Ultralow-dose estradiol-releasing vaginal ring and oral oxybutynin seem to be similarly effective in decreasing the number of daily voids in postmenopausal women with overactive bladder.

Cadaver laboratory exposure, along with other educational interventions (lectures and video), improves OBGYN residents' confidence, knowledge, and surgical skills regarding TOT placement. The custom-designed pelvic model allows for a realistic simulation of TOT placement: it can be used to assess resident surgical skills and also aid the training of OBGYN residents.

Objectives This study aimed to identify differences in severity of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in women of different races and ethnicities using urodynamic study (UDS) parameters. Methods We performed a 5-year retrospective chart review from January 2014 to January 2019 of women 18 years and older who endorsed OAB symptoms and underwent UDS at a racially and ethnically diverse academic urban medical center. Logistic and linear regressions were used to examine the associations of various UDS parameters between racial/ethnic groups, after adjusting for age, diabetes, and parity. Results A total of 161 women with an average age of 59 years were included in the study. The racial/ethnic composition of the group was Hispanic (62%), black (24%), and white (11%). Symptoms on presentation included urgency and/or frequency (11.8%), urge incontinence (23.0%), or mixed urinary symptoms (65.2%). Black and Hispanic women presented with differing symptoms (urgency/frequency vs mixed urinary symptoms). Half of the patients (n = 82) had detrusor overactivity. Compared with whites, blacks were 3.4-fold more likely to have detrusor overactivity (95% confidence interval, 0.99–11.40) and had lower volumes at time of “strong desire” (−102.6 mL, P = 0.003). Hispanics had on average 75.88 mL less volume at sensation of “strong desire” (P = 0.016) than did whites. Conclusions Our study suggests that minority race and ethnicity may be associated with worse performance on certain UDS parameters. Future studies should aim to understand if these differences are due to genetic, disease-related, behavioral, and/or socioeconomic factors and whether these differences are associated with worse subjective OAB.

Objectives This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), key regulators of the extracellular matrix composition, in the uterosacral ligaments (USL) of women with pelvic organ prolapse compared with controls. Methods Under IRB approval, USL samples were obtained from women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy for stage two or greater pelvic organ prolapse (cases, n=21) and from women without pelvic organ prolapse undergoing vaginal hysterectomy for benign indications (controls, n=19). Hematoxylin and eosin and trichrome staining were performed on the USL sections, and the distribution of smooth muscle and fibrous tissue quantified. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti-TGF-β1 and anti-MMP-9 antibodies. The expression of TGF-β1 and MMP-9 was evaluated by the pathologist, who was blinded to all clinical data. Results TGF-β1 expression positively correlated with MMP-9 expression (R=0.4, P=0.01). The expression of TGF-β1 and MMP-9 were similar in subjects with pelvic organ prolapse versus controls. There was a significant increase in fibrous tissue (P=0.008), and a corresponding decrease in smooth muscle (P=0.03), associated with increasing age. TGF-β1 expression, but not MMP-9 expression, also significantly increased with age (P=0.02). Discussion Although our study uncovered age-related alterations in USL composition and TGF-β1 expression, there was no difference in the expression of TGF-β1 or MMP-9 in the subjects with pelvic organ prolapse versus controls.