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August 2007 Issue of Renal And Urology News

World Literature Review

Anal Cancer Risk Higher in Solid Organ Recipients

Recipients of solid organ transplants have a higher rate of anal cancer, but not colorectal cancer, than the general population, according to an Austrian study.

Greater Stone Density Predicts SWL Failure

High renal-stone density and elevated BMI decrease the likelihood of stone disintegration with shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), Egyptian researchers conclude.

Study: CRP Levels May Identify High-Grade VUR

A fever of 38.5º C or higher may predict which children have vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels above 50 mg/L may identify ...

Calcitriol May Have Role in HRPC Salvage Therapy

High-dose calcitriol and docetaxel, each given separately one day a week for six weeks, appear to be an effective and well-tolerated combination for men living ...

Legal Issues

Missed Renal Cell Mass Trips Up a Diligent Urologist

Dr. H, 54, is a urologist who works solo and is happy to do so. Earlier in his career he had practiced in a clinic ...

Malpractice News

Physicians Fail to Follow Their Own Good Intentions

Doctors are far more willing to be candid with imaginary patients than real ones, University of Iowa researchers have found.

Admitting Mistakes Pays an ‘Honesty Dividend&

Candor means sometimes having to say you’re sorry, but it can de-fuse a potentially litigious situation. That’s surgeon Michael S. Woods’ message in the new ...

Limits on Damages Cut Malpractice Premiums

Caps on malpractice awards to plaintiffs for noneconomic damages result in lower insurance premiums for doctors, according to a research team from the University of ...

Renal Nutrition Update

Meat Meals Could Affect CKD Staging

DIRECTLY DETERMINED glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the gold standard for measuring renal function. Because its determination is relatively costly and complex, however, estimated GFR ...

Your Money

Turbocharge Your Stock Dividends

ALPINE DYNAMIC Dividend, a stock fund, is yielding 9%, not counting capital gains. This is more than four times the paltry 1.8% dividend payment of ...

Phone Companies Are Ringing Up Big Profits

A FEW years ago traditional phone companies seemed on the verge of extinction. Instead of using landlines, more callers were turning to cell phones. Cable ...

General News

Contrast Nephropathy Rare in Stroke

RADIOCONTRAST NEPHROPATHY (RCN) is an uncommon complication in acute stroke patients undergoing emergency CT angiography (CTA), according to Canadian researchers.

Diabetes May Hike Uric Acid Stone Risk

TORONTO—Type 2 diabetics may be at a higher risk for uric acid stones, but not calcium oxalate stones, compared with non-diabetics, according to Texas researchers.

Drug Could Protect Transplanted Kidneys

SAN FRANCISCO—Leflunomide may be effective in stabilizing allograft function in renal transplant recipients who have BK virus nephropathy, data suggest.

ED Linked to Thalidomide

VIENNA—Erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a common adverse effect of thalidomide used to treat hematologic diseases, according to a study presented here at the 12th ...

ED May Herald Coronary Heart Disease

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Erectile dysfunction (ED) may predict future coronary heart disease (CHD).

Extended Epoetin Alfa Dosing Effects Similar in Diabetics

PATIENTS WITH and without diabetes respond similarly to extended dosing of epoetin alfa as infrequently as once every four weeks, data show.

Fixed-Dose Combo Boosts BP Control

CHICAGO—At least three of every four high-risk hypertensive patients started on single-tablet, fixed-dose, dual-mechanism therapy achieve the recommended target BP of less than 140/90 mm ...

Flaxseed Slows Prostate Tumor Growth

FLAXSEED SLOWS the growth of prostate cancer in men awaiting surgery, a new controlled study has found. The finding contrasts with epidemiologic evidence suggesting that ...

High PTH Common Post-Transplant

HYPERPARATHYROIDISM IS common in long-term transplant recipients, findings suggest.

Low Testosterone May Increase Mortality

TORONTO—Androgen deficiency in men aged 50 years and older may be associated with an increased risk of death, independent of adiposity and lifestyle choices, a ...

Metabolic Syndrome Possibly Linked to IVF

TORONTO—Children who are conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be at increased risk of early metabolic syndrome, according to researchers in Greece.

Nearly 10% Have OAB

QUEBEC CITY—Nearly one in 10 Canadian adults suffer from overactive bladder (OAB), according to a population-based survey.

PCa Death Decline Tied To Screening

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Declines in prostate cancer deaths are associated with an increase in PSA screening, although the effect is greater in white than in black men, ...

Small Renal Masses Often Not A Threat

QUEBEC CITY—Two Canadian studies characterizing the natural history of renal masses in elderly patients—many with significant comorbidities—may help to define when active surveillance is appropriate ...

PCa Treatment Type Affects ED Therapy

QUEBEC CITY—A Canadian study of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) following prostate cancer therapy showed that those who received radiation therapy alone had greater success ...

PCa Vaccine Followed by Docetaxel Beneficial

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Men with androgen independent prostate cancer (AIPC) who have received initial treatment with sipuleucel-T (Provenge) followed by docetaxel after progression of their disease may ...

PCPs May Miss LUTS Cases

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are present in 42% of men over age 50 who visit their primary-care physician (PCP), according ...

Post-Tx Fractures Underrecognized?

TORONTO—Fracture rates following kidney transplantation may be more prevalent than previously recognized, according to findings presented here at the 89th annual meeting of The Endocrine ...

Statin May Affect Testosterone Test

TORONTO—Atorvastatin use may lower total testosterone and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in men with type 2 diabetes, a British study suggests. The statin had no ...

Stem Cell Injections Ease Incontinence

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Endoscopic injections of human umbilical cord blood stem cells may be a safe treatment option for women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), according to ...

Testosterone Considered Safe for Older Men

TORONTO—Six months of testosterone supplementation in older men with moderately low testosterone levels appears to be relatively safe, with little or no negative effects on ...

Testosterone Patch Beats Capsules

TORONTO—Smooth and prolonged release of testosterone by transdermal delivery (Testopatch) translates into greater clinical improvement in hypogonadal men compared with oral testosterone, French researchers say.

Testosterone Post-Prostatectomy Safe

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may be an appropriate treatment for hypogonadism in men following radical prostatectomy (RP), according to researchers.

Testosterone Undecanoate Safe

TORONTO—Testosterone undecanoate administered every three months is a safe treatment for hypogonadal men, according to a four-year study.

Voiding Problems Linked To Waist Size

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Central obesity is associated with an increased risk of male pelvic dysfunction

Weight Gain Affects SBP

INCREASING PERCENTAGES of interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) in hemodialysis patients are associated with increases in predialysis systolic BP (SBP) and SBP changes with hemodialysis.

Young Hypertensives Usually Referred

CHICAGO—A survey of general pediatricians showed that 84% of them refer more than two thirds of their adolescent hypertensives to either a nephrologist or cardiologist, ...

Zoledronic Acid is Safe for Kidneys

VIENNA—New data confirm the renal safety of a once-yearly infusion of zoledronic acid (Reclast) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, researchers reported here at the European ...

Cover Articles

Stone Size, Density Matter

QUEBEC CITY—Studies presented at recent North American medical conferences have identified factors that can predict the success or failure of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) for ...

Statin Helps Diabetics Who Have Low GFR

CHICAGO—Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is as effective in preventing major cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetics who have impaired renal function as it is in those with ...

BPH Drugs May Affect Semen Parameters

TORONTO—Chronic use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors is associated with mild decreases in sperm count and semen volume, but these recover when men stop taking the drugs, ...

Review articles

.Laser Meets the BPH Gold Standard

FOR 30 years, lasers have been evolving for the treatment of urologic conditions. Investigators focused on lasers for BPH to achieve results similar to transurethral ...

Predicting RCC Outcomes: An Update

Despite current therapies, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is often lethal. Many factors influence outcomes, including stage, grade, subtype, necrosis, and molecular attributes. Prognosis can be ...

Why Blacks Have Lower Renal Tx Rates

RACIAL HEALTH care disparities are represented by measurable and significant differences in the incidence of certain diseases as well as their associated morbidity and mortality ...

Commentary

Phosphate Binders Not the Whole Answer

Nephrologists and dietitians spend a significant amount of their time managing hyperphosphatemia. Phosphorus retention, which occurs in moderate to advanced CKD, is thought to contribute ...