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Chicago-Recognition of combination drug therapy for selected patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia represents one of several key changes in clinical management embraced by AUA in the organization's first-ever clinical guidelines for BPH.

FDA-approved safety device reduces needlestick injuries: Columbus, OH-The FDA-approved NeedleZap, a safety device that disintegrates the sharp portion of a hypodermic needle to help reduce accidental needlestick injuries, is now available from E Med Future, Inc.

New research on both current and promising new treatments for bladder and prostate cancer, stone disease, and BPH are making headlines at this week's AUA annual meeting. While robotics and other newer technologies took center stage last year, the emphasis at this year's meeting is on comparisons of existing techniques and outcomes data.J. Brantley Thrasher, MD, chair of AUA's Public Media Committee, briefed a group of editors and reporters yesterday on the hot topics to expect over the course of this week's meeting. Among the 1,700 abstracts being presented, these were among the highlights discussed by Dr. Thrasher:

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Nearly all of us use and depend on computers for running and operatingour medical offices. I doubt that many of us could successfully operateour practices without this evolving technology, which adds not only to improvementin the medical care we offer our patients but to the efficiency of our practices.

The lifetime risk of undergoing surgery for incontinence or vaginal prolapsein the United States is nearly one in 11. As our population ages and lifeexpectancies increase, a greater number of women will present with pelvicfloor and voiding disorders. Because of this, there is significant interestin using evidence-based research to assess current diagnostic tools in theevaluation of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), as well as new potentialtreatments.

There are two key elements to successful billing and collection-bothnow and in the future. The first is the accuracy of your documentation andcoding, basically the responsibility of the urologist. The second elementis the billing process, which can be computerized, automated, and performedby others.

Chicago-Two alpha blockers appear to have modest efficacy in treatingchronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, according to separatestudies presented here at the AUA annual meeting.

Madrid, Spain-Botulinum-A toxin shows positive results as an alternativetreatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity when oral therapies or intravesicalanticholinergics fail or are intolerable, according to results of four separatestudies presented at the European Association of Urology 18th congress here.The agent, although FDA-approved for the treatment of skin wrinkles andrelated indications, is not approved for detrusor overactivity but has beenused by some U.S. and European urologists for this indication.

New Orleans-Radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation, and brachytherapy achieve comparable rates of relapse-free survival in patients with localized prostate cancer, according to long-term follow-up data on approximately 1,800 patients treated with one of the three therapeutic modalities.

Washington-A Florida urologist is slated to become the highest-ranked health official in Iraq-albeit temporarily.

The inherent limitations of the standard transrectal ultrasound approach for prostate biopsy have led to both diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas.

Chicago-Leading a healthy lifestyle may stop or even reverse the progression of prostate cancer as measured by PSA levels in men undergoing watchful waiting, according to the findings of the first randomized, controlled clinical trial on the subject.

Chicago-Members of the Society of University Urologists have agreed tocreate a new group consisting of U.S.-based urology program directors. Thenew, yet-unnamed organization will have both fund-raising and task-orientedresponsibilities, including assisting programs with new competency requirements,said Robert Flanigan, MD, professor and chairman of the department of urologyat Loyola University, Maywood, IL, who will serve as president of the group.Other officers will include Marc Cohen, MD, of the Medical College ofGeorgia in Augusta; and Michael Koch, MD, of Indiana University, Indianapolis.

Chicago-A study of engineered bladder tissue composed of autologous cellsand polymer scaffolds found that it can be successfully used in dogs, whichhad undergone trigone-sparing cystectomies.

Chicago-Pretreatment testosterone levels correlate with pathologic stagesof prostate cancer and may serve as an independent predictor of extraprostaticdisease in patients initially diagnosed with localized cancers, accordingto a study from the Center for Prostatic Disease Research in Rockville,MD.

Chicago­A retrospective study of more than 36,000 prostate cancerbiopsies found, as expected, that the incidence of prostate cancer variedaccording to PSA levels. But the study's authors also found that the incidenceof prostate cancer was similar for men with PSAs between 2.5 and 4.0 ng/mLand those with PSAs between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL.

Chicago-Ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy can be performed safely and effectivelywith IV sedation, eliminating the need for general or spinal anesthesia,until now a principal downside to the procedure, a New York stone specialistreported at the AUA meeting yesterday.

Chicago-Data from nearly 5,000 participants in the phase III studiesof dutasteride (Avodart) have been used to develop a nomogram for predictingthe probability that an individual patient with BPH will develop acute urinaryretention or require surgical intervention within 2 years and how that riskmay be altered by initiating dutasteride therapy.

Chicago-New measurement and modeling methods appear to objectively predictureteroscopic performance and skills in a virtual reality environment, accordingto preliminary findings of a study conducted at the University of TexasSouthwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

Three doctors shared their thoughts on the subject

Dr. Ruth Westheimer signed copies of her new book, "Conquering theRapids of Life: Making the Most of Midlife Opportunities," for AUAmeeting attendees. The book touches on health problems in the aging maleand female, including interstitial cystitis, incontinence, sexual dysfunction,and prostate problems. Dr. Ruth is shown here at the Ortho-McNeil booth.

Chicago - Sacral neuromodulation's favorable effect on chronic urinary retentiondoes not derive from a direct relaxant effect on the urethral sphincter,according to findings from a study that debunks a popular belief about thetherapeutic mechanisms of neuromodulation.

Chicago-Penile implants provide greater patient satisfaction than eithermedical therapy or intracavernosal injections for erectile dysfunction,said Detroit researchers during a presentation yesterday.

Chicago-Contrary to a widely held belief, penile sensation does not differbetween circumcised and uncircumcised men, New York researchers said duringa presentation yesterday.

Chicago-Radical prostatectomy patients taking sildenafil postoperativelywere seven times more likely to report a return to spontaneous erectionsthan those taking placebo in a multi-institutional, double-blind study presentedhere yesterday.

Chicago-A higher age at baseline predicted increased rate of progressionin all three treatment arms of the Medical Therapy of Prostate Symptoms(MTOPS) trial, according to a secondary analysis of data presented at theAUA meeting yesterday.

Chicago-The Coalition for the Advancement of Prosthetic Urology (CAPU),fresh from its first battle in Washington earlier this year over reimbursementfor prosthetic urology devices and procedures, took another big step forwardwith a standing-room-only presentation at the AUA meeting here on Tuesday.

Urologix, Inc. has received FDA approval to market the Cooled ThermoCathtreatment catheter, which is designed for use in conjunction with the company'sTargis microwave generator, for the treatment of BPH. The product incorporatescatheter cooling technology designed to improve the heat exchange coupledwith improved catheter conformance to urethral tissue.

An informal chamber music ensemble concert gave AUA meeting attendees abrief respite from the meeting's bustle yesterday. Concert violinist YuraLee and violist Lawrence Neuman were joined by William Sloan, MD; FritzSchroeder, MD; and Mary Olssen, RN. The concert was presented by The StradivariSociety.