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Adding an anticholinergic medication to an alpha-blocker does not appear to improve ureteral stent-related discomfort compared to monotherapy with an alpha-blocker alone, according to research presented by investigators from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

In renal stones smaller than 1.5 cm diameter, ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URS) is associated with superior stone-free rates compared with shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), according to a recent study.

Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IV study provide further confirmation that the erectogenic effect of the phosphodiesterase-type-5 inhibitor avanafil (Stendra) has a quick onset.

With emergence of new biomarker and tests, high-profile approvals of treatments for new indication, and the ongoing controversy surrounding PSA screening, prostate cancer remained very much in the urology headlines for 2014. Here are some of the most-read Urology Times articles on the disease.

Streamlined management for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, greater autonomy for residents, and a better understanding of issues facing the VA are among changes urologists hope to see occur in 2015.

There is no specific limit to the number of times you can charge a –59 modifier. However, what and how you charge for multiple stones on the same side of the urinary tract is confusing, say Ray Painter, MD, and Mark Painter in their "Coding Q&A" column.

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.

Kidney cancer patients were more likely to undergo partial nephrectomy when treated in hospitals that were early adopters of robotic surgery, according to a recent report that one leading expert calls “some of the best evidence to date of a favorable impact of surgical robots in urologic care.”

If your estate is substantial and you're concerned about the federal estate tax bill your heirs will pay, there's a way you might be able to use your house to remedy the situation. It may be as simple as giving away your home or as complex as knowing the mechanics of an estate-planning tool called a qualified personal residence trust.

The authors of a recent study should be commended for exploring a large national database in an attempt to understand contemporary prostate cancer screening and treatment practices.

Other products discussed in this article include a prosthesis for underactive bladder, a prostate cancer test, and an erectile dysfunction drug.

You can expect the new Congress, now controlled in both the House and Senate by Republicans, to take a shot at repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board.

Use of bisphosphonates in men on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer remains low despite the fact that the practice is recommended in several guidelines, Canadian researchers say.

Use of primary androgen deprivation therapy in men with localized prostate cancer is associated with decreased survival compared to men who receive no active treatment, according to new research findings.

The Prolaris prostate cancer test could save the health care system $6 billion over 10 years, according to data from one of several new studies examining the economic and clinical benefits of newer biomarker-based prostate cancer assays.

Urologists listed increasing government regulations, declining reimbursement, increasing overhead, and the Affordable Care Act as their most pressing concerns in Urology Times’ 2014 State of the Specialty survey.

In this blog post, Henry Rosevear, MD, challenges thought leaders to offer guidance on the proper radiographic evaluation of new-onset colicky flank pain.

Robert A. Dowling, MD examines the possible impact of prostate cancer surveillance management approaches on a urology practice’s reimbursement and income.

A receptor involved with HIV therapy also appears to be linked to prostate cancer metastases, according to recent research from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.

Long-term testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men appears to be safe and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer, according to a newly published analysis of three patient registries.

In separate actions, two pharmaceutical makers have acquired the rights to a novel testosterone agent and a patented formulation for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Repeated onabotulinumtoxinA 100 U (onabotA [Botox]) injections continue to provide benefit for patients with overactive bladder syndrome and urinary incontinence and without evidence of any new safety concerns, according to results of a pre-specified interim analysis in an open-label, 3-year extension study.

In Urology Times’ ninth annual State of the Specialty survey, an astounding 87% of respondents perceived “increasing government regulations” with trepidation. Unfortunately, while nearly nine in ten urologists identify the problem, far fewer take steps to address it.

Propulsion with low-intensity ultrasound is showing promise as a safe and effective method for noninvasive repositioning of kidney stones, according to the findings of a first human feasibility study being conducted by researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle.

A review of initial surgical management for patients with urolithiasis has identified an association between urologist self-referral and an increased likelihood of undergoing computed tomography imaging and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) compared with non-self-referring physicians.

Certain sunscreen chemicals may impair men’s ability to father children in a timely manner, according to a recent National Institutes of Health study that an expert in male infertility called “interesting but very preliminary.”

The European Medicines Agency has issued new recommendations regarding testosterone replacement therapy after reviewing the cardiovascular risks of TRT. The recommendations were endorsed by a regulatory body that is responsible for the marketing authorization of drugs throughout Europe.

In this interview, Gerald H. Jordan, MD, executive secretary of the American Board of Urology, discusses various aspects of certification, including the meaning of board eligibility, why the written exam is so difficult, the future of the oral exam, and which urologists are required to undergo maintenance of certification.