Extended Use of The Spanner® Temporary Prostatic Stent in Catheter-Dependent Men with Comorbidities.

Purpose: This US FDA investigational device exemption (IDE) study evaluated the extended use of The Spanner® Temporary Prostatic Stent in catheter-dependent men with urinary retention who were not deemed candidates for corrective surgery but demonstrated bladder contractility.

Materials And Methods: The Spanner was placed for 3 cycles of 30 days in catheter-dependent men with comorbid conditions, confirmed detrusor contractility, and catheter-associated discomfort. At each visit, postvoid residual, maximum flow rate, international prostate symptom score, quality of life, and adverse events were assessed.

The impact of HMG-CoA reductase therapy on serum PSA.

Background: 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, otherwise known as statins, inhibit the enzyme that controls the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a precursor for cholesterol. Statins may be important to prostate cancer biology by inhibiting cell growth, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of statin therapy on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.

Development and validation of the fecal incontinence and constipation quality of life measure in children with spina bifida.

Purpose: Fecal incontinence and constipation in children with spina bifida are recognized to impact quality of life. Most disease specific quality of life instruments on fecal incontinence target adults and/or children without neuropathic bowel. We developed an instrument to evaluate bowel function and its impact on quality of life in children with spina bifida and their caregivers.

Outcomes and quality of life issues in the pharmacological management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease of the aging male population. BPH treatment includes a variety of pharmacological and surgical interventions. The goal of this paper is to review the natural history of BPH, outcomes of pharmacological management, effects on quality of life (QoL), future pharmacotherapies, and associated patient-focused perspectives.

The AKT inhibitor perifosine in biochemically recurrent prostate cancer: a phase II California/Pittsburgh cancer consortium trial.

Background: Perifosine is an oral alkylphospholipid that inhibits cancer cell growth through decreased Akt phosphorylation. We conducted a phase II trial of perifosine in patients with biochemically recurrent, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients had histologically confirmed prostate cancer, previous prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy, and rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) without radiographic evidence of metastasis.

Non-surgical management of multicystic dysplastic kidney.

Objectives: To better define the outcome and association of multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) with hypertension, vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR), infection and cancer, as there is no consensus on the management of patients born with MCDK. The risk of cancer has dictated the surgical management of the disease in the past.

Methods: The Medline database was searched for articles published between 1965 and 2006 and written in the English language, and containing the keywords 'multicystic dysplastic kidney'.

Cost-benefit and outcome analysis: effect of prostate biopsy undergrading.

Objectives: Brachytherapy is a widely used treatment for localized prostate cancer (CaP) and is only appropriate as monotherapy for low-risk cancer. The predicted response to therapy is defined by the pretreatment parameters, of which the biopsy Gleason grade is central. However, the biopsy grade often misrepresents the true pathologic grade.

Renal cell carcinoma metastatic to gallbladder: a survival advantage to simultaneous nephrectomy and cholecystectomy.

Renal cell carcinoma is a relatively uncommon cancer. Patients presenting with a renal adenocarcinoma are often found to have evidence of metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Herein, we describe the case of a 39-year-old male with renal cell carcinoma and a synchronous metastatic focus to the gallbladder.

Biologic agents as adjunctive therapy for prostate cancer: a rationale for use with androgen deprivation.

The prevalence of prostate cancer emphasizes the need for improved therapeutic options, particularly for metastatic disease. Current treatment includes medical or surgical castration, which initially induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells, but ultimately an androgen-independent subpopulation emerges. In addition to a transient therapeutic effect, androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) can initiate biochemical events that may contribute to the development of and progression to an androgen-independent state.

Minimising postoperative incontinence following radical prostatectomy: considerations and evidence.

Objectives: To review evidence regarding perioperative predictors of incontinence after radical prostatectomy (RP), related anatomic and patient factors, and surgical techniques used to minimise incontinence.

Methods: A search of the Pubmed, Cancerlit, Cochrane, and ISI Web of Science databases was performed for the key words prostatectomy, incontinence, and continence. Relevant articles were reviewed, summarised, and analysed.

Recent developments in advanced urothelial cancer.

Purpose Of Review: Metastatic or unresectable urothelial cancer of the urinary bladder has traditionally been treated with systemic chemotherapy, which is most often platinum-based. The long-term survival data and the associated toxicities from this form of therapy have spurred continuing interest in finding novel treatment options for this malignancy.

Recent Findings: Recently, trials of new chemotherapy combinations, many incorporating platinum analogs or deleting platinum entirely, have been reported.