Background: Bone marrow-derived progenitors for both epithelial and endothelial cells have been observed in the lung. Besides mature endothelial cells (EC) that compose the adult vasculature, endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are supposed to be released from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood after stimulation by distinct inflammatory injuries. Homing of ex vivo generated bone marrow-derived EPC into the injured lung has not been investigated so far. We therefore tested the hypothesis whether homing of EPC in damaged lung tissue occurs after intravenous administration.

OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and safety of the application of autologous myoblasts and fibroblasts for treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after a follow‐up of ≥1 year. PATIENTS AND METHODS In all, 123 women with SUI (aged 36–84 years) were treated with transurethral ultrasonography‐guided injections with autologous myoblasts and fibroblasts obtained from skeletal muscle biopsies. The fibroblasts were suspended in a small amount of collagen as carrier material and injected into the urethral submucosa, while the myoblasts were implanted into the rhabdosphincter. All patients were evaluated before and 12 months after the injection using the Incontinence and Quality of Life Instrument (I‐QOL) scores, urodynamic variables, and morphology and function of the urethra and rhabdosphincter. RESULTS At 1 year after implanting the cells, 94 of the 119 women (79%) were completely continent, 16 (13%) had a substantial improvement and nine (8%) a slight improvement. Four patients were lost to follow‐up.The incontinence and I‐QOL scores, and the thickness, contractility and electromyographic activity of the rhabdosphincter were significantly improved after treatment. CONCLUSIONS These results show the efficacy and safety of transferring autologous myoblasts and fibroblasts in the treatment of female SUI, after a follow‐up of 1 year.

Associate Editor Michael G. Wyllie Editorial Board Ian Eardley, UK Jean Fourcroy, USA Sidney Glina, Brazil Julia Heiman, USA Chris McMahon, Australia Bob Millar, UK Alvaro Morales, Canada Michael Perelman, USA Marcel Waldinger, Netherlands OBJECTIVE To critically review published data on the urogynaecological aspects of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), as FSD is a developing multidisciplinary issue associated with several biological, medical and psychological factors. METHODS The reported prevalence of FSD is 19–50% and women with lower urinary tract symptoms or urinary incontinence (UI) not only complain of a deteriorating of quality of life but also of sexual life with an incidence as high as 26–47%. Furthermore, urogynaecological surgery represents an important but underestimated cause of FSD. Different databases (Pub Medical, Medline, serial titles, the Cochrane library and the NLM gateway database) were searched for the keywords ‘sexuality; sexual function; urinary incontinence; pelvic organ prolapse; questionnaire; symptom severity; epidemiology; quality of life; instruments; sexual health; vagina; vaginal surgery; pelvic surgery’. RESULTS There is a lack of a standardized instrument for assessing FSD. Recent studies investigate the impact of UI on sexual function, but the pathophysiology has not been elucidated. Vaginal or pelvic surgery does not affect overall sexual satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS Our investigation highlights the need for studies to assess the anatomical, physiological and sensory mechanisms related to FSD. Specific questionnaire are needed to quantify the problem. In the definition, symptoms assessment and preoperative counselling is important, to make a distinction between overall sexual function and individual parameters, such as psychosocial context. Only in this way, will it be possible to identify new therapeutic targets. A definition of success in urogyneacological terms should include aspects of quality of life and quality of sexual life. Immediate research in this field is needed.

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