“Four Sacral Needles” Therapy for Female Stress Incontinence

Objective： To make a retrospective control study of the curative effects of ＂Four sacral needles＂ method and conventional acupuncture therapy on female stress incontinence. Methods：A treatment group was treated by ＂Four sacral needles＂ method, in which four sacral points were electroacupunctured with special insertion of needles to excite the pudendal nerve and induce the rhythmic contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, thereby increasing the strength of the pelvic floor muscles and improving ability in urinary continence. A control group was treated by conventional acupuncture therapy, in which corresponding points were acupunctured according to syndrome-based classification. Results： In the 31 cases of the treatment group treated by ＂Four sacral needles＂ method, 100% symptom improvement occurred in 22（71.0% ）after an average of 21 treatments （3-63 treatments）. In the 34 cases of the control group treated by conventional acupuncture therapy, 100% symptom improvement occurred in 0 after 30 treatments. The curative effect was better in the treatment group than in the control group（p〈 0.01）.The curative effect improved with an increase in the number of treatments in the treatment group. Conclusion： ＂Four sacral needles＂ method is more effective than conventional acupuncture therapy in treating female stress incontinence.

Small Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Peri-urethral Tissues Regulate Fibroblast Function and Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

Objective:This study aimed to explore the existence of small extracellular vesicles(sEVs)in peri-urethral tissues and the role of abnormal expression of sEVs in the pathogenesis of female stress urinary incontinence(SUI).Methods:sEVs were extracted from peri-urethral vaginal wall tissues using differential centrifugation and were observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The number of sEVs and their protein contents were compared between SUI and control groups using nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA)and bicinchoninic acid(BCA)protein assay.Fibroblasts were cultured separately with SUI(SsEVs group)and normal tissue sEVs(NsEVs group).Proliferation and migration of fibroblasts were compared between groups using CCK-8 and wound healing assays,respectively.Expression levels of collagenⅠandⅢwere compared among blank control(BC),NsEVs,and SsEVs groups using real-time PCR.Protein mass spectrometry was used to test the differentially expressed proteins contained in sEVs between groups.Results:sEVs were extracted and found under the electron microscope.There were significantly more sEVs extracted from the SUI group compared to the normal group.Fibroblasts showed increased proliferative and decreased migratory abilities,and expressed more collagen in the SsEVs group compared to the NsEVs and BC groups.Protein spectrum analysis demonstrated several differentially expressed targets,including components of microfibrils,elastin polymer,and anti-inflammatory factors.Conclusion:sEVs were detected in the peri-urethral tissues.SUI tissues expressed more sEVs than control.The abnormal expression of sEVs and their protein contents may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of SUI.

Clinical value of needleless sling in treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

BACKGROUND Stress urinary incontinence(SUI)is a common disease in women.The emergence of the needle-free sling has led to a new clinical treatment for SUI in women.AIM To explore the clinical value of the needleless sling without acupuncture in the treatment of SUI in women.METHODS From February 2017 to November 2018,according to the order of admission,44 patients(mid-suspension group)were treated by tension-free transobturator urethral suspension,and 44 patients(non-acupuncture group)were treated with a needleless non-acupuncture band.The clinical effects of the two treatments were evaluated.RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two groups in the total clinical effectiveness rate(P=0.374),but intraoperative blood loss and visual analogue scale score at postoperative day 1 were significantly lower in the non-acupuncture suspension group than in the middle urethral suspension group(P=0.396).The incidence of complications in the needle-free sling group was significantly lower than that in the middle urethral suspension group(P=0.025).CONCLUSION The clinical effectiveness of acupuncture-free suspension in treating SUI in female patients is better than that of traditional tension-free transobturator mid-urethral suspension.