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A Western diet high in animal fat and low in soy creates malignant transformation in the prostate tissue, according to a study that may explain why Asian men have lower rates of prostate cancer than their Western counterparts.

The U.S. Senate approved a resolution encouraging physicians to inform prostate cancer patients of every treatment option available, including brachytherapy, hormonal treatments, external beam radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and watchful waiting.

U.S. Pharmacopeia, hired by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to determine drug coverage, recommended the addition of erectile dysfunction drugs for possible Medicare coverage in 2006.

The FDA approved the marketing of a histrelin implant (Vantas) for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada--Radiofrequency ablation of small renal tumors appears to be an effective nephron-sparing approach for treating localized kidney cancer in a very select group of patients using imperative indications, according to a short-term study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

The infection rate was cut in half for the men with the InhibiZone antibiotic covering (1.36% vs. 2.41% in those receiving the untreated prosthesis).

Tauranga, New Zealand--By almost all parameters measured, the efficacy of holmium laser transurethral procedures in the prostate match or exceed that of similar open and transurethral procedures, according to a significant body of work by Peter J. Gilling, MD, urologic consultant at Tauranga Hospital, New Zealand. Dr. Gilling's research has centered on two procedures'holmium laser resection of the prostate (HoLRP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP)-although HoLRP has essentially been replaced by the 100-watt HoLEP (Lumenis, Santa Clara, CA).

Montreal--Two sling systems for female stress urinary incontinence have similar rates of success and perioperative events, according to the results of two separate studies presented at the AUA annual meeting. However, one was more prone to infection and erosion than the other, one study showed.

Paris--A novel adjustable device for intrinsic sphincteric deficiency shows success in women with stress unitary incontinence after other surgeries have failed, according to findings from an international, multicenter study.

Los Angeles--The largest clinical database built on renal cell carcinoma is beginning to yield definitive answers to questions about prognosis and treatment. Analyses of histories of more than 4,000 patients at eight academic medical centers worldwide has already indicated that tumor stage, grade, and performance status have a stronger influence on prognosis than tumor stage alone and that the indications for partial nephrectomy can expand.

Nashville, TN--As institutions accrue more experience with robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, they are beginning to perform outcomes analyses to evaluate the pros and cons of the procedure compared with traditional open retropubic radical prostatectomy.

Vaulx-en-Velin, France--High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) appears to be a promising salvage therapy option in carefully selected recurrent prostate cancer patients who have previously undergone external beam radiation therapy. The device, which uses sound waves to target tumors, was found in a French study to stop disease progression in slightly more than 40% of patients at mean follow-up of 15 months.

Phildadelphia--Photoselective vaporization of the prostate using a new higher-power potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser is a safe and efficacious treatment for BPH, according to a study presented at the AUA annual meeting.

San Diego-A newer bulking agent consisting of synthetic calcium hydroxylapatite compares favorably with traditional glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine collagen as a treatment for type III stress urinary incontinence or intrinsic sphincteric deficiency, according to an interim analysis of data from an ongoing randomized trial of the two substances.

Ann Arbor, MI--Urologic oncologists adept in performing open radical prostatectomy should feel comfortable undertaking robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy without worrying about encountering a significant learning curve. However, for the laparoscopic surgeon, the robot seems to offer little benefit for facilitating laparoscopic surgery, according to findings of a small prospective study from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Cleveland--A novel hemostatic sealant containing bovine-derived gelatin matrix and bovine-derived thrombin appears to be a useful adjunct for facilitating hemostasis and improving outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, according to the results of a retrospective study from the Cleveland Clinic.

Baltimore--Complexed PSA outperforms total PSA and is as good as or better than percent-free PSA in detecting prostate cancer, according to the results of a large pooled analysis presented at the AUA annual meeting.

Montvale, NJ--Computer software ranked at the top of planned purchases by urologists, with one-fourth of respondents to a survey saying they planned to acquire software in 2004. Cystoscopes, ureteral stents, penile prostheses, and BPH thermotherapy devices rounded out the top five planned purchases, according to the survey, conducted exclusively for Urology Times and its sister publication, Contemporary Urology.

Computer labels withstandchemicals, extreme temps

New Hyde Park, NY--Although transurethral resection of the prostate remains the gold standard for the treatment of BPH, the expense of the treatment can be too much for some patients.

Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc. has introduced a money-back guarantee program for BPH patients not satisfied after taking extended-release alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral) as directed by their physician.

Revisions have been made to the precautions and adverse reactions sections of the label for the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (Zometa).

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded Aaron Ciechanover, MD, DSc, the 2004 Nobel Prize in chemistry.

An increased dose of highly conformal external beam radiation shows a survival advantage over conventional-dose therapy in men with early-stage prostate cancer, according to study results presented at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology annual meeting in Atlanta.

Among American adults, the Internet is a popular place to seek out information about prescription drugs, although only a small percentage actually purchase them online, according to results of a new survey.

The National Cancer Institute began a 3-year study to validate a test that detects bladder cancer recurrence.

Chemotherapy regimens using docetaxel (Taxotere) significantly reduced the risk of death by 24% and 20% in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, according to the results of two separate phase III studies published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine (2004; 351:1502-12 and 1513-20).

San Francisco--Urinary incontinence remains a common medical condition in older women, even in those who rate their health as "good" or "excellent." Nearly 12% of elderly women experience stress, urge, or other form of incontinence, according to findings from an analysis of the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology (2004; 104:301-7). The condition is more prevalent in Caucasian women than in African-Americans, the study found.

Knowledge about the efficacy and safety of testosterone therapy in men remains inadequate, despite its frequent use in clinical practice. Clinical research into the benefits of testosterone therapy is also lacking, according to Alvaro Morales, MD.

San Francisco--As trade and information flow more freely, health care may become a commodity, auctioned like crude oil and pork bellies on world markets, according to William J. Cromie, MD, MBA, a urologist and CEO of Capital District Physicians Health Plan of Albany, NY.