Evaluation of pelvic floor muscle function in a random group of adult women in Austria.

Despite an increasing clinical interest in female pelvic floor function, there is a lack of data with respect to the knowledge of average adult women about the physiological role of the pelvic floor and their ability to contract pelvic floor muscles (PFM) voluntarily. It was the aim of our study to evaluate the percentage of PFM dysfunction in adult women and the impact of risk factors, such as age, body mass index (BMI), number of children delivered, and the influence of previous PFM training. A total of 343 Austrian adult women (mean age, 41.2 +/- 14.6 years; range, 18-79 years), selected at random, were examined to test their ability to contract the PFM. The examination was carried out by three independent gynecologists during the course of a routine gynecological visit. The ability to contract the PFM voluntarily or involuntarily was assessed by digital intravaginal palpation with the patients in a supine position. The muscle strength was graded according to the Modified Oxford Grading Scale by Laycock. A high percentage (44.9%) of the women was not able to voluntarily perform a normal PFM contraction. In only 26.5%, an involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor was present before an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. The inability to contract the PFM did not correlate with women's age but revealed a weak relationship with the number of childbirths and the patient's BMI. A significant correlation was found between the Oxford Grading Scale rating and the patient's report about previous PFM training.

EGFR and steroid receptors in ovarian carcinoma: comparison with prognostic parameters and outcome of patients.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), progesterone receptor (PR) and estrogen receptor (ER) status were analyzed in 108 primary ovarian epithelial carcinoma specimens. Receptor concentration was determined with radioligand binding assays. 61% of the carcinomas investigated were positive for EGFR, 29% for PR and 57% for ER. EGFR status was not correlated with histological grading of tumors and no difference in EGFR positivity was found between subgroups of ovarian carcinomas. On the other hand, 50% of the tumors with FIGO stage III and IV and tumors which could not be operated to be free of residual tumor mass were EGFR positive, whereas only 30% were positive within the group of tumors with FIGO stage I and II and no residual tumor mass. The outcome of the carcinoma patients was followed up for a maximum of 100 months. A significant correlation between EGFR positivity and a shorter progressive-free period as well as shorter overall survival was found. For PR and ER status no relation to patient survival became evident. The response to chemotherapy was significantly correlated to EGFR status. After 5 years 63% of the patients with negative versus 25% with positive EGFR were still alive indicating the impaired response of EGFR positive carcinomas to chemotherapy containing platinum compounds.