A Pilot Study of the Effect of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation on Micturition-Related Brain Activity and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms After Stroke.

Purpose: Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) is a novel neuromodulation modality developed to promote functional restoration in patients with neurological injury or disease. Previous pilot data suggest that lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) due to stroke may be partially alleviated by TSCS. In this study, we examine the mechanism of this effect by evaluating bladder-related brain activity in patients before and after TSCS therapy and comparing it to healthy volunteers.

Health Care Economic Burden of Treatment and Rehabilitation for Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: The clinical, social, and economic impacts of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) on individuals and health care systems are thought to be immense, yet the true costs of care are unknown. The aims of this study are to illuminate the global costs related to the current state of care for NLUTD.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using MEDLINE, the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, and the Cochrane Specialized Urology and Incontinence Registers.

The Association of Physical Activity and Urinary Incontinence in US Women: Results from a Multi-Year National Survey.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationships between physical activity, both work and recreational, and urinary incontinence among women.

Methods: We assessed women aged 20 years and older in 2008-2018 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) cycles who answered self-reported urinary incontinence and physical activity questions. Weighted, multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the association between incontinence and physical activity levels after adjusting for age, body mass index, diabetes, race, parity, menopause and smoking.

The effect of stroke on micturition associated brain activity: A pilot fMRI study.

Objective: Cerebral stroke is a unique model for studying the role of the brain in lower urinary tract (LUT) control. By its nature, stroke must change the activity of the brain to cause LUT dysfunction. The objective of this study was to describe changes in micturition-related brain activity in patients who develop LUT symptoms (LUTS) after a cerebral stroke.

Anal Sphincteroplasty in the Minimally Invasive Era: Assessment of National Trends and Complications.

Fecal incontinence is a debilitating and underreported condition. Despite introduction of novel therapies in recent years, anal sphincteroplasty (AS) remains the surgical choice for certain patients. Previous reports have primarily focused on single-surgeon or single-center experience with AS.

Electrocorticographic Activity of the Brain During Micturition.

Current therapies for neurogenic bladder do not allow spinal cord injury patients to regain conscious control of urine storage or voiding. Novel neural technologies may provide means to improve or restore the connection between the brain and the bladder; however, the specific brain areas and their underlying neural activities responsible for micturition must be better understood in order to design such technologies. In this retrospective study, we analyzed electrocorticographic (ECoG) data obtained from epilepsy patients who underwent ECoG grid implantation for epilepsy surgery evaluation, in the hopes of determining specific electrophysiological activity associated with micturition.

Laser prostate ablation and enucleation: Analysis of a national cohort.

Objective: To compare characteristics and outcomes of benign prostatic hyperplasia patients undergoing prostate laser ablation with those undergoing laser enucleation using a nationwide cohort.

Methods: Men who underwent prostate laser ablation (n=10054) or laser enucleation (n=1705) between 2011 and 2015 were identified by the common procedural terminology code as recorded in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative parameters were compared between the groups using univariate and multivariate analysis.

The Association of Serum Testosterone Levels and Urinary Incontinence in Women.

Purpose: Pelvic floor integrity is an important predictor of stress urinary incontinence. Androgen receptors have been found in the pelvic floor musculature and fascia, and testosterone administration has been shown to increase levator ani hypertrophy and improve stress incontinence in a rodent model. We examined the relationship between serum total testosterone levels and self-reported urinary incontinence in women.

Comparison of Times to Ureteral Efflux after Administration of Sodium Fluorescein and Phenazopyridine.

Purpose: There is currently a national shortage of indigo carmine. In efforts to identify the most efficient aid for visualizing ureteral efflux intraoperatively we investigated the time to excretion of phenazopyridine vs a newly identified alternative, sodium fluorescein.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected data on a cohort of women who underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery in 2015.

Voiding Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis.

Voiding dysfunction is a common and debilitating consequence of multiple sclerosis (MS). The prevalence and severity of voiding dysfunction increases with the increasing severity of MS, but even the mildest forms of the disease are associated with urinary symptoms in 30% of patients. Every component of the central nervous system is involved in regulating voiding; as a result, MS can lead to a wide variety of urinary symptoms and urologic complications.

Role of imaging in testicular cancer: current and future practice.

The article provides a summary of the epidemiologic and clinical aspects of testicular malignancy. Current standard imaging and novel techniques are reviewed. Present data and clinical treatment trends have favored surveillance protocols over adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy for low-stage testicular malignancy.

Urinary Lignans Are Associated With Decreased Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women.

Objective: To examine the association between urinary phytoestrogens and self-reported urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women in the United States using a large, cross-sectional, population-based cohort survey.

Methods: Data were analyzed for 1789 postmenopausal women aged 50 years or older who participated in one of the 2001-2010 cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and underwent measurement of 4 isoflavone (soy derived) and 2 lignan (flax derived) phytoestrogens in their urine. Incontinence was defined as self-reported stress, urge, other, or mixed incontinence.

Primary spermatic cord tumors: disease characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes.

Introduction: Experience with management of spermatic cord tumors (SCTs) is uncommon. We utilized a large population-based cancer registry to characterize the demographic, pathological, treatment characteristics, and outcomes of SCTs.

Material And Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1973-2007) was queried.

Risk factors for sepsis after percutaneous renal stone surgery.

Since its introduction into the endourologist's armamentarium almost 40 years ago, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has become the standard of care for patients with large-volume nephrolithiasis. Postoperative infection is one of the most common complications of the procedure, and postoperative sepsis is one of the most detrimental. A number of factors have been found to increase the risk of postoperative sepsis.

Testicular cancer: what the radiologist needs to know.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review current imaging techniques and evolving technologies that are being used for detection and management of testicular cancer.

Conclusion: The primary goal of cancer imaging is accurate disease characterization at diagnosis and through all stages of management. Knowledge of the disease and diagnostic performance characteristics of each technique is critical to identify the appropriate modality for staging disease and to monitor for treatment response and recurrence that may dictate further intervention.

Immediate renal transplantation after radical prostatectomy for low-risk prostate cancer.

Introduction: For most cancers, a two- to five-yr period with no evidence of disease must be demonstrated before organ transplantation. The natural history of prostate cancer is unique both because of extensive pre-treatment screening and the ease of post-treatment monitoring for recurrence. Using available predictive models for prostate cancer recurrence, we examine whether current evidence supports a prolonged waiting period after radical prostatectomy and before renal transplantation.