RARP: ‘Little clear benefit’ compared to open surgery
October 20th 2014Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is associated with a lower rate of blood transfusion and shorter length of stay compared to open surgery. However, the total first-year reimbursement is higher for RARP and there is no difference between the two procedures in the rate of postoperative complications or use of additional cancer treatment, according to an analysis of contemporary data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare-linked database.
Protective patch linked to erectile function recovery
October 20th 2014The application of dehydrated human amniotic membrane as a therapeutic patch covering the neurovascular bundle may have profound effects on the early recovery of erectile function in men undergoing nerve-sparing, robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, a retrospective study suggests.
Robotic kidney transplant continues to show benefits
October 20th 2014An international team of surgeons from the U.S. and India continues to explore the potential of robotic kidney transplantation with regional hypothermia. The results of an IDEAL (Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term) phase IIb trial of the procedure support the promise seen in preceding trials.
Second mCRPC agent shows significant benefit pre-chemo
October 17th 2014Abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA) as therapy for chemotherapy-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) improved overall survival by a statistically significant 19% compared with placebo in the final analysis of the phase III COU-AA-302 clinical trial.
Prostate cancer council bill earns AUA support
October 10th 2014The effort to draw attention to the importance of prostate cancer detection was given a big boost in September when conservative Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AR) and liberal Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) joined together to sponsor legislation to create the National Prostate Cancer Council.
(Slideshow) The University of Utah’s men’s health clinic
October 8th 2014Men’s health clinics are becoming a place where men can come in and get all or most of their health care needs met in one visit. These clinics, the subject of a recent article in Urology Times, differ in design and layout but are the same in their focus on providing comprehensive health care for men. This slideshow offers a look at the Center for Reconstructive Urology and Men’s Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
(Slideshow) Men’s Health Center at The Miriam Hospital
October 8th 2014Building fellowships in male andrology and broader men’s health is becoming a key role in training younger physicians in the field for men’s health clinics. These clinics, the subject of a recent article in Urology Times, differ in design and layout but are the same in their focus on providing comprehensive health care for men.
Three key design elements for men's health clinics
October 8th 2014Urologists and internists who direct successful comprehensive men’s health centers in the U.S. say these centers need to do more than cater to men’s health needs. They should also cater to men’s wants. Specifically, here are three design elements you should incorporate into your men’s health center, if you haven’t done so already.
Urologists helping drive male-specific centers
October 7th 2014Multidisciplinary men’s health centers, rooted at hospitals, academic centers, and some private clinics, have expanded in the last few years and are meeting an important need in medicine, say key figures in these centers. Urologists are helping to drive these clinics’ success.
(Slideshow) Preston Robert Tisch Center for Men's Health
October 7th 2014Men’s health clinics are a growing trend centered around the global care of men and the philosophy that men need to be taken care of in a holistic way. These clinics, the subject of a recent article in Urology Times, differ in design and layout but are the same in their focus on providing comphrensive health care for men.
State Society conference: Vigilance in the political process essential
October 6th 2014Leaders of state, national, and subspecialty urologic societies from around the country converged in Rosemont, IL in September for a weekend of health policy discussions and advocacy tips with public officials, policy experts, and fellow urologists. One of the themes reinforced at the 7th Annual State Society Network Advocacy Conference, hosted by the AACU, was the importance and impact of physician engagement in the political process.
AUA IC/BPS guideline update highlights new data
October 6th 2014The AUA has updated its guideline on interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, with changes primarily focusing on aspects of treatment for a condition that affects three to eight million women and one to four million men in the United States.
Second agent shows significant benefit in mCRPC pre-chemo
October 6th 2014Abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA) as therapy for chemotherapy-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer improved overall survival by a statistically significant 19% compared with placebo in the final analysis of the phase III COU-AA-302 clinical trial.
AUA checklist a resource for common men’s health issues
October 6th 2014The AUA’s Committee on Male Health has developed a checklist to serve as a resource of urologic and non-urologic men’s health considerations. Intended for urologists and other health care providers, it is also aimed at better coordinating care among men’s providers.
USPSTF PSA grade has ‘minimal’ impact on screening
September 29th 2014The effect of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s controversial grade “D” recommendation regarding PSA-based screening for prostate cancer “has been minimal at best,” according to a research letter that also shows a “shocking” level of statewide variance in screening, a leading prostate cancer expert said.
Medicare to cover one PCa test, PPO covers another
September 29th 2014The ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer test qualifies for Medicare coverage effective Nov. 3, 2014, MDxHealth SA announced, while the maker of a second test, the Decipher Prostate Cancer Classifier, has added a new preferred provider organization to expand coverage of that test.
Data suggest racial disparity in high-risk PCa treatment
September 29th 2014Results of a study analyzing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program add to evidence of race-related disparity in receipt of treatment for prostate cancer, but show that having health insurance reduces the difference in care.
DHEA levels may predict response to advanced PCa agent
September 29th 2014Results of a phase II study from the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium show that abiraterone acetate (ZYTIGA) has modest clinical activity in men with progressive metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer previously treated with ketoconazole.
ADT overuse remains a problem among some urologists
September 24th 2014Inappropriate use of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist for androgen deprivation therapy of localized prostate cancer fell dramatically following implementation of reimbursement cuts mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, but overuse remains problematic, according to research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago.