Safety and clinical efficacy of everolimus in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most lethal genitourinary malignancies. Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in the management of advanced RCC. New targeted therapies including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have been developed which have shown promising results in a patient population who otherwise had very few options for treatment.

Medical expulsive therapy as an adjunct to improve shockwave lithotripsy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Purpose: Modern shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is associated with inferior results compared with the original Dornier HM3. To enhance SWL outcomes, improved patient selection based on radiographic features and modulation of shockwave delivery rate have been used. A growing body of evidence demonstrates the positive effect of medical expulsive therapy (MET) to improve spontaneous passage of urinary calculi.

Tamsulosin oral controlled absorption system (OCAS) in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The efficacy of tamsulosin at the cost of a relatively benign side effect profile has been attributed to receptor selectivity directed at the alpha(1a) and alpha(1d) adrenergic receptor subtypes. The oral-controlled absorption system (OCAS((R))) represents a drug delivery refinement that incorporates a matrix of gel-forming and gel-enhancing agents to promote a constant drug release independent of environmental food or fluid. There are clinical data to support the concept that drug peaks are lessened and that drug release continues throughout the alimentary tract due to the OCAS formulation.

Mast cell stabilization improves cardiac contractile function following hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation.

Hemorrhagic shock (HS) is associated with cardiac contractile dysfunction. Mast cell (MC) degranulation is hypothesized to mediate the cardiodepressant effect. Cardiac function was assessed after HS and resuscitation (HS/R) with the administration of the MC stabilizers to prevent MC degranulation.

Pharmacotherapy for prostate cancer: the role of hormonal treatment.

The role of hormonal therapy in the management of prostate cancer has been known for almost half a century. However, many controversies exist regarding the place and timing of androgen deprivation therapy. An increasing spectrum for the use of androgen deprivation therapy has been assessed, including multimodal treatment with radiation therapy.

Ketamine-associated ulcerative cystitis: a new clinical entity.

Objectives: Ketamine hydrochloride is an N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist used as an anesthetic agent in human and veterinary procedures. Increasingly, it is being used as a recreational drug. Recreational ketamine users have anecdotally reported increased lower urinary tract symptoms while using the substance.