Microwave therapy may challenge TURP in treating BPH
June 1st 2006Paris-Microwave thermotherapy is a safe, noninvasive treatment modality that challenges transurethral resection of the prostate as a first-line choice of treatment in patients with BPH, Scandinavian researchers said here at the European Association of Urology annual congress.
Pre-TWOC alpha-blocker reduces urinary retention risk
June 1st 2006Paris-Trial without catheter (TWOC) after a median of 3 days' catheterization has become standard practice in France for patients with acute urinary retention associated with BPH, according to results of a prospective, cross-sectional survey assessing current AUR practice patterns. In addition, TWOC was significantly more successful in patients who received treatment with an alpha-blocker prior to a TWOC than it was in patients who did not receive an alpha-blocker, according to Francois Desgrandchamps, MD, who presented the study results at the European Association of Urology annual congress here.
Lower PSA velocity threshold recommended in young men
June 1st 2006Atlanta-Young men with PSA velocities greater than 0.5 ng/mL/year are at significantly greater risk for prostate cancer, researchers report in a new study. This suggests that the traditional recommendation of a threshold of 0.75 ng/mL/year to distinguish prostate cancer from benign conditions would miss a substantial proportion of prostate cancers among men younger than 60 years of age.
Salvage cryo after RT extends recurrence-free survival
June 1st 2006Atlanta-Cryoablation is a feasible treatment option for patients who have failed radiotherapy, especially for those who may not be considered suitable candidates for salvage radical prostatectomy, according to a new study from Canada.
Prophylactic Burch suspension aids post-op continence
June 1st 2006Maywood, IL-The addition of a standard four-stitch Burch suspension to the standard sacrocolpopexy surgical procedure in continent women with pelvic organ prolapse produces dramatic reductions in postoperative stress incontinence, according to a large multicenter study directed by physicians at the Loyola University Medical Center. Results of the trial comparing sacrocolpopexy with and without the Burch suspension were sufficiently dramatic to cause the trial directors to stop enrollment at the first interim analysis.
Agent may curb bone loss in men with prostate cancer
June 1st 2006Atlanta-Men who are being treated with androgen deprivation therapy for progressive prostate cancer face a second, less-recognized risk: osteoporosis and bone fracture. An initial report from a 2-year trial shows that weekly treatment with the oral bisphosphonate alendronate (Fosamax) can halt and even reverse the bone loss associated with androgen deprivation therapy.
Pudendal neurostimulation may be alternative to SNS
June 1st 2006Atlanta-Stimulation of the pudendal nerve may be an alternative to sacral neurostimulation (SNS) in the treatment of urinary voiding dysfunction. Two recent studies at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, indicate that pudendal neurostimulation (PNS) significantly improves cystometric parameters and is effective in patients who do not respond to sacral nerve stimulation.
Two-drug regimen effective for premature ejaculation
June 1st 2006Paris-A combination regimen of tadalafil (Cialis) and slow-release fluoxetine (Prozac) can significantly prolong intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) in patients suffering from premature ejaculation (PE), according to Brazilian researchers.
NAION incidence is not increased by PDE-5 inhibitor
June 1st 2006Atlanta-Results of an analysis based on approximately 52,000 patient-years of observation demonstrate that the incidence of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) among men receiving sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is no higher than that occurring among men in the general population, Rachel E. Sobel, MPH, reported at the AUA annual meeting here.
Penile prosthesis patients tend to be older than before
June 1st 2006Atlanta-The population of patients being treated with a penile prosthesis for erectile dysfunction is evolving, with the average patient now being older and having more medical comorbidities compared with less than 20 years ago, according to the results of a nationwide epidemiologic study reported at the annual AUA meeting here.
Intervention unneeded for most lower pole stones
June 1st 2006Paris-Most patients with asymptomatic lower pole calyceal stones can be followed safely without treatment, with a small minority of them requiring surgical intervention in the long-term, according to Turkish researchers who presented the results of a prospective study at the 2006 European Association of Urology annual congress here in Paris.
Expulsive therapy: Two-drug combination found best
June 1st 2006Paris-Administration of corticosteroid therapy does not significantly increase the expulsion rate of distal ureteral stones. However, the synergistic effect of steroid therapy with concomitant administration of the alpha-blocker tamsulosin (Flomax) increases the effectiveness of tamsulosin, Italian researchers reported at the recent European Association of Urology annual congress here.
Five states fail prostate cancer report card
June 1st 2006Five states failed the first-ever prostate cancer state-by-statereport card issued by the National Prostate Cancer Coalition.Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, and Wisconsin did not makethe grade while California, Connecticut, Kansas, and New York allearned As.
Prostate cancer screening in older men: Both good and bad news
June 1st 2006Men age 75 years and older may not benefit from prostate cancerscreening because they are at risk of adverse outcomes fromaggressive treatment of localized disease, according to a studypublished in the American Journal of Medicine (2006;119:418-25).
New biomaterial launched for treatment of Peyronie's disease
May 24th 2006Cook Urological introduced on Tuesday a new biomaterial known asSurgisis ES for the treatment of Peyronie's disease. Surgisis ES isa natural biomaterial that provides a graft that is strong, easy tohandle, easy to use, and biocompatible, the company said. Itsupports the growth of new fully vascularized host tissue in thepenis.
Botulinum toxin shows sustained, positive effects in BPH
May 24th 2006Intraprostatic injection of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) is asafe and effective treatment in patients with symptomatic BPH thatresults in improvements in symptoms and quality of life that maypersist for up to 1 year, researchers from Taiwan said.