Імунологічні аспекти діагностики та лікування постгістеректомічного синдрому

В статье представлены данные клинико-иммунологического, вегетологического, психологического статуса 80 женщин, страдающих постгистерэктомическими расстройствами с целью поиска оптимальных подходов к терапии. Установлено, что постгистерэктомический синдром сопровождается различными изменениями нейровегетативной регуляции, коррелирующими с гормонально-иммунологическими нарушениями. Стабильные положительные клинико-иммунологические сдвиги у пациенток с постгистерэктомическим синдромом показали высокую эффективность включения иммунокорригирующих препаратов для оптимизации терапевтических мероприятий в борьбе с указанной патологией.Basing on clinical, immunological, vegetologycal investigations in 80 women with posthysterectomy disorders with the purpose of search of optimum pathogenetic approaches to therapy. It has been found that a posthysterectomy syndrome is accompanied by the different changes neyrovegetatic regulationand also psychoemotional disorders. New important hormonal and immunological aspects of pathogenesis were determinated. Stable positive clinical and immunological changes at patients with a postgysterektomy syndrome showed high effect of including of immunological correction for the complex of treatment of patients with this pathology

The effect of CO2_{2} laser therapy on vaginal microcirculatory parameters in an animal model for genitourinary syndrome of menopause

Background: Vaginal laser therapy for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) has been introduced to the market with limited (pre)clinical and experimental evidence supporting its efficacy. It is suggested that vaginal laser therapy increases epithelial thickness and improves vascularization, but the underlying biological working mechanism has not been substantiated yet. Objective: To evaluate the effects of CO$_{2}$ laser therapy on vaginal atrophy using noninvasive incident dark field (IDF) imaging in a large animal model for GSM. Design, Setting, and Participants: An animal study was conducted between 2018 and 2019 and included 25 Dohne Merino ewes, of which 20 underwent bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) to induce iatrogenic menopause, and 5 did not. The total study duration was 10 months.InterventionsFive months after OVX, ovariectomized ewes received monthly applications of CO$_{2}$ laser (n = 7), vaginal estrogen (n = 7), or no treatment (n = 6) for 3 months. IDF imaging was performed monthly in all animals. Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: The primary outcome was the proportion of image sequences containing capillary loops (angioarchitecture). Secondary outcomes included focal depth (epithelial thickness), and quantitative measures of vessel density and perfusion. Treatment effects were evaluated using ANCOVA and binary logistic regression.Results and LimitationsCompared to OVX‐only, ewes treated with estrogen demonstrated a higher capillary loops proportion (4% vs. 75%, p < 0.01), and higher focal depth (60 (IQR 60–80) vs. 80 (IQR 80–80) p < 0.05). CO$_{2}$ laser therapy did not change microcirculatory parameters. As the ewes' vaginal epithelium is thinner than that of humans, it may demand different laser settings. Conclusions: In a large animal model for GSM, CO$_{2}$ laser therapy does not affect microcirculatory outcomes related to GSM, whereas vaginal estrogen treatment does. Until more homogeneous and objective evidence about its efficacy is available, CO$_{2}$ laser therapy should not be adopted into widespread practice for treating GSM

Predicting the development of stress urinary incontinence 3 years after hysterectomy

We aimed to develop a prediction rule to predict the individual risk to develop stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after hysterectomy. Prospective observational study with 3-year follow-up among women who underwent abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy for benign conditions, excluding vaginal prolapse, and who did not report SUI before surgery (n = 183). The presence of SUI was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Significant prognostic factors for de novo SUI were BMI (OR 1.1 per kg/m(2), 95% CI 1.0-1.2), younger age at time of hysterectomy (OR 0.9 per year, 95% CI 0.8-1.0) and vaginal hysterectomy (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.2). Using these variables, we developed the following rule to predict the risk of developing SUI: 32 + BMI-age + (7.5 × route of surgery). We defined a prediction rule that can be used to counsel patients about their individual risk on developing SUI following hysterectom

Perspectives by patients and physicians on outcomes of mid-urethral sling surgery

Introduction and hypothesis: The aim of this study is to determine patient expectations regarding wanted and unwanted sequels of mid-urethral sling (MUS) procedures and to identify mismatches during the physician-patient information exchange prior to MUS procedures. Methods: A patient preference study (40 patients) and a questionnaire study with 20 experts as control group were conducted. Seventeen different sequels, defined by an expert team, were evaluated. Results: Both patients and expert physicians ranked cure and improvement of stress urinary incontinence as the most important goals of treatment. De novo urge urinary incontinence, requiring post-operative intermittent self-catheterisation and dyspareunia were considered to be the most important complications by patients. Time to resume work after the operation and dyspareunia were among the highest rated sequels in the patient group compared to re-operation and intra-operative complications in the expert group. Conclusions: No differences were found in the five most important outcome parameters. In pre-operative counselling and future clinical trials, time to resume work and dyspareunia should be given more consideration by clinicians

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Patients’ perspectives on urethral bulk injection therapy and mid-urethral sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence

Introduction and hypothesis: The aim of this study was to identify all treatment decision factors that determined the preference for peri-urethral bulk injection therapy (PBI) or mid-urethral sling (MUS) surgery in patients with primary stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Second, we explored what patients expect from treatment for SUI and whether patients would consider PBI as a primary treatment option. Methods: In a qualitative design, 20 semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted in women with primary SUI. Exclusion criteria were: previous PBI or MUS surgery; predominating urgency. Interviews were guided by three open-ended questions and a topic list. PBI treatment and MUS surgery were described in detail, and the efficacy was stated as 70% and 90%, respectively. Data saturation was reached when no new treatment decision factors were identified in three consecutive interviews. Interviews were audiotaped and fully transcribed. Thematic analysis by a coding process was done independently by two researchers. Results: Sixteen procedural, personal, professional, social and external treatment decision factors were identified. Regarding expectations about treatment for SUI, women believed ‘becoming dry’ was wishful thinking. The majority of patients accepted a small degree of persistent urinary incontinence after treatment. Regardless of their treatment preference, patients indicated that women should be informed about PBI as a primary treatment option. Conclusion: Patients with primary SUI are open to PBI as an alternative treatment option even with lower cure rates compared with MUS surgery performed under general or spinal anesthesia. Patients indicated that women with primary SUI seeking treatment should be informed about PBI as a treatment option

Sexual Function Following Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence With Bulk Injection Therapy and Mid-Urethral Sling Surgery

Background: Peri-urethral bulking injections (PBI) gain popularity for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but – in contrast to mid-urethral sling (MUS) surgery – little is known about its impact on sexual function. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study that included patients with moderate to severe SUI undergoing either MUS surgery or PBI with polydimethylsiloxane Urolastic (PDMS-U). The validated Dutch and English version of the ‘Pelvic Organ Prolapse and/or Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire – IUGA Revised’ (PISQ-IR) was used to assess sexual function at baseline, at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. For between-group analysis, differences in baseline characteristics were corrected using multivariate analysis of covariance. Outcomes: The primary outcome was the PISQ-IR single summary score of sexually active (SA) women following both procedures, calculated by mean calculation. Secondary outcomes were the PISQ-IR subscale scores of SA and non-sexually active (NSA) women, the proportions of sexual activity and subjective improvement (‘Patient Global Impression of Improvement’ (PGI-I)). Results: A total of 259 women (MUS: n = 146, PBI: n = 113) were included in this study. The PISQ-IR single summary score of SA women improved following both interventions (in the MUS group from 3.2 to 3.4 and in the PBI group from 3.0 to 3.3 after 12 months). After correcting for differences in baseline characteristics, the PISQ-IR summary score at 6 and 12 months was similar for both treatment groups. For SA women, condition-specific and condition-impact subscale scores significantly improved following both procedures. Clinical implications: In treating SUI, PBI is inferior to MUS surgery. However, there is a need for less invasive strategies, especially for women who are unfit for surgery or have contraindications. Sexual function improves after PBI using PDMS-U, which is relevant for the counselling of women with SUI about available treatment options. Strengths & limitations: Strength: until this study, there was a lack of knowledge about the effects of PBI on sexual function. Limitation: there may be indication bias as we did not perform a randomized controlled trial. Conclusion: PBI using PMDS-U and MUS surgery for the treatment of SUI improve sexual function equally in SA women, mainly by decreasing the condition's impact on sexual activity and quality. Latul YP, Casteleijn FM, Zwolsman SE, et al. Sexual Function Following Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence With Bulk Injection Therapy and Mid-Urethral Sling Surgery. J Sex Med 2022;19:1116–1123

Non-invasive biomechanical assessment of the prolapsed vaginal wall: an explorative pilot study on cutometry and indentometry

The clinical assessment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and associated treatment strategies is currently limited to anatomical and subjective outcome measures, which have limited reproducibility and do not include functional properties of vaginal tissue. The objective of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of using cutometry and indentometry for non-invasive biomechanical assessment of the vaginal wall in women with POP. Both techniques were applied on the vaginal wall of 20 women indicated for surgical correction of POP stage two or higher. The primary outcome was the measurement success rate. Measurements were considered successful if biomechanical parameters were generated after a maximum of three attempts. Secondary outcomes included acquisition time, number of attempts to obtain a successful measurement, and biomechanical parameters. Measurements were successfully performed on the anterior vaginal wall of 12 women with cystocele and the posterior vaginal wall of eight women with rectocele. The success rate was 100% for both techniques and acquisition time was under 1 minute for all 20 measurements. Tissue fast elasticity of the posterior vaginal wall (rectocele) was significantly higher than that of the anterior vaginal wall (cystocele) and negatively correlated with age (r = − 0.57, P < 0.05). In women with POP, measuring the biomechanical properties of the vaginal wall using cutometry and indentometry is technically feasible. Objective evaluation of biomechanical properties may help to understand the pathophysiology behind surgical outcomes, providing an opportunity for the identification of patients at risk for (recurrent) prolapse, and individualized treatment decisions

Are patients willing to trade cure rate against less pain? Patients' preferences for single incision midurethral sling or transobturator standard midurethral sling

To quantify to what extent patients are willing to trade their chance of cure of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) against less postoperative groin pain. Randomized, controlled trials show less postoperative pain following single-incision mini-sling (SIMS), but slightly higher cure rates following a transobturator standard midurethral sling (SMUS). A multi-center, interview-based trade-off experiment for treatment preference among 100 women with predominant SUI and undergoing SIMS. A hypothetical cure rate of SIMS was systematically varied from 10% to 70%, while keeping the cure rate of SMUS constant at 70%. The trade-off was assessed for two hypothetical durations of substantial postoperative pain after SMUS-2 days or 2 weeks-while simultaneously assuming the absence of substantial postoperative pain after SIMS. To prevent 2 days of substantial postoperative pain with SMUS, patients were willing to accept a 4.3% mean decrease in cure rate of SIMS, while a 7.1% mean decrease was acceptable to forego 2 weeks of substantial pain. Younger women (P = 0.04) and single women (P = 0.04) were associated with the trade-off limit for 2 days, respectively, 2 weeks of substantial postoperative pain. Single women were willing to accept lower cure rates. No correlations with trade-off limits were found for patients' actual severity, duration, and frequency of SUI. Patients are willing to accept a slightly lower probability of cure to prevent substantial post-operative pain by undergoing a less invasive procedure. These results are relevant for counselling of patients indicated for SUI surger