CDC Report Reveals Smoking, Obesity Trends in U.S. Adults

In 2008-2010, the prevalence of key health behaviors among U.S. adults varied, with about one in five adults current smokers and 62.1% overweight or obese.

For Men With Prostate Cancer, Comorbidities Up Other-Cause Risk

Among men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer the risk for other-cause mortality increases with the number of comorbid conditions, particularly in older men.

Vitamin C Deemed Ineffective as Therapy for Gout

Short-term therapy with vitamin C at modest doses did not have a clinically significant effect on lowering urate levels in patients with gout.

Pentec Health Recalls Nutritional Prescriptions

Pentec Health is recalling unused nutritional prescriptions for renal patients compounded on or before May 2, 2013.

Meds for Back Pain Tied to Higher Erectile Dysfunction Risk

Long-term use of painkillers for back pain is tied to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.

New Drug Approved for Advanced Prostate Cancer

The FDA has approved Bayer's Xofigo for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer with bone metastases.

Health Effects of Further Lowering Sodium Unclear

Lowering sodium levels to moderate seems to result in improved health outcomes, but the evidence is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of further lowering levels.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery Loses Effectiveness

In women with pelvic organ prolapse who undergo abdominal sacrocolpopexy, the failure rates increase with longer follow-up.

Male Enhancement Pills Contain Hidden Drug Ingredients

The FDA warns the public to stop using three male sexual enhancement products after finding undeclared drug ingredients such as tadalafil.

Websites for Testosterone Replacement Mum on Risks

Most websites promoting testosterone replacement therapy do not mention the risk of side effects.

Topical Option Available for Erectile Dysfunction

TriMix has launched TriMix-gel, an erectile dysfunction medication for patients who cannot tolerate self-injection with a needle or have failed PDE5 inhibitor therapy.

Despite Media Attention, Many Men With Erectile Dysfunction Go Untreated

Only about a quarter of men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction receive treatment, despite the availability and heavy media promotion of treatments.

Study: Incidence of Testicular Cancer Up Over 20 Years

The incidence of testicular germ cell tumors increased from 1992-2009, especially among Hispanic men.

Counterfeit Viagra Prompts Pfizer to Create New Purchasing Website

Pfizer has launched Viagra home delivery, a new website where patients can fill their Viagra prescriptions from a trusted online source.

Gene Variants Linked to Reduced Male Fertility

Particular gene variants of follicle stimulating hormone and its receptor are associated with significantly reduced fertility in men.

Urology App Provides 3D Models for Patient Consults

UroSketch 3D, a mobile app from GenomeDx Biosciences, is now available for urologists to help aid patient consultations. The app provides 3D models of the prostate, bladder, and surrounding organs.

Therapy for Corneal Cystine Crystal Accumulation Launched

Cystaran (cysteamine ophthalmic solution; Sigma-Tau) is the first FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of corneal cystine crystal accumulation in patients with cystinosis.

New Treatment Approved for Nephropathic Cystinosis

The FDA has approved Procysbi delayed-release capsules for the treatment of nephropathic cystinosis in patients 6 years or older. The approval is based on data from six clinical trials.

High Doses of Saw Palmetto Appear Safe Over 18 Months

Extracts of saw palmetto berry used at doses of up to 960mg daily appear to be safe over an 18-month period.

Alert: Sex Plus, Zoom-Zooma-Zoom Added to Tainted Products List

The FDA is advising consumers not to purchase or use sexual enhancement products Sex Plus and Zoom-Zooma-Zoom. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the products contain undeclared ingredients such as sildenafil and tadalafil.

Analgesics During Endurance Events Can Have Adverse Effects

Analgesic use before endurance sports can cause serious medical events.

Urine Cytology Adds Little to Hematuria Investigation

Urine cytology adds little to the diagnostic value of standard hematuria investigations.

For Older Men, Prostate Biopsy Uncommon After Abnormal PSA

For older men with abnormal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, performance of prostate biopsies is uncommon and decreases with advancing age and worsening comorbidity.

Orphan Drug Application Filed for OMS721 for aHUS

Omeros has filed an Application for Orphan Drug Designation with the FDA for OMS721, the lead human monoclonal antibody in Omeros' mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-2 program, for use in the treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Similar Outcomes for Robotic, Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

For men undergoing routine surgical treatment for localized cancer of the prostate, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy does not result in better functional outcomes compared to laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Prostatic Artery Embolization May Aid Enlarged Prostate

In a small study, prostatic artery embolization was shown to improve urinary symptoms in men with an enlarged prostate.

Traumatic Brain Injury Can Diminish Sexual Function

Brain injury can directly and indirectly affect important aspects related to sexuality and sexual function.

Central Adiposity May Affect Renal Hemodynamics

Regardless of body mass index, higher waist-to-hip ratio -- a measure of central adiposity -- is associated with lower glomerular filtration rate, lower effective renal plasma flow, and higher filtration fraction.

Topical Anesthetics Effective for Premature Ejaculation

Topical anesthetic agents seem to be effective and are generally well tolerated for patients with premature ejaculation.

FDA Agrees to Priority Review for First ADPKD Therapy

The FDA has accepted Otsuka's New Drug Application for priority review for the potential use of tolvaptan in the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). If approved, tolvaptan would become the first pharmaceutical therapy for patients with ADPKD, an inherited genetic disease.

Statins Show Protective Effect Against Acute Kidney Injury

Initiating a statin prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery may modestly reduce the risk of acute kidney injury post-CABG, especially in patients over 65 years old.

Androgen Deprivation Tx Compared in Prostate Cancer

In patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, intermittent androgen deprivation is associated with slightly, but not significantly, worse survival than continuous androgen deprivation.

Rate of Nephrectomy at Lymph Node Dissection Is Declining

Over the last 30 years, the incidence of nephrectomy at post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection has steadily declined, most likely due to a combination of factors.

RGS Gene Variants Linked to Bladder Cancer Outcome

For patients with bladder cancer, genetic variants in the regulator of G-protein signaling pathway are associated with risk, recurrence, progression, and death.

Possible Link Between Hypospadias and High-Fat Dairy Diet During Pregnancy

Although no obvious relationship between organic diet during pregnancy and hypospadias has been found, frequent consumption of non-organic high-fat dairy products during pregnancy might be associated with increased odds of hypospadias.

For Kidney Patients, High-Potency Statins May Increase Risk of Hospitalization

For patients with non-chronic kidney disease, high-potency statin treatment is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for acute kidney injury.

Blood Pressure Shifts a Mortality Risk for African-Americans With Kidney Disease

Higher systolic blood pressure visit-to-visit variability is independently associated with overall and cardiovascular mortality in African-Americans with chronic kidney disease.

Three Biomarkers Accurately Detect Early-Stage Kidney Cancer

Measuring the levels of three serum proteins can detect kidney cancer with high accuracy, according to South Korean researchers.

Plastics Chemical BPA Tied to Asthma in Inner-City Youth

Urinary concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) are significantly associated with asthma in inner-city children.

Symptom-Specific Quality of Life Up in Repeat Sling Procedure

Women undergoing repeat midurethral sling procedure have a significantly increased risk of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) failure, but experience greater improvement in urinary symptom-specific quality of life (QOL) than women undergoing a primary procedure.

Pulmonary Congestion Predicts Death, Cardiac Events in ESRD

Pulmonary congestion can predict risk of death and cardiac events in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis.

Urologic Patient Education Reading Materials Too Difficult

Online urologic patient education materials (PEMs) are generally written above recommended reading levels.

IV Hydroxyethyl Starch Not OK in Critically Ill Patients

Due to significant safety concerns, hydroxyethyl starch should not be used for acute volume resuscitation in critically ill patients.

Synthetic Marijuana Linked to Acute Kidney Injury

Synthetic cannabinoids, sold under labels such as "synthetic marijuana," "herbal incense," "potpourri," and "spice" have been tied to hospitalizations for unexplained acute kidney injury (AKI) in the United States.

n-3 PUFA May Reduce Markers of Kidney Disease in T2DM

In patients with type 2 diabetes and evidence of kidney injury, supplementation with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) does not reduce urine albumin excretion but is associated with a reduction in certain markers of kidney injury.

One Hospital Night OK for Robotic Partial Nephrectomy

Regardless of surgical complexity, most patients undergoing robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) can be discharged in one day.

Alternative PSA Screening Strategies Could Reduce Harm

Compared with standard screening, alternative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening strategies could maintain good prostate cancer detection rates while reducing overdiagnoses and unnecessary biopsies.

Long-Term Outcomes Similar With Prostatectomy, Radiation

At 15 years after diagnosis, disease-specific functional outcomes are not significantly different for men with localized cancer undergoing prostatectomy or radiotherapy.

FDA Approves OTC Oxytrol Patch for Women

Merck announced that the FDA has approved Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin transdermal system), the first over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for overactive bladder in women.

Docs' Use of Informed Decision-Making for PSA Testing Varies

Physicians' practice styles related to informed decision-making for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening are linked to their personal beliefs about screening.

Older Individuals Have Atypical Stone Presentation

Older individuals are more likely to have atypical presentation with urolithiasis.

New Hematuria Risk Index IDs Patients at Low Cancer Risk

A Hematuria Risk Index could identify cancer risk among patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria.

Novel Racial/Ethnic Differences Found in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Rates of proteinuric and nonproteinuric diabetic kidney disease (DKD) vary significantly across racial/ethnic groups.

Hospital Stays Shorter for Prostatectomy, Cystectomy

There were reductions in hospital stays for patients undergoing prostatectomy and cystectomy in 2004-2005, compared to those undergoing the procedures in 1992-1993.

Prevalence of Interstitial Cystitis/Chronic Prostatitis ID'd

The symptoms of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) are widespread among men in the United States.

Urodynamic Studies Affect Diagnoses, but Not Treatment

Although preoperative urodynamic studies frequently change clinical diagnoses, they rarely lead to changes in the surgical or global treatment plans for women with stress urinary incontinence (UI).

rhBMP-2 Linked to Increased Rate of Retrograde Ejaculation

For patients with lumbar spondylosis or spondylolisthesis of the lowest lumbar levels who undergo open anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is associated with an increased rate of retrograde ejaculation (RE).

sBLA Accepted for Xiaflex for Peyronie's Disease

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has accepted for review its supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Xiaflex (collagenase clostridium histolyticum or CCH) for the treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD).

Pre-Consult Genitourinary Exams Performed Infrequently

Initial genitourinary (GU) physical examinations are performed in less than a third of cases prior to requesting a urologic consultation, and this rate is affected by patient age and sex.

Recent Increase Noted in Pubic Hair Grooming Injuries

Over the last decade there has been a five-fold increase in injuries relating to pubic hair grooming presenting to the emergency department, most of which are due to the use of razors.

Dialysis-Requiring Acute Kidney Injuries on the Rise

From 2000-2009, the incidence of dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (AKI) and resulting deaths increased considerably.

Longer UTI Treatment Doesn't Reduce Recurrence Among Men

For men with urinary tract infection (UTI), longer duration of antibiotic treatment does not reduce recurrence; and treatment of preoperative bacteriuria has no clinical benefit.

Periodontal Disease, Erectile Dysfunction Linked

For males aged 30-40 years, there is an association between chronic periodontitis (CP) and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Managing Erectile Dysfunction, Comorbid Diseases Linked

Diagnosis and management of erectile dysfunction (ED) improves health outcomes for men with comorbid diseases, and vice versa.

Analysis Seeks True Magnitude of Cryptorchidism Malignancy Risk

For boys with isolated cryptorchidism, there is an almost three-fold increased relative risk of testicular malignancy.

Testosterone Doesn't Add to Erectile Response With Sildenafil

For men with erectile dysfunction and low testosterone levels, the addition of testosterone to sildenafil is not superior to sildenafil alone for improving erectile function.

Nephron Sparing Surgery Has Excellent Lasting Outcomes

For patients with bilateral renal masses, nephron sparing surgery (NSS) results in excellent long-term oncological and functional outcomes and survival rates.

Decreased Renal Function Linked to Cognitive Decline

Decreased estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) correlate with cognitive decline.

Motility Up With Less Variation in Length of Sperm Components

Men whose sperm vary more widely in the length of their component parts have lower concentrations of motile sperm.

Genitourinary Injuries Often Related to Consumer Products

Acute genitourinary injuries most commonly occur in males, with the highest prevalence among young adults, and are frequently associated with consumer products such as sporting items.

Lower Income More Strongly Linked to Albuminuria in Blacks

The correlation between lower income and albuminuria is stronger in blacks than whites, and may be one determinant of racial disparities in albuminuria.

NephroTalk Helps Docs Prepare for Difficult Discussions

A communication skills workshop for nephrology fellows (NephroTalk), which focuses on delivering bad news and helping patients define care goals, improves the preparedness of nephrology fellows for having difficult discussions with patients.

sBLA Submitted for Xiaflex for Peyronie's Disease

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals announced that it has submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the FDA for Xiaflex (collagenase clostridium histolyticum or CCH) for the potential treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD).

Phase 3 Trial Update of Tolvaptan for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Otsuka announced Phase 3 clinical trial results for tolvaptan, an investigational drug for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Differential miRNA Expression IDs Urothelial Cancer Grade

Four microRNAs (miRNAs) are differentially expressed in low-grade noninvasive (pTa) and high-grade invasive (pT2-3) urothelial carcinoma, and show potential as diagnostic or prognostic markers.

Interstitial Cystitis Pain Linked to SNP in Sodium Channel

Frequency of A allele in rs6746030 significantly more common in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

Overweight, Obese Teens at Risk for End-Stage Renal Disease

Being overweight or obese as an adolescent is significantly associated with increased risk for all-cause treated end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

High Reliability for Hypersexual Disorder Diagnostic Criteria

Proposed criteria for hypersexual disorder (HD) show high reliability and validity.

Prevalence, Risks for Sexual Dysfunction Vary by Veteran Age

For Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, the prevalence and risk factors for sexual dysfunction (SD) vary with age.

Laser + Bipolar Resection Helpful for Large Prostates

Bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in combination with high-intensity diode laser (DL + b-TURP) is feasible for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in large prostates.

Outpatient Urological Services Costs Up When Done in a Hospital

Outpatient urological procedures are performed at lower cost in ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices compared to hospitals.

Link Between Vitamin D, Mortality Not Impacted by eGFR

Adults with low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) have increased mortality, regardless of the presence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60mL/min/1.73m².

ASRM: Dietary Glycemic Load Linked to Sperm Concentration

Increased carbohydrate intake and dietary glycemic load and increased intake of full-fat dairy products are associated with worse semen quality.

Obese Young Males Have Lower Testosterone Levels

Obesity in young males is associated with low testosterone concentrations.

Sling Offers Lasting Benefit for Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence treatment with a distal urethral polypropylene sling procedure is associated with excellent long-term efficacy and durability.

AAP: Secondary Sexual Features Developing Earlier in U.S. Boys

For U.S. boys, the mean age for development of secondary sexual characteristics is earlier than reported previously, and varies depending on race.

Myrbetriq Available for Overactive Bladder Treatment

Astellas Pharma announced that Myrbetriq (mirabegron) extended-release tablets, indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency, is now available.

Glycocalyx Barrier Impaired in Dialysis Patients

Patients undergoing dialysis have an impaired glycocalyx barrier and elevated levels of its constituents in their blood.

Post-Op Radiation Has Lasting Benefit in Prostate Cancer

For men with high-risk prostate cancer, postoperative radiation after radical prostatectomy is associated with improved biochemical progression-free survival over a median of 10.6 years of follow-up, compared with a wait-and-see policy.

Higher Calcium Intake May Lower Risk of Hyperparathyroidism

Women consuming higher levels of calcium are at lower risk of primary hyperparathyroidism.

AACR: Green Tea May Inhibit Prostate Cancer Tumor Growth

Drinking green tea may play a role in the inhibition of prostate cancer tumor growth.

AACR: Flavonoids Inversely Tied to Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Higher flavonoid consumption is associated with reduced odds for aggressive prostate cancer.

AACR: Multivitamins Linked to Modest Drop in Cancer in Men

Over more than a decade of follow-up, daily use of a common multivitamin correlates with a modest reduction in the risk for total cancer occurrence among older men.

ASA: Ocular Injuries Up With Robotic-Assisted Prostatectomy

For patients undergoing radical prostatectomy, perioperative visual injury (POVI) increased from 2000-2009, with significantly increased rates for robotic-assisted vs. an open approach procedure.

Fluoro-Less Ureteral Stent Placement Deemed Feasible

The placement of ureteral stents following uncomplicated ureteroscopic stone removal, without fluoroscopy for image guidance, is feasible and has comparable accuracy and complication rates to that of conventional ureteral stent placement with fluoroscopy.

Prognosis After Cystectomy Not Affected by Smoking

Despite the link between cigarette smoking and the development of bladder cancer, the prognosis of people with bladder cancer after undergoing a cystectomy is not affected by cigarette smoking.

Tadalafil Effective, Safe in Complete Erectile Dysfunction

In men with complete erectile dysfunction (ED), tadalafil 2.5mg and 5mg once-daily result an in intercourse success rate of 32.4% and 46.4%, respectively.

Gene Signatures Predict Outcome in Prostate Cancer

Gene expression signatures can identify men with low- or high-risk advanced prostate cancer.

Anal Cancer Increase Linked to HIV Infection Only in Men

The rising incidence of anal cancer since 1980 in the United States is strongly impacted by HIV infection in men but not women.

Inadequate Education ID'd As Barrier to Home Hemodialysis

Barriers to implementation of successful home hemodialysis include lack of patient and physician education.