DNA mutations increase risk of prostate and kidney cancers
May 5th 2005A particular signature set of inherited characteristics and mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) significantly increases the risk of kidney and prostate cancers in men, according to a presentation at the American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting in Anaheim, CA.
Half of men with ED report premature ejaculation
May 1st 2005Istanbul, Turkey--Nearly half of men with self-described erectile dysfunction report the occurrence of premature ejaculation either "always" or "frequently," according to data from the Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) study.
Depression, anxiety common in men with pelvic pain
May 1st 2005Istanbul, Turkey--Chronic prostatitis appears to be significantly associated with psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and panic, according to the results of a German study. The study also found that pelvic pain symptoms are far less prevalent than expected (3.2%), while the mean age of afflicted men was significantly higher than noted in previous trials (60.6 years).
BPH patients with inflammation show heightened risk of AUR
May 1st 2005Istanbul, Turkey--Prostate inflammation significantly raises the risk of clinical progression in men with lower urinary tract symptoms and BPH, according to a first-time investigation into the impact of acute and/or chronic inflammation on men with BPH. The most significant impact of acute or chronic inflammation was an increased risk of acute urinary retention, particularly in patients receiving placebo, according to the analysis, based on a subset of patients from the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms (MTOPS) patient cohort.
TUMT shows durable results in chronic prostatitis
May 1st 2005Istanbul, Turkey--Transurethral microwave thermotherapy of the prostate offers a 50% improvement in pain in up to two-thirds of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which is comparable to other treatment modalities, according to researcher Christof Kastner, MD, PhD. The therapy also appears to promise good durability 2 years post-procedure.
Biofeedback physical therapy improves CPPS symptoms
May 1st 2005Istanbul, Turkey--Biofeedback physical therapy and pelvic floor re-education appear to offer symptomatic improvement in men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome type III, Dutch researchers say. The techniques appear to work by improving relaxation and demonstrating proper use of pelvic floor muscles.
Rapidly rising PSA is good indicator of metastasis
May 1st 2005Orlando, FL--How likely are patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy to present with rising PSA levels and subsequent metastatic progression? Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center employ a computerized tool called a nomogram to find the answer.
Prostate cancer management shows major shifts in PSA era
May 1st 2005Orlando, FL--The management of localized prostate cancer has undergone a significant, dramatic shift in recent years. Both pure and robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy appears to be a viable treatment option that is popular with patients; watchful waiting has declined, despite the stage migration seen in the PSA era; and hormonal therapy has become more widely used in low-risk patients, a source of controversy.
Medicare changes for 2006: More bad news for MDs, patients
May 1st 2005Washington--Both physicians and Medicare beneficiaries are in for a jolt next year, according to government officials who indicated in late March that Medicare will slash physician payments by 4.3% in 2006 and slap beneficiaries with an $11 per month premium increase.
PDE-5 inhibitors effective in men on antidepressants
May 1st 2005Montreal--Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors appear to be effective in treating erectile dysfunction in men who are also receiving pharmacologic treatment for depression. A retrospective study presented here at the Canadian Psychiatric Association annual meeting that looked specifically at tadalafil (Cialis) demonstrated that the drug was effective in improving erections and achieving intercourse in this population.
Adding antiandrogen to castration improves survival
May 1st 2005Orlando, FL--What are the benefits of combining castration with a nonsteroidal antiandrogen in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer? Laurence Klotz, MD, of the University of Toronto, has found a high probability that bicalutamide (Casodex), 50 mg/day, plus castration provides a survival advantage over castration alone.
Estrogen receptor modulator prevents PCa in some men
May 1st 2005Orlando, FL--Testosterone's effect on the development and progression of BPH and prostate cancer is well known, but a group of University of Tennessee researchers has been focusing on testosterone's less frequently studied "partner in crime"—estrogen.
Phase II trials of prostate Ca vaccine promising
May 1st 2005Orlando, FL--A genetically modified vaccine has demonstrated immunogenicity and clinical activity in hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients with metastatic disease, researchers reported in a poster presentation at the 2005 Multidisciplinary Prostate Cancer Symposium.
Latency time about 5 minutes shorter in PE sufferers
April 21st 2005The average intravaginal ejaculatory latency time of premature ejaculation sufferers is 1.8 minutes, versus 7.3 minutes in men without PE, according to a large epidemiologic study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine (2005; 2:358).
Latency time about 5 minutes shorter in PE sufferers
April 21st 2005The average intravaginal ejaculatory latency time of premature ejaculation sufferers is 1.8 minutes, versus 7.3 minutes in men without PE, according to a large epidemiologic study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine (2005; 2:358).
Investigational OAB agent shows significant improvements in phase III trial
April 21st 2005An agent under investigation for treatment of overactive bladder demonstrated statistically significant improvements over placebo in phase III trials, according to Schwarz Pharma, which is developing the drug, fesoterodine.