Health-Related Quality of Life and Primi-Gravid: A Comparative Study of Natural Conception and Conception by Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ARTs).

Background: Childbearing for the first time is a unique experience. Quality of life is an important indicator in health studies. This study aimed to assess the quality of life of women who were conceived by ARTs and had successful childbirth for the first time and to compare it with quality of life in women who become pregnant naturally and similarly had successful childbirth for the first time.

Assessment of pelvic floor muscle function in women with and without low back pain using transabdominal ultrasound.

Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunction has been recently associated with the development of low back pain (LBP). Transabdominal ultrasound imaging has been established as an appropriate method for visualizing and measuring PFM function. No study has directly evaluated PFM function in individuals with and without LBP.

Correlation of digital palpation and transabdominal ultrasound for assessment of pelvic floor muscle contraction.

Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunction has been commonly associated with urinary disorders and lumbo-pelvic pain. Transabdominal (TA) ultrasound is currently used by physical therapists to assess PFM function. Controversy exists regarding the correlation between TA ultrasound measurement and vaginal palpation for assessment of PFM contraction, and this relationship has not yet been examined concurrently during the same contraction.

Effects of 780-nm low-level laser therapy with a pulsed gallium aluminum arsenide laser on the healing of a surgically induced open skin wound of rat.

Objective: The aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the effects of a 780-nm low-level laser on open skin wound healing.

Background Data: Optimal parameters of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for wound healing are discussed.

Methods: One full-thickness skin wound was surgically induced in the dorsum skin of 30 rats.