Drug Therapy

For many physicians, the word marketing conjures images of Yellow Pageads, flashy brochures, or radio and television commercials. Of course, theseare all components of marketing, but the easiest way to market your practiceis to provide stellar service to your current patients.

Chicago-A private practice setting can be just as successful with renal stone prevention as a larger academic setting, according to research presented at the AUA annual meeting here. And, if treatment is needed later, a patient can be counseled about options following an accurate assessment of the natural progression of stones.

During the recent AUA annual meeting in Chicago, the association's newBPH treatment guidelines were released. Although the update contained nomajor surprises, the framework does include specific recommendations forusing combination therapy in the treatment of certain BPH sufferers.Urology Times asked urologists if they were already using combinationtherapy, consisting of an alpha-blocker and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitorand, if so, whether this regimen was showing an improvement in patient outcomes.We also asked whether they expect to perform fewer invasive procedures forBPH.All of the urologists we spoke with have used combination therapy forBPH. They all said they see benefits from its use, even if their evidenceis anecdotal.

Chicago-Once-daily dosing with a single extended-release tablet containingciprofloxacin (Cipro), 1,000 mg, is as safe and effective as conventionalciprofloxacin, 500 mg, dosed twice a day for the treatment of complicatedurinary tract infections and acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis, accordingto the results of a large double-blind study.

Dutasteride would offer absolute risk reduction of up to 27% over 2years, study results show

During the past decade, serum prostate-specific antigen testing has become widely accepted as a means to improve early detection of prostate cancer. Thousands of studies have been performed to determine the most appropriate use of PSA testing and to improve its accuracy.

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.

Washington-While leaders of both political parties say they want to provideMedicare patients with meaningful coverage for prescription drug expenses,major philosophical differences threaten to make that objective extremelydifficult to achieve.

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.

Chicago-The American Foundation for Urologic Disease honored RichardD. Williams, MD, with its 2003 presidential award on Monday. Dr. Williams(shown), professor and chairman of the department of urology at the Universityof Iowa, Iowa City, was recognized for his commitment to urology, includinghis service as chair of the grant review committee for the AUA/AFUD researchscholar program for the past 5 years. Also receiving a presidential awardwas pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, which was recognized forits commitment to patient education. Both awards were presented at AFUD'sannual benefit and gala here.Separately, AFUD named Chung Lee, PhD, of Northwestern University, asoutstanding preceptor, and John McConnell, MD, of the University of TexasSouthwestern, as outstanding scholar.

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 ­ A private practice setting is just as successful with stoneprevention as a larger academic setting, according to research presentedat the AUA annual meeting here yesterday. And, if treatment is needed later,a patient can be better counseled about appropriate options following anaccurate assessment of the natural progression of stones.

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

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.

>Chicago­Combination drug therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasiahas won the endorsement of the American Urological Association in the organization'sfirst-ever clinical guidelines for the management of BPH.

Chicago - Treatment with bacille Calmette-Guérin plus interferon-alpha-2B appearsto be effective in a salvage situation for superficial bladder cancer patientswho have failed primary BCG treatment.

Chicago-Six weeks of antimicrobial therapy with levofloxacin (Levaquin)appears to improve symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndromein men, although the benefits are not sustained, according to a Canadianstudy presented yesterday.

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

Chicago-The cutting-edge field of angiogenesis is growing each year,according to M. Judah Folkman, MD, professor of pediatric surgery at Children'sHospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, shown here. Dr. Folkman presentedthis year's John Duckett Memorial Lecture, "Angiogenesis in the genitourinarysystem," during the AUA meeting here yesterday.

Chicago -Once daily dosing with ciprofloxacin extended-release 1,000 mg (CiproXR) is as safe and effective as twice a day administration with conventionalciprofloxacin, 500 mg (Cipro), in the treatment of complicated urinary tractinfections and acute pyelonephritis, according to the results of a NorthAmerican, multicenter study.

Chicago-Some researchers investigating the physiology and treatment ofoveractive bladder have questioned whether a "therapeutic ceiling"has been reached with anticholinergic medications, the current mainstayof treatment. Although the balance between efficacy and tolerability ofanticholinergics falls short of ideal, a number of products under developmenthold promise, said Roger Dmochowski, MD, professor of urology at VanderbiltUniversity School of Medicine in Nashville, TN.

Mission Pharmacal offers Urocit-K (potassium citrate), 5 mEq and 10 mEqtablets, for the management of renal tubular acidosis with calcium stones,hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis of any etiology, and uricacid lithiasis with or without calcium stones.

Bayer Corp. has received FDA approval to market ciprofloxacin extended-releasetablets (Cipro XR), 500 mg, for the treatment of uncomplicated UTI. Thequinolone antibiotic is formulated for use once a day over a 3-day period.

TAP Pharmaceuticals Products, Inc., presents the Lupron Living Album,the company's new booth design, which reflects its continued commitmentto the urology community for more than 17 years. Highlights include an interactivequiz game of pertinent clinical messages for physicians who treat advancedprostate cancer and updated information CaPSURE, the nationwide prostatecancer database.

GlaxoSmithKline features dutasteride (Avodart), 0.5 mg, an FDA-approved5-alpha-reductase inhibitor for patients with BPH. Initially approved forthe treatment of BPH, the drug is now also indicated for the treatment ofsymptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate to improve urinary symptomsand reduce the risk of urinary retention and the need for BPH-related surgery.

Rosenblum Industries, LLC, has received FDA approval to market FoleyGoalie,a device designed to prevent male patients from pulling out their Foleycatheter with the balloon inflated. The cylindrical device is constructedof braided helical strands of stretch-resistant multifilament polyesterand urethane-coated nylon. It is back-loaded over a patient's indwellingFoley catheter and penis. A Velcro strap secures the product to the baseof the penis, and distally, tape adheres the product to the indwelling catheter.

ProstaScint (In-111 capromab pendetide) from Cytogen Corp. is a radiolabeledmonoclonal antibody specific to prostate-specific membrane antigen. Theproduct aids in the staging of prostate cancer, allowing physicians to makecritical distinctions between localized and metastasized disease.