testicular cancer is one of the commonest cancers in men of working age, and is increasing in incidence in europe and north america. one suggested mechanism of causation is that there is impaired differentiation of germ cells in the pre- or perinatal period, followed by malignant transformation in later life, possibly by a hormonal mechanism. endocrine disrupting chemicals (edcs) have been a ma...

Uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (UPEC) can colonize the vagina and cause infections within the entire urogenital tract, including those associated with urinary tract devices. Lactobacilli typically dominate the vaginal microbiota in healthy women, and studies have shown that they can inhibit UPEC growth and vaginal colonization. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms behind...

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)-like cells (ICC-LCs) have been identified in many regions of the urinary tract and male genital organs by immunohistochemical studies and electron microscopy. ICC-LCs are characterized by their spontaneous electrical and Ca(2+) signalling and the cellular mechanisms of their generation have been extensively investigated. Spontaneous activity in ICC-LCs rises fr...

OBJECTIVE To describe a new system for classifying genital ambiguity and urogenital sinus abnormalities. Prader's classification (which attempts to describe the degree of masculinization) has been used for decades, while the urogenital sinus has generally been described as simply high or low; neither classification fits the spectrum of anomalies, nor do they allow for outcome data research. M...

AIMS To analyze whether episiotomy affects the urogenital hiatal area and the difference in the hiatus at rest and during contraction, as an indirect measurement of the contractile capacity of the levator ani muscle. METHODS We performed an observational, comparative, retrospective study of primiparous women who had normal vaginal deliveries. The urogenital hiatal area was compared in women w...

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. Urogenital strains are classified into serotypes and genotypes based on the major outer membrane protein and its gene, ompA, respectively. Studies of the association of serotypes with clinical signs and symptoms have produced conflicting results while no studies have evaluated associations with ompA...

PURPOSE Surgical management of the high urogenital sinus remains challenging. The anterior sagittal transrectal approach provides optimal exposure, facilitates vaginal dissection and separation from the urethra, and allows reconstruction of the bladder neck musculature. In this study we report our initial experience with this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective revie...

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urogenital tract (CAKUT) occur in approximately 0.5% of live births and represent the most frequent cause of end-stage renal disease in neonates and children. The genetic basis of CAKUT is not well defined. To understand more fully the genetic basis of one type of CAKUT, unilateral renal agenesis (URA), we are studying inbred ACI rats, which spontaneously ...

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices vary worldwide and depend on the individual's socioeconomic status, personal preferences, local traditions and beliefs, and access to water and sanitation resources. MHM practices can be particularly unhygienic and inconvenient for girls and women in poorer settings. Little is known about whether unhygienic MHM practices increase a woman's exposure t...

Normal male reproductive function, particularly ejaculation, requires the integrity of urogenital sensory input and its ascending spinal projections. After midthoracic chronic spinal cord injury, sexual dysfunction occurs in both rats and humans. Neurons in the medullary reticular formation (MRF) are involved in the processing of bilaterally convergent sensory inputs from multiple cutaneous, mu...