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.

Non-Ablative Transvaginal Radiofrequency in the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: Review of the Literature

Background: Urinary incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine, which can affect up to 45% of women after menopause. Radiofrequency is a non-invasive procedure that involves the application of an electromagnetic wave that through heat generation promotes neocollagenesis and neoeslatinogenesis in the vaginal epithelium. This energy-based technology has been studied as a potential alternative for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause and urinary incontinence. Objective: To review the recent literature (from 2020 to June 2022) on the use of transvaginal radiofrequency in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, by searching articles at databases of Capes, PubMed Cochrane and Scielo. Methods: The descriptor terms “Urinary Incontinence/therapy” [Majr] AND “Urinary Incontinence, Stress/therapy” [Majr] AND RADIOFREQUENCY-Search Results-PubMed, [“woman” OR “women”] AND [“urinary incontinence” OR “stress urinary incontinence”] AND Radiofrequency were used, with a filter for the period 2020 to 2022. Conclusion: The studies evaluated in this review demonstrated significant results of radiofrequency in the resolution or reduction of complaints of women with urinary incontinence, especially stress urinary incontinence, but most of these studies presented a low methodological quality. There is, therefore, a lack of studies with longer follow-ups, evaluation of cost-effectiveness, randomized clinical trials with objective outcomes and the use of validated questionnaires with international acceptance.

Contemporary diagnostics and treatment options for female stress urinary incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence is not a deadly disease,but for the large population of women suffering from it,it is a very important issue.Especially in the continuously aging population all over the world,there is more and more need for treatment of this serious medical condition.Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence exists already for ages.In the 20th century invasive treatments like Burch colposuspension and pubovaginal slings were the mainstay of surgical treatments.The introduction of the midurethral sling made the procedure less invasive and accessible for more caregivers.Luckily there are many options available and the field is developing quickly.In recent years many new medical devices have been developed,that increase the number of treatment options available and make it possible to find a suitable solution for the individual patient based on subjective and objective results and the chances of complications.This manuscript provides an introduction to the therapeutical options that are available nowadays for female stress urinary incontinence.

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.

Ten-Year Outcomes of Transobturator Mid-Urethral Sling for Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Hong Kong Chinese Women with or without Reconstructive Pelvic Floor Surgery

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of transobturator mid-urethral sling (TO-MUS) with or without reconstructive pelvic floor surgery (RPFS) in Chinese women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after 10 years. Methods: This was a prospective observational study on Chinese women undergoing the insertion of TO-MUS with or without RPFS. All patients were assessed at 1-year and 10-year by urodynamic study (UDS). Objective cure was defined as the absence of urine leakage during provocative maneuvers on filling cystometry. Data regarding subjective outcome (patient perception), quality of life changes (Urogenital Distress Inventory-short form (UDI-6), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-short form (IIQ-7)) and adverse events were also collected. Results: Of 104 eligible patients, 99 patients completed the 10-year evaluation. 57 patients (57.6%) underwent TO-MUS only and 42 patients (42.4%) underwent TO-MUS with concomitant RPFS. At 10-year follow-up, the overall objective cure rate was 86.9% and overall subjective cure rate was 80.8%. In TO-MUS only group, the objective and subjective cure rates at 10-year were 84.2% and 78.9% respectively. In TO-MUS with RPFS group, the objective and subjective cure rates at 10-year were 90.5% and 83.3% respectively. Compared TO-MUS only group with TO-MUS with RPFS group, there were no statistically significant differences in objective cure rate (84.2% vs. 90.5%, p = 0.55) and subjective cure rate (78.9% vs. 83.3%, p = 0.58). Conclusion: TO-MUS is an effective treatment for SUI in Hong Kong Chinese women. Concomitant RPFS during the procedure of TO-MUS does not affect the success.

Analysis of coping styles of elderly women patients with stress urinary incontinence

Objective:The aim of this study was to survey the coping style and related factors of elderly women with stress urinary incontinence(SUI)and provide a strong theoretical basis for promoting a positive coping style to improve quality of life in these patients.Methods:Cross-sectional surveys addressing SUI cognition and coping techniques of 520 elderly women patients with SUI were administered between July 2013 and February 2014.Results:Elderly women with SUI had significantly higher avoidance and acceptanceresignation scores than the normal population(p<0.05).Age,marital status,education level and stress urinary incontinence cognitive level all influenced the medical coping style of these patients.Conclusions:Elderly female patients with SUI differ in the factors that influence their coping styles;therefore,clinical and community medical staff should include a comprehensive analysis that takes these factors into consideration when working with patients with SUI to guide them in adopting a positive coping style.

Experimental Effect of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Stress Urinary Incontinence Rats Model and Efficient Tracking in vivo with MRI

Objective To assess the effect of intra-sphincteric injections of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(HUMSCs)on leak point pressure(LPP)changes in an animal model of stress urinary incontinence(SUI).Meanwhile,to investigate in vivo MRI tracking HUMSCs in SUI rats using a clinically available paramagnetic contrast agent(Gd-DTPA)and commercially available effentence transfection reagents..Materials and Methods HUMSCs were dual labeled with Gd-DTPA and PKH26,the labeling efficiency and longevity of Gd-DTPA maintenance were measured and cell viability and proliferation were assessed.39 female Sprague–Dawley SUI rats.12 normal rats and 12 SUI rats received periurethral injection of PBS and 12 SUI rats were given periurethral injection of dual labeled HUMSCs.3 SUI rat sreceived periurethral injection of u nlabeled HUMSCs.Six weeks after injection,LPP was undertaken in animals.All rats were sacrificed and frozen urethra sections were submitted to pathology and immunohistochemistry assessment.Results The labeling efficiency of Gd-DTPA was up to 80%,the labeling procedure did not influence cell viability and proliferation.The signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging and T1 values of labeled cells were significantly higher than those of unlabeled cells.In vitro,differentiated HUMSCs expressed myosin heavy chain(MHC)and desmin,markers of striated muscles.In vivo,immunohistochemistry of rat urethras revealed dual labeled HUMSCs in situ and at the injection site.LPP was significantly improved in animals injected with HUMSCs.Atrophic urethras with implanted HUMSCs were positively stained for MHC and desmin.The distribution and migration of labeled cells could be tracked by MRI more than 14 days after t ransplantation.Conclusion HUMSCs have the ability to differentiate striated muscles,as demonstrated by MHC and desmin expression.Periurethral injection of HUMSCs in an animal model of SUI restored the damaged external urethral sphincter and significantly improved LPP.MRI can track Gd-DTPA–labled HUMSCs in an animal model of SUI in vivo.

Needleless Contasure versus TVT-O in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence

Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to determine the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of Single Incision needleless Mini-Slings compared with tension-free Standard Mid-urethral Sling in the surgical management of female stress urinary incontinence, but with less side effects. Methods: The study will be conducted in Zagazig University Hospitals. From 2018 to Sept. 2019, 40 cases were enrolled in the study and were randomized by envelope technique at the time of surgery to either a trans-obturator vaginal tape (TOT) or Needleless anti-incontinence procedure. The patients will be divided into 2 groups: Group 1 patient treated by standard sling (TOT). Group 2 those treated by mini-sling. Parameters in perioperative period such as operating time, intraoperative hemorrhage volume, length of stay in hospital, intraoperative complications, and postoperative pain of each patient were recorded. The sample size was calculated to be 40 cases (20 cases will be treated by standard slings, 20 case will be treated by mini-sling). Results: A total of 40 patients assessed for eligibility were randomized into Needleless groups. There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, process, parity, pad test or the assessment of preoperative quality of life between the two groups. In the perioperative period, statistically significant differences between the two groups were found in operating time, intraoperative hemorrhage volume, groin pain scores at 24 h after operation and length of stay in hospital (P < 0.001). After two weeks of follow-up, a statistically significant difference between the two groups was found in groin pain/femori-bus internus pain scores, but there were no significant differences in cure rates, pad test, complications or ICIQ-SF. After 1 year, there were no significant differences between the Needleless and TOT groups in cure rates, pad test, groin pain or ICIQ-SF (P > 0.05). Both groups registered a significant improvement in the quality of life (P < 0.001), but there were no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that compared with the TOT surgery, single-incision Needleless sling in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence is simpler and quicker and has less hemorrhage during surgery as well as faster recovery and it also can obviously reduce the inguinal region pains after operation and shorten hospital stays. In summary, single-incision Needleless sling is a kind of convenient, safe and effective minimally invasive surgery for urinary incontinence.

Injectable Biological Bulking Agent to Treat Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Feasibility Pilot Study

Background: Urinary incontinence mainly affects women regardless of age and, as it affects their quality of life, influences work, sex life and independence for activities of daily living. The treatment of stress urinary incontinence including urethral volume injection therapy can provide an intermediate option over non-surgical and surgical therapies. One of the mechanisms for stress continence depends on the effective coaptation of the urethra during the increase in intra-abdominal pressure. The bulking agents can be injected transurethral or periurethral retrogradely, using direct vision from a cystoscope. Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcome performance of the bacterial polysaccharide gel used as biological bulking agent applied in female patients with stress urinary incontinence. Methods: A prospective clinical pilot study was performed, in a single institution, including female patients who were admitted to the urologic outpatient clinic with Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) without previous treatments and they were selected and underwent bulking agent procedure. The evaluation was performed at the time of enrollment and 6 months after treatment. The primary outcome was Quality of Life (QOL) using the ICIQ-SF Questionnaire. The amount of urine leakage measured by the 1-HOUR PAD-TEST was the second outcome. Results: Fifteen women (with an average age of 53 years) were submitted to the application of bacterial cellulose gel and she was analyzed. Only two patients presented unchanged incontinence. The study considered as primary outcome the improvement or disappearance of symptoms after six months of intervention. Post-intervention Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaire indicated that all of these patients related a better quality of life (62.5%). Through the PAD-test it was possible to observe a decrease in urinary leak of 85% comparing the results pre and post-intervention (BCA—Bacterial Cellulose Application) with p-value equal to 0.000009. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that the use of biological bulking agent is a promising approach to treat stress urinary incontinence in female patients. Trial registration: Registration number and date of registration should be instated in this section.

Female Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment by Forming an Uretro-Vesical Angle with or without Mesh

Objective: To evaluate, in a comprehensive way, mesh and mesh free SUI treatment results obtained in a single center. The present study addresses the efficacy and safety of a novel surgical technique. Material & Methods: Adult female SUI patients, 184 in total, were divided within a sequential manner into two groups to be treated for SUI either with or without mesh insertion during a surgical intervention. In this novel procedure, a vertical vaginal incision from the urethra towards the bladder bottom is made and closed transversely. After the intervention the patients revisited the clinic at the 6th month. Results: 81 patients in mesh and 83 in the mesh free group completed the 2-year follow up. Based on the pad tests conducted at the end of 24-month follow up, 82% of the patients in the mesh free group and 85% in the mesh group were considered as successful if the pad test resulted with ≤2 gram. Cystocele of Grade I or II was also treated in 69 patients within the same single surgical procedure. Conclusion: The surgical outcomes of the mesh and mesh-free group were almost the same. However, though the cure rate of the mesh group was higher, it was not statistically significant. Adverse events were more frequent in the mesh group due to mesh presence.

Efficacy of biofeedback on stress urinary incontinence in women receiving pelvic floor muscle training: a meta-analysis

Background:To systematically evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training with biofeedback v.s.pelvic floor muscle exercise alone on stress urinary incontinence in women.Methods:PubMed,the Cochrane Library,Web of Science,Ovid,Ebsco,PEDro,WanFang Data,VIP and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials that meet inclusion criteria.After quality assessment,meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.3 software.Results:A total of 8 randomized controlled trials were included.The results of meta-analysis supported the effectiveness of biofeedback on improving pelvic floor muscle strength(MD=4.67,95%CI(1.86,7.49),P=0.001),increasing short(up to 1 hour)pad test(SMD=−1.11,95%CI(−1.84,−0.37),P=0.003),enhancing quality of life(SMD=−0.34,95%CI(−0.67,−0.01),P=0.04)and social activity index(MD=0.1,95%CI(0.06,0.15),P<0.001).Conclusion:Pelvic floor muscle training with biofeedback could improve pelvic floor muscles’strength and help these patients integrate into society,more high quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.

Magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of stress urinary incontinence in women: Parameters differentiating urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency

AIM: To define the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) parameters differentiating urethral hypermobility(UH) and intrinsic sphincter deficiency(ISD) in women with stress urinary incontinence(SUI).METHODS: The static and dynamic MR images of 21 patients with SUI were correlated to urodynamic(UD) findings and compared to those of 10 continent controls. For the assessment of the urethra and integrity of the urethral support structures, we applied the highresolution endocavitary MRI, such as intraurethral MRI, endovaginal or endorectal MRI. For the functional imaging of the urethral support, we performed dynamic MRI with the pelvic phased array coil. We assessed the following MRI parameters in both the patient and thevolunteer groups:(1) urethral angle;(2) bladder neck descent;(3) status of the periurethral ligaments,(4) vaginal shape;(5) urethral sphincter integrity, length and muscle thickness at mid urethra;(6) bladder neck funneling;(7) status of the puborectalis muscle;(8) pubo-vaginal distance. UDs parameters were assessed in the patient study group as follows:(1) urethral mobility angle on Q-tip test;(2) Valsalva leak point pressure(VLPP) measured at 250 cc bladder volume; and(3) maximum urethral closure pressure(MUCP). The UH type of SUI was defined with the Q-tip test angle over 30 degrees, and VLPP pressure over 60 cm H2 O. The ISD incontinence was defined with MUCP pressure below 20 cm H2 O, and VLPP pressure less or equal to 60 cm H2 O. We considered the associations between the MRI and clinical data and UDs using a variety of statistical tools to include linear regression, multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA version 9.0(Stata Corp LP, College Station, TX).RESULTS: In the incontinent group, 52% have history of vaginal delivery trauma as compared to none in control group(P < 0.001). There was no difference between the continent volunteers and incontinent patients in body habitus as assessed by the body mass index. Pubovaginal distance and periurethral ligament disruption are significantly associated with incontinence; periurethral ligament symmetricity reduces the odds of incontinence by 87%. Bladder neck funneling and length of the suprapubic urethral sphincter are significantly associated with the type of incontinence on UDs; funneling reduced the odds of pure UH by almost 95%; increasing suprapubic urethral sphincter length at rest is highly associated with UH. Both MRI variables result in a predictive model for UDs diagnosis(area under the ROC = 0.944). CONCLUSION: MRI may play an important role in assessing the contribution of hypermobility and sphincteric dysfunction to the SUI in women when considering treatment options.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Stress Urinary Incontinence Among Perimenopausal Women and Its Influence on Daily Life in Women with Sexual Desire Problem

The prevalence of,and related factors to,stress urinary incontinence (SUI) among perimenopausal Chinese women and its impact on daily life among those women with sexual desire problem in Hubei province were investigated.In this study,1519 perimenopausal women aged 40 to 65 years were selected from three urban communities in the Wuhan area,and two impoverished,mountainous communities in Hubei province,and followed from April to October 2014.Detailed information about demographic characteristics,menstruation,pregnancy,sexual life and chronic diseases was collected.A cross-sectional survey was carried out following information collection by Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the potential factors associated with developing SUI were old age (OR=3.4,95% CI:1.92-6.04),vaginal delivery (OR=0.623,95% CI:0.45-0.87),low income (OR=0.063,95% CI:0.40-0.92),atrophic vaginitis (OR=1.4,95% CI:1.03-1.80),pelvic organ prolapse (OR=2.81,95% CI:1.36-5.80),chronic pelvic pain (OR=2.17,95% CI:1.90-4.03),constipation (OR=1.44,95% CI:1.07-1.93) and incontinence of feces (OR=3.32,95% CI:2.03-5.43).Moreover,the ratio of SUI (33.2%) was higher than the ratio of urgency urinary incontinence (24.1 %) or the ratio of mixed urinary incontinence (17.4%),and SUI had a greater impact on daily life among women with decreased sexual desire.In conclusion,SUI is a common disorder affecting over one third of the women surveyed,and has a severe impact on the daily life of perimenopausal women with declined sexual desire.Age,mode of delivery,and monthly income are major risk factors involved in the development of SUI.

Regenerative medicine based applications to combat stress urinary incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence(SUI), as an isolated symptom, is not a life threatening condition. However, the fear of unexpected urine leakage contributes to a significant decline in quality of life parameters for afflicted patients. Compared to other forms of incontinence, SUI cannot be easily treated with pharmacotherapy since it is inherently an anatomic problem. Treatment options include the use of bio-injectable materials to enhance closing pressures, and the placement of slings to bolster fascial support to the urethra. However, histologic findings of degeneration in the incontinent urethral sphincter invite the use of tissues engineering strategies to regenerate structures that aid in promoting continence. In this review, we will assess the role of stem cells in restoring multiple anatomic and physiological aspects of the sphincter. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells and CD34+cells have shown great promise to differentiate into muscular and vascular components,respectively. Evidence supporting the use of cytokines and growth factors such as hypoxia-inducible factor1-alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fi-broblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor and insulin-like growth factor further enhance the viability and direction of differentiation. Bridging the benefits of stem cells and growth factors involves the use of synthetic scaffolds like poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate)(POC) thin films. POC scaffolds are synthetic, elastomeric polymers that serve as substrates for cell growth,and upon degradation, release growth factors to the microenvironment in a controlled, predictable fashion.The combination of cellular, cytokine and scaffold elements aims to address the pathologic deficits to urinary incontinence, with a goal to improve patient symptoms and overall quality of life.

Long Term Follow up of the Solyx Single Incision Sling in the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)

Objectives: The Solyx System was developed to be easier and safer to use than other slings. It was the objective of this study to retrospectively assess the long-term safety and efficacy of the SolyxTM SIS Sling System. Methods: After IRB approval and informed consent, chart reviews with follow up phone questionnaires of 69 subjects implanted with the Solyx Sling were collected at 2 sites. All of the patients had SUI and had urethral hypermobility with a q-tip test of >30 degrees. All subjects underwent surgery from 12/2008 to 01/2010 with a mean follow up of 43 months (range 39 -49). Subjects included in this data collection had a mean age of 67 years (range 30 -87). The dominant type of incontinence within the study patients was SUI while 17/69 (25%) of the subjects also had a component of urge incontinence. 38/69 (55%) of study patients had concomitant procedures. Results: Long-term Solyx results showed 64/69 (93%) of patients were subjectively dry by questionnaire and were satisfied with their outcome. 63/69 (91%) would have the procedure again. There were 4 cases of denovo urge incontinence and 2 reports of transient retention. There were no serious adverse events including no bladder, bowel, vessel or nerve perforations and no erosions or extrusions. No pain was reported that was attributed to the implant. Conclusions: Chart review with follow phone questionnaires indicated that the Solyx Sling was a safe, efficacious and less-invasive option for patients requiring SUI surgery and that these results were sustainable for an average of 43 months.

Effect of Conjugated Estrogen in Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women with Menopause

Menopause is one of the natural stages of life of women that is associated with instability of vasomotor, flushing, sweating, anxiety and depression, urogenital atrophy and urinary problems. The age range of physiological event is between 48 - 55 years old. With regard to the role of genetics, nutrition and geographical conditions of the age of menopause in Iranian women is lower than and among 46 - 53 years. With the increase in life expectancy in recent decades, duration of menopause is increased and almost involved a third of the life of women so special issues of this era have had more attention. Since menopause is not the end of the life of a woman and keep her physical and mental health and problems resulting from the process of menopause such as urinary problems and incontinence will lead to improve the quality of life in this period. Many studies have tried to find a therapy for postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence using hormone. So this article seeks to examine the effect of conjugated estrogen in stress urinary incontinence of menopausal women with using the library method. The survey showed that by starting menopause, decreasing estrogen causes atrophy of mucosa of urogenital and the lining of the urethra and bladder, estrogen causes to maintain muscle tonicity. Also sacral nerves are also rich in estrogen receptors and by estrogen deficiency, elasticity of the urinary system decreases. Estrogen deficiency causes excitability of nerves and frequency of urine. So estrogen can increase the resistance of the urethra, bladder sensory threshold and sensitivity in Adorno in smooth muscles of the urethra and the rest of detrusor.

Treatment success of transobturator tape compared with tension free vaginal tape for stress urinary incontinence at 24 months: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the long term efficacy of transobturator Tape (TOT) with tension free vaginal tape (TVT) at 24 months postoperatively. Patients & Methods: 160 women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were randomly allocated to either TVT or TOT procedures and reviewed at 24 months after surgery. The primary outcomes were objective cure (a negative cough stress test, and a negative 1-hour pad test), and subjective cure (defined as “very much better” or “much better” improvement in the Patient Global Impression of Improvement scale). The secondary outcomes included incontinence related quality of life (using Urogenital Distress Inventory Questionnaire, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire), and complications. Results: No statistical difference was reported in objective and subjective cure rates between both groups. Objective cure rate was 85.6% and 81.6% in the TOT and TVT groups respectively (P = 0.55). Subjective cure rate in the TOT and TVT groups were 87% and 83% respectively (P = 0.68). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications and incontinence related quality of life. However, the operating time was significantly shorter in the TOT group compared with the TVT group (22.6 ± 3.9, 27.1 ± 3;respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusion: TOT and TVT procedures were equally efficient and safe for treatment of SUI, with maintenance of high objective and subjective cure rates for 24 months. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm these results.

The Suburethral Sling Transobturator Approach for Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Women in the Maternity and Neonatology Center of Tunis (WTSC)

The authors, through a descriptive retrospective study have evaluated the results of surgical treatment, by Tension-Free Obturator tape (TOT) technique, of urinary incontinence in the first 68 patients operated in the Department “C” of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Maternity and Neonatology Centre of Tunis (WTSC). The average age in those patients was 55.14 ± 8.47 years with extremes of 40 and 82 years. The majority of the patients (72%) were under the age of 60 years. In sixty-one patients (89%), no urine leak has been detected and they were healed. In three patients (4%) there was improvement with partial recovery. Three other (4%) did not notice any improvement after the surgery. No case of dysuria or rejection of the strip has been reported. It was concluded that the declared satisfaction rate is 93%.

Effects of Pregnancy and Delivery in Women with Previous Surgery for Stress Urinary Incontinence with Suburethral Band: A Bibliographic Review

The continence status and the most adequate form of delivery were assessed in pregnant women who had a suburethral band to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A group of 57 women selected from different articles published between 2000 and 2014 were reviewed. These women had become pregnant after having undergone a suburethral band procedure. Different aspects such as age, parity, type of band, time elapsed between the procedure and the pregnancy, SUI during pregnancy and after delivery, and the form of delivery were evaluated, as well as the possible relationship with the recurrence of SUI and the emergence of complications associated with the suburethral during pregnancy. A case of a complication related to a suburethral band was found in one patient who developed an episode of pyelonephritis and intermittent urethral obstruction which required a Foley catheter. Thirty patients had cesarean section while 27 had vaginal deliveries;12 patients had incontinence during pregnancy and 15 suffered from it after delivery. Postpartum SUI in relation with the delivery form did not show statistically relevant differences between the cesarean section group and the vaginal delivery group. It was observed that the emergence of SUI during pregnancy was a risk factor for the onset of postpartum SUI (OR = 6.47;p = 0.0137). The risk of developing postpartum SUI seems similar regardless the delivery form, thus it is plausible to recommend vaginal delivery to these patients. If there was a recurrence of SUI, a second suburethral band could be placed which would be as effective as the first one and would involve a lower risk surgery compared to a cesarean section.

Research progress of new conservative treatment for female stress urinary incontinence

The new conservative treatment methods of female stress urinary incontinence mainly include laser therapy, magnetic stimulation therapy and stem cell therapy. Laser therapy and magnetic stimulation therapy can improve the urodynamic parameters, clinical symptoms, quality of life and sexual life of female stress urinary incontinence patients, with higher compliance and less side effects. Stem cell therapy can improve histological changes, urodynamic parameters of stress urinary incontinence rats, and clinical symptoms and quality of life of patients with stress urinary incontinence, but it has not been widely used in clinical practice, and the successful experience is mainly accumulated in the animal experiment stage. In order to make it easier for medical workers to understand and promote these three new conservative treatment methods, this article reviews the treatment principles and treatment effects of these new conservative treatment methods.