Although scales that evaluate postpartum stress exist, they lack specificity in maternal postpartum stress. The MPSS was created because there was a need to assess maternal stress during the postpartum stage. The introduction of the MPSS has enriched the evaluation tools for postpartum stress and has helped understand maternal stress at various postpartum time points and identify women at high risk for postpartum stress during this period. The aim was to translate the MPSS into Spanish and study its psychometric properties. Postpartum women (N = 167) with a mean age of 34.26 (SD = 4.71) were involved in this study. In addition to the MPSS, a battery of instruments was administered: a demographic sheet, the Birth Satisfaction Scale (BSS) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The MPSS data were analyzed, checking item communality first. As a result, three items showed unsatisfactory communality values (h² < 0.40). Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted, comparing factor models using the full pool of MPSS items or the version without items with unacceptable communality. As a result, the original three-factor structure was endorsed on the Spanish MPSS, with better fit indices when removing items with low communality (RMSEA = 0.067, CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99). The reliability of this version was satisfactory (ω = 0.93). Finally, group comparisons for some perinatal variables were performed, showing no significant differences between groups of interest (p = 0.05 and above). To conclude, the MPSS will contribute to the existing literature, having a wider capacity to assess perinatal mental health difficulties in Spanish-speaking populations. Full article

In this article, the authors will describe a creative writing therapeutic group program they developed based on narrative therapy and narrative medicine principles. This was a Social Science and Humanities Research Council—Partnership Engagement Grant funded project, the aim of which was to develop a facilitator’s manual for people interested in offering this group, titled “Journey through Words”. The link to the agency partner’s website, where the manual is available, is provided. The group program is structured over 6 weeks and includes a writing prompt each week, focusing on the storyline of resilience rather than the storyline of diagnosis or disease. Using a narrative inquiry approach, the facilitators kept brief field notes following group meetings. These field notes indicate that although spirituality was not planned as an identified focus of the program, due to the space narrative therapy provides for people to describe their values, preferences, and hopes during hardship, the experience of the group was that members shared reflections which were deeply spiritual in nature. Full article

As cities strive to become sustainable, it is imperative to consider even the smallest components of the urban environment and prioritize sustainability. Ensuring the sustainability of urban furniture, especially the numerous benches found in cities, is crucial. This study proposes an alternative solution to the sustainability issue in cities regarding urban furniture. This is because a review of the literature indicates that while efforts have been made to evaluate the sustainability of urban amenities and furniture, studies conducting life cycle analysis specifically for urban furniture are lacking. This study will contribute to the identified gap in the literature by analyzing 14 different seating elements in recreational areas located in the city of Rize, Turkey, using the Ccalc program to calculate their carbon footprints. In the subsequent phase of this study, an eco-design process will be conducted based on the findings, aiming to create an eco-seating unit design. Based on the data obtained, materials with high environmental impact were identified, material replacement recommendations were made, and consequently, a model proposal was presented. The potential reduction in carbon footprints with the use of transformed materials was discussed. The findings revealed that carbon footprint values were particularly high in the seating units where concrete and polypropylene materials were used. Additionally, it was determined that solvent paint, especially varnish, affects the carbon footprint, and it was recommended that would be used in its natural form, which is eco-friendly. In conclusion, the recommendations developed for the sustainability of urban furniture in coastal areas will contribute to the future of cities and humanity. Full article

This study evaluated territorial disparities in dental care for disabled persons in Brazil’s public healthcare system from 2014 to 2023. The person-year incidence of outpatient dental procedures carried out by special care dentistry specialists and hospitalizations for dental procedures for disabled persons were compared across different regions and against the national estimate. In addition, productivity was correlated with oral health-related indicators. The significance level was set at 5%. The northern region exhibited the highest outpatient productivity, while the southern region showed lower productivity compared to the national estimate (both p-value < 0.05). This pattern was reversed in inpatient productivity (both p-value < 0.05), with the northeastern and central–western regions also below average (both p-value < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between the indicators and inpatient productivity, but outpatient productivity was positively correlated with the proportions of inhabitants who self-rated their general and oral health as “poor” or “very poor”, who have never visited a dentist, and who visited a dentist for tooth extraction (all p-values < 0.05). Territorial disparities in dental care for disabled persons were observed within Brazil’s public healthcare system, and they were correlated with unfavorable oral health-related indicators at the population level. Full article

Diarrhoea is a serious cause of mortality worldwide that can lead to dehydration, gut barrier function impairment, nutrient malabsorption, and alterations of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis). The current solutions for its management, such as oral rehydration salts (ORS), inhibitors of gut motility, antibiotics, and living probiotics, only partially counteract the mechanisms of the disease and do not provide a full coverage of the problem. The potential risks of the use of living probiotic strains, particularly in immunocompromised patients, can be eliminated with the use of tyndallized (heat-killed) postbiotic bacteria and yeast. ABB C22^® is a postbiotic combination of three tyndallized yeasts, namely Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Kluyveromyces marxianus. To assess the action of the postbiotic combination on diarrhoea, immune and gut epithelial cell signalling assays, the gut barrier formation assay, and the rotavirus gene expression assay were performed. ABB C22^® showed a strong anti-inflammatory effect, an induction of the build-up of the gut epithelium, and a degree of protection against rotavirus infection. These experimental studies support the use of the postbiotic ABB C22^® as a solution for the management of diarrhoea and gastrointestinal conditions, alone or in combination with existing but incomplete treatments. Full article

Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), the cotton mealybug, is an invasive polyphagous species that has been extending its geographic range, posing a conspicuous threat to many Mediterranean crops of economic importance. These include three species of Solanaceae, namely Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato), Solanum tuberosum L. (potato) and Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) all of which are economically important worldwide. In this study, we used age-stage two-sex life tables to investigate the suitability of these three plant species as hosts for P. solenopsis and to calculate pestfitness, life history parameters and population projection parameters. All tested host plants that were suitable for the pest and eggplant host plant induced a higher fecundity (276.50 ± 10.78 eggs/female), net reproductive rate (R₀) (243.32 ± 15.83 offspring/female) and finite rate of increase (λ) (1.18 ± 0.0043 day⁻¹) and more extended adult longevity (males: 6.50 ± 0.34 day and females: 24.15 ± 0.50 days). Population growth predictions over a period of 90 days of infestation, commencing with an initial population of 10 eggs showed that adult population size was 674,551 on tomato, 826,717 on potato and 355,139 on eggplant. Our data on plant host preference of P. solenopsis will aid the development of appropriate management strategies and achieve successful control of this invasive pest in key Mediterranean crop systems. Full article

Dynamic microsimulations are tools to stochastically project (synthetic) microdata into the future. In spatial microsimulations, regional discrepancies are of particular interest and must be considered accordingly. In practice, the probabilities for state changes are unknown and must be estimated, usually from survey data. However, estimating such models on the regional level is often not feasible due to limited sample size and lack of geographic information. Simply applying the model estimated at the national level to all geographies leads to biased state transitions due to regional differences in level and distribution. In this paper, we introduce a model-based alignment method to adapt predicted probabilities obtained from a nationally estimated model to subregions by integrating known marginal distributions to re-introduce regional heterogeneity and create more realistic trajectories, particularly in small areas. We show that the model-adjusted transition probabilities can capture region-specific patterns and lead to improved projections. Our findings are useful to researchers who want to harmonise model outputs with external information, in particular for the field of microsimulation. Full article

Viscum continuum E. Mey. Ex Sprague (Mistletoe) is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on the branches of other trees with reported numerous biological activities. This study was aimed at isolating a compound/s that will be used as a standard reference for quality control of South African-based commercialized mistletoe products and to further perform antioxidant and antimicrobial tests on the isolated compound. A dried sample of mistletoe was ground and extracted successively with hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), acetone and methanol using a serial exhaustive cold maceration procedure. The compound was isolated using column chromatography, and its chemical structure was elucidated using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The antioxidant activity of the compound was determined using DPPH, hydrogen radical scavenging activity and reducing power assays, whereas antimicrobial activity was assessed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Subjection of the DCM extract to column chromatography resulted in the isolation of a compound elucidated as olean-12-en-28-butanol-1-one, 3-hydroxy-4,4,10, 14, 20-pentamethyl (D4). Both the DPPH, H₂O₂ radical scavenging activity and reducing power assays revealed a significant antioxidant potential of compound D4 with an IC₅₀ of 0.701 mg/mL, lower than that of gallic acid (0.793 mg/mL) for the H₂O₂ radical scavenging assay. The results also indicated good antibacterial activity of D4 with an IC₅₀ of 0.25 mg/mL, compared to ciprofloxacin with an IC₅₀ of 0.0039 mg/mL, against two Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and three Gram-positive (Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. This study is the first to report on the isolation of the olean-12-en-28-butanol derivative from mistletoe of the South African ecotype. Full article

Background: The threat of antibiotic resistance of fungal pathogens and the high toxicity of the most effective drugs, polyene macrolides, force us to look for new ways to develop innovative antifungal formulations. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how the sterol, phospholipid, and flavonoid composition of liposomal forms of polyene antibiotics, and in particular, amphotericin B (AmB), affects their ability to increase the permeability of lipid bilayers that mimic the membranes of mammalian and fungal cells. Methods: To monitor the membrane permeability induced by various polyene-based lipid formulations, a calcein leakage assay and the electrophysiological technique based on planar lipid bilayers were used. Key results: The replacement of cholesterol with its biosynthetic precursor, 7-dehydrocholesterol, led to a decrease in the ability of AmB-loaded liposomes to permeabilize lipid bilayers mimicking mammalian cell membranes. The inclusion of plant flavonoid phloretin in AmB-loaded liposomes increased the ability of the formulation to disengage a fluorescent marker from lipid vesicles mimicking the membranes of target fungi. I–V characteristics of the fungal-like lipid bilayers treated with the AmB phytosomes were symmetric, demonstrating the functioning of double-length AmB pores and assuming a decrease in the antibiotic threshold concentration. Conclusions and Perspectives: The therapeutic window of polyene lipid formulations might be expanded by varying their sterol composition. Polyene-loaded phytosomes might be considered as the prototypes for innovative lipid antibiotic formulations. Full article

Water scarcity is a critical abiotic stress factor for plants in arid and semi-arid regions, impacting crop development and production yield and quality. Monitoring water stress at finer scales (e.g., farm and plant), requires multispectral imagery with thermal capabilities at centimeter resolution. This study investigates drought stress in pistachio trees in a farm located in Yazd province, Iran, by using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images to quantify evapotranspiration and assess drought stress in individual trees. Images were captured on 10 July 2022, using a Matrix 300 UAV with a MicaSense Altum multispectral sensor. By employing the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL), actual field evapotranspiration was accurately calculated (10 cm spatial resolution). Maps of the optimum crop coefficient (K_c) were developed from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) based on standard evapotranspiration using the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 56 methodology. The comparison between actual and standard evapotranspiration allowed us to identify drought-stressed trees. Results showed an average and maximum daily evaporation of 4.3 and 8.0 mm/day, respectively, in pistachio trees. The real crop coefficient (K_c) for pistachio was 0.66, contrasting with the FAO 56 standard of 1.17 due to the stress factor (K_s). A significant correlation was found between K_c and NDVI (R² = 0.67, p < 0.01). The regression model produced a crop coefficient map, valuable to support precise irrigation management and drought prevention, considering the heterogeneity at the farm scale. Full article

Chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) leads to volume overload in the left ventricle (LV), which is well tolerated for years. In this condition, the LV usually dilates with minimal reduction in the ejection fraction (EF), even in the absence of symptoms. Echocardiography is the primary imaging test used to quantify AR. However, no single assessment of Doppler measures is accurate and precise in individual patients; therefore, the integration of multiple parameters is necessary. Recent guidelines recommend surgical treatment for severe AR in patients who are symptomatic or have an LVEF < 55% and an end-systolic diameter > 50 mm. Nevertheless, advances in imaging technology have improved the quantification of AR and the assessment of LV subclinical dysfunction. It is widely recognized that patients who undergo aortic valve replacement/repair (AVR) due to symptoms or a low LVEF experience worse outcomes than those undergoing AVR for non-Class I indications. In fact, subclinical irreversible myocardial damage may occur in clinically well-compensated and closely monitored patients while awaiting formal surgical indications. This condition could be prevented by the use of multimodal imaging parameters, in particular longitudinal LV strain and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, better cut-off values for mortality predictors should be established. This review aims to identify simple models that integrate several echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance-derived parameters to predict the optimal timing of surgical treatment in asymptomatic patients with chronic severe AR. Full article

Supporting refugee and migrant health has become a critical focus of healthcare policy. Developing and designing health literacy interventions that meet the needs of refugees and migrants is core to achieving this objective. This literature review sought to identify antecedents and consequences of health literacy among refugees and migrants during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically searched nine electronic databases and numerous grey literature sources to identify studies published between December 2019 and March 2022. The antecedents (societal and environmental determinants, situational determinants, and personal determinants) and consequences of health literacy among refugees and migrants were mapped to a validated integrated health literacy model. Social and environmental determinants (n = 35) were the most reported antecedent influencing health literacy among refugees and migrants during the first two years of COVID-19. Language (n = 26) and culture (n = 16) were these determinants’ most frequently reported aspects. Situational determinants (n = 24) and personal determinants (n = 26) were less frequently identified factors influencing health literacy among refugees and migrants. Literacy (n = 11) and socioeconomic status (n = 8) were the most frequently reported aspects of personal determinants. Media use (n = 9) and family and peer influence (n = 7) were the most cited situational determinants reported. Refugees and migrants with higher levels of health literacy were more likely to use healthcare services, resulting in better health outcomes. The findings of this review reveal personal and situational factors that impacted health literacy among refugees and migrants during COVID-19 that require attention. However, the inadequate adaptation of health literacy interventions for linguistic and cultural diversity was a greater problem. Attention to this well-known aspect of public health preparedness and tailoring health literacy interventions to the needs of refugees and migrants during pandemics and other public health emergencies are paramount. Full article

The maximum energy at which a laser can be operated safely is a matter of paramount importance. This is patently related to laser induced damage. In the nanosecond regime, this poses a unique challenge, as it is not solely influenced by laser intensity or thermal load. Instead, it arises from the cumulative effects that includes those two factors. While extensive research has explored this dependence for various pulse lengths, the exploration of different longitudinal modes and temporal shapes is relatively limited. Our study aims to fill this gap by determining the safe operational fluence for any pulse shape, leveraging established dependencies on pulse duration. We propose a straightforward and adaptable method to ascertain these operational limits, independent of the type or origin of laser damage. This approach allows us to derive fluence limits for diverse pulse shapes. Full article

The cavity form of complex microcavity lasers predominantly relies on disordered structures, whether found in nature or artificially prepared. These structures, characterized by disorder, facilitate random lasing through the feedback effect of the cavity boundary and the internal scattering medium via various mechanisms. In this paper, we report on a random fiber laser employing a disordered scattering cladding medium affixed to the inner cladding of a hollow-core fiber. The internal flowing liquid gain establishes a stable liquid-core waveguide environment, enabling long-term directional coupling output for random laser emission. Through theoretical analysis and experimental validation, we demonstrate that controlling the disorder at the cavity boundary allows liquid-core fiber random microcavities to exhibit random lasing output with different mechanisms. This provides a broad platform for in-depth research into the generation and control of complex microcavity lasers, as well as the detection of scattered matter within micro- and nanostructures. Full article

In this article, a comparison of ionization techniques is provided and discussed. Conventional liquid chromatography with an electrospray ionization source shows higher robustness and repeatability in comparison with liquid chromatography coupled with a coordination ion spray (CIS-MS) source using silver nitrate as the dopant. However, the higher sensitivity and possibility to collect more data in untargeted applications mean CIS-MS is emerging as an instrument used in specific applications. During this research, the limit of detection (LOD) for GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 was established at 0.2 ng/mL, and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.5 ng/mL for CIS-MS. For conventional ESI-MS combined with solid-phase extraction on weak cation exchange columns, the limit of detection was found to be 1 ng/mL, and the lower limit of quantification was 2 ng/mL. Full article

In this paper, we study the networks of financial institutions using textual data (i.e., news). We draw knowledge graphs after the textual data has been processed via various natural language processing and embedding methods, including use of the most recent version of ChatGPT (via OpenAI api). Our final graphs represent bank networks and further shed light on the systemic risk of the financial institutions. Financial news reflects live how financial institutions are connected, via graphs which provide information on conditional dependencies among the financial institutions. Our results show that in the year 2016, the chosen 22 top U.S. financial firms are not closely connected and, hence, present no systemic risk. Full article

Procedures are a core element of medical professional practice. Today’s training approach was formulated in the mid-twentieth century based on a computer analogue of the brain. Despite minor modifications, the system has remained relatively unchanged for the past 70 years. It delivers competence. However, competence is not reliable performance. The inability to adapt to the variety of patients and variations in the performance environments, such as the operating room, results in patient morbidity and mortality. There is a need for changes in the development and training of medical procedural skills based on current theories of skill acquisition, movement theory, and motor control. Achieving optimal performance necessitates the ability to adapt through training in diverse patient and performance environments rather than merely imitating prescribed movements. We propose a novel model of training, the Constraints-Led Approach, which allows for robust training by altering the factors affecting skill acquisition and lifelong learning. Full article

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a considerable proportion of patients developed a severe condition that included respiratory failure, shock, or multiple organ dysfunction. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) has been recognized as a possible cause of severe COVID-19 development. Given this, this study investigates the occurrence and consequences of AKI in Mexican patients to contribute to better knowledge and management of this problem. Methods: Using a retrospective observational cohort methodology, we investigated 313 cases from a cohort of 1019 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at the IMSS Zacatecas General Hospital of Zone No. 1 in 2020. The prevalence of AKI was determined using the AKIN criteria based on serum creatinine levels and a detailed review of demographic characteristics, medical history, comorbidities, and clinical development. Results: The data showed a 25.30% prevalence of AKI among patients infected with severe COVID-19. Remarkably, these patients with AKI exhibited an advanced age (>65 years), arterial hypertension, a higher number of white blood cells during admission and the hospital stay, and elevated levels of C-reactive protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Clinically, patients with AKI had signs of prostration, pneumonia, and the requirement for ventilatory assistance when compared to those without AKI. Finally, those diagnosed with AKI and COVID-19 had a 74% death rate. Relative risk analyses indicated that age (>65 years), arterial hypertension, high creatinine levels, endotracheal intubation, and pneumonia are associated with the development of AKI. On the other hand, among the protective factors against AKI, high hemoglobin levels and the consumption of statins during COVID-19 were found. Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the significance of promptly identifying and effectively managing AKI to potentially alleviate the negative consequences of this complication within the Mexican population during COVID-19. Full article

Nutritional status plays a vital role in regulating ovary activity. This regulation is mediated by the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad axis and by effects exerted directly on the ovary. Therefore, to achieve the best reproductive performance, it is essential to know how the nutritional status affects the secretion of GnRH, gonadotrophins, and sex steroid hormones. Adequate body reserves and energy balance are critical for optimal reproductive performance in sheep and goats. However, over- or under-conditioned animals experience issues like extended anestrus, irregular ovarian cycles, and reduced conception. Body condition scoring allows for the evaluation of the relationships between adiposity, nutritional status, and fertility. Acute feed deficits briefly stimulate processes, but chronic restrictions suppress pulsatile LH release, disrupting ovarian function. The process of follicle development is a very complex one which involves intricate interactions between the pituitary gonadotrophins and metabolic hormones as well as between the locally produced factors by the ovarian somatic and germ cells including the IGF system and the TGF-β superfamily members. Genotype and nutrition are factors that have an impact on follicular development, and seasonal factors are also involved. This review will give a brief overview on how the body condition can be evaluated and the effects of nutrition on the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad axis and ovarian activity, which are responsible for reproductive regulation. This paper presents a clear and reasonable summary of the pathway that runs from the nutritional status of small ruminants to ovarian activity through the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. This review summarizes methods for body condition evaluation in small ruminants and evidence regarding acute versus prolonged nutritional impacts on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and ovarian activity controlling reproduction. Full article

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) is the latest and most intriguing technology for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, due to its capability to generate irreversible and cardiomyocytes-selective electroporation of cell membranes by delivering microsecond-lasting high-voltage electrical fields, leading to high expectations. The first trials to assess the clinical success of PFA, reported an arrhythmia-free survival at 1-year of 78.5%, while other trials showed less enthusiastic results: 66.2% in paroxysmal and 55.1% in persistent AF. Nevertheless, real world data are encouraging. The isolation of pulmonary veins with PFA is easily achieved with 100% acute success. Systematic invasive remapping showed a high prevalence of durable pulmonary vein isolation at 75 and 90 days (range 84–96%), which were significatively lower in redo procedures (64.3%). The advent of PFA is prompting a reconsideration of the role of the autonomic nervous system in AF ablation, as PFA-related sparing of the ganglionated plexi could lead to the still undetermined effect on late arrhythmias’ recurrences. Moreover, a new concept of a blanking period could be formulated with PFA, according to its different mechanism of myocardial injury, with less inflammation and less chronic fibrosis. Finally, in this review, we also compare PFA with thermal energy. Full article

The Bosniak classification of renal cysts aims to provide a probabilistic risk assessment indicating the likelihood of malignancy from imaging findings. Originally designed to classify adult renal cysts based on computed tomography findings, the Bosniak classification has been extended to pediatric patients, with some adjustments made with the aim of accommodating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US). Bosniak IV lesions are rare in adolescents, indicating localized renal cell carcinoma and requiring surgical intervention. In contrast, Bosniak III lesions can be treated conservatively, although there is a lack of specific guidelines on their management. We present a case of a 14-year-old boy with a Bosniak III lesion, which was incidentally detected during the US evaluation of a left varicocele. After a 12-month follow-up, MRI revealed progression to a Bosniak IV cyst. Robot-assisted tumor enucleation was performed with selective artery clamping when the patient was 15. Histopathology showed tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma without adverse features. Immunocytochemistry supported a favorable prognosis of this rare tumor (<1% of renal tumor), thus obviating the need for adjuvant treatment. At the 18-month follow-up, no recurrence or distant metastasis were observed. This case highlights the importance of an aggressive treatment in persistent Bosniak III and Bosniak IV renal cysts in children and adolescents and the necessity to offer a nephron-sparing surgery. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aims to compare the neuromuscular structure of the vagina in women with posterior vaginal wall prolapse with the neuromuscular structure of the vagina in women without prolapse, to determine the difference, and to demonstrate the role of neuromuscular structure in the physiopathology of prolapse. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, women aged between 40 and 75 years who had not undergone any vaginal surgery and had not undergone any abdominal prolapse surgery were included. Thirty-one women diagnosed with rectocele on examination were included in the study group. Thirty-one patients who underwent vaginal intervention and hysterectomy for reasons other than rectocele (colposcopy, conization, etc.) without anterior or posterior wall prolapse were included in the control group. Biopsy material was obtained from the epithelium of the posterior wall of the vagina, including the fascia that fits the Ap point. Immunohistochemical staining with Protein Gene Product 9.5 and smooth muscle α-actin was performed in the pathology laboratory. The epithelial thickness measurement and smooth muscle density parameters obtained with these immunohistochemical stainings were compared between the two groups. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 23 package program. p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: In the control group, muscle thickness and the number of nerves per mm² of fascia were statistically significantly higher than in the study group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: We found that smooth muscle tissue and the number of nerves per mm² of fascia were decreased in posterior vaginal wall prolapse compared to the general population. Based on the correlation coefficients, age was the parameter that most affected the degree of prolapse, followed by parity, number of live births, and number of vaginal deliveries. Full article