The changes in bladder function and symptoms after robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy and transvaginal mesh surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to compare the impact on bladder function and symptoms between robotic sacrocolpopexy (RSC) and transvaginal mesh surgery (TVM) in women with pelvic organ prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective controlled study enrolled patients who received RSC or TVM at our hospital between March 2020 and June 2022. We compared preoperative and postoperative bladder function between two groups by using a questionnaire of lower urinary tract symptom (LUTs) for subjective assessment and urodynamic study for objective assessment. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were enrolled, of whom 30 received RSC and 30 received TVM. In LUTs analysis, the RSC group had a higher risk of de novo stress urinary incontinence than the TVM group (33.3% vs. 3.3%, p = .007). Urodynamic studies showed that both groups had a deterioration in maximal urethral closure pressure postoperatively (RSC: 56.9 ± 17.1 vs. 44.2 ± 15.5 cmH2O; and TVM: 61.2 ± 29.4 vs. 47.6 ± 19.7 cmH2O, p < .01 and p = .03, respectively). The incidence of urodynamic stress incontinence was also significantly increased after RSC (33.3% vs. 76.7%, p = .01). The de novo urodynamic stress incontinence rate was 46.7% after RSC, which was not significantly different to the TVM group (26.7%, p = .16). In the TVM group, the incidence of voiding difficulty decreased after surgery (43.3% vs. 10.0%, p < .01), and urodynamic measurements revealed that the prevalence of urine retention decreased (43.3% vs. 16.7%, p < .01). In the RSC group, the incidence of incomplete emptying sensation decreased (36.7% vs. 13.3%, p = .04), and urodynamic measurements showed that none of the patients had bladder outlet obstruction, underactive detrusor, or urine retention after surgery. CONCLUSION: RSC and TVM are both beneficial to improve voiding function in women with pelvic organ prolapse. However, a deterioration in urethral function was observed and the de novo SUI rate was higher in the RSC group than in the TVM group.

Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis of Voiding Workload: An Application in Trans-Vaginal Mesh-Repaired Pelvic Organ Prolapse Patients.

Although trans-vaginal mesh (TVM) offers a successful anatomical reconstruction and can subjectively relieve symptoms/signs in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients, its objective benefits to the voiding function of the bladder have not been well established. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic advantage of TVM on bladder function by focusing on the thermodynamic workload of voiding. The histories of 31 POP patients who underwent TVM repair were retrospectively reviewed. Cystometry and pressure volume analysis (PVA) of the patients performed before and after the operation were analyzed. TVM postoperatively decreased the mean voiding resistance (mRv, p < 0.05, N = 31), reduced the mean and peak voiding pressure (mPv, p < 0.05 and pPv, p < 0.01, both N = 31), and elevated the mean flow rate (mFv, p < 0.05, N = 31) of voiding. While displaying an insignificant effect on the voided volume (Vv, p < 0.05, N = 31), TVM significantly shortened the voiding time (Tv, p < 0.05, N = 31). TVM postoperatively decreased the loop-enclosed area (Apv, p < 0.05, N = 31) in the PVA, indicating that TVM lessened the workload of voiding. Moreover, in 21 patients who displayed postvoiding urine retention before the operation, TVM decreased the residual volume (Vr, p < 0.01, N = 21). Collectively, our results reveal that TVM postoperatively lessened the workload of bladder voiding by diminishing voiding resistance, which reduced the pressure gradient required for driving urine flow.

FIGO recommendations: Use of midurethral slings for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a global problem. It can significantly adversely impact a woman's quality of life. The use of synthetic mesh in vaginal surgery is controversial, especially when used for pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Although negative effects have been reported, the synthetic mesh midurethral sling (MUS) is considered to be safe and effective in the surgical treatment of SUI. OBJECTIVES: To provide evidence-based data and recommendations for the obstetrician/gynecologist who treats women with SUI and performs or plans to perform MUS procedures. METHODS: Academic searches of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar articles published between 1987 and March 2020 were performed by a subgroup of the Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Committee, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). SELECTION CRITERIA: The obtained scientific data were associated with a level of evidence according to the Oxford University Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and GRADE Working Group system. In the absence of concrete scientific evidence, the recommendations were made via professional consensus. RESULTS: The FIGO Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Committee reviewed the literature and prepared this evidence-based recommendations document for the use of MUS for women with SUI. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the extensive literature, there is a lack of consensus in the optimal surgical treatment of SUI. These recommendations provide a direction for surgeons to make appropriate decisions regarding management of SUI. The MUS is considered safe and effective in the treatment of SUI, based on many high-quality scientific publications and professional society recommendations. Comprehensive long-term data and systemic reviews are still needed, and these data will become increasingly important as women live longer. These recommendations will be continuously updated through future literature reviews.

Impact of Weight Gain on Surgical Outcomes and Quality of Life among Women after Sling Surgeries.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of body weight gain after sling surgeries on outcomes in women with stress urinary incontinence. DESIGN: A single-center, retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. PATIENTS: A total of 248 women who underwent sling surgeries from 2010 to 2015 were reviewed. Patients who gained more than 10% body weight were compared with those with stable body weight. INTERVENTIONS: Midurethral sling surgery with single-incision, transobturator, or retropubic slings. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Objective success was defined as no urine leakage during the stress test in the filling phase of urodynamic studies. De novo overactive bladder (OAB) was defined as the appearance of urgency, frequency, and/or nocturia, with or without urinary incontinence after midurethral sling surgery persisting after 6 months. Quality of life evaluations included the short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7. A total of 248 women who underwent sling surgeries and had complete weight measurement and evaluation data before and after the surgeries were included, of whom 47 gained body weight, and 201 had a stable body weight. The median follow-up duration was 18 months (range, 6-47 months). There were no significant differences in surgical outcomes between the 2 groups regarding objective cure rate (86% vs 87%, p = .834), 1-hour pad test (4.5 ± 17.8 vs 3.6 ± 18.6 g, p = .770), or postoperative quality of life (Urogenital Distress Inventory-6: 1.9 ± 2.8 vs 2.8 ± 3.2, p = .122; Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7: 1.8 ± 3.9 vs 2.6 ± 4.3, p = .307). A trend toward increased de novo OAB rate was observed, although this finding was not adequately powered. CONCLUSION: Weight gain after sling surgeries did not influence surgical outcomes, but there was a nonsignificant trend toward increased OAB in the weight gain group. It may be beneficial to counsel patients with regard to body weight maintenance after sling surgeries.

Efficacy of Biofeedback and Electrostimulation-Assisted Pelvic Floor Muscle Training between Women with Mild and Moderate to Severe Stress Urinary Incontinence.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of biofeedback and electrical stimulation-assisted pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) between women with mild and moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single center from 2014 to 2021. We included 57 patients with urodynamically proven SUI who underwent a biofeedback and electrical stimulation-assisted PFMT. They were categorized into mild and moderate to severe SUI. One-hour pad test from 2 to 10 g was defined as mild SUI, and ≥11 g was defined as moderate to severe SUI. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were reviewed during the study period. Incontinence-related symptoms of distress, including the UDI-6, ISI, and VAS, all significantly improved in the mild SUI group (p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.010, respectively), while only UDI-6 and VAS statistically improved in the moderate to severe SUI group (p = 0.027 and p = 0.010, respectively). There was significant improvement in IIQ-7 in the mild SUI group during serial treatments, but only in Session 6 in the moderate to severe SUI group. After 18 sessions of treatment, the UDI-6, ISI, and IIQ-7 scores showed significantly greater improvements in the mild SUI group compared to the moderate to severe SUI group (p = 0.003, p = 0.025, and p = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although biofeedback and electrical stimulation-assisted PFMT is an effective treatment option for SUI, it is more beneficial for patients with mild SUI and a 1-h pad weight ≤ 10 g urine leak.

Modification of bladder thermodynamics in stress urinary incontinence patients submitted to trans-obturator tape: A retrospective study based on urodynamic assessment.

Importance: It needs to be clarified whether trans-obturator tape (TOT)-enhanced urethral resistance could impact the voiding function. Objective: Although TOT has been well-recognized for enhancing urethral resistance to restore continence in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients, whether the bladder's voiding functions adapt to the TOT-enhanced resistance has not been adequately investigated. This study thereby aimed to investigate whether TOT impacts the bladder's thermodynamic efficacy during the voiding phase. Design: A retrospective analysis of urodynamics performed before and after TOT was assessed. Setting: A tertiary referral hospital in Taiwan. Participants: A total of 26 female SUI patients who underwent urodynamic investigations before and after TOT. Main outcomes and measures: The area enclosed by the pressure-volume loop (Apv), which represents the work performed by the bladder during voiding, in a pressure-volume analysis established by plotting the detrusor pressure versus intra-vesical volume was retrospectively analyzed. Paired Student's t-tests were employed to assess the difference in values before and after the operation. Significance in difference was set at p < 0.05. Results: TOT increased Apv in 20 of 26 (77%) patients and significantly increased the mean Apv compared to the preoperative control (2.17 ± 0.18 and 1.51 ± 0.13 × 103 cmH2O-ml, respectively p < 0.01). TOT also increased the mean urethral resistance (1.03 ± 0.30 vs. 0.29 ± 0.05 cmH2O-sec/ml, p < 0.01) and mean voiding pressure (25.87 ± 1.72 and 19.30 ± 1.98 cmH2O p < 0.01) but did not affect the voided volume and voiding time. Moreover, the TOT-induced Apv increment showed a moderate correlation with the changes in urethral resistance and voiding pressure (both r > 0.5) but no correlation with changes in voided volume or voiding time. It is remarkable that the TOT-induced urethral resistance increment showed a strong correlation with changes in voiding pressure (r > 0.7). Conclusion and Relevance: The bladder enhances thermodynamic efficacy by adapting the voiding mechanism to increased urethral resistance caused by TOT. Further studies with higher case series and longer follow-ups should assess whether this effect could be maintained over time or expire in a functional detrusor decompensation, to define diagnostic criteria that allow therapeutic interventions aimed at its prevention during the follow-up. Clinical Trial Registration: (clinicaltrials.gov), identifier (NCT05255289).

Minimal requirement in urogynecological knowledge for obstetrics and gynecology specialists.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current knowledge and practice patterns of obstetrics and gynecology (obs/gyn) physicians regarding the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of pelvic floor disorders (PFD) including stress urinary incontinence (SUI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The knowledge related to urodynamic study (UDS) is also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 25-item questionnaire was developed and sent for the physician members who participated in the annual congress of Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology (TAOG). Response to the questionnaire was voluntary and anonymous. The questionnaires were collected prior to the ending of the congress. RESULTS: 2000 copies of the questionnaire were sent and 1443 TAOG members responded. 86 poor respondents and 45 copies from urogynecologists were excluded. 1312 copies of the completed questionnaires were analyzed. 77.7% of the respondents were male physicians and 50.6% were over 55 years old. Up to 53.7% of the physicians had completed their residency training for over twenty years. Generally, around half of the respondents didn't reach well a level of well understanding regarding the various PFD. Most of the physicians would like to have further knowledge in urogynecological field for their daily practice. Regular delivery of updated information about various urogynecological diseases is mandatory. CONCLUSION: With the aging population worldwide, the need for management of PFD is increasing. The obs/gyn physician plays an important role in the primary evaluation and management of PFD. This study offered important information related to the current investigation, management, practice patterns and future expectation from obs/gyn physicians as references for the future continuing medical education programs.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of single-incision sling versus transobturator sling in women with stress incontinence and intrinsic sphincter deficiency.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urethral intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) is associated with severe urine leakage and a higher risk of sling failure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-incision slings (SISs) versus transobturator slings (TOSs) in such patients. METHODS: Patients who had stress incontinence and ISD who underwent SIS or TOS procedures from 2010 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The objective and subjective cure rates and surgical adverse events were compared between different slings. Objective cure was defined as no stress urine leakage with a comfortably full bladder. Subjective cure was determined by the patient's satisfaction. Incontinence-related symptom distress and quality of life were evaluated using the short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7). RESULTS: Among 111 patients, 37 underwent SIS and 72 underwent TOS with a median follow-up of 21 (range: 12-72) months and 24 (range: 14-84) months (p = 0.265). For both groups, the UDI-6, IIQ-7, and 1-h pad test all significantly improved after surgery (all p < 0.001). The objective and subjective cure rates were comparable after SIS and TOS procedures (objective: 76% vs. 76%, p = 0.837; subjective: 78% vs. 83%, p = 0.212). There were no significant differences in adverse events, except SISs had a shorter surgery time (16.4 ± 9.3 vs. 27.3 ± 12.4 min, p = 0.020) and lower postoperative visual analog scale pain score (1.3 ± 1.1 vs. 3.9 ± 1.4, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SISs and TOSs had similar surgical results in women with stress incontinence and ISD after at least 1 year of follow-up. However, SISs had a shorter operation time and lower postoperative pain than TOSs.

Effect of aging on lower urinary tract symptoms and urodynamic parameters in women.

OBJECTIVE: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in women. However, due to multifactorial etiologies, it is difficult to determine the prevalence, and functional changes with age. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of age on female LUTS, urethral and bladder function after their midlife. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary referral medical center. Women who visited for bothersome LUTS, valid quality of life questionnaires, and urodynamic tests were recruited into the this study. Patients The patients were divided into four groups (<50, 50-59, 60-69, and >69 years). All LUTS, and urodynamic parameters were reviewed, and compared between groups. RESULTS: A total of 364 women were enrolled and analyzed. The urodynamic tests showed the that maximal cystometric bladder capacity, the average and maximal urine flow rate, and pressure of detrusor contractility at maximal urine flow rate were all significantly decreased with age. Besides, the voiding time, and post-voiding residual urine volume significantly increased with age. For urethral competence, the maximal urethral closure pressure deteriorated with age. All storage symptoms did not change with age, except for nocturnal enuresis. However, the effect of age on some voiding symptoms significantly increased with age, including straining to void, hesitancy, and intermittency. CONCLUSIONS: Lower urinary tract symptoms, bladder and urethral functions change with age, particularly voiding function. Physicians should be aware of the aging process when counseling and before implementing management strategies, particularly for older people.

The efficacy and complications of using transvaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse in Taiwan: A 10-year review.

Transvaginal mesh (TVM) insertion for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is significantly associated with lower failure rates, although its use remains controversial due to the potential risk of mesh-related complications. In this review, we collected the published literature regarding the use of TVM to treat POP in an attempt to assess both the efficacy and complications related to TVM usage in Taiwan. We searched 25 English language articles using PubMed related to TVM in Taiwan from 2010 to 2019. The present article focuses on the efficacy and complications of TVM and analyzes the data. There were 25 studies on TVM selected for this review. Regarding their success rate, 21 out of the 22 studies (95.5%) had more than a 90% objective success rate. Twenty studies (90.9%) had less than 10% major complications of TVM. Twenty out of the 25 studies (80.0%) had 5% or less mesh exposure. For self-cut TVM and the later single-incision TVM, both the complication rates and exposure rates decreased. The rate of de novo dyspareunia ranged from 2.6% to 14.3%, and the incidence decreased yearly from 2011 to 2019. This review showed both the high treatment efficacy and low complication rate of TVM usage for the short-term treatment of POP in Taiwan. However, a longer-term study is needed to draw a conclusion regarding the safety of this treatment.

The Prevalence of Vaginal Flatus in Women With Pelvic Floor Disorders and Its Impact on Sexual Function.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal flatus is involuntarily passing gas from the vagina. Women seldom voluntarily report it, and related data are limited. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of vaginal flatus in women with pelvic floor disorders and its impact on sexual function. METHODS: This was an observational study involving women who visited a urogynecologic clinic in a tertiary medical center. Patients were asked about their experience of vaginal flatus. Other evaluations included urodynamics, genital prolapse stage, and quality-of-life questionnaires, including the short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, Urogenital Distress Inventory, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire. OUTCOMES: Clinical characteristics, vaginal anatomic landmarks, stage of prolapse, urodynamic parameters, and quality-of-life scores were compared between women with and without vaginal flatus. RESULTS: Among 341 women, 118 (35%) reported vaginal flatus, which was more common in those who were younger (a mean age of 49.3 ± 9.2 years; range 25-74 years vs 49.3 ± 9.2 years; range 25-74 years, P < .001) and sexually active (98% vs 55%, P < .001). Women with vaginal flatus had significantly worse sexual function (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, 16.3 ± 15.9 vs 30.9 ± 8.0, P < .001) and incontinence-related quality of life (Urogenital Distress Inventory, 23.4 ± 10.5 vs 17.8 ± 8.9, P = .039; Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, 25.5 ± 14.5 vs 17.2 ± 12.5, P = .012). For frequency and bother, 48 of 116 (46%) women reported often or always having symptoms during sexual activity, 5 of 34 (15%) when performing daily activities, and 4 of 31 (12%) when exercising, and 70 of 116 (60%) felt least moderate bothersome during sexual activity compared with 2 of 34 (5%) when performing daily activities and 6 of 31 (18%) when exercising. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Vaginal flatus is prevalent in women with pelvic floor disorders, particularly in those who are younger and sexually active. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The strength of this study is to evaluate the sexual function with validated questionnaires. The lack of data after pelvic floor management is the major limitation. CONCLUSIONS: Among women with pelvic floor disorders, those with vaginal flatus reported poorer sexual function. Routine counseling should be considered for these patients. Lau H-H, Su T-H, Chen Y-Y, et al. The Prevalence of Vaginal Flatus in Women With Pelvic Floor Disorders and Its Impact on Sexual Function. J Sex Med 2021;18:487-492.

Potassium bromate-induced cell model of age-related macular degeneration in vitro.

Age­related macular degeneration (AMD) progression occurs due to oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. To develop a new model of AMD, the present study investigated the effects of potassium bromate (KBrO3) on ARPE­19 cells. Incubation with KBrO3 for 24 h significantly decreased ARPE­19 cell viability in a concentration­dependent manner compared with the control group. The MTT and lactate dehydrogenase assay results indicated that KBrO3 induced cell apoptosis. Compared with the control group, KBrO3 treatment significantly decreased the Bcl2/Bax ratio, as determined via western blotting, and caspase­3 mRNA expression levels. Fluorescence microscopy indicated the increased ROS levels in cells treated with KBrO3. Endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, were significantly inhibited by KBrO3 compared with the control group. Moreover, the antioxidants tiron and phloroglucinol inhibited KBrO3­mediated effects on ARPE­19 cells in a dose­dependent manner. Additionally, GPR109A is the binding site of 4­hydroxynonenal (4­HNE). KBrO3 displayed cytotoxic effects in 293 cells, which naturally lack the GPR109A gene, but these effects were not observed in 4­HNE­treated 293 cells, suggesting that KBrO3 induced apoptosis without increasing endogenous 4­HNE levels in cells. Moreover, the results suggested that KBrO3­induced oxidative stress may activate STAT3 to increase VEGF expression in ARPE­19 cells. Collectively, the results of the present study supported the potential use of KBrO3 to induce an in vitro model of AMD in ARPE­19 cells.

Estrogen for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are commonly encountered in postmenopausal women. Optimal non-antimicrobial prophylaxis for rUTIs is an important health issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of estrogen in the prevention of rUTIs versus placebo. METHODS: Eligible studies published up to December 2019 were retrieved through searches of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Database of Systematic Reviews. We included randomized controlled trials of estrogen therapies versus placebo regarding the outcomes of preventing rUTIs. Changes in vaginal pH and estrogen-associated adverse events were also analyzed. RESULTS: Eight studies including 4702 patients (2367 who received estrogen and 2335 who received placebo) were identified. Five studies including 1936 patients evaluated the use of vaginal estrogen, which resulted in a significant reduction in rUTIs (relative risk, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30-0.59). Three studies including 2766 patients evaluated the outcomes of oral estrogen in the prevention of UTIs and showed no significant difference in the number of rUTIs compared to treatment with placebo (relative risk, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.92-1.35). Two studies reviewed changes in vaginal pH and showed a lower pH (mean difference, -1.81; 95% CI, -3.10--0.52) after vaginal estrogen therapy. Adverse events associated with vaginal estrogen were reported, including vaginal discomfort, irritation, burning, and itching. There was no significance increase in the vaginal estrogen group (relative risk, 3.06; 95% CI, 0.79-11.90). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with placebo, vaginal estrogen treatment could reduce the number of rUTIs and lower the vaginal pH in postmenopausal women.

iDPGK: characterization and identification of lysine phosphoglycerylation sites based on sequence-based features.

BACKGROUND: Protein phosphoglycerylation, the addition of a 1,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid (1,3-BPG) to a lysine residue of a protein and thus to form a 3-phosphoglyceryl-lysine, is a reversible and non-enzymatic post-translational modification (PTM) and plays a regulatory role in glucose metabolism and glycolytic process. As the number of experimentally verified phosphoglycerylated sites has increased significantly, statistical or machine learning methods are imperative for investigating the characteristics of phosphoglycerylation sites. Currently, research into phosphoglycerylation is very limited, and only a few resources are available for the computational identification of phosphoglycerylation sites. RESULT: We present a bioinformatics investigation of phosphoglycerylation sites based on sequence-based features. The TwoSampleLogo analysis reveals that the regions surrounding the phosphoglycerylation sites contain a high relatively of positively charged amino acids, especially in the upstream flanking region. Additionally, the non-polar and aliphatic amino acids are more abundant surrounding phosphoglycerylated lysine following the results of PTM-Logo, which may play a functional role in discriminating between phosphoglycerylation and non-phosphoglycerylation sites. Many types of features were adopted to build the prediction model on the training dataset, including amino acid composition, amino acid pair composition, positional weighted matrix and position-specific scoring matrix. Further, to improve the predictive power, numerous top features ranked by F-score were considered as the final combination for classification, and thus the predictive models were trained using DT, RF and SVM classifiers. Evaluation by five-fold cross-validation showed that the selected features was most effective in discriminating between phosphoglycerylated and non-phosphoglycerylated sites. CONCLUSION: The SVM model trained with the selected sequence-based features performed well, with a sensitivity of 77.5%, a specificity of 73.6%, an accuracy of 74.9%, and a Matthews Correlation Coefficient value of 0.49. Furthermore, the model also consistently provides the effective performance in independent testing set, yielding sensitivity of 75.7% and specificity of 64.9%. Finally, the model has been implemented as a web-based system, namely iDPGK, which is now freely available at http://mer.hc.mmh.org.tw/iDPGK/ .

Cutoff score of the traditional Chinese version of the short form of the pelvic organ prolapse/urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire (PISQ-12).

OBJECTIVE: The short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) is a condition-specific instrument used to evaluate sexual function in women with pelvic floor disorders. The traditional Chinese version of the PISQ-12 (CVPISQ-12) has been validated, however the cutoff score has yet to be determined. The aim of this study is to establish the cutoff score for the CVPISQ-12 and analyze the risk factors for female sexual dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sub-analysis of data involving sexually active women who sought consultation for pelvic floor disorders at a medical center in 2016. Based on the known cutoff value of Female Sexual Function Index, the cutoff score of the CVPISQ-12 was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Other assessments included 1-h pad test and incontinence-related questionnaires using the short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7). RESULTS: ROC curve analysis showed a cutoff score of 32.5, with a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 88%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.937 (p <0.001; 95% confidence interval: 0.895-0.979). The 1-h pad test (B = -0.266; p = 0.031), IIQ-7 (B = -0.378; p = 0.047) and age (B = -0.415; p = 0.001) were risk factors for sexual dysfunction in women with a score <32.5. However, age was the only significant risk factor for women with a higher score (B = -0.384; p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: A CVPISQ-12 score ≥32.5 suggested normal sexual function. For this patient group, age may be a more important factor associated with sexual function than pelvic floor disorders.

Amniotic Membrane Graft in the Management of Complex Vaginal Mesh Erosion.

Vaginal mesh erosion is a devastating complication after pelvic floor mesh surgery and it can be treated conservatively or with surgical revision. However, the management options following a failed primary revision or complex vaginal erosions are very limited. The aim of this study is to describe a novel treatment using an amniotic membrane as an inlay graft for such patients. Eight patients who failed conservative or primary surgical revision were enrolled. The complex erosions included vaginal agglutination, multiple vaginal erosions, recurrent erosions, and mesh cutting through the urethra. We used an amniotic membrane as a graft to cover the vaginal defect after partial excision of the mesh erosion and we describe the technique in this study. There were no intraoperative complications and none of the patients reported any further symptoms at a mean of 27 months follow-up. Only one patient had recurrent erosion, however, the erosion size was narrower and was subsequently successfully repaired. No further vaginal mesh erosions were noted in the other patients who all had good functional recovery. The use of an amniotic graft can be an economic and alternative method in the management of complex vaginal mesh erosions.

The Outcome of a Single-Incision Sling versus Trans-Obturator Sling in Overweight and Obese Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence at 3-Year Follow-Up.

Background: Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for incontinence and has negative impacts on the surgical outcomes. Compared with trans-obturator sling (TOS), single incision sling (SIS) is a new generation of anti-incontinence surgery. However, the data on SIS in overweight and obese women remains limited. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the objective and subjective cure rate of overweight and obese women who underwent sling surgeries. Other evaluations included valid questionnaires to assess quality of life and 1-hour pad test to quantify urine leakage. Surgical characteristics and adverse events were also analyzed. Results: A total of 217 patients were analyzed with a median follow-up period of 37.3 months (range, 9-84 months). For overweight and obese patients, the objective and subjective cure rate were comparable (all p > 0.05). However, the SIS group had worse post-operative incontinence-related symptom distress (p < 0.001) and 1-hour pad test (p = 0.047). On the other hand, SIS had a shorter surgery time (p = 0.017) and lower pain score (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with TOS, SIS had non-significant cure rates in the overweight and obese women. SIS had worse urine leakage and incontinence symptoms, but less surgical and wound pain in obese women. Thorough pre-operative counseling is necessary.

Changes in Female Sexual Function After Vaginal Mesh Repair Versus Native Tissue Repair for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

AIM: To evaluate changes in female sexual function after transvaginal mesh (TVM) repair versus native tissue repair for pelvic organ prolapse. METHODS: Eligible studies, published through November 2017, were retrieved through searches of ClinicalTrials.gov, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Review databases and associated bibliographies. We included randomized control trials of transvaginal prolapse surgery with either mesh repair or native tissue repair regarding the outcomes of sexual function, de novo and postoperative dyspareunia with a minimum of 3 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Seventeen trials including 2,976 patients (1,488 with TVM repair and 1,488 with native tissue repair) were identified. There was no significant difference in postoperative dyspareunia after TVM repair versus native tissue repair (risk ratio [RR] = 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76-1.50). Likewise, there was no significant difference in de novo dyspareunia after TVM repair versus native tissue repair (RR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.52-1.61). There was also no significant difference in the short form Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire score after TVM mesh repair versus native tissue repair (mean difference = 0.26; 95% CI = -1.34 to 1.85). CONCLUSION: Sexual function and de novo and postoperative dyspareunia were similar between the patients who underwent TVM repair and those who underwent native tissue repair. Liao S-C, Huang W-C, Su T-H, et al. Changes in Female Sexual Function After Vaginal Mesh Repair Versus Native Tissue Repair for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Sex Med 2019;16:633-639.

Comparison between tension-free vaginal tape and transobturator tape in treating stress urinary incontinence after vaginal mesh surgery.

OBJECTIVE: A midurethral sling is the gold standard surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), however a lower success rate has been reported in the treatment of SUI after pelvic organ prolapse surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the success rates, quality of life, and complications with treatment using tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and transobturator tape (TOT) in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled patients who had symptomatic SUI after anterior vaginal mesh repair who underwent either TVT or TOT surgery. Successfully cure was defined as the absence of urinary leakage in a stress test during filling cystometry, and a negative cough test. Quality of life was evaluated using the short form of the Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7). RESULTS: We included 50 patients in the TOT group and 37 patients in the TVT group, with a median follow-up of 18.5 months. The TVT group had a significantly higher success rate than the TOT group (88% vs. 60%, p = 0.036), while there was no statistically significant difference in de novo detrusor overactivity (30% vs. 9%, p = 0.090). There was also no significant difference in postoperative quality of life (UDI-6, 5.9 ± 7.9 vs. 5.0 ± 5.9, p = 0.639; IIQ-7, 5.2 ± 12.5 vs. 4.3 ± 9.7, p = 0.766). The TVT group had a longer operative time (p < 0.001) and hospital stay (p = 0.004), however the TOT group required more repeat surgeries for recurrent SUI (p = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Retropubic TVT is a more effective surgical option than TOT in women with SUI after vaginal mesh repair.

Did surgical failure and complications affect incontinence-related quality of life in women after transobturator sling procedure?

OBJECTIVE: To report the objective outcome, subjective measurement of incontinence-related quality of life (QoL) for female urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) after transobturator sling surgery (TVT-O) and to evaluate the effects of surgical failure and complications on QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the data from women who underwent TVT-O for USI and completed two validated QoL questionnaires, the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) preoperatively and at least 12 months postoperatively. We evaluated the subjective results of QoL questionnaires, objective results and compare the effect of QoL on those with surgical failure and complications after TVT-O surgery. RESULTS: A total of 78 women were followed for a median of 13.5 months (range 12-15 months) after surgery. Within this group, 75 (96%) were considered subjectively cured or improved after TVT-O. There were significant improvements in the IIQ-7 and total UDI-6 scores postoperatively, as well as in the UDI-6 subscales for urge, stress and voiding dysfunction symptoms. Even the 18 women with objective urodynamic failure had significant improvement in QoL scores. For those with surgical related complications, the QoL scores were also significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: TVT-O for USI resulted in improvement of incontinence-related QoL including urgency, stress, and voiding dysfunction symptoms. Surgical failure and complications didn't impair postoperative QoL.