Impact of branding on public awareness of healthcare-related governing bodies: a pilot study of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand brand.

Objective: To assess the general public's understanding of urologists and of the Urological Society of Australian and New Zealand (USANZ) and gauge the effectiveness with which the USANZ disseminates health information about urological conditions to health consumers.

Subjects And Methods: Using prostate cancer as an example, a Qualtrics online market survey of Australian healthcare consumers recruited from an online pool was conducted. The number of districts sampled within each state or territory was proportional to the size of the target population within each region and were proportionately distributed across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.

The Australian laparoscopic non robotic radical prostatectomy experience - analysis of 2943 cases (USANZ supplement).

Objectives: To analyse the Australian experience of high-volume Fellowship-trained Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (LRP) surgeons.

Materials And Methods: 2943 LRP cases were performed by nine Australian surgeons. The inclusion criteria were a prospectively collected database with a minimum of 100 consecutive LRP cases.

Can atorvastatin with metformin change the natural history of prostate cancer as characterized by molecular, metabolomic, imaging and pathological variables? A randomized controlled trial protocol.

Background: Atorvastatin and metformin are known energy restricting mimetic agents that act synergistically to produce molecular and metabolic changes in advanced prostate cancer (PCa). This trial seeks to determine whether these drugs favourably alter selected parameters in men with clinically-localized, aggressive PCa.

Methods/design: This prospective phase II randomized, controlled window trial is recruiting men with clinically significant PCa, confirmed by biopsy following multiparametric MRI and intending to undergo radical prostatectomy.

Urology technical and non-technical skills development: the emerging role of simulation.

Objective: To review the emerging role of technical and non-technical simulation in urological education and training.

Method: A review was conducted to examine the current role of simulation in urology training. A PUBMED search of the terms 'urology training', 'urology simulation' and 'urology education' revealed 11,504 titles.

Advances in laser technology in urology.

Since the Ruby laser was first developed in 1960 as the first successful optical laser, laser energy has continued to be developed and used in industry and medicine alike. Laser use in urology has been limited, however, largely until the last decade. The unique properties of laser energy have now led to its widespread use within urology, particularly in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, urolithiasis, stricture disease, and novel laparoscopic applications.

KTP laser nerve sparing radical prostatectomy: comparison of ultrasonic and cold scissor dissection on cavernous nerve function.

Purpose: Energy sources used during nerve sparing radical prostatectomy are known to compromise cavernous nerve function. Lasers offer the potential for accurate dissection while minimizing collateral injury to delicate neural structures. We evaluated cavernous nerve function following KTP laser dissection and compared outcomes to those of ultrasonic shears and cold scissor dissection.

Anatomical and electrophysiological assessment of the canine periprostatic neurovascular anatomy: perspectives as a nerve sparing radical prostatectomy model.

Purpose: Although the dog is often used as a radical prostatectomy model, precise descriptions of canine prostate and neurovascular bundle anatomy are lacking. We describe canine prostate and neurovascular bundle anatomical and electrophysiological characteristics.

Materials And Methods: The canine prostate and pelvic neurovascular structures were dissected in 6 canine cadavers and 12 anesthetized dogs.

Laser nerve-sparing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a feasibility study.

Objective: To examine, in a pilot study, the feasibility of laser dissection of the neurovascular bundle (NVB) during nerve-sparing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (NSLRP). NSLRP demands precise NVB mobilization with minimal collateral tissue trauma and optimal haemostasis. Unlike other methods of delivering energy, lasers have the potential to provide rapid, precise dissection with good haemostasis and minimal adjacent tissue injury.