Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability in elderly population around the world. More than one-third of people over 65 years old shows either clinical or radiological evidence of OA. There is no effective treatment for this degenerative disease, due to the limited capacity for spontaneous cartilage regeneration. Regarding the use of regenerative therapies, it has been reported that one option to restore degenerated cartilage are adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). The purpose of this review is to describe and compare the efficacy of ASCs versus other therapies in OA. Methods: Recent studies have shown that ASCs exert paracrine effects protecting against degenerative changes in chondrocytes. According to the above, we have carried out a review of the literature using a combination of osteoarthritis, stem cells, and regenerative therapies as keywords. Results: Conventional pharmacological therapies for OA treatment are considered before the surgical option, however, they do not stop the progression of the disease. Moreover, total joint replacement is not recommended for patients under 55 years, and high tibia osteotomy (HTO) is a viable solution to address lower limb malalignment with concomitant OA, but some complications have been described. In recent years, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment strategy for OA is increasing considerably, thanks to their capacity to improve symptoms together with joint functionality and, therefore, the patients’ quality of life. Conclusions: ASC therapy has a positive effect on patients with OA, although there is limited evidence and little long-term follow-up.

The role of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in promoting the healing of bone fractures has not yet been clearly stated. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF, a PRP derivate) in the treatment of naturally-occurring bone fractures in dogs. With this objective, sixty-five dogs with radius/ulna or tibia/fibula bone fractures were randomly divided into two groups (PRGF and saline solution (SS) groups) and checked at days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 60, 63, 70, 120, and 180. All the fractures were treated with an external skeletal fixation, and pain was controlled with Carprofen. Healing was evaluated by physical examination, limb function, radiography, and by a Likert-type owner satisfaction questionnaire. A faster fracture healing was observed in the PRGF group, with statistically significant differences with respect to the SS group. Swelling at the fracture site was significantly greater at day 14 and 28 in animals injected with PRGF, and more pain on palpation was found in the area at day 28. The injection of PRGF in acute bone fractures accelerates bone healing.

The limb center of pressure (COP) path measures and quantifies the load distribution within a limb in a still or moving subject. Under this premise, the aim of this study was to test whether data derived from this parameter could detect the differences between sound and lame limbs in unilaterally lame dogs with elbow dysplasia. To accomplish this purpose, ten unilaterally lame dogs of similar conformation were walked over a pressure platform. Next, the COP path, in relation to the position of sound and lame limbs, was measured in a coordinate system over a standard paw template obtained by pedobarography during the whole support phase. To compare variables, force platform data (peak vertical force and vertical impulse) from the same animals were obtained. Sound and lame limb statokinesiograms were also obtained while the animals stood still. The statistical analysis clearly showed that COP in lame limbs start cranially and were shorter than sound limbs. In addition, the value of the COP excursion index was lower in lame limbs. Finally, the area of statokinesiograms was greater in lame limbs. This methodology based in limb COP characteristics serves to discriminate between sound and lame limbs in dogs with elbow dysplasia.

Pedobarographic analyses detect pressure redistribution among limbs and within limbs in humans, equids and dogs. The main objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of a set of pedobarographic parameters for the detection of lameness, as well as for its suitability for assessing the effects of therapies against osteoarthritis in dogs. With this purpose, eleven large-breed lame dogs with unilateral osteoarthritis due to elbow dysplasia were evaluated using a pressure platform prior to (D0) and after 3 months (D90) of treatment with mavacoxib, a COX-2 selective NSAID. The obtained parameters were: pressure distribution between lame and sound limbs, as well as paw area, mean pressure, and peak pressure of both lame and sound limbs. The results showed statistical differences in all these parameters between lame and sound limbs at D0; however, at D90, differences were significantly decreased as result of the treatment, indicating a substantial functional recovery under the study design conditions. The provided data prove the suitability of this novel technique in canine models for the quantitative and objective assessment of lameness, but also for the evaluation of treatments for lameness caused by articular pain.

Low invasiveness is the main goal of modern surgery. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is known to be effective in a variety of applications, such as oral, maxillofacial, orthopedic, dermatologic and cosmetic surgeries. However, a potential ergogenic and carcinogenic effect of PRP derivatives by means of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) pathway has been suggested. Because of this notion, the purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a commercially available PRP-derivative intramuscular injection in the lumbar muscular tissue (local effect) and to determine the IGF-1 blood concentration (systemic effect) on healthy beagle dogs. Local effect was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) scan and echography, and systemic effect was calculated by blood testing on days 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56. No statistically significant changes were observed; thus, PRGF could be considered safe when using therapeutic doses.

La disfemia o tartamudez es una alteración en el habla en la que una persona se bloquea en palabras repitiendo alguna vocal o incapacidad de poder pronunciar. Los alumnos con disfemia tienen una gran presión social y es por ello que sus capacidades para desarrollar el liderazgo pueden verse inhibidas para desarrollarse en su máxima capacidad. Trabajar la autoestima aparte de un trabajo de logopedia resulta imprescindible para dar herramientas a dichos alumnos. Por lo tanto, el trabajo en los demás compañeros de un liderazgo auténtico basado en valores sociales que potencie la inteligencia emocional promueve la integración de todas personas con diferentes problemáticas o diferencias en grupos heterogéneos sea una realidad. Para ello, en este trabajo se evalúa el liderazgo auténtico a través del cuestionario Authentic Leadership Questionnaire “ALQ” y se usará la técnica del Puzzle de Aronson (ATP) para desarrollar dichas habilidades.