Ti-34Nb-6Sn alloy were prepare by powder metallurgy milled in two different times (40 and 60 min) using Ti and Nb hydrides with or without Mg, as spacer then sintered at 700ºC and 800ºC. Characterizations were made by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and by Archimedes. Microhardness was measured by Vickers microhardness. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from equine bone marrow (BMMSCs) were used to evaluate the sample cytotoxicity. Hydration and dehydration process was confirmed, also the formation of brittle particles during the milling. Materials were structured under α and β phase, and the samples that received Mg as a spacer had slightly lower β phase content compared to samples without Mg, suggesting difficult α→β transformation due to the presence of barriers formed by pores. Mg provided greater porosity, and prepared milled in a shorter time promoted an increase in the macropores. Microhardness was similar to that of commercial materials (i.e., CP-Ti and also to other alloys with similar nominal composition. Cells treated with conditioned medium with the samples showed viability comparable to the control group, and after 48 h of culture on the samples, there was significant growth and more circular morphology, when adhered on materials that received Mg.

This study aimed to grade joint abnormalities in horses submitted to therapeutic arthroscopy using score-based protocols for equine joint assessment, correlated with arthroscopic treatment outcomes and owner satisfaction. In this prospective study, we evaluated 126 joints of athletic horses referred for arthroscopy. The joints were scored according to findings of medical history and physical, radiographic, ultrasonographic and arthroscopic examination. Lameness, positive response to flexion test and decreased maximum joint flexion angle were detected in more than 50% of joints. Soft tissue swelling, sclerosis, subchondral bone osteolysis and single osteochondral fragments were the most common radiographic findings. Ultrasonographic examination revealed changes in synovial fluid volume and appearance, and subchondral bone irregularities. Increased vascularity of the synovial villi, chondral fibrillation, chondral fissures and superficial cartilage erosions were the most significant arthroscopic findings. The approaches that demonstrated greater sensitivity and correlation with treatment outcome and owner satisfaction were medical history, ultrasonographic and arthroscopic examination. The scoring protocol employed to grade joint abnormalities enabled the creation of a joint score system for the objective assessment, thus determining the most frequent findings and establishing an injury severity score for each joint.