The molecular effects of electrical stimulation on the muscle components of the urethra of female rats after trauma by vaginal distention.

AIMS: To evaluate the expression of genes and proteins related to the urethral muscles of female rats after trauma by vaginal distention (VD) and after electrical stimulation therapy (EST). METHODS: We compared the urethras of four groups of 20 animals each: control without trauma (C), 7 (recent-trauma) and 30 days (late-trauma) post-VD, and VD-treated with EST. We evaluated the expression of myogenic regulatory factors MYOD1 and myogenin (MYOG); skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain 1, 2, and 3 (MYH1, MYH2, and MYH3); smooth muscle MYH11; and myosin light chain 9 (MYL9). We used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: MYOD1 and MYOG genes were overexpressed in the recent-trauma group compared with the other groups (P < .05). MYH1 and MYH3 genes were upregulated in the recent-trauma group compared with the control and EST groups (P < .05). The MYH2 gene was overexpressed in the late-trauma group (P < .05), while the MYH2 protein was significantly increased in the EST group compared with control, recent-trauma and late-trauma groups by 5-, 3-, and 2.7-fold change, respectively (P < .05). MYL9 and MYH11 messenger RNA were overexpressed in both trauma groups compared with control and EST groups (P < .05). MYH11 protein was not different among the study groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: EST enhances the recovery of the damaged urethral tissue of rats mainly by acting on the striated-muscle components. The MYH2 pathway underlies the positive effects of EST in the external urethral sphincter.

Modified transurethral resection of the prostate for the management of BPH-related refractory lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with a history of pelvic fracture urethral injury reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the impact of a modified transurethral resection of prostate (mTURP) in patients with a history of pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) status post-urethroplasty, and subsequent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refractory to medical therapy caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: Five patients were identified with a history of PFUI and a successful reconstruction of the urethra, who developed severe LUTS. After maximal medical therapy failed, these patients underwent a mTURP. Their continence status and voiding parameters were recorded before and after surgery. RESULTS: Significant improvements in both post-void residual (172 ± 137.36 mL vs. 26.6 ± 24.44 mL), p = 0.026, and International Prostatic Symptom Score (23.6 ± 4.82 vs. 7.6 ± 4.30), p = 0.002 were observed in the study. Although maximum flow rate was not statistically significant, there was an overall improvement in Qmax in all patients (8.92 ± 3.71 vs. 16.78 ± 6.44 mL/sec). Furthermore, all patients remained continent after this modified intervention. CONCLUSION: Our modified TURP provides an adjunctive option in the management of severe LUTS secondary to BPH in patients with a history of PFUI urethroplasty who are refractory to medical management. In our experience, the patients experienced a lasting response with no incontinence.

Urine can speed up the re-epithelialization process of prostatic urethra wounds by promoting the proliferation and migration of prostate epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the influence of urine on re-epithelialization in canine prostatic urethra after prostatectomy and explore possible causes. METHOD: We established two groups of prostatic canine models. The first group contained urine that canines underwent the surgery by two-micron laser resection of the prostate-tangerine technique (TmLRP-TT), and no transurethral catheter was required. The second group was without urine that canines accepted the surgery by TmLRP-TT add ureter skin ostomy urine bypass. Histopathology of re-epithelialization of repair in trauma in canine prostatic urethra was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and immunochemistry was used to determine the expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1). Human prostate epithelial line (BPH-1) cells were cultured with or without urine and the abilities of proliferation and migration were tested by CCK-8 and transwell assays, respectively. RESULTS: The histology displayed that there was distinct proliferation of prostatic cell under the wound after 3 days, re-epithelialization began after 9 days, and finished after 28 days at urine group. The TGF-ß1 like-IR in prostatic epithelium cells and fibroblast cells under the wound at urine group were strikingly increased as compared with the cells at no urine group after 3, 9, and 11 days, respectively (p < 0.05). In CCK-8 and Transwell assays, an increase of cells' proliferation and migration was detected in urine culture group compared with no urine culture group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Urine may speed up the re-epithelialization process for prostatic urethra wounds by promoting proliferation and migration of prostate epithelial cells.

Road to recovery after transvaginal surgery for urethral mesh perforation: evaluation of outcomes and subsequent procedures.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urethral injury resulting from transvaginal mesh slings is a rare complication with an estimated incidence of <1%. Our objective was to review the surgical management and functional outcomes of women presenting with urethral mesh perforation following midurethral sling (MUS) placement. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter review of women who from January 2011 to March 2016 at two institutions underwent mesh sling excision for urethral perforation with Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship-trained surgeons. Data comprising preoperative symptoms, operative details, and postoperative outcomes were collected by telephone (n 13) or based on their last follow-up appointment. RESULTS OBTAINED: Nineteen women underwent transvaginal sling excision for urethral mesh perforation. Eight (42%) patients had undergone previous sling revision surgery. Sixty percent of women had resolution of their pelvic pain postoperatively. At follow-up, 92% reported urinary incontinence (UI), and three had undergone five additional procedures for vaginal prolapse mesh exposure (n 1), incontinence (onabotulinum toxin injection n 1, rectus fascia autologous sling n 1), prolapse (colpopexy n 1), and pain (trigger-point injection n 1). Patient global impression of improvement data was available for 13 patients, of whom seven (54%) rated their postoperative condition as Very much better or Much better. CONCLUSIONS: The management of urethral mesh perforation is complex. Most women reported resolution of their pelvic pain and a high rate of satisfaction with their postoperative condition despite high rates of incontinence.

A new material to prevent urethral damage after implantation of artificial devices: an experimental study

ABSTRACT Objective To validate the application of the bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane as a protecting barrier to the urethra. Materials and Methods Forty female Wistar rats (four groups of 10): Group 1 (sham), the urethra was dissected as in previous groups and nothing applied around; Group 2, received a 0.7cm strip of the BC applied around the urethra just below the bladder neck; Group 3, received a silicon strip with the same dimensions as in group 2; Group 4, had a combination of 2 and 3 groups being the silicon strip applied over the cellulosic material. Half of the animals in each group were killed at 4 and 8 months. Bladder and urethra were fixed in formalin for histological analysis. Results Inflammatory infiltrates were more intense at 4 months at lymphonodes (80% Grade 2), statistically different in the group 2 compared with groups 1 (p=0.0044) and 3 (p=0.0154). At 8 months, all samples were classified as grade 1 indicating a less intense inflammatory reaction in all groups. In group 2, at 8 months, there was a reduction in epithelial thickness (30±1μm) when com-pared to groups 1 (p=0.0001) and 3 (p<0.0001). Angiogenesis was present in groups 2 and 4 and absent in group 3. In BC implant, at 4 and 8 months, it was significant when comparing groups 4 with 1 (p=0.0159). Conclusion BC membrane was well integrated to the urethral wall promoting tissue remodeling and strengthening based on morphometric and histological results and may be a future option to prevent urethral damage.

Androgen Deprivation Accelerates the Prostatic Urethra Wound Healing After Thulium Laser Resection of the Prostate by Promoting Re-Epithelialization and Regulating the Macrophage Polarization.

BACKGROUND: Complications after a thulium laser resection of the prostate (TmLRP) are related to re-epithelialization of the prostatic urethra. Since prostate growth and development are induced by androgen, the aim of this study was to determine the role and explore the mechanism of androgen in wound healing of the prostatic urethra. METHODS: Beagles that received TmLRPs were randomly distributed into a castration group, a testosterone undecanoate (TU) group, and a control group. The prostate wound was assessed once a week using a cystoscope. Histological analysis was then carried out to study the re-epithelialization of the prostatic urethra in each group. The inflammatory response in the wound tissue and urine was also investigated. RESULTS: The healing of the prostatic urethra after a TmLRP was more rapid in the castration group and slower in the TU group than that in the control group. Castration accelerated re-epithelialization by promoting basal cell proliferation in the wound surface and beneath the wound and by accelerating the differentiation of basal cells into urothelial cells. Castration reduced the duration of the inflammatory phase and induced the conversion of M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages, thus accelerating the maturation of the wound. By contrast, androgen supplementation enhanced the inflammatory response and prolonged the inflammatory phase. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory phase was delayed and weakened. CONCLUSION: Androgen deprivation promotes re-epithelialization of the wound, regulates the inflammatory response, and accelerates wound healing of the prostatic urethra after a TmLRP. Prostate 77:708-717, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The effect of intraurethral dexpanthenol on healing and fibrosis in rats with experimentally induced urethral trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of dexpanthenol applied early after urethral trauma for preventing inflammation and spongiofibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven rats were randomized and divided into 3 groups, with 9 rats in each group. The urethras of all rats were traumatized with a pediatric urethrotome knife at 6-o' clock. For 14 days, group I was given 0.9% saline twice a day (control group), group II was given dexpanthenol 500 mg/kg ampules once a day and 0.9% saline once a day, and group III was given dexpanthenol 500 mg/kg ampules twice a day intraurethrally using a 22 ga catheter sheath. On day 15, the penises of the rats were degloved to perform penectomy. RESULTS: The mean fibrosis scores were 2.4, 2.2, and 1.4, and mean inflammation scar scores were 2, 1.4, and 1.3 in groups I, II, and III, respectively. There was a significant difference between groups I and II for inflammation (P = .011); however, the difference for fibrosis was not significant (P = .331). The differences between groups I and III were statistically significantly different both for inflammation and fibrosis (P = .004 and P = .003, respectively). Groups II and III were not different significantly for inflammation (P = .638); however, there was less fibrosis in group III, in which high-dose dexpanthenol was administered. CONCLUSION: We showed that dexpanthenol applied early after urethral trauma significantly decreased inflammation and spongiofibrosis. We hope that our study will help to decrease strictures after urethral trauma and contribute to pharmaceutical investigations aiming to improve the success of the surgery for urethral strictures.

Is there an increase in genitourinary toxicity in patients treated with transurethral resection of the prostate and radiotherapy? A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered by some as a risk factor for genitourinary (GU) toxicity after radiotherapy (RT). However, there are conflicting results regarding the interaction between RT and TURP with respect to GU toxicity. The purpose of this report is to review the published data concerning TURP before or after RT and its effect on urinary complication. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A systematic literature review based on database searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Pubmed, Ovid, and Chochrane Library. The eligibility criteria of final review were (1) definitive RT for prostate cancer is reported; (2) comparison of GU toxicities between patients with and without TURP is reported; (3) minimum 5 patients after TURP are included. RESULTS: Twelve articles regarding overall GU toxicity, 15 articles regarding urinary incontinence, and 13 articles regarding urinary or bladder neck stricture met eligibility criteria, and they were included in the final review. A quantitative synthesis from the data of selected articles was impossible because of variable grading systems and variable definitions in their comparisons between patients with and without TURP. However, most published articles demonstrated the increased risk of GU toxicity with TURP in patients treated with RT. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review strongly suggests that TURP is one of the risk factors of GU toxicity after RT. This needs to be taken seriously when prostate cancer patients with TURP are considered for RT either external beam or brachytherapy.

Late urethral erosion of transobturator suburethral mesh (Obtape): a minimally invasive management under local anaesthesia.

The placement of transobturator sub-urethral synthetic tapes, although with a high success rate of achieving continence, carries the risk of tape erosion to adjacent structures. While vaginal erosion occurs more frequently, urethral erosion has also been reported, usually in the immediate or early postoperative period. We present two different cases of urethral erosion with the Obtape sling, the first one diagnosed 1 year after surgery and the second one, a very late complication, occurring 4 years after the placement of the sling. Although transvaginal urethrotomy with tape resection has been the most popular approach described in the literature, we describe a minimally invasive trans-urethral approach for the management of this complication under local anaesthesia. We also present some "tricks of the trade" on retrieving the tape trans-urethrally while maximizing the length of tape removed.

Measuring urethral tissue heat injury temperature of healthy male rabbits during interstitial radiofrequency ablation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate urethral tissue heat injury in a rabbit model. Histopathology analysis was used to determine the minimum temperature required to achieve urethral tissue injury following interstitial radiofrequency ablation (RFA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 37 healthy rabbits were divided into 6 groups randomly and treated with interstitial RFA in the penial parenchyma. The temperatures of urethra were monitored and controlled to 48 degrees , 49 degrees , 50 degrees , 51 degrees 52 degrees and 53 degrees C respectively. The urethral tissue acute heat injury (48 h after heating) was assessed by HE stain, Terminal Deoxylnucleotidyl Transferase Mediated-dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) stain and quantitative analysis in tissue sections. RESULTS: Histologically, the main feature of acute heat damage was necrosis or vascular congestion or thrombosis of blood vessels of the urethral wall. This occurred only in one out of five cases at 49 degrees C and 50 degrees C heating, but in four out of five cases at 52 degrees and 53 degrees C. The percentage of necrosis was significantly different at tissue temperature of 52 degrees C and above. Quantitative image analyses of TUNEL stain sections demonstrated a significant increase in the positive staining for apoptotic cell at tissue temperatures of 50 degrees C and above. It indicated that the TUNEL stain to detect cell death was more sensitive than routine histology. CONCLUSION: The results from this in vivo study indicate that 50 degrees C and 5 min heating of rabbit urethra during interstitial RFA is the minimum temperature for heat injury of the normal rabbit urethra as measured at 48 h after treatment.

Urethral injury during potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser prostatectomy complicated by transurethral resection syndrome.

The green light potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate is the latest modality for treatment of benign prostatic obstruction. Because of effective superficial tissue coagulation, intravascular absorption of fluid is minimal; therefore, development of transurethral resection syndrome is unlikely. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient undergoing photoselective vaporization of the prostate who developed full-blown transurethral resection syndrome because of intravascular absorption of sterile water. Absorption of hypotonic irrigant presumably occurred through the injury induced during insertion of the laser cystoscope.

Clinical and technical aspects of bipolar transurethral prostate resection.

This review aims to provide an overview and critical assessment of the developments in transurethral electroresection in non-conductive and conductive irrigants. In the 1970s, measurements of the electric pathway in saline were performed for different locations of the neutral electrode. It was then concluded that the current pathway and the possible hazards of burn injuries to the patient should be investigated separately for each arrangement of the neutral electrode. The position and shape of the neutral electrode have decisive effects on the current flow in the patient. Thus, different electrode arrangements of the various bipolar resection systems need to be analysed separately. Furthermore, not only electrical power, but also conductivity and quality of the lubricant gel have to be considered as critical factors with regard to electrothermal injuries of the urethra. The supposedly better cutting quality seems to be based more on subjective observations than on scientific valid data. When performing "bipolar" TUR it is necessary to consider all electrotechnical and clinical aspects, particularly with regard to the potential risk of thermoelectrical urethral damage.

Combined bladder, urethral and uterine rupture after a normal, spontaneous vaginal delivery at home: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Uterine rupture and associated injury to the maternal bladder and urethra have been rarely reported. All those cases were associated with a scarred uterus or augmentation of labor. We report a case of simultaneous bladder, urethral and uterine rupture in an unscarred uterus following delivery at home. CASE: A 22-year-old woman was referred from a peripheral hospital to the emergency unit of the Medical Faculty, Yüzüncü Yil University, after delivering at home. On vaginal examination, the bladder neck and proximal one third of the urethra were ruptured. Intraoperatively it appeared that the posterior wall of the bladder and bladder base had ruptured and separated from the level of the interureteric ridge. An extensive rupture of the lower uterine segment to the left sidewall of the uterus was seen. CONCLUSION: To prevent these complications, uneducated, traditional birth attendants should be replaced by at least midwives, and the rate of unsupervised home delivery should be reduced.

Necrosis of the urethra and tissue sloughing: a delayed complication after transurethral microwave thermotherapy.

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia designed to destroy hyperplastic tissue without damaging the urethra. We present an unexpected complication of prostatic urethral necrosis and tissue sloughing after thermotherapy and discuss its possible cause.

Immediate management of posterior urethral disruptions due to pelvic fracture: therapeutic alternatives.

PURPOSE: We retrospectively reviewed the results of 3 types of initial management of pelvic fracture urethral disruption in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1980 to 1994, 35 boys 2 to 15 years old (mean age 8.1) with prostatomembranous urethral disruption were treated, including 17 who also had associated injuries. Immediate treatment included suprapubic cystostomy and delayed urethroplasty in 19 patients (group 1), urethral catheter alignment without traction and concomitant suprapubic cystostomy in 10 (group 2), and primary retropubic anastomotic urethroplasty in 6 (group 3). RESULTS: In all patients in groups 1 and 2 severe urethral obliteration developed. Four group 3 patients (66%) had a stricture at the site of anastomotic repair. After delayed urethroplasty 16 group 1 (84%) and all 10 group 2 patients were continent. However, only 3 group 3 patients (50%) achieved continence. Retrospectively associated bladder neck injury occurred in 5 of the 6 incontinent boys. Erections were observed before and after treatment in all but 3 children. Unstable pelvic ring fractures (type IV) comprised 28% of all pelvic fractures with a high rate of associated injuries. CONCLUSIONS: As described, urethral alignment was not beneficial for avoiding urethral obliteration. Therefore we recommend suprapublic cystostomy as the only form of initial treatment in these cases. Urinary incontinence seems more likely related to associated bladder neck rupture and the severity of pelvic fracture rather than to initial treatment or delayed urethral repair. Consequently, when associated bladder neck injury is present, we advocate immediate surgical repair.

[Hydroelectric shock wave in the treatment of complex urethra obstruction].

Twenty-one patients with traumatic complex urethral obstruction were treated by hydroelectric shock wave (HSW). In the 21 patients, anterior urethral stricture was noted in 3 and posterior urethral obstruction in 18. The length of obstruction was 0.5-6cm. 15 patients were cured by single hydroelectric shock wave, 3 by HSW and electric resection, 2 by HSW with open operation, and 1 failed. The follow-up of 19 patients for 3 to 43 months showed no recurrence of urethral obstruction. The classification of traumatic complex urethral obstruction and the points for attention during treatment of hydroelectric shock wave are discussed.