Assessment of biophysical therapy in the management of pain in current medical practice compared with ibuprofen and placebo: a pilot study.

Pain management is a daily part of current medical practice. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the efficacy of a biophysical procedure (Med Select 729) compared to a usual pain killer drug (Ibuprofen), and to placebo in order to disclose some effective procedures to be employed especially in elderly people with multiple comorbidities, in patients with allergy to chemical drugs or previous side effects, in non-responders to usual medications, and in chronic diseases to reduce overload. A total of 66 patients were divided in 3 groups. After one week of biophysical therapy they showed similar effect to ibuprofen and after one month the statistical significance was achieved with p less than 0.02 in comparison to placebo. We conclude that biophysical therapy was shown to be an effective and safe procedure for the management of pain in current medical practice.

Cervical mucus characteristics and hormonal status at insemination of Holstein cows.

The present study was carried out to characterize the cervical mucus (CM) collected when inseminating Holstein cows and to relate the secretion pattern with pregnancy. The mucus was collected from mid-cervix of 64 cows with spontaneus estrus (SE) and induced estrus (IE). The quantity, pattern and consistency of the mucus, pH, arborization patterns and the sperm motility were observed. The levels of progesterone and estradiol 17ß in serum were also determined. Pregnancy detection was performed by means of transrectal ultrasonography 60 days after insemination. Mucous secretion of cows with SE was significantly different from those with IE, showing a lower degree of crystallization (SE 2.00; IE 2.75) and a lower level of steroid hormones (P4: SE 0.17 ng/ml and IE 0.33 ng/ml (t 1.99547 α 0.05); E2: SE 30.95 pg/ml and IE 47.76 pg/ml (t 1.99495 α 0.05). Progesterone level was significantly lower and estrogen significantly higher in pregnant cows (P) in relation to that observed in non pregnant females (N) (P4: P 0.20 ng/ml and N 0.44 ng/ml (t 1.99602 α 0.05); E2: P 54.77 pg/ml and N 40.75 pg/ml (t 1.99505 α 0.05). In conclusion pregnancy was associated with acopious, clear and watery discharge (similar to egg white), with an arborization degree of 2.25, presence of atypical fern leaves together with rosette formations and needles or thorns on rails due to low levels of progesterone accompanied by high concentrations of estrogens.