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Major organizations representing urology are livid at the conclusions of a new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which basically accuses urology practices with in-office intensity-modulated radiation therapy facilities of ripping off Medicare.

If the urologist shortage reaches a critical stage in the United States as many predict, the United Kingdom may offer a glimpse of what the future holds. Urologists in that country rely heavily on nurse practitioners to shoulder the workload, including performing the UK’s most commonly performed urologic procedure, flexible cystoscopy.

Provision of intensity-modulated radiation therapy services performed by self-referring groups “increased rapidly” between 2006 and 2010 while the rate declined for non-self-referring groups, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office.

A group of scientists that includes a urologist is proposing a major update of the way the U.S. approaches diseases now classified as “cancer,” including eliminating that term from tumors considered indolent.

The urology work force shortage has created a demand for non-physician providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, but the scope of what these allied health professionals can do remains a matter of debate.

An analysis of data from three studies that involved a total of more than 240,000 participants found that a self-reported history of kidney stones was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of coronary heart disease among women.

There is little doubt that the federal government will continue to play an important role subsidizing the training of physicians. However, given the immediate medical education and work force crisis, states will likely be the source of temporary and long-term solutions.

Drugs and devices in the pipeline from Targacept, Inc., Cubist, OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Apricus Biosciences, and Nymox Pharmaceutical Corp.

New products and services from GenomeDx Biosciences, the Coding Institute, Astellas Pharma US, Greenbranch Publishing, the National Association for Continence, Perrigo Co., the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, and the Brewer Co.

The rate of therapy for localized prostate cancer does not rise in markets with higher penetration of robotic surgical technology and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, according to a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago.

Repeat injections of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) continue to be a safe and effective treatment for urinary incontinence due to neurogenic detrusor overactivity, according to interim results from a long-term extension study of phase III pivotal trials.

Data from a pivotal phase III trial of the radiotherapeutic agent radium Ra 223 dichloride (Xofigo) in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2013; 369:213-23).

A greater percentage of men who had an incomplete response to as-needed phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor treatment returned to normal erectile function when given tadalafil (Cialis) once daily, compared to placebo, researchers reported.

Colpocleisis is a safe, minimally invasive procedure for treating pelvic organ prolapse in older women, according to the findings of a retrospective study reported by female pelvic medicine surgeons from Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL.

Self-referred anatomic pathology services have increased at a faster rate than non-self-referred services, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office that quickly drew praise from the College of American Pathologists and criticism from the AUA.

Some men with low-risk prostate cancer who are being managed by active surveillance can have their PSA levels measured every 6 months instead of every 3 months, researchers reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago.