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Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2023; 64(3); 484-491; doi: 10.1111/vru.13223

Concurrent measurement of serum and radiomic biomarkers in the clinical investigation of equine musculoskeletal injuries: A prospective pilot study.

Abstract: The prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and their related welfare and economic impacts represent an immediate priority for the horse racing industry. This prospective pilot study aimed to evaluate a method to quantitatively analyze scintigraphic features of specific anatomical regions of the horse's appendicular skeleton in combination with secondary measures of musculoskeletal metabolism in blood. Twelve horses referred for scintigraphic assessment of lameness were enrolled. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to the administration of radiotracer. Serum concentrations associated with bone turnover were determined for the following biomarkers: C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, proteoglycans and sulfated glycosaminoglycans, collagen type II, osteocalcin, and procollagen II C-terminal propeptide. Scintigraphic images underwent radiomic analysis of discrete regions of the distal limbs and these data were correlated to bone turnover markers. Three lame horses demonstrated asymmetrical radiomic abnormalities. The concentration of osteocalcin in the lame horses was significantly higher when compared to the control group, while no significant changes were observed for the other screened serum biomarkers. Findings from the current study provided evidence that radiomic analysis of equine scintigraphy is feasible. This method has the potential to interrogate which serum markers are associated with musculoskeletal injuries.
© 2023 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2023-02-28 PubMed ID: 36853616DOI: 10.1111/vru.13223Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study explored a method for analyzing bone features and metabolism in horses, with the aim of helping the horse racing industry prevent musculoskeletal injuries. The researchers used medical imaging and blood samples to measure biomarkers to detect bone abnormalities in 12 horses.

Background and Aim

  • The researchers aimed to assess a method to analyze diagnostic imaging features of specific portions of the horse’s skeleton, coupled with secondary measurements of bone metabolism from blood. They analyzed serum concentrations associated with bone turnover and conducted an imaging analysis of specific regions of the horses’ lower limbs. They cross-referenced the data from imaging and blood analysis to trace markers of bone turnover.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted with 12 horses sent for diagnostic imaging due to lameness. Blood samples were taken just before the administration of a radioactive tracer, which helps highlight problem areas in the imaging scans.
  • The researchers assessed serum concentrations for several biomarkers, including C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, proteoglycans and sulfated glycosaminoglycans, collagen type II, osteocalcin, and procollagen II C-terminal propeptide. These substances are involved in the construction and turnover of bone and cartilage, and changes in their concentrations can indicate ongoing bone changes or damage.
  • The horses’ diagnostic scanning images were then put through a radiomic analysis, focusing on discrete regions of the distal limbs. The data from this analysis was then compared with the concentration of the bone turnover markers from the blood samples.

Findings

  • The researchers found that three of the lame horses showed unequal radiomic abnormalities when compared to their healthy counterparts.
  • The concentration of a biomarker of bone activity, osteocalcin, was significantly higher in the lame horses when compared to the horses in the control group, potentially indicating increased bone turnover or repair activity caused by damage or injury. However, there were no significant changes observed for the remaining serum biomarkers analyzed.

Conclusion

  • The study showed that it’s possible to use radiomic analysis of equine diagnostic imaging. This method could provide valuable information about serum markers associated with musculoskeletal injuries in horses, helping in the development of new preventative and diagnostic measures for the horse racing industry.

Cite This Article

APA
Tually P, Currie G, Blache D, Meadows J, Gray C, Hemmings L, O'Callaghan P, Murphy D. (2023). Concurrent measurement of serum and radiomic biomarkers in the clinical investigation of equine musculoskeletal injuries: A prospective pilot study. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 64(3), 484-491. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13223

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1740-8261
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 3
Pages: 484-491

Researcher Affiliations

Tually, Peter
  • Department of Nuclear Medicine, TeleMedVET, Charles Sturt University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Currie, Geoff
  • School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, New South Wales, Australia.
Blache, Dominique
  • School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Meadows, Jack
  • Department of Nuclear Medicine, TeleMedVET, Charles Sturt University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Gray, Chloe
  • Department of Nuclear Medicine, TeleMedVET, Charles Sturt University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
  • Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Hemmings, Lisa
  • Department of Nuclear Medicine, TeleMedVET, Charles Sturt University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
O'Callaghan, Paul
  • Perth Equine Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Murphy, David
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Pilot Projects
  • Osteocalcin
  • Prospective Studies
  • Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Biomarkers / metabolism

Grant Funding

  • EPBI2020 / TeleMed Equine Research Program Fund

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Low D, Rutherford S. Machine learning and quantitative computed tomography radiomics prediction of postoperative functional recovery in paraplegic dogs. Vet Surg 2025 Oct;54(7):1305-1315.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.70016pubmed: 41035390google scholar: lookup
  2. Jeppesen A, Eyers R, Evans D, Ward MP, Quain A. Comparison of Reported Fatalities, Falls and Injuries in Thoroughbred Horse Jumps and Flat Races in the 2022 and 2023 Jumps Race Seasons in Victoria, Australia. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 5;14(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14050804pubmed: 38473189google scholar: lookup
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