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Among patients with staghorn calculi, researchers have discovered a shift in the composition of these stones, with metabolic stones becoming more prominent.

Labeling on testosterone products sold in the United States indicates that testosterone supplementation is contraindicated in men with a history of prostate cancer and in those thought to be at risk for the disease. A recent study brings the validity of that warning into question.

A multi-targeted angiogenesis inhibitor more than doubled progression-free survival in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Results of a retrospective study including a series of post-radical prostatectomy patients with pathology-proven high-risk characteristics provide further insight into the use of testosterone replacement therapy in men with a history of prostate cancer.

Two independent studies exploring how lithotripter ownership might affect urologists' choice of treatment for stone disease seem to provide conflicting results, although neither of the studies directly assessed individual practice patterns for lithotripter utilization.

Researchers say concurrent incontinence and erectile dysfunction can be resolved simultaneously by combining the placement of a male sling and implantable penile prosthesis in a single procedure.

Urology drugs and devices that are in the pipeline from Pfizer Inc., Exelixis Inc., Medivation, Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Tengion, Inc., Agensys, Inc., and Nymox Pharmaceutical Corp.

The need for retirement planning doesn't end with the onset of retirement.

Let's look at the simple things urologists can do to ensure the entire staff focuses on being patient-centered and keeping patients happy.

Raj Pruthi, MD, has been promoted to chief of the division of urologic surgery within the department of surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Sexual function significantly improved in hypogonadal men with erectile dysfunction after 6 months of testosterone replacement therapy, according to a recent study.

The Elevate Apical and Posterior Prolapse Repair System (American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MN) offers anatomic "cure" rates (stage ≤1 prolapse) of 89.2% in patients with apical prolapse and 91.7% in those with posterior vaginal prolapse, according to the results of a 12-month single-arm, prospective multicenter study.

The FDA has approved testosterone topical solution CIII (Axiron) for replacement therapy in men for certain conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of testosterone.

An FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee has voted against the use of two 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors for reducing the risk of prostate cancer in men at risk for the disease.

Among low-risk prostate cancer patients, active surveillance shows higher measures on quality of life than an initial treatment such as surgery, although the optimal strategy appears highly dependent on individual patient preferences.

In response to the looming reduction in Medicare reimbursement slated to begin Dec. 1, meridianEMR is offering a special "meridianEMR Doc Fix," which includes a 21.9% reduction on all new meridianEMR system orders beginning Nov. 10, 2010 and ending Dec. 31, 2010.

The American Medical Association's House of Delegates unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by The Endocrine Society calling for the standardization of testosterone assays, including increased measures of analytical accuracy by laboratory associations and education for clinicians who use the assays.

A team-based treatment approach to managing prostate and other urologic cancers appears to provide a number of significant benefits, including improved survival, according to the results of two recent studies.

Men treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer face a 30% to 40% higher risk of colorectal cancer compared with patients who have not received this treatment, say researchers from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Both houses of Congress have voted to delay for 1 month a 23% reimbursement cut for physicians who treat Medicare patients that was scheduled to take effect Dec. 1.

Send your question to our coding/reimbursement experts Ray Painter, MD, and Mark Painter.

Recent political developments will impact public policy, including redistricting, state budgets, and matters that influence the practice of medicine.

If you're just considering cost effectiveness, not necessarily results, hand-cut mesh repair for anterior vaginal prolapse repair beats mesh kit repair and traditional colporrhaphy.

In patients with refractory urge incontinence, a variety of non-pharmacologic therapeutic options can be used as an alternative or complement to anticholinergic medications. Maximizing conservative measures, namely behavioral therapy and physical therapy, offers multiple benefits and adds little risk for the majority of patients.

Health care reform moved close to the top of urologists' concerns in 2010, but a significant percentage say they don't expect the sweeping legislation to change how they practice-at least not yet.

Urologists need to be mindful of how the patient-centered medical home emerges and how they can effectively work with the model to ensure coordination of care and quality outcomes for patients with chronic urologic conditions.

For several urologists, the concept behind reform was strong, but the logistics of implementing it are daunting.