and 61.7%, respectively. In the Freund's adjuvant-induced model of chronic inflammation, AVL showed chronic antiinflammatory activity but failed to decrease the arthritic index indicating the absence of antiarthritic activity. AVL (10 [micro]g/ml) caused a decrease in NO production in macrophages without causing toxicity.

CONCLUSION : AVL possesses acute and chronic antiinflammatory activity, which is partly mediated by reduced production of NO, which in turn prevents the release of inflammatory mediators.

Reference: D. Sarkar, A. Dutta, M. Das, K. Sarkar, C. Mandal, M. Chatterjee. Indian Journal of Pharmacology 37.6 (Nov-Dec 2005).

A 9-year-old, male French Bulldog was examined for a subcutaneous mass located at the site of a microchip implant. Cytologic examination of the mass was suggestive of a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm. Histologically, the mass was confirmed as a high-grade infiltrative fibrosarcoma, with multifocal necrosis and peripheral lymphoid aggregates. By immunohistochemistry, the sample was investigated for vimentin, smooth-muscle actin (SMA), CD3, CD79α, and CD18. All the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin. Scattered cells at the periphery of the lesion were also positive for SMA, highlighting a myofibroblastic phenotype. The lymphoid cells were positive for CD18 and CD3. No aluminum deposits were detected by the aurintricarboxylic acid method. A diagnosis of fibrosarcoma morphologically similar to feline postinjection sarcomas was made. Fibrosarcomas at the site of injections have been reported in dogs and ferrets. Furthermore, neoplastic growth at the site of microchip implant in dog and laboratory rodents has been described.

Background

On April 2004, Leon, a 9-year-old male French Bulldog, was examined by the referring veterinarian, based in Guelph, Ontario (Canada), for the sudden growth of a subcutaneous 3 × 3-cm mass located on the dorsal midline of the neck, just cranial to the shoulders. The dog was regularly vaccinated against the most common canine infectious diseases and rabies, and was microchipped (Indexel, Merial, Lyon, France) in September 2003.

A complete physical examination excluded any further alteration. Fine needle aspiration of the mass highlighted a single population of large, bipolar streaming spindle cells in swirling bundles. Cells had moderate nuclear/cytoplasm ratios and oval nuclei, with fine chromatin, multiple dark nucleoli, and prominent anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. Mitotic figures were rare, and no extracellular matrix was present. No evidence of inflammation or sepsis was observed. The cytologic diagnosis was fibrosarcoma.

On the veterinarian's advice, the owner decided to have the mass removed. The mass was surgically excised with 2 cm of margins. The microchip, which was detected attached to the mass, was also removed. The tissue was immediately fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, routinely processed, and paraffin embedded for histologic examination.

Reference: Marta Vascellari, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Universitàa 10, 35020 Legnaro (PD) (Italy). 

Six-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomized into two dietary groups: standard diet and curcumin at 0.6% diet. The mice were exposed to 15 cycles of 0.7% dextran sodium sulphate for 1 week followed by distilled water for 10 days. After curcumin diet, the disease activity index presented a statistical reduction in the last cycles, macroscopic tumors were not seen and the microscopic study showed minor neoplasic lesions with respect to standard diet-group. β-Catenin translocation to the cytoplasm and/or nucleus was observed in the tumor tissue, but this translocation and its intensity were significantly minor in the curcumin diet-DSS animals.

Cytokines as tumor necrosis factor-α and IFN-γ were significantly diminished in DSS-animals fed with curcumin. Conversely, non-modification of p53 expression was observed and cyclo-oxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase were significantly reduced in the curcumin diet-DSS group.

Conclusion: We demonstrate the protective/preventive effect of curcumin in the progression of colorectal cancer associated to colitis, which was correlated with a lowered immunoreactivity of ß-catenin, a non-modification of p53 expression, a reduction of proinflammatory cytokine levels and a decrease of inflammatory protein overexpression.

Reference: Chemopreventive effect of dietary curcumin on inflammation-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in mice’. Villegas, I., Sánchez-Fidalgo, S. & Alarcón de la Lastra, C. Chemopreventive effect of dietary curcumin on inflammation-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in mice. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (2010).

Please note: HATO does not condone using animals for scientific research where animals are harmed in any way. However, as the general public now require natural medicines to be evidence-based, unfortunately researchers are compelled to use animals in many research trials using the same or similar methods as conducted in pharmaceutical drug trials. While HATO does not agree with any animal suffering, the research trials included on the HATO website have already been conducted and therefore we feel that the information provided by the research may be of value to natural animal health practitioners and the general public.

IMPORTANT: Medicinal herbs or nutrient therapies should only be given to  animals under practitioner supervision. To find an accredited holistic animal health practitioner, search for a HATO member in your area.

The gut flora as a forgotten organ

Ann M.O’Hara1 & Fergus Shanahan

Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre,University College Cork, National University of Ireland,Cork, Ireland

2006 EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY ORGANIZATION

EMBO reports (2006) 7, 688–693.

The intestinal microflora is a positive health asset that crucially influences the normal structural and functional development of the mucosal immune system.

Mucosal immune responses to resident intestinal microflora require precise control and an immunosensory capacity for distinguishing commensal from pathogenic bacteria. In genetically susceptible individuals, some components of the flora can become a liability and contribute to the pathogenesis of various intestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases. It follows that manipulation of the flora to enhance the beneficial components represents a promising therapeutic strategy. The flora has a collective metabolic activity equal to a virtual organ within an organ, and the mechanisms underlying the conditioning influence of the bacteria on mucosal homeostasis and immune responses are beginning to be unravelled. An improved understanding of this hidden organ will reveal secrets that are relevant to human health and to several infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic disease processes.

Lessons from a life without intestinal microflora

Enteric bacteria form a natural defence barrier and exert numerous protective, structural and metabolic effects on the epithelium (Fig 1B). Their influence on intestinal physiology has been shown in comparative studies of germ-free and colonized animals. Germ-free animals are more susceptible to infection and have reduced vascularity, digestive enzyme activity, muscle wall thickness, cytokine production and serum immunoglobulin levels, smaller Peyer’s patches and fewer intraepithelial lymphocytes, but increased enterochromaffin cell area (Shanahan, 2002). However, reconstitution of germ-free mice with an intestinal microflora is sufficient to restore the mucosal immune system (Umesaki et al, 1995). Indeed, colonization of germ-free mice with a single species, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, affects the expression of various host genes that influence nutrient uptake, metabolism, angiogenesis, mucosal barrier function and the development of the enteric nervous system (Xu & Gordon, 2003).

Dermatological remedies in the traditional pharmacopoeia of Vulture-Alto Bradano, inland southern Italy

Cassandra L Quave, Andrea Pieroni and Bradley C Bennett 

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2008, 4:5.

The following information on plant medicines has been taken from a study conducted on traditional remedies used in the Vulture-Alto Bradano area of Southern Italy:

Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae) – maruggē White horehound is a perennial herb native to Europe, northern Africa, and temperate Asia. Much like common mallow, white horehound is also an extremely important species in the folk pharmacopoeia of southern Italy. It, too, is considered a panacea and is associated with the following saying, A maruggē, ognē malē struggē (the white horehound destroys every disease). In previous studies on south Italian ethnopharmacology, the use of white horehound decoctions as an expectorant, hepatoprotective agent, and cure-all has been described. The Commission E monographs approve of white horehound use for treating loss of appetite and dyspepsia. A decoction of the aerial parts can be used as a rinse to treat several important skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), including general dermatitis, athlete's foot, furuncle, abscess, cyst, and wart in both humans and animals. Investigation of the anti-MRSA potential of this species and its phytochemical components could be promising. Hypericum perforatum (Hypericaceae) – iperico An oleolite made from an olive oil infusion of the aerial parts of St. John's Wort (known locally as erva pē rē cuttē or iperico) is massaged into the legs of horses and asses to treat tendonitis. This remedy has also been described in Tuscan ethnoveterinary practices. In other studies, oleolite preparations of the aerial parts or flowering tops have been reported for wound healing and to restore skin damaged by burns or for treating mastitis in milk-producing goats. Oleolite preparations of a similar species, H. perfoliatum, have been reported in Sicily for use as a disinfectant and to promote healing of burn wounds. The anti-staphylococcal properties of Hypericum species are well known and are likely relevant to these traditional therapies.

Matricaria recutita (Asteraceae) – camomilla German chamomile is best known for its anxiolytic and sedative properties. In the Vulture-Alto Bradano, it is also commonly used as a wash for skin conditions such as rash, acne and dermatitis and also as an anti-conjunctivital eye-wash (Figure 3). Application of German chamomile decoctions for the treatment of eye inflammation and infection has been broadly reported in Italy. German chamomile has demonstrated in vitro anti-staphylococcal activity and has been found to promote wound healing in vivo. The German Commission E has approved the use of German chamomile in external applications for the treatment of skin and mucous membrane inflammation bacterial skin disease, and ano-genital inflammation

Please Note: Medicinal herbs should only be used on animals under practitioner supervision. Some herbs can have harmful effects on animals and should not be given without professional advice. Please consult an accredited HATO practitioner for optimum animal health.

Cupp, C. J., Jean-Philippe, C., Kerr, W. W.,  Patil, A. R., Perez-Camargo, G.

Intern J Appl Res Vet Med, vol 5, No 3, 2007

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether antioxidants, alone or in combination with other nutritional supplements, increase health and longevity in a population of older cats. A group of 90 cats between the ages of 7 and 17 years was blocked into 3 groups by age, body condition score, and gender. Cats were assigned to 1 of 3 diets: control (basal diet

of nutritionally complete cat food), basal diet with added antioxidants (vitamin E and beta-carotene), and basal diet with added antioxidants, dried whole chicory root (source of prebiotic), and a blend of supplemental n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. The diets were fed exclusively for the remaining lifetime of each cat. Physical exams, body condition scores, complete blood count, serum chemistries, plasma fatty acids, serum antioxidant status, fecal microflora, urinalysis, and body composition by dual-energy xray absorptiometry were performed at study initiation and at periodic intervals thereafter. After 5 years, cats fed the diet with the antioxidants vitamin E and beta-carotene, dried chicory root, and a blend of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, lived significantly longer than cats fed the control diet. Positive indicators of reduced disease incidence and improved intestinal health were also observed.

Respondek, F., Goachet, A. G., Julliand, V.

J. Anim. Sci. 2008. 86:316-323.

Prebiotic compounds, such as short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS), have been shown to improve health, welfare, or both, in several species, but few studies have been conducted in horses, despite the sensitivity of their hindgut microflora. We hypothesized that prebiotic oligosaccharides, known to be able to stabilize the intestinal microflora in other species, would be of importance in horses. Our study was designed to evaluate the effect of scFOS supplementation on the equine intestinal microflora and to assess its effectiveness in reducing hindgut microbial disturbances related to sudden diet changes. Four adult geldings were allotted by weight into 2 groups and assigned to diets with and without (control) scFOS supplementation for 21 d in a crossover design. Cecal and colonic contents were collected through cannulas to assess the effect of an abrupt incorporation of barley in the diet of horses on microbial populations and fermentation variables. The addition of barley to the control diet caused substantial changes in the colonic microflora, such as increases (P < 0.05) in the concentration in total anaerobes, lactobacilli, streptococci, and lactate-utilizing bacteria. The scFOS supplementation reduced the barley intake-related changes. In contrast to the control diet, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus populations did not increase. Although the colonic D-lactate concentration increased (P < 0.05) after the meal of barley in the control group, it did not accumulate with scFOS supplementation. These data indicate that a scFOS supplementation would be effective in reducing disruptions of the microbial populations in the equine hindgut under stressful situations like acute starch overloads.