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Objectives. We aimed to describe the clinical and psycho-socio-familial features of patients with widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain (WCMP)/fibromyalgia (FM) in primary care settings. To detect differences and similarities between both 'entities'. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Gene expression has been suggested as a putative tool for prognosis and diagnosis in canine mammary neoplasia (CMNs). In the present study, 58 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) paraffined canine mammary neoplasias from 27 different bitches were included. Thirty-seven tumours were classified as benign, whereas thirty-one were classified as different types of canine carcinoma. In addition, mammary samples from three healthy bitches were also included. The gene expression for vascular endothelial growth factor-α ( VEGFα ), CD20 , progesterone receptor ( PGR ), hyaluronidase-1 ( HYAL-1 ), programmed death-ligand 1 ( PD-L1 ), epidermal growth factor ( EGF ), relaxin ( RLN2 ), and matrix metalloproteinase-3 ( MMP3 ) was assessed through RT-qPCR. All the assessed genes yielded a higher expression in neoplastic mammary tissue than in healthy tissue. All the evaluated genes were overexpressed in neoplastic mammary tissue, suggesting a role in the process of tumorigenesis. Moreover, PD-L1, EGF, relaxin, and MMP3 were significantly overexpressed in malignant CMNs compared to benign CMNs, suggesting they may be useful as malignancy biomarkers.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are involved in water homeostasis in tissues and are ubiquitous in the reproductive tract. AQPs are classified into classical aquaporins (AQP0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8), aquaglycerolporins (AQP3, 7, 9, and 10) and superaquaporins (AQP11 and 12). Nine AQPs were described in the mammalian female reproductive tract. Some of their functions are influenced by sexual steroid hormones. The continuous physiological changes that occur throughout the sexual cycle, pregnancy and parturition, modify the expression of AQPs, thus creating at every moment the required water homeostasis. AQPs in the ovary regulate follicular development and ovulation. In the vagina and the cervix, AQPs are involved mainly in lubrication. In the uterus, AQPs are mostly mediated by estradiol and progesterone to prepare the endometrium for possible embryo implantation and fetal development. In the placenta, AQPs are responsible for the fluid support to the fetus to maintain fetal homeostasis that ensures correct fetal development as pregnancy goes on. This review is focused on understanding the role of AQPs in the mammalian female reproductive tract during the sexual cycle of pregnancy and parturition.

Lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) are being widely studied due to their probiotic potential. The aim of the present study was to determine and identify the presence of LAB from canine vaginal samples, as well as to evaluate their probiotic in vitro potential. Ninety-four bitches were included in the study. Vaginal samples were obtained by means of a sterile swab and streaked on Man Rogosa Sharpe agar plates. A total of 100 LAB strains were obtained and submitted to Gram stains and basic biochemical tests, which included catalase, oxidase and haemolysis tests. Thirteen strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus (n = 10), Lactococcus (n = 2) and Pediococcus (n = 1) were selected as potential probiotics and further subjected to evaluation of resistance to gastrointestinal conditions (pH, lysozyme, bile salts and hydrogen peroxide) and safety and efficacy in vitro (resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial capacity). Only three strains, one Lactobacillus lactis and two Lactobacillus plantarum, accomplished the requirements for being considered as potential in vitro probiotics.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are used in mares to suppress oestrous behaviour, but the underlying mechanism is yet to be elucidated. The presence of an embryo or an IUD prevents cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and, subsequently, prostaglandin (PG) release and luteolysis. However, inflammation may also be involved. Endometrial inflammatory markers in uterine lavage fluid were measured on Day 10 (EXP 1, n = 25) and Day 15 (EXP 2, n = 27) after ovulation in inseminated mares, non-pregnant or pregnant, and in mares in which a small plastic sphere had been inserted into the uterus 4 (EXP 1) or 3 days (EXP 2) after ovulation. Uterine lavage fluid samples were analysed for nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) (only EXP 1), prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ), inhibin A and cytokines, and blood samples for progesterone and oestradiol. On Day 10, the concentration of PGF 2α was lower ( p < 0.05) in the IUD group than in pregnant mares. The concentration of the modulatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly higher in the IUD group in comparison to non-pregnant mares, and inhibin A was significantly higher in IUD mares than in the pregnant counterparts on Day 15. The results suggest that the presence of IUD causes endometrial inflammation which is at a resolution stage on Day 15.

Endometritis is one of the main causes of infertility in mares. In the present study, 363 mares with a history of repetitive infertility, and positive endometrial cytology and/or vaginal discharge were included. An endometrial swab for microbiological purposes plus sensitivity test was obtained from each mare. A positive culture was obtained in 89% of mares. The main isolated genera were Staphylococcus (25.1%), Streptococcus (18.2%), Escherichia (17.3%) and Pseudomonas (12.1%). With regard to species, the most isolated microorganism was Escherichia coli (17.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (15.6%) and Streptococcus spp. (13.5%). Sensitivity tests showed that the most efficient antimicrobial was amikacin (57.3% of cultures), followed by cefoxitin (48.6%) and gentamicin (48.3%). When sensitivity test was analyzed in terms of Gram+ and Gram- bacteria, Gram+ were highly resistant to cephaloridine (77.3% of cultures), apramycin (70.8%) and penicillin (62.3%), whereas Gram- were highly resistant to penicillin (85.8%), followed by cephaloridine (78.9%). In conclusion, the present study shows the most prevalent microorganisms isolated from equine endometritis, which were found to be resistant to β-lactam antimicrobials. Likewise, these results highlight the significance of performing microbiological analyses as well as sensitivity tests prior to applying an antimicrobial therapy.

Endometritis is associated with fertility problems in many species, with endometrial biopsy being the main diagnostic tool. In feline queens, the reduced size of the uterus may make it difficult to obtain representative diagnostic samples. Endometrial cytology may represent a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating the health status of the endometrium in queens. Fifty domestic shorthair queens were included and divided into two cytological diagnostic technique groups, the uterine lavage (UL; n = 28) and uterine swabbing (US; n = 22) groups. Cytological results were compared with histopathological and bacteriological information. Changes in the histopathological patterns were also evaluated and compared with progesterone levels to confirm previous published data. Furthermore, the results from both cytological sampling methods were compared to evaluate the utility of each method. Endometritis was ruled out in all queens by means of histology and microbiology. Leukocyte counts and red blood cell/endometrial cell ratios were significantly higher in US than UL samples. Additionally, UL sampling is less affected by blood contamination and cells are better preserved. The combination of endometrial cytology and uterine culture might be useful for evaluating the endometrial characteristics in queens. The UL evaluation method is more representative of the actual endometrial status than the US technique.

Acute phase proteins (APP) are biomarkers of systemic inflammation, which allow monitoring the evolution of diseases, the response to treatments, and post-operative complications. Ovariectomy (OVE) is frequently performed in veterinary medicine and can be a useful model to evaluate surgical trauma and inflammation in the bitch. The objective was to investigate and compare the acute phase response (APR) after applying three different OVE techniques by measuring serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), albumin (Alb), and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1). Forty-five intact bitches were included in the study, being randomly distributed into three groups: laparoscopic OVE (L), midline OVE (M), and flank OVE (F). Serum CRP, Hp, Alb, and PON-1 were measured before surgery, 1, 24, 72, and 168 h post-intervention. CRP levels increased significantly 24 h post-surgery in the M and F groups, but no significant variation was observed in the L group at any time of the study period. Hp was significantly higher in group L than in group F 72 h post-surgery. Alb and PON-1 showed no statistical difference among groups or among sampling periods. CRP response suggests that the use of laparoscopic procedures produce lower inflammation compared to open conventional approaches when performing OVE in the bitch.

The aim of the study reported herein was to evaluate the suitability of the Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technique as a possible diagnostic tool in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Moreover, for the first time, the BPH model was a totally physiological using naturally aged rats with spontaneous, age-related BPH instead of the pharmacologically induced models usually used. Eighteen male Wistar rats were distributed according to their age: 6 weeks (young), 12 weeks (adult) and 12 months (old) old. Prostate gland was removed and analyzed by mini-arrays, Western blotting (WB) and SAW techniques. Mini-arrays indicated that there were significant differences in the expression of 29/34 inflammation-related cytokines. WB was carried out to confirm the results after selection of 4 cytokines from which one showed no changes, namely PDGF-AA, and the other three, which significantly increase in older animals, were CD86, β-NGF and VEGF. Notwithstanding, WB of old rats yielded confusing results due to an anomalous migration of proteins, dismissing this technique as an useful tool in these animals. Accurate results in old rats were uniquely obtained by using the SAW technique. Thus, SAW analysis showed that there were not differences among groups in the amount of PDGF-AA. On the contrary, SAW analysis showed that amounts of CD86, β-NGF and VEGF in old rats were 2.0, 1.9 and 5.7-fold higher than that from young ones, respectively. These results indicate that SAW is a highly accurate technique for determining changes in the cytokines expression in BPH.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to find out if a training programme adapted to family physicians with several years of clinical experience changes their behaviour when they deal with fibromyalgic patients in the sense of introducing the communication skills that define the 'patient-centred' approach., Methods: A randomized, and simple blind, educative study was carried out. Twenty full-time family physicians were invited to participate. They were allocated randomly to two groups: an intervention and a control group. A total of 110 patients were recruited from people attending physicians' surgeries for the first time and who complained of generalized pain that finally fulfilled criteria for generalized musculoskeletal chronic pain/fibromyalgia. This was done for an entire year. The intervention group received an 18 hour intensive course. One week after the course, all doctors carried out a video-recorded encounter with a patient who played the part of a typical fibromyalgia clinical case. The interviews were coded by an observer blind to the training status of the participants, using the GATHARES-CP questionnaire. All patients were contacted by telephone during a 1-2-month period by a different interviewer who was 'blinded' to the patient's experimental status. They were asked to respond to three questions that represent the key components of patient-centred style., Results: The average score on the GATHARES-CP questionnaire was 11.3 +/- 0.9 and 9 +/- 2.3, for doctors from the intervention and control groups, respectively (P < 0.01). For 11 items, scores were higher in the intervention group. The patients' answers to all three questions showed statistically significant differences in a positive direction for the trained doctors., Conclusions: The doctors improved the use of strategies and skills for carrying out patient-centred consultations after they had received an interactive course. The doctors' behaviour appeared to have changed as much in a more experimental situation as in the actual consultations. Moreover, the gain was observed immediately after the intervention was completed, and after having run for a variable period of time up to 1 year.