Management of mixed urinary incontinence: IUGA committee opinion.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) is defined by the International Urogynecology Association (IUGA) and International Continence Society as the complaint of involuntary leakage of urine associated with urgency and also with exertion, effort, sneezing or coughing. It therefore implies the coexistence of both stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). MUI is a heterogeneous diagnosis that requires an assessment of its individual components of SUI and UUI. Management requires an individualised approach to the symptom components. The aim of this review is to identify the assessment/investigations and management options for MUI. METHODS: A working subcommittee from the IUGA Research & Development (R&D) Committee was created and volunteers invited from the IUGA membership. A literature review was performed to provide guidance focused on the recommended assessment and management of MUI. The document was then evaluated by the entire IUGA R&D Committee and IUGA Board of Directors and revisions made. The final document represents the IUGA R&D Committee Opinion. RESULTS: The R&D Committee MUI opinion paper provides guidance on the assessment and management of women with MUI and summarises the evidence-based recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Mixed urinary incontinence is a complex problem and successful management requires alleviation of both the stress and urge components. Care should be individualised based on patient preferences. Further research is needed to guide patients in setting goals and to determine which component of MUI to treat first. The evidence for many of the surgical/procedural treatment options for MUI are limited and needs to be explored in more detail.

The Role of the Supine Empty Stress Test in the Evaluation of Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The International Continence Society recommends the supine empty stress test (SEST) as an accessory test in the evaluation of women with urinary incontinence, especially for the presence of intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the SEST and clinical findings in women diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence with single voiding cycle ambulatory urodynamics (AUM). AUM tracings of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS = Lower urinary tract symptoms) (n = 513) were retrospectively reviewed, and 364 charts with urodynamic SUI were analyzed. Demographics, examination findings, scores of the Sandvik Incontinence Severity Index and validated questionnaires, and AUM findings were compared between SEST-positive and -negative groups. Additionally, the diagnostic accuracy of the SEST in the diagnosis of low abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP ≤ 60 cm H2O) in women with pure urodynamic SUI was calculated. The SEST was positive in 41.8% (n = 152) of the cohort. Women with a positive SEST had higher scores on the Sandvik severity index (9.2 ± 3.6 vs. 7.5 ± 3.8, p = 0.003) and lower ALPP (79.6 ± 29.3 vs. 98.4 ± 31.3, p < 0.001). The negative predictive value of the SEST for ISD was found to be 92.4%. Thus, the SEST seems to be an objective clinical test reflecting urinary incontinence severity while excluding the presence of ISD.

Do the Ultrasonographic Measures of Midurethral Sling Location Relate With Surgical Outcomes?

IMPORTANCE: The proper placement of a midurethral sling (MUS) is the key factor for a successful surgical outcome. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of perineal ultrasonographic measures of the tape location with subjective and objective outcomes after MUS surgery at midterm follow-up of women. METHODS: The tape percentile (TP; total urethral length/bladder neck tape distance×100) and urethra tape distance (UTD; the shortest distance from the longitudinal smooth muscle complex of the urethra to the midpoint of the tape) were correlated with midterm surgical success. Patient satisfaction measured with the visual analog scale (VAS) was considered as the primary outcome. The presence of stress urinary incontinence on direct questioning, the Urinary Distress Inventory 6 (UDI-6) scores, findings of the cough stress test, free uroflowmetry, postvoid residual volume, and single-cycle voiding ambulatory urodynamic monitoring (AUM) were the other outcomes. RESULTS: Seventy-eight women were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 4.4 ±3.3 years. Women who were highly satisfied (VAS ≥ 8) had a significantly higher TP (64.7% vs 50.8%, P < 0.001) and lower UTD (3.6 vs 4.5 mm, P = 0.018). Irritative, stress, and obstructive scores at UDI-6 increased as the tape was located closer to the bladder neck (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.044, respectively), and stress symptoms decreased with a tape closer to the urethra (P < 0.001). Women with detrusor overactivity at AUM were found to have a lower TP (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The perineal ultrasonographic evaluation of tape location with UTD and TP seems to be well correlated with the women's midterm MUS surgical outcomes.

The association of coital incontinence with clinical factors and single voiding cycle ambulatory urodynamic monitoring findings in women.

Introduction: Coital incontinence (CI) is a frequent problem in women with urinary incontinence (UI) with significant impact on female sexuality and quality of life. The underlying mechanism is controversial; it has been known that CI is associated with both stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and detrusor overactivity (DO). However, recently it has been reported that CI is mainly related with SUI and urethral incompetence, but not with DO. Ambulatory urodynamic monitoring (AUM) has been shown to be a sensitive tool for the detection of DO. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical risk factors for CI and the association of CI with urodynamic diagnoses at single voiding cycle AUM. Methods: Records of sexually active women with urinary incontinence attending the urogynaecology unit of a university hospital, who completed the PISQ-12 were reviewed retrospectively (n = 1,005). Patients were grouped using the 6th question; patients answering "never" to this question were considered as continent during coitus (n = 591) and patients reporting any urinary leakage at coitus were considered to have CI (n = 414). Demographics, clinical examination findings, incontinence severity measured by the Sandvik Incontinence Severity Index, scores of Turkish validated questionnaires (PFDI-20, IIQ-7, OAB-V8, and PISQ-12) and single voiding cycle AUM findings were compared, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Among all sexually active women with UI, 41.2% had CI; UI was more severe, symptom bother was higher, related quality of life (p < 0.001) and sexual function were worse (≤0.018) in these women. Younger age (OR 0.967, p < 0.001), history of vaginal delivery (OR 2.127, p = 0.019), smoking (OR 1.490, p = 0.041), postural UI (OR 2.012, p = 0.001), positive cough stress test (OR 2.193, p < 0.001), and positive SEST (OR 1.756, p = 0.01) were found as independent clinical factors associated with CI. Urodynamic SUI (OR 2.168, p = 0.001) and MUI (OR 1.874, p = 0.002) were found as significant and independent urodynamic diagnoses associated with CI, whereas no association was found with DO or UUI. Conclusion: Both clinical and AUM findings supported that CI is a more severe form of UI that it is mainly related with SUI and urethral incompetence, but not with UUI or DO.

Impact of pelvic floor distress on non-invasive urodynamic findings in women.

OBJECTIVE (S): To compare non-invasive urodynamic findings in women with and without pelvic floor distress and to investigate the patient characteristics affecting maximum flow rates. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study including data derived from a prospective cohort study evaluating free uroflowmetry findings in asymptomatic and symptomatic women with urinary dysfunction attending the gynecology outpatient clinic for routine annual control, infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding and pelvic floor dysfunction. Data regarding baseline characteristics, questionnaires, urogynecologic examination findings and free uroflowmetry results were retrieved. Women were grouped according to the Turkish validated Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20); women who scored 0 or 1 points for each item ("no" or "not at all") were considered as asymptomatic in terms of pelvic floor dysfunction, and women who scored 2 or more points to any item were accepted as symptomatic. Baseline characteristics, clinical examination findings and free uroflowmetry data were compared among the groups using Student's-t or Mann-Whitney U tests, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact tests, where appropriate. Correlations and their significance, and patient characteristics affecting Qmax were investigated using the Pearson test. A multiple linear regression model was used to identify independent factors affecting Qmax. RESULTS: The study population (n = 186) comprised asymptomatic (n = 70, 37.6%) and symptomatic (n = 116, 62.4%) women according to the scores of the PFDI-20. Corrected Qmax, TQmax, Tvv and PVR were found significantly lower in asymptomatic women (p ≤ 0.001). In asymptomatic women, PVR was <100 mL in 98.5%, and <50 mL in 80%. In multivariate linear regression analysis parity, obstructive subscale score of the UDI-6, previous mid-urethral sling surgery and hysterectomy were found to affect Qmax negatively, whereas VV was found to affect Qmax positively. CONCLUSION(S): Although significantly different, overlapping wide ranges of non-invasive urodynamic findings have been observed in women with and without pelvic floor distress in the present study population. Maximum urinary flow rates were significantly affected by patient characteristics such as parity, obstructive symptoms, prior incontinence surgery and hysterectomy. There is need for further larger studies considering all possible factors that may affect voiding.

Evaluation of readability levels of online patient education materials for female pelvic floor disorders.

Most women hesitate to seek help from healthcare providers as they find it difficult to share complaints of involuntary leakage or vaginal prolapse. Hence, they often refer to the websites of national and/or international bodies' patient education materials (PEMs), which are considered the most reliable sources. The crucial factor that determines their usefulness is their readability level, which makes them "easy" or "difficult" to read, and is recommended, not to exceed the sixth grade level. In this study, we aimed to assess the readability levels of Turkish translated PEMs from the websites of the International Urogynecological Association and the European Association of Urology and the PEMs originally written in Turkish from the website of the Society of Urological Surgery in Turkey. All the PEMs (n = 52) were analyzed by online calculators using the Atesman formula, Flesch-Kincaid grade level, and Gunning Fog index. The readability parameters, number of sentences, words, letters, syllables, and readability intervals of these methods were compared among the groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test, or ANOVA test, with post hoc comparisons where appropriate. The readability level of all PEMs is at least at an "averagely difficult" interval, according to both assessment methods. No significant differences were found among the PEM groups in terms of readability parameters and assessment methods (P > .05). Whether original or translated, international or national societies' PEMs' readability scores were above the recommended level of sixth grade. Thus, the development of PEMs needs to be revised accordingly by relevant authorities.

Changes of pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction throughout pregnancy in singleton primigravidas: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To document the deterioration in pelvic organ support occurring throughout all trimesters during the first pregnancy of women with no known risk factors. Secondarily to make a comprehensive review in order to verify the current findings and methodologies of similar studies in the literature. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study, forty-one primigravid women with a singleton pregnancy were recruited during their first trimester. During follow-up pelvic organ support changes were documented by using Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. Additionally, pelvic floor muscle strength examination, by modified Oxford scoring (MOS), and symptom assessment by Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-Short Form (PFDI-20) were performed at three time points: first (T1), second (T2), and third trimester (T3) (n = 33). The Wilcoxon test was performed to test the significance of pairwise differences. Spearman correlation coefficient was estimated to determine the linear association of the findings. RESULTS: Both distal and proximal anterior and posterior vaginal walls (Points Aa, Ba, Ap and Bp) with cervix (C) descended towards the hymen, throughout first pregnancy with a significant caudal shift on progressing from T2 to T3 (p ≤ 0.017). Posterior fornix (Point D) made a non-significant cranial shift (p = 0.527). The genital hiatus, perineal body and total vaginal length increased significantly (p ≤ 0.001). No significant difference in MOS was observed throughout pregnancy. The scores of PFDI-20 with all its domains worsened significantly during pregnancy, especially in T3 (p ≤ 0.011). Moderate correlations were observed between posterior vaginal descent and anorectal symptoms (rho 0.427, p < 0.05), and between the changes in genital hiatus and prolapse symptoms (rho 0.406, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A significant descent both in all compartments of vaginal wall and perineum with an increase in total vaginal length, was observed together with an associated pelvic floor dysfunction throughout the first pregnancy of women.

A prediction model for detrusor overactivity at ambulatory urodynamics in women with urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE(S): To develop a multivariable model using both clinical examination findings and validated questionnaires' scores for predicting the presence of detrusor overactivity observed during ambulatory urodynamic monitoring in women with urinary incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: The study population was chosen from a registry of women evaluated with urodynamics for urinary incontinence retrospectively. Data for baseline characteristics, clinical findings, and ambulatory urodynamic records were evaluated for all women included to the study. Urodynamic data were obtained by retrospective review of urodynamic traces with a standardized protocol during single voiding cycle, compatible to the standards of International Continence Society (ICS) for ambulatory urodynamic monitoring. RESULTS: A total of 395 women with urinary incontinence were included in the study. Detrusor overactivity was diagnosed in 57.1% of women included to the study. Clinical factors positively associated with detrusor overactivity were higher body-mass index (OR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.03-1.15, p < 0.001), higher OAB-V8 (Overactive bladder awareness tool - version 8) scores (OR = 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.06, p < 0.001) and presence of urgency urinary incontinence (OR = 2.39; 95% CI 1.47-3.81, p < 0.001). The presence of postural urinary incontinence (OR = 0.51; 95%CI 0.28-0.90, p = 0.021) and insensible loss of urine (OR = 0.33; 95%CI 0.27-0.93, p = 0.005) had negative associations with detrusor overactivity in the final multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION(S): BMI, OAB-V8 scores, urgency urinary incontinence, postural urinary incontinence and insensible loss of urine were associated with the presence of detrusor overactivity according to our prediction model. However, the overall model accuracy suggests urodynamic studies are still needed for a definitive diagnosis. Nevertheless, the prediction may be beneficial for selecting a subgroup of women who are unlikely to benefit from ambulatory urodynamic monitoring for the diagnosis of detrusor overactivity.

Comparison of patient reported outcomes, pelvic floor function and recurrence after laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy versus vaginal hysterectomy with McCall suspension for advanced uterine prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To compare medium/long-term outcomes in terms of pelvic floor function, patient reported prolapse recurrence and repeat prolapse surgery after laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy (LSHP) and vaginal hysterectomy with McCall suspension (VH&McCall) which is the most commonly performed surgical option for severe uterine prolapse from past to present. STUDY DESIGN: Files of patients who underwent LSHP and VH&McCall for advanced utero-vaginal prolapse (stage 3 & 4) at the Department of Gynecology in Ankara University School of Medicine between 2008 and 2018 were reviewed (n = 517). Data of women who were followed up for at least 1-year and containing both the full-filled Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) survey and Turkish validated Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), were included. RESULTS: A total of 132 women were included in the study; 46 women who underwent LSHP and 86 women who underwent VH&McCall. Even though the median age of the LSHP group was significantly lower than the median age of VH&McCall group (42 vs. 67 years; P<;0.001), recurrence and repeat surgery rates were found to be similar after both surgical approaches as well as the scores of PGI-I and PFDI-20. However, in women who were operated before their sixties, symptomatic recurrence was found to be significantly lower after LSHP than VH&McCall (16.2 % vs. 47.4 %, respectively; P = 0.024) as well as repeat prolapse surgery (2.7 % vs. 26.3 %, respectively; P = 0.014). PGI-I and PFDI-20 scores also suggested better pelvic floor function after LSHP significantly (p = 0.004 & p = 0.003 respectively). When adjusted for age, VH&McCall significantly increased the risk of symptomatic prolapse recurrence compared to LSHP (OR: 4.65; 95 % CI: 1.326-16.312; P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: LSHP and VH&McCall might seem to be surgical options for individualized management with similar pelvic floor function & recurrence in the medium/long-term follow-up, but the age adjusted risk analysis showed higher rates of symptomatic recurrence after VH&McCall. Moreover, the better outcomes after LSHP in the younger subset, revealed the need of further clarification with well-designed prospective studies.

Expressions of homeobox, collagen and estrogen genes in women with uterine prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: Genetic contribution is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We aimed to study the gene expression profiles of the genes HomeoboxA11 (HOXA11), HomeoboxA13 (HOXA13), Collagen Type I (COL1A), Collagen Type III (COL3A), estrogen receptor genes (ESR1 and ESR2) of round (RL) and uterosacral ligaments (USL) in postmenopausal women with uterine prolapse. STUDY DESIGN: Gene expressions of 32 postmenopausal women with prolapse were analysed according to gene expressions of 8 postmenopausal women without prolapse. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method was used for the detection of expression levels of the genes. Student's t-Test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the USL specimens of all women with uterine prolapse HOXA13 and ESR1 gene expressions were decreased compared to controls (0.5 fold, p = 0.04 and 0.82 fold, p = 0.04, respectively). In the RL specimens, ESR2 gene expression was decreased 0.7 fold in women with prolapse when compared to controls (p = 0.04). In the USL specimens of women with advanced stages of prolapse (stage ≥3), HOXA13 and COL3A gene expressions were decreased compared to controls (0.44 fold, p = 0.043 and 0.39 fold, p = 0.045, respectively). In the RL specimens, ESR2 gene expression was decreased 0.65 fold in women with prolapse when compared to controls (p = 0.052). CONCLUSION: The significant decrease in the expression of the genes HOXA13, COL3A in the USL and ESR2 in the RL especially in advanced stages of prolapse, implicate that these gene expressions may play a role in the development of uterine prolapse.

Comparison of alternative ßhCG follow-up protocols after single-dose methotrexate therapy for tubal ectopic pregnancy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the performances of five different ßhCG follow-up protocols after single-dose methotrexate therapy for tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP). METHODS: Data of patients who received single-dose methotrexate therapy for tubal EP at a university hospital between January 2011 and July 2016 were reviewed. A 'successful methotrexate treatment' was defined if the EP treated with no need for surgery. The performances of different protocols were tested by comparing with the currently used '15% ßhCG decrease between days 4 and 7' protocol. The tested follow-up protocols were '20, 25%, and any ßhCG decrease between days 0/1 and 7' and '20% and any ßhCG decrease between days 0/1 and 4'. RESULTS: Among the 96 patients evaluated, 12 (12.5%) required second dose. Totally, 91 (94.8%) patients treated successfully with no need for surgery. Four patients were operated within 4 days following the second dose. One patient who did not need second dose according to the standard follow-up protocol was operated on the 10th day due to rupture (specificity = 80%). Two protocols, namely '20% ßhCG decrease between days 0/1 and 7' and 'any ßhCG decrease between days 0/1 and 7' did not show statistically significant differences from the index protocol regarding the number of patients who should be assigned to 2nd dose. CONCLUSIONS: 'Any ßhCG decrease between days 0/1 and 7' protocol may substitute the currently used one to decide second dose methotrexate in tubal EP management. Omitting 4th day measurement seems to be more convenient and cost effective.

Ambulatory urodynamic monitoring of women with overactive bladder syndrome during single voiding cycle.

OBJECTIVE(S): To present data of standardized ambulatory urodynamic monitoring (AUM) performed in women with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) and to evaluate the relevance of AUM data with clinical findings of the patients. STUDY DESIGN: Records of women with symptoms of OAB were retrospectively reviewed (n=249). Of women fulfilling the Overactive Bladder Awareness Tool (OAB-V8) with a score ≥8 and the 3-day voiding diary (VD) with a frequency >7/day (n=167), those who underwent urodynamic investigation were selected (n=76). The data of this study were retrieved from the records of Ankara University Cebeci Hospital and based on the AUM findings of single voiding cycle of women with OAB. AUM, which is among the institutionally approved primary urodynamic investigation methods, is performed with LUNA ambulatory monitoring recorder (MMS™) in the clinical setting with a standardized technique, in reproducing lower urinary tract symptoms of women since 2011. The relationship of the urodynamic data with the clinical findings were evaluated. RESULTS: AUM traces of women (n=76) with OAB revealed 63.1% DO, 64.4% urgency and 77.7% urinary incontinence of which were 14.4% urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), 25% stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and 38.1% mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). OAB patients with DO reported more urinary incontinence episodes/day, nocturia and mixed urinary incontinence in the voiding diary (p<0.04) and had significantly higher irritative symptom bother reflected by the questionnaires (p<0.04). Women with DO were more likely to be postmenopausal (p=0.02) and were found to have more urgency (p<0.001), urgency episodes (p=0.05) and incontinence (urge and mixed) (p<0.001). However, no association was found between the extent of pelvic organ prolapse and the presence of DO. CONCLUSIONS: AUM performed with a standardized technique during single voiding cycle seems to be a reliable method in reproducing symptoms of women with OAB. It provides both clinically relevant findings and objective documentation of urgency which is the main symptom for OAB. The detection of DO according to the ICS definition were also found to be concordant with urodynamicaly observed urgency and urinary incontinence. Objective and subjective clinical findings of OAB were found to be more severe in women with DO.

A prospective randomized trial comparing the use of tolterodine or weighted vaginal cones in women with overactive bladder syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) using weighted vaginal cones (WVC) on the symptoms, clinical findings, urodynamic findings and quality of life (QoL) in overactive bladder (OAB) patients with tolterodine. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-nine patients with urinary frequency (≥ 8/day), nocturia (≥ 2/night), urgency and a total score of ≥ 8 to the overactive bladder-awareness tool (OAB-V8) were diagnosed as OAB and were randomized into two treatment groups; WVC and extended release tolterodine (tolterodine ER) 4 mg/day for 8 weeks. Results of the clinical findings, 3-day urinary diary, validated questionnaires for symptom bother and QoL (Urinary distress inventory (UDI-6), incontinence impact questionnaire (IIQ-7), OAB-V8, Wagner questionnaire) and urodynamic examination before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: A reduction of frequency, nocturia and urinary incontinence was observed in WVC group (p=0.006, p=0.034 and p=0.008, respectively) and in tolterodine group (p<0.001, p=0.002 and p=0.035, respectively). 24-h dry pad test results were improved significantly in both groups (p=0.003 and p=0.001, respectively). Pelvic muscle strength was significantly improved in WVC group but not in tolterodine group (p=0.010 and p=0.180, respectively). UDI-6, IIQ-7, OAB-V8 scores were improved significantly in both groups. Improvements in Wagner questionnaire were observed in WVC group but not in tolterodine group (p=0.002 and p=0.591, respectively). First sensation of bladder filling was significantly improved after WVC treatment but not in tolterodine group (p=0.035 and p=0.550, respectively). After treatment, detrusor overactivity (DO) resolved in 8 patients in the WVC group (p=0.003) and in 2 patients in the tolterodine group (p=0.426). CONCLUSIONS: WVC treatment seems to be an efficacious therapeutic option for the improvement of overactive bladder syndrome (OABS).

Vesico-cutaneous fistula: unusual complication after transobturator mid-urethral sling.

The transobturator tape (TOT) procedure was described in 2001 as the safest sling technique for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Although routine intraoperative cystoscopy to detect bladder and urethra injuries after the TOT procedure is not usually advocated, when such perforations do occur, there is potential for further patient morbidity. We present a case report of a vesico-cutaneous fistula detected after placement of a TOT sling in a 44-year old woman, 3 months postoperatively. Cystoscopic evaluation after mid-urethral sling procedures, especially in high-risk situations such as patients with cystocele, previous pelvic floor surgery or during the learning curve of the procedure, may avoid such complications associated with unrecognized lower urinary tract injuries.

Correlation of pelvic organ prolapse staging with lower urinary tract symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and quality of life.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the relationship between pelvic organ prolapse (POP) staging and clinical findings, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), sexual dysfunction, and quality of life (QoL) using validated questionnaires. METHODS: Women attending the urogynecology unit with LUTS and/or bulging (n = 388) were grouped according to the POP quantification (POPQ). LUTS, sexual dysfunction, and QoL were evaluated using the Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6),the Overactive Bladder Awareness tool (OAB-V8), the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7). Data regarding baseline characteristics, clinical findings, and scores of questionnaires were compared among the POP stages using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation analyses were used to evaluate the correlation of POP staging with clinical findings, pelvic floor dysfunction related symptom severity, and QoL. RESULTS: According to the POPQ, patients were classified as: stage 0 (27.8 %), stage 1 (21.4%), stage 2 (38.9%), and stages 3 and 4 (11.8%). Irritative, stress, obstructive subscale scores of UDI-6 and physical, travel, emotional subscale scores of IIQ-7 were significantly different among POPQ stages. Weak correlations between POPQ staging and irritative, stress, obstructive subscale scores of UDI-6 (r = 0.198, r = 0.192, and r = 0.146 respectively), and physical, travel, social, emotional subscale scores of IIQ-7 (r = 0.223, r = 0.154, r = 120 and r = 0.171 respectively) were found (p < 0.05). Clinical findings (Q-tip and stress test positivity, post-void residual volumes) showed moderate to weak correlations with POPQ stages (r = 0.425, r = 0.117, r = 0.163 respectively; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The correlation of lower urinary tract dysfunction and POP staging was shown to be best represented by UDI-6 and IIQ-7.

Recurrent massive hemoperitoneum due to ovulation as a clinical sign in congenital afibrinogenemia.

Massive hemoperitoneum due to ovulation is a rare but serious and life-threatening complication for women with coagulation disorders, and may lead to surgical interventions and even oophorectomy. Congenital afibrinogenemia is an uncommon coagulation disorder usually discovered during childhood. Intraabdominal bleeding due to ovulation is very rare in these patients and only a few cases of corpus luteum rupture and hemoperitoneum in afibrinogenemic patients have been described. In all women, the diagnosis was known since childhood. We report on a 24-year-old woman with congenital afibrinogenemia with recurrent massive intraabdominal bleeding due to ovulation as the presenting clinical sign. Exploratory laparotomy and excision of the ruptured follicle was performed at the first bleeding episode; the second episode was managed with fresh frozen plasma and blood transfusions. Conservative management is crucial for these patients. If surgery cannot be avoided, a conservative surgical approach should be chosen to preserve ovarian function.

Comparison of ambulatory versus conventional urodynamics in females with urinary incontinence.

AIMS: We planned to compare the diagnostic accuracy of conventional urodynamics (UD) and ambulatory UD for the detection of detrusor over activity (DOA) and/or urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) in women presenting with urinary incontinence. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 44 women with urinary incontinence and performed both urodynamic (UD) studies after they completed the UDI-6 questionnaire. During ambulatory UD one micturition cycle was recorded. According to responses for individual items on the UDI-6, patients were divided into three groups to define incontinence type irrespective of scoring. RESULTS: Mean age was 52.2 and mean duration of the symptoms was 4.94 years. The ambulatory UD detected an underlying pathophysiology of urinary incontinence (77.3%) in significantly more women than the conventional UD (6.8%) (P = 0.001). Among women with stress incontinence, 56% had USI on the ambulatory UD and none had abnormalities on the conventional UD (P = 0.002). Seventy-two percent of women with mixed symptoms had abnormal findings (USI and/or DOA) on the ambulatory UD and 9% had abnormal findings on the conventional UD (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ambulatory UD done in a clinical setting during one micturition cycle with unstandardized provocative activities detects an underlying pathophysiology (urge incontinence, stress incontinence, mixed incontinence) more often than conventional UD in supine position Conventional UD has a higher false-negative rate in diagnosis of DOA and/or USI compared to ambulatory UD.

Prenatal diagnosis of Meckel-Gruber syndrome and Dandy-Walker malformation in four consecutive affected siblings, with the fourth one being diagnosed prenatally at 22 weeks of gestation.

We report a 23-week-old male fetus affected by Meckel-Gruber syndrome. Posterior encephalocele, post-axial polydactyly, and Dandy-Walker malformation were observed on ultrasonographic (USG) examination at 22 weeks' gestation, and lobar holoprosencephaly was demonstrated on postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to autopsy. After the termination of the pregnancy, polycystic dysplastic kidneys were also noted at postmortem investigation. The proband was the product of the fourth pregnancy of a consanguineous family in which all three siblings were also similarly affected. Interestingly, both the two-year-old affected sister and 23-week-old male fetus had Dandy-Walker complex.

How we derived a core curriculum: from institutional to national--Ankara University experience.

As the first phase of a major curricular change in a large medical school the core curriculum had to be determined. The criteria for the inclusion of topics in the core curriculum were defined for both clinical and basic sciences. A large group of faculty members have worked in 11 sub-groups to determine the core knowledge, skills and attitudes for undergraduate medical students. During this work 608 clinical topics have been reviewed. Four-hundred and eighty five of them (79%) have been included in the core curriculum. Clinical and basic science knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to these topics have been defined and classified. A total of 1610 cognitive, 428 psychomotor skills and 247 attitudes have been named. Thus the core curriculum defined is not just a set of diseases, conditions and symptoms but also includes the details of each and every topic. Starting from this point the medical school has participated actively in defining the national core curriculum, which has also been determined according to the same criteria.