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Study to explore airway inflammation in racehorses
"Previous studies have reported a detrimental effect of exercise on the functional capacity of airway-derived immune cells" - Dr Anna Eleonora Karagianna.
Researchers hope to establish the details of the condition.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh are investigating why racehorses commonly develop airway inflammation during intense training.

It is hoped that the findings will inform ways to help racehorses to alleviate these respiratory illnesses and improve athletic performance. 

The research team will pinpoint the effects of training on activity in immune cells from horses' airways and lungs using advanced analytical methods, and will search for biological indicators of susceptibility to disease. 

Dr Anna Eleonora Karagianni, research fellow at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, explained: “Racehorses commonly develop airway inflammation, especially during early season training, which can significantly impair athletic performance. 

“Previous studies have reported a detrimental effect of exercise on the functional capacity of airway-derived immune cells. 

“We hope to establish the detail of this, to inform management and training of equine athletes, and advance understanding of similar conditions in humans.” 

Alongside developing understanding of mild to moderate equine asthma (MMEA), the research team is also hoping to explore exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), where horses experience bleeding into the airways. 

EIPH is also commonly developed by training horses, and researchers will seek to determine whether the two conditions are linked.

It is thought that the outcomes from this two-year study may also have significance for advancing understanding of the link between high intensity training and respiratory systems in human athletes.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.