Search Results (2)

Background/Objectives: The postpartum period is marked by numerous physical changes, often leading to pelvic floor disorders (PFD) such as urinary incontinence (UI) and diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). This study aimed to assess the occurrence of UI and DRA in postpartum women and evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy in managing UI and DRA. Methods: A total of 396 women, between the 3rd and 5th postpartum day, were randomized into three groups: control (GrCon), online exercise group (GrOnl), and supervised group (GrSup). GrCon received only education, whereas GrOnl and GrSup had three sessions with exercises with physiotherapist—online or supervised. Data were collected through questionnaires, ICIQ FLUTS, body posture assessments, and DRA measurements. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in UI and DRA symptoms across all groups, with the GrSup group showing the greatest improvement. UI symptoms decreased from 49% during pregnancy to 36.9% postpartum, with GrSup women reporting fewer urological complaints compared to the GrOnl and GrCon groups (p < 0.001). DRA incidence dropped from 76.2% in the early postpartum days to 23.4% at six weeks, with GrSup showing the lowest rates (9.8%). Notably, supervised physiotherapy resulted in a higher frequency (94.7%) and correct performance of PFME (72.2%) compared to the online and control groups. Conclusions: The study concludes that supervised physiotherapy is more effective than online sessions in managing postpartum UI and DRA, emphasizing the importance of guided exercise for better outcomes. Full article

Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal mushroom used to treat immune-related diseases in East Asia. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract of C. militaris grown on germinated Rhynchosia nulubilis (GRC) fermented with Pediococcus pentosaceus ON89A isolated from onion (GRC-ON89A) in vivo as well as in vitro. The anti-inflammatory effect of GRC-ON89A was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in the GRC-ON89A ethanol extract were significantly increased compared to that in GRC. GRC-ON89A hexane fraction (GRC-ON89A-Hex) inhibited the release of nitric oxide (NO) compared to that of the LPS-treated control without cytotoxicity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. GRC-ON89A-Hex decreased the inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, pre-treatment with GRC-ON89A-Hex significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB. To induce allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), 1-fluoro-2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was applied to the surface of the right ears of C57BL/6N mice. GRC-ON89A reduced the ear swelling and thickness in DNFB-induced ACD mice. This study demonstrates the potential usefulness of GRC-ON89A as an anti-inflammatory dietary supplement or drug. Full article