Ultrasound of the female urethra

Background: Many theories have been put forward to explain the urinary continence mechanism. Though they seem logical, there is insufficient evidence to support them. Ultrasound has been implemented by researchers to investigate these theories. There is considerable difference in their methodologies and their conclusions. Most of the research on urethral ultrasound is related to stress incontinence; there is a lack of studies on other urodynamic diagnoses. Aim: To compare the measurements of the female urethra by transperineal ultrasound in women with different urodynamic diagnoses and different vaginal parities. Methodology: 150 women had urodynamic studies and 2 and 3 dimensional transperineal ultrasound. They were divided into 4 groups according to their urodynamic diagnosis as nondiagnostic urodynamics(NU), pure detrusor overactivity(PureDO), pure urodynamic stress incontinence(PureUSI) and mixed urinary incontinence(MUI) and also according to their vaginal parity. New methods of measuring urethral position, bladder neck position and urethral dimension are developed and used for measurement. Multiple regression analysis was performed using a model of urethral sphincter volume(USV), bladder neck position(BNP) and pubourethral distance. Key findings: USV was smallest in PureUSI and largest in PureDO groups. BNP at rest was lower in all incontinent groups than NU. MUI group had normal sphincter size but lower BNP. There was no difference in the bladder neck mobility or urethral mobility. Urethral compression was evident in all groups. The statistical model correctly classified 68.2% women with urodynamic stress incontinence and 69.8% women with detrusor overactivity. The urethral sphincter was smaller in women who had a vaginal delivery but there was no difference in the sphincter size of primiparous and multiparous women. Conclusion: Urethral sphincter volume and bladder neck position are the most differentiating factors for the types of urinary incontinence. Subsequent vaginal delivery in primiparous women may not increase their risk of having urinary incontinence.Open Acces

Macedonian International Medical Publications Indexed in PubMed in 2013

We present abstracts of published papers in international journals deposited in PubMed. Search details were: ((Macedonia[Affiliation] NOT Greece[Affiliation]) NOT "Prilozi"[Journal]) AND ("2013/01/01"[PDAT] : "2013/12/31"[PDAT]), dated March 01, 2014. A total number of 138 papers were selected in PubMed during 2013 year, 23 of which were not from Republic of Macedonia and were excluded.A total number of 105 papers are included in 2013 year in Pubmed from Republic of Macedonia Four papers are deposited in the PubMed without abstracts.Editorial Board does not take any responsibility either for the content, nor the quality of the abstracts

Textbook on Scar Management

This text book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. Written by a group of international experts in the field and the result of over ten years of collaboration, it allows students and readers to gain to gain a detailed understanding of scar and wound treatment – a topic still dispersed among various disciplines. The content is divided into three parts for easy reference. The first part focuses on the fundamentals of scar management, including assessment and evaluation procedures, classification, tools for accurate measurement of all scar-related elements (volume density, color, vascularization), descriptions of the different evaluation scales. It also features chapters on the best practices in electronic-file storage for clinical reevaluation and telemedicine procedures for safe remote evaluation. The second section offers a comprehensive review of treatment and evidence-based technologies, presenting a consensus of the various available guidelines (silicone, surgery, chemical injections, mechanical tools for scar stabilization, lasers). The third part evaluates the full range of emerging technologies offered to physicians as alternative or complementary solutions for wound healing (mechanical, chemical, anti-proliferation). Textbook on Scar Management will appeal to trainees, fellows, residents and physicians dealing with scar management in plastic surgery, dermatology, surgery and oncology, as well as to nurses and general practitioners ; Comprehensive reference covering the complete field of wounds and scar management: semiology, classifications and scoring Highly educational contents for trainees as well as professionals in plastic surgery, dermatology, surgery, oncology as well as nurses and general practitioners Fast access to information through key points, take home messages, highlights, and a wealth of clinical cases Book didactic contents enhanced by supplementary material and video

Progenitor cells in auricular cartilage demonstrate promising cartilage regenerative potential in 3D hydrogel culture

The reconstruction of auricular deformities is a very challenging surgical procedure that could benefit from a tissue engineering approach. Nevertheless, a major obstacle is presented by the acquisition of sufficient amounts of autologous cells to create a cartilage construct the size of the human ear. Extensively expanded chondrocytes are unable to retain their phenotype, while bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) show endochondral terminal differentiation by formation of a calcified matrix. The identification of tissue-specific progenitor cells in auricular cartilage, which can be expanded to high numbers without loss of cartilage phenotype, has great prospects for cartilage regeneration of larger constructs. This study investigates the largely unexplored potential of auricular progenitor cells for cartilage tissue engineering in 3D hydrogels

Textbook on Scar Management

This text book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. Written by a group of international experts in the field and the result of over ten years of collaboration, it allows students and readers to gain to gain a detailed understanding of scar and wound treatment – a topic still dispersed among various disciplines. The content is divided into three parts for easy reference. The first part focuses on the fundamentals of scar management, including assessment and evaluation procedures, classification, tools for accurate measurement of all scar-related elements (volume density, color, vascularization), descriptions of the different evaluation scales. It also features chapters on the best practices in electronic-file storage for clinical reevaluation and telemedicine procedures for safe remote evaluation. The second section offers a comprehensive review of treatment and evidence-based technologies, presenting a consensus of the various available guidelines (silicone, surgery, chemical injections, mechanical tools for scar stabilization, lasers). The third part evaluates the full range of emerging technologies offered to physicians as alternative or complementary solutions for wound healing (mechanical, chemical, anti-proliferation). Textbook on Scar Management will appeal to trainees, fellows, residents and physicians dealing with scar management in plastic surgery, dermatology, surgery and oncology, as well as to nurses and general practitioners ; Comprehensive reference covering the complete field of wounds and scar management: semiology, classifications and scoring Highly educational contents for trainees as well as professionals in plastic surgery, dermatology, surgery, oncology as well as nurses and general practitioners Fast access to information through key points, take home messages, highlights, and a wealth of clinical cases Book didactic contents enhanced by supplementary material and video