Pad Test Research Articles

An investigation on the performance of vehicle brake pads developed from Cortaderia selloana based biomass

AbstractNowadays, researchers are making intense efforts to develop biomass-based industrial products. This study developed low-metallic and asbestos-free samples based on Cortaderia selloana (12–15% and 18% ratios), a natural species, to contribute to the brake pad field. The developed samples’ friction coefficient and wear rate experiments were carried out on a brake pad test device with a load of 1 MPa and a disk rotation speed of 6 m/s, according to the TS555 standard. Scanning electron microscopy and electron-dispersive x-ray analysis were performed on the worn surfaces of the samples. According to the results obtained, the wear rate increased while the average friction coefficient decreased in the brake pad samples using 18% Cortaderia selloana content in the sample content. In scanning electron microscopy analysis, primary and secondary plateau formations were observed on the worn surfaces of all samples. At the same time, samples containing 15% and 18% Cortaderia selloana also showed signs of abrasive wear. High friction coefficient and low wear rate are expected for brake pads to be used in automobiles. In general, the friction of brake pads must be within the range, and it is always necessary to balance the friction to avoid driver discomfort. However, except for some racing applications, a high coefficient of friction is only sometimes desirable, which can cause rotor wear problems. As a result of this research, a consistent friction coefficient and low wear rate for the brake pads with the brake pad sample containing 12% Cortaderia selloana.

Intravaginal electrical stimulation for the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) has been explored as a potential treatment for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), although its efficacy remains a subject of debate. We aim to conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of relevant trials. This meta-analysis was performed under the PRISMA 2020 guideline. We meticulously searched for randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies in various databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov, spanning from inception to March 6, 2023. All studies included one treatment group of intravaginal electrical stimulation and the diseases spectrum of the studies involved different kinds of PFDs, including urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, etc. Risk of bias charts were used to assess the risk of bias in the studies and forest plots were used the demonstrate the overall effects. Our analysis encompassed a total of 13 RCT studies. In most of the assessed PFD cure outcomes, the results demonstrated positive effects of IVES therapy, as indicated by the following findings: daily voiding frequency (MD = -1.57, 95% CI = -3.08 to -0.06, I 2 = 68%,), nocturia (MD = -1.07, 95% CI = -2.01 to -0.13, I 2 = 71%), Pad test, and Urinary incontinence. Nevertheless, the data concerning the impact of IVES therapy on the quality of life of individuals with PFDs did not confirm these positive results. In light of the insufficiency in both the quality and quantity of the included studies, it is premature to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the efficacy of IVES therapy for treating PFDs. Nonetheless, our study does provide several pieces of evidence in support of the potential therapeutic effects of electrical stimulation therapy in this context. We recommend that further research in this area be conducted to provide more conclusive insights into the efficacy of IVES therapy for PFDs. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42023442171.

Effect of home-based core exercises on postpartum stress urinary incontinence during COVID-19 pandemic in Jeddah city: a randomised control trial

IntroductionIntroduction. Postpartum stress urinary incontinence affects many women worldwide; it may exist during pregnancy or postpartum with a risk of permanence increasing five years later. This study aimed to determine the effect of home-based core exercises on postpartum stress urinary incontinence during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Jeddah city.MethodsRandomised control trial was conducted on 26 postpartum women aged 25–40 years with mild or moderate grade stress urinary incontinence and a body mass index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m2. Participants were randomly divided into two equal groups (A & B). Group A performed home-based core exercises and pelvic floor muscle training for twenty-four sessions three times weekly for eight weeks; each session lasted 30 minutes. Group B performed home-based PFMT only. The assessment of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) was measured with the Modified Oxford Grading Scale, while the 1-hour pad test and International Consolation on Incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICIQ UI- SF) total score served to assess incontinence severity before and after treatment.ResultsThe results showed a significant improvement in PFMs strength and endurance in both groups and there was a highly significant difference between groups, favouring the study group (A). There was a highly significant difference between the groups in the 1-hour pad test and ICIQ-SF total score, favouring the study group (A).ConclusionsHome-based core exercises for postpartum SUI women were an effective method to improve PFMs strength and endurance and minimise SUI symptoms.

Influence of Stress Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse on Depression, Anxiety, and Insomnia-A Comparative Observational Study.

Among pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), overactive bladder is a well-recognized condition affecting mental health. The aim of this study was to assess whether there is a correlation between stress urinary incontinence (SUI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and mental health in comparison to control subjects and whether objective or subjective aspects of diseases are responsible for the aforementioned symptoms. 192 patients with SUI, 271 with symptomatic prolapse (>2 in the POPQ scale), and 199 controls without pelvic floor disorders were included in this study. Patients completed questionnaires assessing levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The 1-h pad test and IIQ-7 questionnaires were collected in SUI. The pelvic organ prolapse quantification scale and the POPDI6, UDI6, and CRADI-8 questionnaires were used in POP patients. Higher scores in psychiatric scales were observed in SUI (p < 0.05) and POP (p < 0.05) compared to control. There were no correlations between the objective severity of PFDs and psychological symptoms, while subjective complaints correlated with psychological health. In conclusion, we showed that subjective perceptions of SUI and POP are factors that augment psychiatric symptoms, while objective severity is not correlated with mental status. Our findings suggest that patients with PFDs necessitate multidisciplinary attention, including psychiatric care.

Personalized Rehabilitation of Patients with Prostate Cancer after Radical Prostatectomy: a Comparative Analysis of Urodynamic Parameters

INTRODUCTION. Applying a personalized approach in the treatment of urinary incontinence in patients after RP can significantly improve the rates of correction of postoperative incontinence.&#x0D; AIM. To study the effect of personalized rehabilitation of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) after radical prostatectomy on the state of functional indicators of the lower urinary tract.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study included 60 patients with verified primary resectable prostate cancer who underwent laparoscopic nerve-sparing prostatectomy. Patient ages ranged between 46 and 77 years (median 62.8 years). The patients were divided into main and control groups of 30 people each. The patients of the main group received rehabilitation using a personalized approach. The rehabilitation programs for the patients in the control group were formed on the basis of a syndromic-pathogenetic approach. Functional parameters of the lower urinary tract were assessed using a 24-hour pad test and a comprehensive urodynamic study before and after surgery, after a course of rehabilitation and 1 year after surgery.&#x0D; RESULTS. Assessment of the degree of urinary incontinence in patients with prostate cancer using a 24-hour pad test showed similar clinical pictures in both groups in the postoperative period in the form of mild or moderate disorders. After the rehabilitation course, a positive trend was observed, however, in the observation group, 66.7 % of patients completely retained urine, while in the comparison group only 40%. Similar trends were observed in a year after a surgical treatment. According to a comprehensive urodynamic study (CUDS), after rehabilitation in the observation group, 76.7 % of patients showed signs of restoration of detrusor activity to the preoperative level with retention of the effect a year after the intervention (p 0.05). A peak decrease in maximum detrusor pressure was observed in the postoperative period with a partial recovery of the indicator after rehabilitation and after 1 year in both groups. In the comparison group, a more pronounced decrease in detrusor pressure was observed, but the difference was statistically insignificant (p 0.05).&#x0D; DISCUSSION. This study tested a personalized approach in the rehabilitation of patients with urological oncology. This concept allows the use of physical and rehabilitation medicine technologies with maximum efficiency by identifying a specific patient model. The results of functional research methods (pad test, KUDI) are one of the potential determinants of the effectiveness of the use of rehabilitation technologies.&#x0D; CONCLUSION. The results of rehabilitation of patients in the group with a personalized approach can significantly improve the rates of correction of postoperative incontinence.

Acupuncture combined with pelvic floor rehabilitation training for postpartum stress urinary incontinence: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with pelvic floor rehabilitation training in the treatment of postpartum stress urinary incontinence, and to promote the further promotion and application of acupuncture in the field of rehabilitation. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture combined with pelvic floor rehabilitation in the treatment of postpartum stress urinary incontinence will be searched in PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang (WF), and VIP databases. The clinical trial Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov and Chinese clinical trial Registry) will also be searched. The search period is limited to July 1, 2023, and the language limit of this systematic review is Chinese and English. The primary outcome is clinical effective rate. International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICI-Q-SF), 1-h pad test, pelvic floor muscle potential value, incidence of adverse events are secondary outcomes. A meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan 5.4 statistical software. If feasible, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis will be performed to address potential causes of inconsistency and heterogeneity. The risk of bias will be assessed using the approach recommended by Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, and the quality of evidence will be assessed using GRADE. This Protocol has been developed in accordance with the guideline of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015. Acupuncture combined with pelvic floor rehabilitation training can effectively promote the rehabilitation of postpartum stress urinary incontinence patients, and provide a reference for the clinical application of integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment in the field of rehabilitation. PROSPERO CRD42023455801.

INFLUENCING SYMPTOMS OF URINARY STRESS INCONTINENCE THROUGH PHYSIOTHERAPY

Purpose: Urinary incontinence leads to adverse life changes and psychological stress among patients. The purpose of this report is to follow the effect of implementing a specific exercise program in women with urinary stress incontinence. Material: The study included 30 women who completed a specialized kinesitherapy program over 16 weeks. It included exercises to strengthen the back, abdominal and gluteal muscles, Kegel exercises and balance exercises. Results: A one-hour Pad test was used to monitor the effect of applied kinesitherapy. Results are reported as means with standard deviations with 95% confidence intervals. Conclusions: The obtained results show that specialized exercises have a beneficial effect on the tone of the pelvic floor muscles and reduce the symptoms of urinary stress incontinence.

Mobile Application Based Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: An Assessor-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

A first-line treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for at least three months. The key problem is that patients do not understand the importance of these exercises and their effectiveness. Mobile health apps offer new possibilities to increase treatment adherence. This study compared a reduction in SUI, exercise adherence, and quality of life in PFMT with animation vs. standard instruction. A prospective, single-blind, randomized control trial was collected. SUI patients were randomized into the application or control groups confirmed using a one-hour pad test. In the intervention group, the PFMT application was applied via mobile phone (PFMT with animations, recording system, and reminder system). The standard exercise protocol was similar in both groups. Additional follow-up was conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. A total of 51 participants were randomized to the application (n = 26) and control groups (n = 25), respectively. At the 12-week follow-up, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of SUI cure rate, SUI severity by pad test, and daily SUI episodes from the bladder diary (p-value of 0.695, 0.472, and 0.338, respectively). The mean PFME adherence in the application group was higher than the control group at 8 weeks (66.3 ± 13.6 vs. 52.7 ± 16.6, p = 0.002) and 12 weeks (59.1 ± 13.9 vs. 37.8 ± 11.0, p = 0.001). The application group reported no difference from the conventional PFMT group in terms of improvements in SUI cure rate, symptom severity, and quality of life effects at 12-week follow-up. However, the improvement evaluated by the mean difference in SUI episodes and quality of life effects (ICIQ-UI SF) reported a better outcome in the mobile app group. The PFMT application has been proven to be an effective tool that improves PFMT adherence.

Effects of Pilates and Conventional Treatment Methods in The Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence Among Women

Stress Urinary Incontinence is a common condition among women that requires attention. The main aim of thisstudy was to compare the effects of Pilates and conventional treatment methods in managing stress urinary incontinence amongwomen. This study is an experimental design, comparative pre-post-test type. 30 female subjects with stress urinaryincontinence were randomly divided into groups, Group A and Group B, with 15 subjects in each group. Group A receivedPilates exercises, and Group B subjects received conventional Kegel's exercises. The study duration was 12 weeks. The pad test,cough stress test, and International Consultation on Incontinence (ICIQ) Questionnaire were outcome measures. The results ofthis study revealed that on comparing the Mean values of Group A &amp; Group B on the International Consultation onIncontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) and Pad test, Group A (Pilates Exercise) showed 4.46 and 4.93 post-test values which weremore effective than Group B (Conventional kegel's Exercise) at 8.60 and 9.46 at P ≤ 0.001. The Pilates group experienced ahighly significant improvement on the cough stress test compared to the conventional group at P&lt; 0. 001.Pilates exercises wereproven highly effective in managing stress urinary incontinence among women. This study is one of its kind, which demonstratedthe effect of Pilates and its clinical usage for the effective management of Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Modified Urethral Graciloplasty Cross-Innervated by the Pudendal Nerve for Postprostatectomy Urinary Incontinence: Cadaveric Simulation Surgery and a Clinical Case Report.

An artificial sphincter implanted in the bulbous urethra to treat severe postprostatectomy urinary incontinence is effective, but embedding-associated complications can occur. We assessed the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of urethral graciloplasty cross-innervated by the pudendal nerve. A simulation surgery on three male fresh cadavers was performed. Both ends of the gracilis muscle were isolated only on its vascular pedicle with proximal end of the obturator nerve severed and transferred to the perineum. We examined whether the gracilis muscle could be wrapped around the bulbous urethra and whether the obturator nerve was long enough to suture with the pudendal nerve. In addition, surgery was performed on a 71-year-old male patient with severe urinary incontinence. The postoperative 12-month outcomes were assessed using a 24-hour pad test and urodynamic study. In all cadaveric simulations, the gracilis muscles could be wrapped around the bulbous urethra in a γ-loop configuration. The length of the obturator nerve was sufficient for neurorrhaphy with the pudendal nerve. In the clinical case, the postoperative course was uneventful. The mean maximum urethral closure pressure and functional profile length increased from 40.7 to 70 cm H 2 O and from 40.1 to 45.3 mm, respectively. Although urinary incontinence was not completely cured, the patient was able to maintain urinary continence at night. Urethral graciloplasty cross-innervated by the pudendal nerve is effective in raising the urethral pressure and reducing urinary incontinence.

Physiotherapy in Patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Physiotherapy is the most commonly used treatment for stress urinary incontinence including pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback, and electrical stimulation. This systematic review evaluated the effects of physiotherapy in patients with stress urinary incontinence compared with no treatment, placebo, sham, surgery, or other inactive control treatments. MEDLINE (via PubMed), The Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PEDro, and Trip Database were explored using applicable vocabularies for all English and Persian language investigations released from inception to January 2021. On one side, trials including physiotherapy of pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback, and electrical stimulation and on the other, either no treatment, placebo, sham, surgery, or other inactive control treatments were included. Studies were assessed for appropriateness and methodological excellence. Two authors extracted data. Disagreements were resolved by a third opinion. Data were processed as described in the Joanna Briggs Institute Handbook. Twenty-nine trials with 2601 participants were found, but only 16 were included because of data heterogeneity. The results showed that physiotherapy interventions are better than no treatment in terms of urine leakage, but no difference was found for urinary incontinence severity. Also, physiotherapy showed favorable results over comparison groups for International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, pad test, pelvic floor muscle function, and improvement outcomes. This systematic review supports the widespread use of pelvic physiotherapy as the first-line treatment for adult patients with stress urinary incontinence.

The added value of devices to pelvic floor muscle training in radical post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence: A systematic review with metanalysis.

To investigate the role of pelvic floor devices (e.g., biofeedback, electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation, or their combination) as adjunctive treatments in pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after radical prostatectomy. A systematic review with meta-analysis. We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective non-randomised studies investigating the effectiveness of pelvic floor devices as an adjunctive treatment for SUI symptoms assessed with weight pad-test or standardised questionnaires. To assess the risk of bias (RoB) and overall certainty of evidence, the RoB 2.0 or the ROBINS-I, and the GRADE approach were used. Eleven RCTs met our eligibility criteria. One was at a 'low' RoB, one had 'some concerns', while nine were at a 'high' RoB. Two meta-analyses were conducted to analyse the pooled results of six RCTs included. Specifically, two RCTs reported at week 4 with a 1h pad test a mean difference of 0.64 (95% CI = [-13.09, 14.36]), and four RCTs reported at week 12 with a 24h pad test a mean difference of -47.75 (95% CI = [-104.18, 8.69]). The heterogeneity was high in both analyses (I2 = 80.0%; I2 = 80.6%). The overall level of certainty was very low. In line with our results, we cannot conclude whether pelvic floor devices add any value as adjunctive treatment in the management of SUI after radical prostatectomy. Future studies require more comprehensive and standardised approaches to understand whether these devices are effective.

Effect of pelvic floor muscles exercises by extracorporeal magnetic innervations on the bladder neck and urinary symptoms.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in the bladder neck (BN) and urinary symptoms using extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMI) therapy before and after performing passive pelvic floor exercises. Twenty women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were assessed by transperineal ultrasound and questionnaires before and after the ExMI therapy from January 2011 to February 2021. The incidence of urinary frequency and SUI were significantly decreased after the therapy (McNemar test, p < 0.01). The therapeutic efficacy of SUI was 75%. A significant decrease was noted in pad test results (paired t test, p < 0.05). At the same time, there was a considerable difference in Urinary Distress Inventory-6 scale measures (paired t test, p < 0.001). However, results for the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 showed a marginally significant difference (paired t test, p = 0.066). Three domains of lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction in the Female Sexual Function Index showed significant differences (paired t test, p < 0.05). Transperineal ultrasound found that BN mobility and Q-tip straining angle were not statistically significant (paired t test, p > 0.05). The ExMI is effective for SUI by strengthening the pelvic floor muscle without significantly decreasing BN mobility.

Prehabilitative versus rehabilitative exercise in prostate cancer patients undergoing prostatectomy

PurposeThe study compared the efficacy of commencing supervised exercise in men with prostate cancer before and after prostatectomy on objective and patient-reported outcomes, hospital length of stay, and urinary incontinence.MethodsForty-one men were randomised to a 6-week prehabilitation or rehabilitation exercise programme. Prehabilitation involved resistance and aerobic exercise thrice weekly pre-surgery, while rehabilitation comprised the same commencing 6-weeks post-surgery. Assessments included strength, function (chair rise, stair climb, 400-m, 6-m usual, fast, and backwards walk), body composition, fatigue and quality of life, undertaken at pre-surgery, early post-surgery and late post-surgery phase, with urinary incontinence (24-h pad test) assessed at 2, 6, and 12-weeks post-surgery. Intention-to-treat and sensitivity analyses were undertaken.ResultsOf thirty-eight men (48–73 years), 29 completed all assessments with most undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (92.1%). In the pre-surgery phase, prehabilitation improved muscle strength (leg press: 17.2 kg; chest press: 2.9 kg; p ≤ 0.001), 400-m, chair rise, 6-m fast and backward walk tests (p ≤ 0.001–0.028). Strength and function declines in the early post-surgery phase were maintained late post-surgery. Rehabilitation showed declines of these outcomes after surgery with improvement late post-surgery (leg press: 14.6 kg, p < 0.001; chest press: 6.8 kg, p < 0.001; 400-m walk: -12.0 s, p = 0.005), resulting in no difference between groups at 12 weeks. There were no significant differences between groups for patient-reported outcomes, hospital length of stay or urinary incontinence.ConclusionPre-surgical exercise enhanced strength and function, protecting against post-surgery declines. Although exercise post-surgery is beneficial for recouping strength and function, where possible men undergoing prostatectomy are encouraged to exercise pre-surgery.Trial registrationACTRN12617001115325 registered 31 July 2017.

Analysis of Predictive Factors for Return to Sports in Female Athletes With Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Introduction This study aimed to identify predictive factors for successful return to sports among elite female athletes (EFAs) experiencing stress urinary incontinence (SUI). We used machine learning to analyze these predictors. Methods This study was conducted at Yokosuka Urogynecology and Urology Clinic, located in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa, Japan. A total of 153 EFAs with postpartum SUI were included in this retrospective cohort study. Information regarding the frequency of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), treatment approaches, rates of return to sports after one year, and one-hour pad test (1HrPadtest) at three months were collected. Results At three months, 26.8% of the EFAs improved in SUI; after one year, 28.1% returned to their respective sports successfully. The equation for predicting return to sports (logit(p)) involved several factors: (a) serum total testosterone, (b) PFMT frequency per week, (c) 1HrPadtest at three months, and (d) vaginal erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (VEL) + urethral EL (UEL) treatment. The equation was as follows: -126 - 0.07276a + 25.98b - 1.947c - 25.32d, with a logit(p) cutoff point at 0.5. The optimal cutoff values and the four influential factors were determined through a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and the random forest model, respectively. Conclusions For EFAs with severe SUI to successfully return to their sports activities, the PFMT frequency was paramount. Patients who exhibited unsatisfactory results in the 1HrPadtest at the three-month mark benefited from the VEL+UEL treatment. Serum total testosterone proved to be an effective discerning criterion.

Role of puboperinealis and rectourethralis muscles as a urethral support system to maintain urinary continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

The present study investigated the role of a urethral support system to maintain urinary continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), with a focus on pelvic floor muscles, such as the puboperinealis muscle (PPM) and rectourethralis muscle (RUM). Finally, 323 patients who underwent RARP were analyzed in this study. All patients performed a one-hour pad test 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after RARP to assess urinary incontinence and MRI before and 9 months after RARP to evaluate the pelvic anatomical structure. The preoperative cross-sectional area of PPM (2.21 ± 0.69 cm2) was significantly reduced by 19% after RARP (1.79 ± 0.60 cm2; p < 0.01). Positive correlations were observed between the amount of urinary leakage according to the 1-h pad test 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after RARP and the change in the cross-sectional area of PPM by RARP (p < 0.01, < 0.001, < 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). A positive correlation was also noted between the amount of urinary leakage 6 and 12 months after RARP and the preoperative RUM diameter (p < 0.05). The amount of urinary leakage 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after RARP negatively correlated with the change in the antero-posterior diameter of the membranous urethra (MU diameter) from the static to dynamic phases during the Valsalva maneuver by cine MRI. Furthermore, the change in the MU diameter negatively correlated with the change in the cross-sectional area of PPM (p < 0.05). PPM and RUM play significant roles as a supportive mechanism to maintain urinary continence by functioning as a urethral support.

Initial experience with ACT™ periurethral adjustable balloons to treat urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency in the pediatric population.

To present our initial experience with periurethral adjustable continence therapy (ACT™) for urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) in children. This is an approved prospective non-randomized pilot study (NCT03351634) aiming to treat children born with spinal dysraphism (SD) or exstrophy epispadias complex (EEC) with ACT™. Endpoints were patient-reported changes in daily pad count, 24-h Pad test and complications. Since April 2018, 13 children (six girls, seven boys) were implanted at the median age of 12years (5-16). The etiology of incontinence was neurogenic ISD (7/13, 54%) and EEC (6/13, 46%). After ACT™ implantation, continence (no pad or 1 security pad/day) was achieved in 9(69%) patients (5/7 SD, 4/6 EEC). Additionally, two (15%) patients had a significant improvement (decreasing Pad test from 1049 to 310g at 3months). One patient (7%) had no improvement. Results were stable at 21months (6-43) of follow-up. Mean final balloon volume was 2.89ml (± 0.85) with a median of 3 fillings to obtain continence. We had four revisions due to cutaneous port erosion (n = 3) and balloon migration (n = 1) and two definitive explantations. PinQ score was significantly improved (47 vs 40.5 with balloon, p = ns). Neither degradation of the upper urinary tract nor cystomanometric changes have been observed at 6 and 12months postoperatively. Urinary incontinence due to ISD owing to EEC or SD can be successfully treated with ACT™ periurethral balloons. Given the minimal invasiveness of this therapy, it might be a first-line option treatment in children with complex stress urinary incontinence.

Comparison Study between Artificial Urinary Sphincter and Adjustable Male Sling: A Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis.

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of the AUS and an adjustable male sling (ATOMSTM). It was a retrospective observational cohort study with two arms. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed in order to limit selection bias and, consequently, a comparison between groups in terms of functional outcomes (24 h pad test and perception of improvement questionnaires), complications (overall complications, high-grade complications, reinterventions and explantations) and device survival was performed. 49 patients in both arms were included. The baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. The mean follow up was 43 ± 35 months. Dryness was achieved in 22 patients (44.9%) in the AUS group and 11 (22.5%) in the sling group (p = 0.03). A total of 40 patients declared themselves well improved in the sling group (81%), while 35 (71%) declared the same in the AUS group (p = 0.78). The AUS was associated with more high-grade complications, reinterventions and explantations than the ATOMSTM. Survival at 60 months was 82 ± 9% in the sling group and 67 ± 7% in the AUS group (p = 0.03). While the AUS may be characterized by a higher dry rate, it has an increased risk of high-grade complications and reinterventions. It is proposed that the ATOMS prosthesis can be successfully used for patients who require a less invasive procedure that maintains good functional outcomes.

Adjustable Male Sling for The Treatment of Postprostatectomy Stress Urinary Incontinence: Intermediate-Term Follow-Up Results.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of adjustable male sling (Argus®) implantation in the management of post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) with intermediate-term follow-up results. Materials and methods The data on adjustable male sling surgery between September 2015 and September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were preoperatively evaluated with a voiding diary, 24-hour pad test, and validated questionnaire. Functional outcomes were also evaluated using 24-hour pad requirement and pad weight, and the International Consultation on Incontinence (ICIQ-SF) score. Results A total of 16 patients (eight having undergone the transurethral resection of the prostate [TUR-P] and eight radical prostatectomy [RP]) were enrolled in the study. Thirteen patients had moderate (81.25%) PPI, and three patients (18.75%) had severe PPI. With the mean follow-up of 36.9±14.3 months, nine patients (56.2%) were noted as cured and four (25%) as improved, with an overall success rate of 81.2%. At the last follow-up visit, the median number of pads used per day decreased from 3.5 to 1, and the 24-hour pad test result decreased from 300 to 50 gr (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The ICIQ-SF score decreased from the initial mean of 15.8 ± 2.3 to 7.1 ± 6.6 (p < 0.001). When the outcomes were compared according to the etiology, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.522). Conclusions Male sling surgery can be performed safely in patients with moderate and severe stress urinary incontinence with low complication and high success rates. The results of TUR-P-related PPI are similar to those of surgery performed due to the etiology of RP.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of urinary incontinence after prostate surgery: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundUrinary incontinence (UI) is a common complication after prostate surgery. Acupuncture treatment (AT) has been proposed as an alternative therapy for this condition. The purpose of this protocol aims to...