The urinary microbiome in patients with refractory urge incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infection.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Urinary urge incontinence is a chronic, debilitating condition that is difficult to treat. Patients refractory to standard antimuscarinic therapy often experience recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs). The microbiota of these refractory patients with rUTI remains unexplored.

Prospective comparison of obstetric anal sphincter injury incidence between an Asian and Western hospital.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) rates are reported to be higher in Asian women living in Western countries than in those living in Asia, but the reasons for the differences remain unclear. The objectives of this study were for a single examiner to prospectively compare OASIS rates in primiparous Asian women in an Asian and Western birth unit and determine potential birth factors that may influence the possible difference in OASIS incidence.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study based in Hong Kong, China, and Sydney, Australia, involving primiparous women > 36 weeks gestation of Asian descent undergoing vaginal delivery.