Richard R. Kerr

Multiple studies on exosomes, data from the IMvigor 210 trial of atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ), and research on prehabilitation for cystectomy were among the highlights in bladder cancer from the 2016 AUA annual meeting.

Urology Times’ “Best of AUA 2015” report provides a guide to the meeting’s take-home messages in 15 therapeutic areas-an information-packed, condensed summary of the top papers and presentations.

An experimental drug that stabilizes a protein protects human bladder cells against a major UTI pathogen, researchers say.

New, large-scale studies on active surveillance, IMRT complications, and robotic versus open prostatectomy were among the highlights of this year’s Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

The FDA has approved ceftazidime-avibactam (AVYCAZ) for two indications, including treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infections who have limited or no alternative treatment options.

Use of the urethral lift as a treatment for BPH provided rapid improvement in symptoms, flow, and quality of life that were sustained at 2 years in a multicenter study.

More than 90% of men whose lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) progress do not seek treatment for their symptoms, according to recent study results that one expert cautioned against overinterpreting.

The FDA has approved ceftolozane/tazobactam (Zerbaxa) for the treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infections.

Olympus has announced the FDA 510(k) clearance of Narrow Band Imaging as enabling effective targeting of biopsies not seen under white light and improved visualization of tumor margins in nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Survivors of bladder, kidney, and two other forms of cancer who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day prior to their cancer diagnoses have an up to fivefold higher risk of developing a second smoking-associated cancer compared to survivors of the same cancers who never smoked.

Individuals with a history of kidney stones should increase their fluid intake to achieve at least 2 liters of urine per day to prevent recurrence, and if this fails, treatment with a thiazide diuretic, citrate, or allopurinol is recommended, according to a new clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved two new Category I CPT codes for the UroLift system, a treatment for BPH, effective Jan. 1, 2015.

This bonus "State of Urology" issue offers a sneak-peek at some of the outstanding research you'll learn more about at the AUA annual meeting in Atlanta.

The double whammy of declining reimbursement rates and rising overhead costs continues to plague practicing urologists in the United States.

A new study has found that between 3.4 and 7.9 million American women age 18 and over have symptoms consistent with IC/PBS.

Urologists are in a unique position to detect cardiometabolic risk factors at an early stage and intervene.

The updated size is slightly smaller than our former traditional tabloid size, but little else has changed.

Declining reimbursement remains urologists' number one concern, ahead of increasing overhead, increasing government regulations, and other issues, according to the 2008 Urology Times State of the Specialty Survey

They are signs of the times for today's practicing urologist: declining reimbursement, increasing overhead, an increasingly stringent regulatory environment, and rising malpractice premiums. Urologists ranked these issues as their most pressing concerns in the 2007 State of the Specialty survey, an exclusive study developed by the editors of Urology Times and Contemporary Urology.

Be sure that your knowledge of MOC is based in fact and not preconceived notions.

National Report-With another year of Medicare payment cuts looming in 2007, declining reimbursement is no surprise as the number one current concern among practicing urologists, according to an exclusive survey from Urology Times and its sister publication, Contemporary Urology. Changes in reimbursement are followed closely by malpractice, office overhead, pay for performance, and increasing regulations as the top five issues that urologists are extremely or very concerned about, the first State of the Specialty survey found.

Cleveland-A Mayo Clinic study published earlier this year raised more than a few eyebrows when its authors concluded that treatment of renal stones with shockwave lithotripsy appears to heighten the risk of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. More recently, researchers from Northwestern University reported a similar finding in patients with pancreatic stones-that SWL used in these patients may be associated with an increased risk of diabetes.

Cleveland-A staged approach to endoscopic lithotripsy may be a reasonable treatment option in patients with large renal stones who are not ideal candidates for the gold standard of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center reported. Their technique, known as staged retrograde endoscopic lithotripsy (SREL), has a slightly lower success rate than PCNL does, but it is less invasive and associated with fewer complications.

Cleveland-With the growing acceptance of flexible ureteroscopy at academic centers, this endoscopic technique as a treatment for renal stones has made fewer inroads into the practices of community urologists, data from a large U.S. inpatient database indicate. The reasons for the procedure's apparent lack of popularity in the community, at least in the inpatient setting, are unclear.

Atlanta-If you're going to perform a vasectomy reversal, use a microscope. Despite the additional time and cost involved, microsurgical vasovasostomy is superior to the loupe-assisted macroscopic technique, findings from a recent study from Korea confirm.

Baltimore-A new endourology/stone disease scholarship has been proposed in honor of the late Joseph W. Segura, MD.

Montvale, NJ--Computer software ranked at the top of planned purchases by urologists, with one-fourth of respondents to a survey saying they planned to acquire software in 2004. Cystoscopes, ureteral stents, penile prostheses, and BPH thermotherapy devices rounded out the top five planned purchases, according to the survey, conducted exclusively for Urology Times and its sister publication, Contemporary Urology.

Traverse City, MI-In the watchful eyes of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, urologist Michael Harris, MD, does not exist. Dr. Harris-a successful, board-certified urologist in private practice-would not have it any other way.