Association between serum cotinine levels and urinary incontinence in adults in the United States: a population-based cross-sectional analysis.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure has been shown to be associated with a variety of diseases, but evidence regarding the association between it and urinary incontinence (UI) is limited. Cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine in the human body, can more accurately quantify the level of human exposure to tobacco smoke. The study utilized data from seven survey cycles (2007-March 2020 Pre-pandemic) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) program. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis, interaction tests, smooth curve fitting, and threshold effect models were used to analyze the relationship between serum cotinine and UI. Additionally, a 1:1 nearest neighbor propensity score matching (PSM) method was employed to minimize the impact of confounding factors. Before and after PSM, serum cotinine levels were higher in individuals with UI than those without (P < 0.05). Both before and after PSM, UI was positively correlated with serum cotinine levels, with a significantly increased risk of urinary incontinence when serum cotinine levels were in the Q3 range (before PSM: OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.59-2.24; after PSM: OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.28-2.00). Smooth curve fitting before and after PSM showed an approximate J-shaped non-linear dose-response relationship between log-transformed serum cotinine levels and UI. This study indicates that among American adults, there is a positive relationship between serum cotinine levels and UI, which is also significant in self-reported non-smoking populations. Therefore, reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (e.g., avoiding second-hand smoke) in work and daily life may help alleviate the occurrence of UI, and serum cotinine levels have the potential to be a tool for predicting the degree of risk of developing UI.

Associations Between Serum Estrogen Levels and Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Cross-sectional Analysis of NHANES 2013 to 2016.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between serum estrogen levels and urinary incontinence in a nationally representative female population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included women who had serum estradiol measurements and self-reported urinary incontinence problems in the 2013-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles. A weighted multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the association between urinary incontinence and serum estrogen levels after adjusting for age, race, Body Mass Index, diabetes, venipuncture, hypertension, poverty-to-income ratio, smoking, marital status, alcohol use, education, and menopause. RESULT: A total of 4114 individuals were ultimately included in our study. Of these women, 1200 (29.17%) complained of urge urinary incontinence (UUI), 1674 (40.69%) complained of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), 730 (17.74%) complained of mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Women in the lowest quartile of serum estrogen were more likely to complain of UUI compared to those in the highest quartile (OR=1.885; 95% CI=1.042-3.412, P = .039). No association was noted between serum estrogen levels and SUI or MUI. CONCLUSION: Our study shows a significant association between low serum estrogen level and the increased likelihood of UUI in women. Further research is required to validate our findings, elucidate the physiological mechanisms that underlie them, and assess potential therapeutic implications.

Impact of poor glycemic control upon clinical outcomes after radical prostatectomy in localized prostate cancer.

To evaluate the clinical impact of preoperative glycemic status upon oncological and functional outcomes after radical prostatectomy in patients with localized prostate cancer, we analyzed the data of 2664 subjects who underwent radical prostatectomy with preoperative measurement of hemoglobin A1c within 6 months before surgery. The possible association between high hemoglobin A1c (≥ 6.5 ng/dL) and oncological/functional outcomes was evaluated. Among all subjects, 449 (16.9%) were categorized as the high hemoglobin A1c group and 2215 (83.1%) as the low hemoglobin A1c group. High hemoglobin A1c was associated with worse pathological outcomes including extra-capsular extension (HR 1.277, 95% CI 1.000-1.630, p = 0.050) and positive surgical margin (HR 1.302, 95% CI 1.012-1.674, p = 0.040) in multi-variate regression tests. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed statistically shorter biochemical recurrence-free survival in the high hemoglobin A1c group (p < 0.001), and subsequent multivariate Cox proportional analyses revealed that high hemoglobin A1c is an independent predictor for shorter BCR-free survival (HR 1.135, 95% CI 1.016-1.267, p = 0.024). Moreover, the high hemoglobin A1c group showed a significantly longer incontinence-free survival than the low hemoglobin A1c group (p = 0.001), and high preoperative hemoglobin A1c was also an independent predictor for longer incontinence-free survival in multivariate Cox analyses (HR 0.929, 95% CI 0.879-0.981, p = 0.008). The high preoperative hemoglobin A1c level was independently associated with worse oncological outcomes and also with inferior recovery of urinary continence after radical prostatectomy.

Investigating the release of inflammatory cytokines in a human model of incontinence-associated dermatitis.

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a painful complication in elderly patients, leading to reduced quality of life. Despite recent attention, its underlying inflammatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study was designed to quantify the release of inflammatory cytokines in a human model of IAD. The left volar forearm of ten healthy volunteers was exposed to synthetic urine and synthetic faeces for 2 h, simulating the effects of urinary and faecal incontinence, respectively, and the subsequent cytokine response compared to that of an untreated control site. Inflammatory cytokines were collected using both the Sebutape® absorption method and dermal microdialysis and quantified using immunoassays. Results from the former demonstrated an upregulation in IL-1α, IL-1RA and TNF-α. Synthetic urine caused a higher median increase in IL-1α from baseline compared to synthetic faeces, whereas synthetic faeces were associated with significantly higher median TNF-α levels compared to synthetic urine (p = 0.01). An increase in IL-1α/IL-1RA ratio was also observed with significant differences evident following exposure to synthetic urine (p = 0.047). Additionally, microdialysis revealed a time-dependent increase in IL-1ß and IL-8 following exposure of up to 120 min to synthetic urine and synthetic faeces, respectively. This study demonstrated the suitability of both sampling approaches to recover quantifiable cytokine levels in biofluids for the assessment of skin status following exposure to synthetic fluids associated with incontinence. Findings suggest some differences in the inflammatory mechanisms of IAD, depending on moisture source, and the potential of the cytokines, IL-1α and TNF-α, as responsive markers of early skin damage caused by incontinence.

Morphologic changes after bladder neck intussusception in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy contribute to early postoperative continence.

PURPOSE: To explore the mechanism and efficacy of the modified bladder neck intussusception in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LSRP) on postoperative early continence. METHODS: We prospectively collected clinical information of prostate cancer patients who underwent LSRP with modified bladder neck intussusception (n = 10) and non-intussusception (n = 10). At postoperative 1 month, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), pad test, real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rt-MRI), and flow rate were performed. At postoperative 3 months, the PSA, pad test, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), incontinence questionnaire short form (ICI-Q-SF), and quality of life (Qol) were recorded. RESULTS: The intussusception and non-intussusception patients had similar baseline characteristics. At postoperative 3 months, intussusception patients had lower OABSS than non-intussusception patients (P = 0.038). The non-intussusception patients suffered from more severe incontinence (P = 0.026). The continence rate of intussusception patients was significantly higher (90% vs. 20%, P = 0.005). And intussusception patients had significantly lower Qol scores (P = 0.038). According to the morphologic analysis by rt-MRI, there were 7/10 non-intussusception patients and 2/10 intussusception patients having funnel-shaped bladder necks at Valsalva movement. The intussusception patients had larger angle between anterior and posterior wall at bladder neck (P = 0.029) and longer length of functional posterior urethra (P = 0.029). During micturition, the intussusception bladder neck was found to move less dynamically on X-axis and Y-axis, but the difference did not reach significance. CONCLUSIONS: The modified technique of bladder neck intussusception in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy prolongs the length of functional posterior urethra and is effective to improve postoperative early continence.

Therapeutic effect and mechanism of polysaccharide from Alpiniae oxyphyllae fructus on urinary incontinence.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effects and mechanism of polysaccharide (PAOF) from Alpiniae oxyphyllae fructus on urinary incontinence (UI) in old-age hydruric model rats (OHMR). Results suggested that PAOF can significantly reduce the urination volume, Na+, Cl- emission and increase K+ excretion of OHMR. In addition, PAOF can increase the content of aldosterone (ALD) and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in blood of OHMR. The coefficients of spleen, thymus and adrenal of OHMR were improved by PAOF. Furthermore, PAOF can not only elevate significantly the expression of ß3-adrenoceptor mRNA in bladder detrusor of OHMR, but also increase the content of adenylate cyclase (AC), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA) in bladder detrusor of OHMR. Meanwhile, PAOF can elevate significantly the expression of PKA protein in bladder detrusor of rats with polyuria. The data implied that PAOF may offer therapeutic potential against UI.

High luteinizing hormone weakens urinary continence mechanisms in association with prostaglandin E2 elevation in a postmenopausal rat model.

AIMS: To explore the role of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urinary continence mechanism, urethral function was investigated using a postmenopausal rat model with high serum LH concentrations and the postmenopausal rat model given a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist to lower LH concentrations. METHODS: Adult female rats were divided into: 1) sham group; 2) ovariectomy group (OVX) with removal of bilateral ovaries; 3) OVX and GnRH-antagonist administered group (OVX + G); and 4) sham and GnRH-antagonist administered group (Sham + G). Urethral function was evaluated by the sneeze-induced urethral continence reflex experiment, and serum LH and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations were measured. RESULTS: In the sneeze-induced urethral continence reflex experiment, urethral baseline pressure (UBP) and the amplitude of the urethral response during sneezing (A-URS) were measured. The UBP was significantly decreased in the OVX group than in the other groups. A-URS was significantly lower in the OVX group than in the Sham group, but with no significant difference compared with the OVX + G group. Lowering the serum LH by a GnRH-antagonist improved UBP to the same level as in the Sham group. The serum PGE2 concentration was significantly higher in the OVX group than in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that the increased serum LH concentration in the OVX rat model worsened the continence mechanism. This mechanism is probably associated with an increased PGE2 concentration, because PGE2 caused urethral smooth muscle relaxation. A GnRH-antagonist might improve urinary incontinence by decreasing the serum LH and PGE2 concentrations.

The Association of Serum Testosterone Levels and Urinary Incontinence in Women.

PURPOSE: Pelvic floor integrity is an important predictor of stress urinary incontinence. Androgen receptors have been found in the pelvic floor musculature and fascia, and testosterone administration has been shown to increase levator ani hypertrophy and improve stress incontinence in a rodent model. We examined the relationship between serum total testosterone levels and self-reported urinary incontinence in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included women older than 20 years in the 2012 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) cycle who underwent serum total testosterone measurement and answered self-reported urinary incontinence questions. A weighted, multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the association between incontinence and serum testosterone levels after adjusting for age, body mass index, diabetes, race, parity, menopause and time of venipuncture. RESULTS: A total of 2,321 women were included in analysis, of whom 37.5% had stress incontinence, 29.8% had urge incontinence and 16.4% had mixed incontinence. Women in the lowest quartile of serum testosterone were more likely to complain of stress and mixed incontinence (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.03-2.12 and OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.23-2.22, respectively). No association was noted between serum testosterone levels and urge incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Low serum testosterone is associated with an increased likelihood of stress and mixed incontinence in women. Given the role of pelvic musculature in maintaining urethral support and the anabolic effect of androgens on skeletal muscle, a physiological mechanism for this relationship can be proposed and further evaluated in prospective and translational studies.

Moderate-to-high normal levels of thyrotropin is a risk factor for urinary incontinence and an unsuitable quality of life in women over 65 years.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between normal serum concentrations of thyrotropin (TSH) and urinary incontinence (IU), urinary infections, and quality of life in old women. Euthyroid post-menopausal women without sarcopenia, estrogen replacement, emotional illness, and/or cancer were enrolled as participants. Anthropometric indicators, serum glucose and estradiol, and thyroid profile were measured. Sociodemographic, clinical, physical activity, and quality of life (SF-36) surveys were applied. One-hour pad test and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) were used to determine UI. Urinalysis was also done. In agreement with results from the pad test (cut-off point ≥1.4 g), the ICIQ-SF reveled approximately 50% of incontinent women. A high percentage of women had moderate-high bacteriuria and urinary infections. Logistic regression analysis showed that age is a risk factor for both UI and urinary infection. Diabetes, number of pregnancies or childbirths, urinary infections, and bacteriuria did not influence the presence of UI. To allocate women into four groups according to their age (<65 or ≥65 years old) and TSH concentrations (0.3-1.9 or 2-10 µUI/mL), we found that moderate-to-high normal levels of TSH is a risk factor for UI and a worse quality of life in the oldest women. Our results highlight the profit of measuring TSH concentrations in post-menopausal women.

Vitamin D and Urinary Incontinence among Korean Women: a Propensity Score-matched Analysis from the 2008-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

A recent study investigated the role of vitamin D in urinary incontinence (UI). However, very few data are available on this topic. Therefore, we evaluated these relationships using nationally representative data from Korea. We included 6,451 women over the age of 20 years who had participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV. We conducted a propensity-matched study by identifying women with UI. Women without UI, matched for menopause, number of pregnancies, hypertension, diabetes, body mass index, age, stroke, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were selected as a control group at a 2:1 ratio. The χ² test, t-test and logistic regression analyses were used. Following propensity score matching, 558 UI cases and 1,116 normal controls were included, and confounders (menopause, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, age, obesity, and number of pregnancies) were evenly dispersed and did not differ significantly between the groups. There was no significant difference between the mean vitamin D levels of the UI and normal groups (vitamin D: 18.4 ± 6.6 vs. 18.5 ± 7.0 ng/mL; P = 0.752). Additionally, there was no significant difference in the distribution of vitamin D levels (< 20 ng/mL, 20-30 ng/mL, > 30 ng/mL: 63.8%, 30.5%, and 5.7% in normal controls, 64.0%, 27.8%, and 8.2% in UI cases; P = 0.107). In conclusion, low serum vitamin D is not significantly and independently related to female UI after propensity score matching in representative Korean data.

Vitamin D and incident urinary incontinence in older adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine whether vitamin D status is associated with incident urinary incontinence (UI) among community-dwelling older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging is a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling Medicare enrollees. Standardized assessment of UI was conducted using the validated Incontinence Severity Index. The analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels was performed on stored baseline sera. UI was assessed every 6-12 months for up to 42 months. The analyses included multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Of 350 participants (175 male, 147 black, mean age 73.6±5.8), 54% (189/350) were vitamin D deficient (25(OH)D <20 ng/ml) and 25% (87/350) were vitamin D insufficient (25(OH)D: 20 ng/ml to <30 ng/ml). Among the 187 subjects with no UI at baseline, 57% (107/187) were vitamin D deficient and 24% (45/187) were vitamin D insufficient. A total of 175 of the 187 subjects had follow-up evaluation for incident UI over 42 months, and incident UI occurred in 37% (65/175). After adjustment, cumulative incident UI at 42 months was associated with baseline vitamin D insufficiency (P=0.03) and demonstrated a trend association with deficiency (P=0.07). There was no association between baseline vitamin D status and the time to incident UI. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results support an association between vitamin D and incident UI in community-dwelling older adults. Future studies may target specific at-risk groups, such as men with BPH or women with pelvic floor disorders for evaluation of the impact of vitamin D supplementation on urinary symptoms.

Glycaemic control and risk of incident urinary incontinence in women with Type 1 diabetes: results from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) study.

AIMS: To study the impact of glycaemic control on urinary incontinence in women who participated in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT; 1983-1993) and its observational follow-up study, the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC; 1994-present). METHODS: Study participants were women who completed, at both years 10 (2003) and 17 (2010) of the EDIC follow-up, the urological assessment questionnaire (UroEDIC). Urinary incontinence was defined as self-reported involuntary leakage of urine that occurred at least weekly. Incident urinary incontinence was defined as weekly urinary incontinence present at EDIC year 17 but not at EDIC year 10. Multivariable regression models were used to examine the association of incident urinary incontinence with comorbid prevalent conditions and glycaemic control (mean HbA1c over the first 10 years of EDIC). RESULTS: A total of 64 (15.3%) women with Type 1 diabetes (mean age 43.6 ± 6.3 years at EDIC year 10) reported incident urinary incontinence at EDIC year 17. When adjusted for clinical covariates (including age, DCCT cohort assignment, DCCT treatment arm, BMI, insulin dosage, parity, hysterectomy, autonomic neuropathy and urinary tract infection in the last year), the mean EDIC HbA1c was associated with increased odds of incident urinary incontinence (odds ratio 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06 per mmol/mol increase; odds ratio 1.41, 95% CI 1.07-1.89 per % HbA1c increase). CONCLUSIONS: Incident urinary incontinence was associated with higher HbA1c levels in women with Type 1 diabetes, independent of other recognized risk factors. These results suggest the potential for women to modify their risk of urinary incontinence with improved glycaemic control. (Clinical Trials Registry no: NCT00360815 and NCT00360893).

Hypovitaminosis D is an independent associated factor of overactive bladder in older adults.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Urinary incontinence and vitamin D deficiency are common problems encountered in geriatric population. We aimed to investigate if there is a relationship between these conditions. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Among 2281 patients who were admitted to our geriatric medicine outpatient clinic spanning the last three years, 705 patients with known vitamin D status, urinary incontinence and subtype, and calcium plus vitamin D therapy data were included in statistical analysis. Patients who are using calcium plus vitamin D therapy were excluded. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 15.0 for Windows was used for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 72.3±6.4years and 62.8% were female. Plasma vitamin D level (OR: 0.968, 95%CI: 0.943-0.993, p=0.013), MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) score (OR: 0.944, 95%CI: 0.902-0.989, p=0.014), and serum ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) level (OR: 0.995, 95%CI: 0.992-0.998, p=0.001) were found to be inversely correlated factors, and serum calcium level (OR: 1.772, 95%CI: 1.008-2.888, p=0.022) was found to be a positively correlated factor of overactive bladder. Considering the different clinical subtypes of urinary incontinence, only urgency incontinence was associated with lower plasma vitamin D level (p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are independent associated factors for overactive bladder in older adults. This is explicable by effects of vitamin D on muscle growth and function.

Small longitudinal study of serum anticholinergic activity and cognitive change in community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE: The discriminative ability of serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) to differentiate between older individuals with stable versus deteriorating cognition remains undetermined. We examined the relationship between SAA changes, the presence or absence of a mild neurocognitive disorder, age and anticholinergic medication over a one-year time period. METHODS: SAA at baseline and one-year follow-up was measured for 121 older adults without dementia. Participants were classified at both timepoints as being cognitively intact or meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for a mild neurocognitive disorder. Medications were assessed according to the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale. RESULTS: SAA changes did not discriminate between individuals whose cognition remained stable versus those with improvement or decline (H[3]=0.725, p=0.867). SAA change did not vary between age groups, and could not reliably differentiate between individuals on ACB medication or not. CONCLUSION: While SAA does not appear to be a valid biomarker for cognitive decline, longitudinal studies with a larger sample size and longer duration are required to confirm this finding.

Lower urinary tract symptoms are associated with low levels of serum serotonin, high levels of adiponectin and fasting glucose, and benign prostatic enlargement.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test whether lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and urinary incontinence are associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The association between LUTS and benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) was also investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, representative risk factor analysis of LUTS, as measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and urinary incontinence was conducted. Among 950 representative individuals, aged 69-81 years, the association between clinical, anthropometric, endocrine, metabolic and inflammatory factors on the one hand, as both major and minor aspects of MetS, and LUTS and urinary incontinence, on the other hand, was analysed. The prostate gland volume was measured in a subgroup of 155 randomly selected individuals and the association between LUTS and BPE was estimated. RESULTS: No significant association was found between LUTS or urinary incontinence and the major aspects of the MetS. However, in a multivariate analysis, serum serotonin showed an independent negative correlation with LUTS and with urinary incontinence while fasting serum glucose and serum adiponectin showed a positive correlation with LUTS. Furthermore, in a subgroup of 155 individuals, the prostate gland volume correlated positively with LUTS. CONCLUSIONS: The study did not show an association between LUTS or urinary incontinence and the major components of the MetS. However, serum serotonin showed an independent negative correlation with LUTS and with urinary incontinence while fasting serum glucose and serum adiponectin showed a positive correlation with LUTS. The data confirm the general knowledge that BPE may be one of the causative factors of LUTS.

What is the role for biomarkers for lower urinary tract disorders? ICI-RS 2013.

AIMS: A biomarker is an entity that measures a normal or pathological process, or the response to an intervention. A biomarker must measure exclusively and be sufficiently sensitive to the process of interest. Alternatively, a biomarker may give clues regarding the underlying pathology of the condition and be a useful research or specialist tool. If a biomarker is to be of practical benefit then it must also be economical and practical to use. This article will consider chemical moieties as biomarkers, although in principle physical markers (e.g., bladder wall thickness) could also be defined as such. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The validation of a biomarker for detrusor overactivity (DO) must appreciate the fact that the condition is likely to multifactorial and thus no single entity may be sufficiently selective and sensitive. However, more specific conditions, such as bladder pain associated with DO, may make the biomarker search easier. Several prospective agents including antiproliferative factor (APF) and epidermal growth factors (EGF) are discussed. Several urinary biomarkers, including neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF) and cytokines, and a serum marker, C-reactive protein, are considered as reaching the above criteria. All suffer from relatively poor lack of discrimination, as they all change in response to other, often inflammatory, conditions; BDNF may offer the highest expectations. Urinary ATP has also been proposed as a DO/OAB biomarker but requires further evaluation. Finally genetic markers offer potential to understand more about the pathophysiology of DO/OAB. The increasing availability of genome-wide association studies and micro-RNA assays offer genetic markers as a new generation of biomarkers. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:602-605, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Menopause, hormone treatment and urinary incontinence at midlife.

Whether there is any association between urinary incontinence and menopause is the subject of debate, partly due to the fact it is difficult to tell the difference between the effects of menopause and those of ageing. For some time it was hoped that hormonal treatment for menopause would be beneficial for urinary incontinence because there are hormonal receptors in the urinary tract. The goal of this survey of current knowledge on the subject is to explore thoroughly the relationship between menopause and urinary incontinence. Our study is based on a review of the literature dealing with the epidemiology of urinary incontinence in women aged between 45 and 60, and the effects of hormonal treatment with respect to the symptoms of involuntary loss of urine. Analysis of the epidemiological data drawn from large cohorts shows that on the one hand, the menopause has little if any impact on the risk of urinary incontinence, and on the other hand that the effects of oestrogen medication on urinary incontinence vary according to how it is administered and the type of incontinence. The effect of oral hormone treatments for menopause is rather negative with respect to stress incontinence. Vaginal treatment appears to be beneficial for overactive bladder symptoms.

The role of serum C-reactive protein in women with lower urinary tract symptoms.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Some lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) subtypes may be associated with low-grade inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the role of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: A total of 197 consecutive women with non-stress urinary incontinence (non-SUI) LUTS and 18 healthy women without LUTS (normal controls) were enrolled. LUTS include urinary storage, voiding, and post-micturition symptoms. Patients with previous bladder or urethral surgery, active urinary tract infections, or possible neurogenic lesions were excluded. Serum CRP levels were measured before any treatment was given. Patients were stratified to LUTD subgroups based on a 3-day voiding diary, uroflowmetry, and selective videourodynamic studies. RESULTS: Median CRP levels were significantly higher in women with overactive bladder (OAB) wet (i.e., with urgency incontinence, n = 30, 0.12 mg/dl) than those in women with bladder oversensitivity (n = 68, 0.075 mg/dl, P = 0.008) and the control group (0.055 mg/dl, P = 0.032). Further analysis revealed that body mass index and maximum flow rate were two independent factors that affected CRP levels. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for using CRP to predict OAB wet was 0.55, and the most predictive cutoff point for CRP was 0.15 mg/dl (sensitivity 43.5 %, specificity 72.7 %). CONCLUSIONS: High serum CRP levels were found in women with OAB wet, and they were related to lower maximum urinary flow rates and higher body mass indices in non-SUI LUTD. However, serum CRP is not a suitable biomarker for discriminating between subtypes of non-SUI LUTD.

Serum estradiol does not differentiate stress, mixed and urge incontinent women around menopause. A report from the Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA) study.

OBJECTIVE: To outline serum estradiol levels in perimenopausal women with stress, mixed or urge incontinence. We believe the majority of urgency symptoms in perimenopausal women to be caused by a pelvic floor dysfunction and a hypermobility of the bladder neck. If this is the case, there would be no difference in estradiol levels between the groups. SETTING: University hospital. In the observational Women's Health in the Lund Area study, a subset of 400/2221 women reporting urinary incontinence completed a detailed questionnaire regarding lower urinary tract symptoms and had their serum steroid hormone levels measured. Statistical analyses were made by Chi-square test, nonparametrical tests, ANOVA, multi- and univariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Stress incontinence was reported by 196, mixed incontinence by 153 and urge incontinence by 43 women; in 369, serumestradiol values were available. Serum estradiol did not differ significantly between stress incontinent (median 49.5 pmo/l, range 2.63-875.4), urge incontinent (median 31.6 pmol/l, range 2.63-460.7) or mixed incontinent women (median 35.5 pmol/l, range 2.63-787.9, p=0.62). Logistic regression analysis correcting for age, parity, hormonal status, smoking, hysterectomy and BMI also failed to show any difference in estradiol levels between the groups (p=0.41-0.58). CONCLUSION: No significant differences in serum estradiol levels between stress, mixed or urge incontinent perimenopausal women could be demonstrated.

PSA levels in men with spinal cord injury and under intermittent catheterization.

AIM: To evaluate serum PSA levels of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) submitted or not to CIC in comparison to those of the general population. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 140 men with SCI admitted in our department from January 2005 to May 2009. Thirty-four SCI patients had PSA levels available, comprising 21 under CIC and 13 without CIC. Patients under CIC performed it 4-6 times a day and mean time of catheterization was 72.4 months (range 30-192). The most common etiology of SCI was fall from height (33%), followed by car/motorcycle crashes (15%). Control group was composed by 670 healthy men that were referred to our service to evaluation of Kidney donation or cancer prostate screening. We used Student's t-test and variance analysis (ANOVA) for age and PSA comparison between the groups. RESULTS: Overall, patients with SCI and controls had similar mean age (54 vs. 57 years old, P = 0.11) and mean PSA level (1.81 vs. 1.95 ng/ml, P = 0.66). SCI patients were divided into with and without CIC. Patients without CIC had similar mean age (60 vs. 57 years old, P = 0.11) and similar PSA values when compared to controls (1.72 vs. 1.95 ng/ml, P = 0.89). Patients under CIC were compared to controls with similar age (50 vs. 47 years, P = 0.0332) and their PSA levels were greater (1.86 vs. 0.79 ng/ml, P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Clean intermittent catheterization increased PSA levels approximately doubling its value.