Long-term experience of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for refractory radio- or chemotherapy-induced haemorrhagic cystitis.

Background: Radiotherapy and cyclophosphamide-induced haemorrhagic cystitis are rare but severe complications occurring in 3-6% of patients. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for haematuria not responding to conventional management. Only very few data exist for long-term follow-up after HBOT.

Effects of a 15-Month Supervised Exercise Program on Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Prostate Cancer Patients Following Prostatectomy: The ProRehab Study.

Purpose: Despite advanced medical treatment options, many prostate cancer patients are still confronted with unfavorable physical and psychological burdens. Physical exercise has proven to be beneficial for prostate cancer patients, yet specific exercise offers are rare. The ProRehab Study aimed to evaluate the exercise program offered in rehabilitative prostate cancer sports groups in Germany and determine whether it is beneficial for patients following prostatectomy.

Assessment criteria for compensation of occupational bladder cancer.

In Germany, more than 100 bladder tumor cases are annually recognized as occupational disease and compensated, given that medical experts regard exposure to carcinogenic aromatic amines as a likely cause of cancer. The amount of compensation is initially based on the tumor staging and grading at the time of initial diagnosis ("basic MdE") (MdE--reduction of earning capacity) and is adapted after a recurrence-free period of 2 and 5 years, respectively. In the event of treatment or tumor-related secondary conditions, the monthly compensation increases based on the severity of the objectified functional disorder.

Implementation and scientific evaluation of rehabilitative sports groups for prostate cancer patients: study protocol of the ProRehab Study.

Background: Although treatment regimen have improved in the last few years, prostate cancer patients following a radical prostatectomy still experience severe disease- and treatment-related side effects, including urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and psychological issues. Despite high incidence rates and the common adverse effects there is a lack of supportive measures for male patients and specific physical exercise recommendations for prostate cancer patients during rehabilitation or in the aftercare are still missing.

Methods/design: The ProRehab Project aims to establish rehabilitative sports groups particularly for prostate cancer patients and to evaluate the effects of the offered exercise program.

Bladder cancer in crack testers applying azo dye-based sprays to metal bodies.

Bladder cancer may be produced by azo dyes due to the presence of carcinogenic aromatic amines. Nine cases of suspected occupational bladder cancer that were exposed to different crack test sprays in metal-related jobs were examined. A detailed occupational history was taken and, if possible, the N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) status was determined.

The Real-Life Safety and Efficacy of vardenafil (REALISE) study: results in men from Europe and overseas with erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular or metabolic conditions.

Introduction: The Real-Life Safety and Efficacy of vardenafil study is an international, open-label, prospective, noncomparative, noninterventional study in men with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim: To determine the safety and efficacy of vardenafil in a large international pool of men with ED (aged ≥ 18 years) and associated underlying conditions (N=73,946), in a real-life setting.

Methods: Patients attended an initial physician visit and one to two follow-up visits.

Obturator and thigh abscess after transobturator tape implantation for stress urinary incontinence.

We report a case of obturator and thigh abscess 2 years after transobturator tape implantation (TVT-O) for stress urinary incontinence. Fifteen months after sling implantation repeated incisions and drainages of multiple recurrent thigh abscesses were performed. The source of infection, an eroded TVT-O, was only identified on readmission 9 months later when vaginal discharge was reported by the patient.

Comparable efficacy of once-daily versus on-demand vardenafil in men with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction: findings of the RESTORE study.

Background: Phosphodiesterase (type) 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are currently administered on demand for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Once-daily dosing has been suggested to benefit patients.

Objective: To determine whether daily vardenafil use provides added clinical benefits to patients compared with on-demand dosing.

Infection reduction using antibiotic-coated inflatable penile prosthesis.

Objectives: Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) infection remains a devastating surgical complication. American Medical Systems recently introduced an IPP with a coating of minocycline HCL and rifampin (InhibiZone). We report our experience with this coating and compare the rate of infection with our historical rate.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy--the experience of the German Laparoscopic Working Group.

Purpose: To present the current status of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with respect to transferability, learning curve, and outcome.

Material And Methods: The data of 5824 patients who underwent LRP in 18 centers by 50 urologists from March 1999 to August 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Three centers performed more than 500, and six more than 250 cases.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: prospective evaluation of the learning curve.

Objective: We prospectively evaluated the learning curve (LC) of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (L-RPE) regarding the improvements in operative times (OT) and technical difficulty in one-operator-practice as it compares with open RPE.

Methods: Over 18 months, 50 L-RPE were performed by an inexperienced surgeon in laparoscopy but skilled in open surgery. Difficulty scores were obtained at the completion of each L-RPE comparing L-RPE to open RPE.