Benign Conditions

Propulsion with low-intensity ultrasound is showing promise as a safe and effective method for noninvasive repositioning of kidney stones, according to the findings of a first human feasibility study being conducted by researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle.

A review of initial surgical management for patients with urolithiasis has identified an association between urologist self-referral and an increased likelihood of undergoing computed tomography imaging and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) compared with non-self-referring physicians.

Autologous pubovaginal slings are associated with a high success rate following synthetic midurethral sling failure, according to recently published data.

Individuals with a history of kidney stones should increase their fluid intake to achieve at least 2 liters of urine per day to prevent recurrence, and if this fails, treatment with a thiazide diuretic, citrate, or allopurinol is recommended, according to a new clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved two new Category I CPT codes for the UroLift system, a treatment for BPH, effective Jan. 1, 2015.

Other products featured include a 16-slice CT scanner, new generic testosterone gel, prostate cancer risk calculator, and more.

Urologists across the country describe treatment options for large kidney and ureteral stones.

In separate actions, the FDA allowed the marketing of a urinary prosthesis for women and approved a supplemental new drug application for a lymphatic mapping agent.

Drugs and devices in the pipeline from Repros Therapeutics, Bavarian Nordic, NxThera, Solace Therapeutics, Generex Biotechnology, Bioniche, OncoCyte, HistoSonics, and Pacific Edge.

Ultrasound should be the initial diagnostic imaging test utilized for diagnosing kidney stones in order to reduce the higher radiation exposure associated with computed tomography, say the authors of a recent study.

Results of a study that included approximately 50,000 patients point to an association between kidney stones and incident cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Other products featured include a testosterone gel, exercise program to strengthen male pelvic muscles, and a book about prostate cancer diagnosis and management.

Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy is associated with a rising rate of hospitalization for urinary tract infection, new study results indicate.

Patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome who have low bladder capacity have a significantly different gene expression profile than both IC/BPS patients with normal bladder capacity and those without the condition, researchers reported in a recently published pilot study.

A retrospective evaluation to determine adherence to the AUA clinical practice guideline for the management of lower urinary tract symptoms/BPH among urologists practicing in an academic setting found generally positive results, but with room for improvement, researchers reported at the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

Sexual function in men with lower urinary tract symptoms/BPH generally declines over time whether or not they are treated with medication. However, the magnitude of worsening differs depending on the treatment received, according to findings from the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms study.

Photoselective vaporization of the prostate is non-inferior to transurethral resection of the prostate in men with benign prostatic obstruction, researchers reported at the European Association of Urology annual congress in Stockholm, Sweden.

Data from 2 years of prospective follow-up in a multinational study show that the prostatic urethral lift (PUL [UroLift System, Neotract, Inc., Pleasanton, CA]) is a safe procedure that provides durable, clinically meaningful improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH, reported Claus G. Roehrborn, MD, at the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

Drugs and devices in the pipeline form Clarus Therapeutics, Nymox Pharmaceutical, Bioniche Life Sciences, Repros Therapeutics, BioLight Life Sciences Investments/Micromedic Technologies, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceutical, H. Lundbeck A/S, Transplant Genomics, Orion, Bayer, and Roche.

Increasing daily temperature appears to be associated with an increased risk of kidney stones, results of a recently published multicenter study suggest.

In our “Best of AUA” report, Urology Times’ editors and writers present the AUA annual meeting’s take-home messages in 15 therapeutic areas.

Matthew D. Dunn, MD, presents the take home messages on stone disease/endourology from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

Landon Trost, MD, presents the take home messages on sexual function/dysfunction from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL, including studies of clostridium collagenase histolyticum (CCH [XIAFLEX]).

Adonis K. Hijaz, MD, presents the take home messages on female urology/incontinence/urodynamics from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL, including studies on mesh outcomes and the overactive bladder treatment mirabegron (Myrbetriq).

Richard K. Lee, MD, MBA, presents the take home messages on BPH/LUTS from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

Tobias S. Köhler, MD, MPH, presents the take home messages on infertility/andrology from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

Dirk Lange, PhD, presents the take home messages on infection/inflammation from the AUA annual meeting in Orlando, FL, including studies pointing to the utility of obtaining rectal swab cultures prior to prostate biopsy to identify patients harboring fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria and guide antibiotic prophylaxis.

New urology products and services from Symtelligence Medical Informatics, LABORIE, Metamark Genetics, the MediSafe Project, and Olympus

New products and services from TERUMO Medical Corp., TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Spry Publishing, and Beckman Coulter Diagnostics.

Drugs in the pipeline from Astellas Pharma, Medivation, TesoRx, Strategic Science and Technologies, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, and SCA.