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Soft Palate Modification Using a Collagen Crosslinking Reagent for Equine Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate and Other Upper Airway Breathing Disorders.
Abstract: The mechanical properties of the soft palate can be associated with breathing abnormalities. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a naturally occurring equine soft palate disorder caused by displacement of the caudal edge of the soft palate. Snoring and a more serious, sometimes life-threatening, condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are forms of sleep-related breathing disorders in humans which may involve the soft palate. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of injecting the protein crosslinker genipin into the soft palate to modify its mechanical properties for the treatment of equine DDSP with potential implications for the treatment of snoring and OSA in humans. Ex vivo experiments consisted of mechanical testing and a wind tunnel study to examine the effect of genipin on the mechanical properties, displacement, and vibration of equine soft palates. A pilot in vivo study was completed using DDSP and control horses to test the safety and effectiveness of injecting a genipin reagent into the soft palate. The wind tunnel testing demonstrated a greater than 50% decrease in transient deformation and a greater than 33% decrease in steady-state vibrations for all doses of genipin tested. Ultimate tensile stress, yield stress, and Young's modulus were higher in the genipin-treated distal soft palate specimens by 52%, 53%, and 63%, respectively. The pilot in vivo study showed a reduction of snoring loudness in all DDSP horses and elimination of DDSP in at least one of three horses. The difficulty of using a 1-meter-long endoscopic injection needle contributed to a consistent overinjection of the equine soft palates, causing excessive stretching (pillowing) and related degradation of the tissue. These ex vivo and in vivo results demonstrated reduced vibration amplitude and flaccidity and increased strength of genipin-treated soft palates, suggesting that genipin crosslinking could become an effective and safe treatment for soft palate related breathing abnormalities.
Publication Date: 2019-04-01 PubMed ID: 31057624PubMed Central: PMC6463583DOI: 10.1155/2019/9310890Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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.
Research into treating upper airway breathing disorders like snoring and sleep apnea in horses through injecting a protein called genipin into the soft palate has shown promising results. The injection enhances the mechanical properties of the soft palate and decreases vibration and displacement, leading to quieter breathing.
Research Focus
The primary goal of this study was to explore the effects of injecting the crosslinking protein genipin into the soft palate of horses. The researchers hoped that modifying the mechanical properties of the soft palate could be an effective treatment for equine Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate (DDSP), a condition similar to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in humans.
Research Approach
- Researchers conducted both mechanical testing and wind tunnel studies to examine the impact of genipin on the mechanical properties, displacement, and vibration of horse soft palates.
- A pilot study was carried out with horses suffering from DDSP and control horses. These animal subjects were used to assess the safety and effectiveness of injecting the soft palate with genipin.
Findings of the study
- The wind tunnel tests showed a higher than 50% decrease in temporary deformation and more than 33% decrease in steady-state vibrations in all tested doses of genipin.
- Upon assessing the tensile stress, yield stress, and elasticity measure (Young’s modulus), the genipin-treated soft palate specimens showed an improved resistance to tensile stress by 52%, yield stress by 53%, and Young’s modulus by 63%.
- In the pilot animal study, injecting the soft palate with genipin reduced the loudness of snoring in all horses with DDSP and completely cured at least one out of three horses.
- The use of a 1-meter-long endoscopic injection needle consistently led to overinjection into the soft palates, causing excessive stretching and tissue degradation.
Implications of the study
They suggested that the genipin protein’s injection into the soft palate is effective in reducing vibration amplitude and flaccidity, and the tissue’s strength increases. Therefore, genipin crosslinking could potentially be a safe and effective treatment for soft palate-related breathing abnormalities.
Cite This Article
APA
Hunt S, Kuo J, Aristizabal FA, Brown M, Patwardhan A, Hedman T.
(2019).
Soft Palate Modification Using a Collagen Crosslinking Reagent for Equine Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate and Other Upper Airway Breathing Disorders.
Int J Biomater, 2019, 9310890.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9310890 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Crosscoat Medical, LLC, Lexington, KY, USA.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, USA.
- Crosscoat Medical, LLC, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
- Crosscoat Medical, LLC, Lexington, KY, USA.
Grant Funding
- R43 HL114204 / NHLBI NIH HHS
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