December 06, 2019

The Effects of Diets on the Microbiomes of Dogs.

Bailey Papesh ' 19/'20

Abstract: Diets of dogs have been debated for a long time and a new trend that is called the BARF (bones and raw food) diet. This diet contains more meat than a traditional plant-based diet that many dogs get when they are fed commercial foods. The goal of this research is to look into the differences in the fecal microbiome and metabolome between dogs following the raw diet and traditional commercial diets. Fecal samples were collected from all the dogs and differences in crude protein, fat, fiber and NFE (Nitrogen-Free Extract) were analyzed. The microbiome was looked at with real time PCR. Dogs who were in the BARF group ate a significantly higher amount of protein and fat and lower levels of NFE and fiber. There was a higher amount of Lactobacillales, Enterobacteriaceae, E. Coli, Fusobacterium and Clostridium found in the BARF fed dogs. While the commercial diets had a higher abundance of Clotridiaceae, Erysipelotrichaeae, Ruminoococcaceae and Lacknospiraceae. There were several metabolites that were found to be different between the two groups. BARF and commercially fed dogs have very different microbiomes and metabolomes having much to do with the food ingested.

Decreasing ACL Rupture in Female Soccer Players: A Case Study

Nicole Vogel '19/'20

Abstract: The University of Oregon Women’s Soccer team has seen a steep increase in the rate of ACL rupture lately, the Athletic Director has been approached by DonJoy to enter a partnership to provide braces for the team in order to help decrease the amount of ACL ruptures. The AD has approached me, the head Athletic Trainer and lead Athletic Trainer for the Women’s Soccer team, to create a care and prevention program for ACL rupture and decide whether or not to pursue the partnership with DonJoy.

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the four ligaments in the knee, and it prevents anterior, or forward, shifting of the tibia, or the lower leg (Kopf et al., 2009). It [the ACL] attaches the lateral and anterior intercondylar spine of the tibia to the medial aspect of the lateral femoral condyle (Kopf et al., 2009). In the United States, approximately 100,000 injuries of the ACL happen every years; and female athletes, are two-to-eight times more likely to rupture their ACL (Sadoghi, et al., 2012).

In female athletics, eighty-to-ninety percent ACL ruptures are due to non-contact mechanisms. Common mechanisms of non-contact ACL rupture are cutting, pivoting, and improper jumping and landing mechanics (Voskanian, 2013). When the athlete is cutting; their foot remains planted as the hip and tibia rotate about its axis, creating torque in the knee. With incorrect distribution of the forces created by this torque, the ACL can be stressed beyond its yield point- which is when we see a tear (Voskanian, 2013).

Female athletes are much more prone to ACL rupture than their male counterparts because of distinct physiological differences in their anatomy and physiology. Females have greater Q-angles, lower and slower neuromuscular activation, and the fluctuation of the menstrual hormones- all of these heighten the risk of ACL injury.

The goal of this study is to decrease the incidence of ACL injury in female collegiate soccer players and decide whether or not bracing is an ideal way to achieve this.