Physical therapy assistance in labor: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Physical therapy assistance during labor may provide physical and emotional support to the expectant mother. Through specific techniques, physical therapists may help alleviate pain, improve mobility, and facilitate a safer and more comfortable delivery.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature to assess the potential benefits and risks of physical therapy assistance during labor.

Development, Validation, and Usability of a Virtual Game for Consciousness and Relaxation of the Pelvic Floor Muscles.

Background: Applicability of the virtual games has been increasingly added to rehabilitation treatments, including women's health interventions.

Objective: To develop a virtual interface designed to increase consciousness and relax the pelvic floor muscles, validate its content and appearance, and check the level of usability and satisfaction.

Methods: Physiotherapy specialists with experience in pelvic floor rehabilitation and database research were consulted to define the content.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Associated With a Pontine Lacunar Infarct in a Severely Hypertensive Patient: A Case Report.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurologic condition defined by symptoms and imaging findings secondary to vasogenic edema in the brain. Even though not all hypertensive individuals will progress to PRES, high blood pressure is the most frequent risk factor associated with the condition. The pathophysiology of PRES is not clearly understood, but the most accepted proposed mechanism focuses on the brain's inability to regulate cerebral blood flow through constriction or dilation of vessels during extreme blood pressure.

The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance.

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health.