Trends in Fellowship Training for Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize distinguishing features among gynecology, urology, and combined female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS) fellowship programs and practices.

Methods: A 32-item Web-based survey was sent to fellowship directors of FPMRS programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The survey assessed the structure of the fellowship, as well as the degree to which gynecology and urology are integrated into the fellowship training.

Preoperative Urodynamic Parameters (Valsalva Leak Point Pressure and Maximum Urethral Closure Pressure), Urinary Collagen and Plasma Vitamin D Levels as Predictors of Mid Urethral Sling Surgery Outcome.

Purpose: To determine the best predictor of the mid urethral sling outcome we calculated the AUC of ROC curves of preoperative parameters, including Valsalva leak point pressure, maximum urethral closure pressure, urinary NTx (N-telopeptide of crosslinked type I collagen) and plasma vitamin D values (D2, D3 and D2 plus D3).

Materials And Methods: This was an ancillary study of TOMUS (Trial of Mid-urethral Slings) and the ValUE (Value of Urodynamics Evaluation) trial in which subjects underwent mid urethral sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Valsalva leak point pressure and maximum urethral closure pressure were measured in 427 subjects, whereas NTx, vitamin D2, vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 plus D3 levels were obtained from 150, 116, 115 and 116 subjects respectively.

Racial Disparities in Knowledge of Pelvic Floor Disorders Among Community-Dwelling Women.

Objective: To evaluate racial and ethnic differences in knowledge about preventative and curative treatments for pelvic floor disorders (PFD).

Methods: The is a secondary analysis of responses from 416 community-dwelling women, aged 19 to 98 years, living in New Haven County, CT, who completed the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire. Associations between race/ethnicity (categorized as white, African American, and other women of color [combined group of Hispanic, Asian or "other" women] and knowledge proficiency about modifiable risk factors and treatments for PFD were evaluated.

Use of vanilloids in urologic disorders.

The bladder is an organ rich in vanilloid targets: dense unmyelinated c-fibers partially responsible for bladder sensation and response to noxious stimuli. Drugs such as capsaicin and resiniferatoxin (RTX) interact with the VR1 vanilloid receptor subtype to initially excite then subsequently desensitize the c-fibers. This chapter examines the literature describing the use of vanilloid receptor agonists in the treatment of the following urological disorders: neurogenic bladder (NGB), overactive bladder (OAB), and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS).

Knowledge of pelvic floor disorders in a population of community-dwelling women.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate baseline knowledge and demographic factors associated with a lack of knowledge about urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Study Design: This study was a community-based, cross-sectional survey of 431 racially and socioeconomically diverse women aged 19-98 years. The Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire was used to assess participants' knowledge.

Surgical site infection after hysterectomy.

Objective: Our objective was to estimate the occurrence of surgical site infections (SSI) after hysterectomy and the associated risk factors.

Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2005-2009 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program participant use data files to analyze hysterectomies. Different routes of hysterectomy were compared.