Loss of Control: Exploring the Links Between Falls and Incontinence

It might seem odd to some that resident falls and incontinence would be mentioned in the same breath. It actually can be difficult to estimate the extent to which one causes the other. Yet, as clinical detectives have discovered, both subjects have a way of winding up in the same discussions. It all relates to the dangers for those residents who have lost control of their bodies in one or more ways. Emerging research and technology are growing closer to uncovering major underlying issues that could lead to reductions of incontinence and falls. As a result, they’re instilling hope for a better quality of life for millions of seniors. Read more.

Source: McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, March 8, 2018

LABORIE Medical Technologies to Acquire Cogentix Medical Inc., for $214 million

LABORIE Medical Technologies, a leading global developer and manufacturer of medical diagnostics and devices in the pelvic health and gastroenterology market, today announces the execution of a definitive agreement to acquire Cogentix Medical Inc., (NASDAQ: CGNT) for $3.85 per Cogentix share in cash, and an enterprise value of $214 million. Cogentix is a global medical company that provides proprietary, innovative technologies to a number of specialty markets including urology. “The acquisition of Cogentix advances our strategy to invest in leading technologies that provide product and channel scale to LABORIE’S existing Urology Strategic Business Unit (SBU) diagnostic and therapeutic portfolio, particularly in the areas of OAB (overactive bladder) and SUI (stress urinary incontinence),” commented Michael Frazzette, President & CEO of LABORIE Medical Technologies. “The addition of Cogentix’s suite of technology will significantly expand LABORIE’S therapeutic offering, thereby providing customers and their patients with comprehensive, clinically-relevant solutions along the disease treatment continuum.” Read more.

Source: Market Insider, March 12, 2018

Astellas Wins Expanded Label to Include Pediatric Use for Oral Solifenacin in the EU

Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503) has been awarded EU approval for its neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) therapy solifenacin succinate in oral suspension form. The drug is indicated for children aged 2 to 18 years. NDO is a bladder dysfunction in which increased storage pressure can put the upper urinary tract at risk of deterioration. Commonly observed in patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury, it causes urinary incontinence in approximately 50% of MS patients. Read more.

Source: The Pharma Letter, March 9, 2018

CVD Factors, Especially High Blood Pressure, May Increase Risk of Severe Urge Incontinence

Patients with cardiovascular risk factors are more likely to also experience urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), according to UK researchers. They also said their study findings indicated that severe urgency UUI was a “distinct disease” from milder forms of the condition.The researchers, from University College London and King’s College London, looked at data on 1,762 participants in a Medical Research Council survey who reported having incontinence at the age of 68. The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 15% in men and 54% in women. UUI was the most common subtype in men, while there were similar proportions of UUI and stress urinary incontinence in women, with it being reported by 12% of men and 19% of women. Read more.

Source: Nursing Times online, March 9, 2018

A Connected Wearable Device to Help People Get to the Bathroom Before It’s Too Late to Be Released in US Later This Year

Triple W, a startup company that develops the first connected wearable device that can track the progression of bladder movements using non-invasive ultrasonic sensors, announced today that their product will be released in the US later this year. The device will help elderly and disabled people who suffer from incontinence by notifying when they will need to go to the bathroom. As a result, users no longer have to worry about accidents and can often forgo the embarrassment of wearing diapers. According to a report released by CDC, more than 50 percent of older Americans struggle with incontinence. Incontinence occurs when muscles are too weak or too active. There are other causes of incontinence, such as prostate problems and nerve damage. Read more.

Source: PRNewswire, March 5, 2018

GTx Announced New Data Demonstrating Enobosarm’s Potential to Treat Stress Urinary Incontinence at SUFU 2018

GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq:GTXI) today announced additional results from a Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial of 3 mg enobosarm administered orally in postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results from patients’ pelvic floor muscle. New data in a subset of women also suggests a positive treatment effect of enobosarm for urge incontinence (UI) suggesting a possible treatment effect for women with mixed incontinence. Results from a pre-specified analysis of MRI data demonstrate a statistically significant increase in pelvic floor muscle thickness and urethral muscle diameter after enobosarm treatment. Treatment with enobosarm also reduced mean UI episodes by approximately 68 percent in patients who experienced UI as well as SUI, based on a post hoc analysis of a subset of women with both UI and SUI. These results were outlined during a podium presentation which took place at the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) 2018 Meeting on Saturday, March 3, 2018. The presentation included clinical data from all 18 patients completing 12 weeks of enobosarm treatment, which, as previously reported, demonstrated an 81 percent reduction in the number of mean stress leaks per day (the primary endpoint of the clinical trial), as well as additional data demonstrating duration of response following completion of treatment, including nine patients who have now reached seven months post-treatment. Read more.

Source: Business Wire, March 5, 2018

StimGuard Launches Head-to-Head Trial Against Medtronic’s InterStim

StimGuard yesterday announced plans for a clinical trial comparing its nerve stimulator with the InterStim sacral nerve stimulator made by Medtronic (NYSE:MDT). Pompano Beach, Fla.-based StimGuard is already running a pivotal study of its technology, a miniature implantable device designed to treat urinary incontinence resulting from refractory overactive bladder syndrome. The device is implanted at the tibial nerve through a needle-sized introducer and uses wireless technology to stimulate the nerve. Read more.

Source: Massdevice, March 1, 2018

More Than Just a Cosmetic Procedure — ‘Tummy Tuck’ Reduces Back Pain and Incontinence

In addition to restoring the pre-pregnancy shape of the abdomen, abdominoplasty (‘tummy tuck’) surgery with muscle repair can improve back pain and urinary incontinence after childbearing, reports a study in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Although abdominoplasty is classified as a cosmetic procedure, it also improves two of the most common physical complaints experienced by women after labor and delivery. According to the new research “Abdominoplasty has a proven functional benefit as well as a cosmetic benefit,” comments lead author D. Alastair Taylor, FRACS, of The CAPS Clinic in Deakin, Australia. Read more.

Source: EurekAlert, February 28, 2018

Nurses Welcome NICE Support for Irrigation Device for Constipation and Faecal Incontinence

A medical device for treating constipation and faecal incontinence has been recommended for health service use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Specialist stoma care nurses working with both children and adults affected by faecal continence problems welcomed the decision by NICE to back the use of the Peristeen transanal irrigation system.In new medical technology guidance published today, NICE said the “case for adopting” the Peristeen for managing bowel dysfunction was “supported by the evidence”. According to NICE, the system can “reduce the severity of constipation and incontinence, improve quality of life and promote dignity and independence”. Read more.

Source: Nursing Times, February 23, 2018

BewellConnect’s MyPeriTens Multi-Action Pelvic Floor Trainer

BewellConnect recently unveiled their new pelvic floor muscle trainer to help women with related issues, including post-partum complications and incontinence. The MyPeriTens device is both an electrical nerve stimulator and electrical muscle stimulator that is controlled through a smartphone app, allowing women to have precise control over the intensity and nature of the electrical signals delivered. The smartphone app has a number of routines built in that the woman can perform on her own, or with assistance of a physical therapist. Each routine can be selected to run at the patient’s preferred intensity level, maximizing benefits while keeping any pain and discomfort at a minimum. Read more.

Source: Medgadget, February 15, 2018