Surface electromyography of the pelvic floor at 6-8 weeks following delivery: a comparison of different modes of delivery.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective of this study was to compare the impact of different modes of delivery, especially forceps delivery (FD), on pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) through vaginal surface electromyography (sEMG) in primiparous women at early (6-8 weeks) postpartum. METHODS: A total of 1259 primiparous women with full-term singleton births were included in this cross-sectional study. Of these, 98 were delivered by forceps, 865 underwent spontaneous vaginal delivery (SD) and 296 underwent elective cesarean delivery (CD). Clinical demographic characteristics and vaginal sEMG variables of parturients 6-8 weeks after birth were collected and analyzed using SPSS software. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction, Chi-square test or Student's t-test was used according to the variable type. Spearman correlation and binary logistic regression analyses were also used. P/α ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Amplitude of fast and sustained contractions on sEMG in the FD group was significantly lower compared with the CD and SD groups. The sEMG amplitude of all contractions was significantly higher in the CD group compared with the FD and SD groups (P < 0.01). According to binary logistic regression analysis, mode of delivery was a major influencing factor in sEMG. CONCLUSIONS: An early postpartum sEMG test appears to be helpful for the assessment of PFM activity. Mode of delivery was a major influencing factor on sEMG. Forceps delivery significantly inversely influenced PFM activity.

Efficacy and safety of transvaginal mesh repair in a cohort with a minimum of 10-year follow-up.

Although transvaginal mesh (TVM) repair is no longer used in some countries, long-term outcomes after TVM surgery are of great importance globally. However, reports with follow-up >10 years are limited. Thus, this study aimed to report outcomes in a prospective cohort with at least 10 years of follow-up. Women with stage III-IV symptomatic prolapse were approached consecutively from 2008 to 2013 at one tertiary hospital. The main outcome measure was symptomatic failure. Secondary outcomes included anatomic failure, recurrence, patient satisfaction, complications, and reoperation. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the cumulative failure rate. Of the 121 patients enrolled in the study, 103 (85.1%) completed a median follow-up of 11 years. The estimated probability rates of symptomatic and anatomic failure were 17.6% and 8.8% in 11 years, respectively. The estimated incidence of symptomatic failure increased by 8.2% between 5 and 11 years; however, the corresponding rate for anatomic failure was 3.7%. The most common complication was vaginal mesh exposure, and its estimated probability increased from 19.3% to 28.4% from 5 to 11 years, respectively. Office trimming resolved 80.0% of vaginal exposures. These patients did not report decreased overall satisfaction. Patients with vaginal mesh exposure requiring>3 office procedures or mesh removal in the operating room (5.8% by 11 years) had lower satisfaction rates (P<0.01) and were defined as having severe mesh exposure. The rates of postoperative pain, reoperation, and Patient Global Impression of Improvement ⩾2 were 2.5%, 3.3%, and 94.2%, respectively. The results of this study implied that TVM treatment gradually increased the symptomatic failure rate but provided durable anatomical support of the vaginal wall. Vaginal mesh exposure was common in women who were largely not sexually active; however, 80% of the cases could be managed in the outpatient clinic, which did not affect patient satisfaction.

Activation of Autophagy in Human Uterine Myometrium During Labor.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the autophagy of the human uterine myometrium during the labor. METHODS: We collected uterine myometrium strips from term, singleton, nulliparous healthy women undergoing cesarean delivery before labor (nonlabor group, n = 10) or during normal labor (in-labor group, n = 10) without rupturing of membrane. The indications for cesarean delivery were breech presentation or maternal request. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and Western blot were used to quantify the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein level of the autophagy markers LC3B, P62, and Beclin-1 in the uterine muscle strips. RESULTS: There were no differences between both groups in maternal age, body mass index, gestational week, neonatal weight, operative bleeding, and postpartum bleeding. Transmission electron micrographs showed that autophagosomes existed in myometrial tissue in both groups. There were more autophagosomes in the in-labor group than in the nonlabor group, and the difference had significance. The in-labor group had significantly greater LC3B mRNA expression but significantly lower P62 mRNA expression compared with the nonlabor group. Semiquantitative immunofluorescence in uterine myometrial cells in the in-labor group showed increased LC3B puncta formation and greater Beclin-1 expression but reduced P62 puncta formation compared with the nonlabor group. The ratio of LC3BII/I proteins was significantly higher, but P62 protein was significantly lower in the in-labor group compared with the nonlabor group. The Beclin-1 mRNA and protein expressions were not significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Autophagy was activated in human uterine myometrium during labor and might play an important role in maintaining uterine contraction function.

Activation of Autophagy in Human Uterine Myometrium During Labor.

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of this study was to analyze the autophagy of the human uterine myometrium during the labor. METHODS:: We collected uterine myometrium strips from term, singleton, nulliparous healthy women undergoing cesarean delivery before labor (nonlabor group, n = 10) or during normal labor (in-labor group, n = 10) without rupturing of membrane. The indications for cesarean delivery were breech presentation or maternal request. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and Western blot were used to quantify the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein level of the autophagy markers LC3B, P62, and Beclin-1 in the uterine muscle strips. RESULTS:: There were no differences between both groups in maternal age, body mass index, gestational week, neonatal weight, operative bleeding, and postpartum bleeding. Transmission electron micrographs showed that autophagosomes existed in myometrial tissue in both groups. There were more autophagosomes in the in-labor group than in the nonlabor group, and the difference had significance. The in-labor group had significantly greater LC3B mRNA expression but significantly lower P62 mRNA expression compared with the nonlabor group. Semiquantitative immunofluorescence in uterine myometrial cells in the in-labor group showed increased LC3B puncta formation and greater Beclin-1 expression but reduced P62 puncta formation compared with the nonlabor group. The ratio of LC3BII/I proteins was significantly higher, but P62 protein was significantly lower in the in-labor group compared with the nonlabor group. The Beclin-1 mRNA and protein expressions were not significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION:: Autophagy was activated in human uterine myometrium during labor and might play an important role in maintaining uterine contraction function.