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September 2007 Issue of Renal And Urology News

World Literature Review

Fetuin-A Predicts Death Risk in Dialysis Patients

Serum levels of fetuin-A are a predictor of all-cause, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients, a Dutch study found.

Low Vitamin D Levels Highly Prevalent in Dialysis Patients

A study in Argentina found that vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are highly prevalent in hemodialysis (HD) patients at the end of winter.

Chemo Plus Radiotherapy May Enable Bladder Preservation

Combining cisplatin-based intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy is effective long-term for local invasive bladder carcinoma, according to a Japanese study.

Urinary Incontinence Risk Linked to Physical Activity

Higher levels of physical activity are independently related to a lower self-reported prevalence of urinary incontinence in a community-dwelling population aged 70 years and older, ...

FDA News

Lipid/Liver Test Panel Gets Waiver

A new combined test panel called Lipid Profile ALT (Cholestech Corp., Hayward, Calif.) has received an FDA waiver from Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards.

Once-Daily Formulation for OAB Treatment Approved

Sanctura XR (trospium chloride extended-release capsules), made by Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of Lexington, Mass., has been approved for the once-daily treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) ...

FDA Committee: Wait for HRPC Trial Results

The FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) has unanimously recommended that the agency wait for the final survival analysis of a phase III trial before ...

Second Approvable Letter Delays Ruling on Amyloidosis Drug

Neurochem Inc., of Quebec, Canada, has received a second approvable letter from the FDA for Kiacta (eprodisate) for the treatment of amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis.

Legal Issues

Stellar Credentials Work Against Young Urologist

Dr. R, 32, graduated as the top resident in his urology program. He turned down an opportuni-ty in academia to join an established group practice ...

Malpractice News

Electronic Records Generate New Risks

Electronic health records (EHRs) are creating a malpractice paradox, a pair of legal analysts says.

Essay Assails Local Standard Rule

Local standards of practice should be relegated to the horse-and-buggy era where they started. They can discourage advances in medical practice and place extra burdens ...

Survey: Docs Stress Out Over Errors

Mistakes take a significant psychological toll on physicians, and health-care facilities do not help them cope, a new study concludes.

Renal Nutrition Update

Studies: n-3 Fatty Acids Beneficial

CVD IS THE major cause of premature mortality in hemodialysis patients. There is some evidence to suggest that higher levels of n-3 fatty acid consumption ...

Your Money

Be Careful of the Hidden Traps of ETFs

MILLIONS OF investors have been racing to buy exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Like index mutual funds, ETFs track benchmarks, such as the Standard Poors 500-stock ...

Get the Best of Breed Funds

ALL TOO MANY investors face a common experience: They buy a top fund, and then the manager leaves. The new manager cant match the old ...

General News

Albuminuria, Vitamin D Linked

Decreasing levels of vitamin D are associated with increases in the prevalence in albuminuria, according to an epidemiologic study.

Fetuin-A Predicts Death Risk in Dialysis Patients

Serum levels of fetuin-A predictor of all-cause, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients, a Dutch study found.

Chemotherapy Plus Radiotherapy May Enable Bladder Preservation

Combining cisplatin-based intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy is effective long-term for local invasive bladder carcinoma, according to a Japanese study.

Urinary Incontinence Risk Linked to Physical Activity

High levels of physical activity are independently related to a lower self-reported prevalence of urinary incontinence in a community-dwelling population aged 70 years and older, ...

Combination Therapy Benefits Fabry Disease Patients

Combining an ACE inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) with enzyme replacement therapy using agalsidase-beta (Fabrazyme, Genzyme) may help stop progressive loss of kidney function ...

Ointment Eases Prostate Biopsy Pain

Topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) ointment is safe and effective in decreasing discomfort associated with transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided biopsy of the prostate, researchers conclude.

Machine Perfusion Better for Allografts

PRESERVING RENAL allografts using machine perfusion (MP) rather than cold storage is associated with significantly better graft survival and reduced likelihood of returning to hemodialysis, ...

ESWL Outcome Similar Despite Ureteral Stone Position

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) monotherapy is associated with similar outcomes in patients with proximal and distal ureteral stones, according to researchers.

CVD Lowers Post-Transplant Survival

Survival after renal transplantation is significantly lower in allograft recipients with known coronary artery disease, data show.

Obesity, Hyperparathyroidism Linked in CKD

ELEVATED BMI is associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism in non-dialysis CKD patients, especially patients who have evidence of malnutrition and inflammation, a study found.

Bevacizumab Benefits RCC Patients

ADDING bevacizumab (Avastin) to interferon as a first-line therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) nearly doubles progression-free survival, phase III trial data suggest. It ...

Pentraxin 3 Elevated in HD Patients

PENTRAXIN 3, a mediator of inflammation, is markedly elevated in patients on hemodialysis (HD) but not in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) or in patients ...

Biomarker Found to Predict PCa Outcome

AN IMMUNE molecule called B7-H3 on the surface of prostate cancer cells may be useful in predicting prostate cancer progression after radical surgery, according to ...

LVH Reversible After Transplantation

PROLONGED ACE inhibitor treatment can reverse left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in renal transplant recipients receiving cyclosporine-based immunosuppression, according to researchers.

Intranasal Drug Holds Promise for ED

ANAHEIM, Calif.—BREMELANOTIDE, an investigational medication administered into the nose, may improve sexual satisfaction and self-esteem in men with erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a new ...

Gene Variant and PCa Linked

PROSTATE CANCER patients who carry a certain genetic variant are at significantly higher risk for aggressive tumors, researchers say.

Bladder Ca Sex Differences

TWICE AS many men as women are treated for bladder cancer, according to a study.

ED Drug Works Despite LUTS Severity

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Tadalafil (Cialis) dosed once a day improves erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and BPH-related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), a study ...

PCa Recurrence, Agent Orange Linked

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Among black Vietnam veterans with prostate cancer, those who had been exposed to Agent Orange are at significantly increased risk of cancer recurrence following ...

Spermatogonial Stem Cells Are Promising

ADULT spermatogonial stem cells keep their pluripotency and plasticity throughout their lives, according to researchers. After successful differentiation of human spermatogonial stem cells from testicular ...

Sildenafil Benefits LUTS Patients, Easing Muscles

ANAHEIM, Calif.--Sildenafil taken daily improves lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to BPH similar to alpha blockers and 5-α-reductase inhibitors, a new trial indicates.

Lycopene Does Not Lower PCa Risk

FOR THE past 10 years, many clinicians have been advising men to boost the levels of lycopene in their diet because it could lower their ...

Uric Acid Tied to CKD Progression

HIGHER LEVELS of uric acid are weakly but significantly associated with progression of kidney disease, according to researchers.

RFA Clears Small Renal Cell Tumors

CT-GUIDED percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is safe and effective for treating small biopsy-proven renal tumors, according to researchers.

Cream Eases Biopsy Pain

TOPICAL GLYCERYL trinitrate (GTN) ointment is safe and effective in decreasing discomfort associated with transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided biopsy of the prostate, researchers conclude.

Sorafenib-Interferon Combo Promising

USING SORAFENIB in combination with interferon alfa-2b elicits a greater treatment response in patients with advanced renal cancer than either agent alone, according to two ...

Untreated Anemia Increases Morbidity

CHICAGO—Diabetics with CKD whose anemia is untreated have twice the overall risk of CVD-related hospitalizations, according to data reported at the 67th Scientific Sessions of ...

Antioxidants Can Decrease Chemo Toxicity

CHICAGO—Antioxidant supplements can ease chemotherapy toxicity in cancer patients, perhaps enabling them to complete more treatments, according to researchers. This, in turn, could translate into ...

Drug May Benefit Docetaxel Failures

CHICAGO—Irofulven, a drug derived from a mushroom, may prolong survival in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) who have failed treatment with docetaxel-based regimens, according ...

PCa Immunotherapy May Have Benefits

CHICAGO--Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), an experimental immunotherapy, is safe and potentially beneficial in men with androgen-dependent prostate cancer (ADPC), study findings suggest.

Ginseng Found to Ease Cancer Fatigue

CHICAGO—Cancer patients who have fatigue may benefit from daily doses of American ginseng, data suggest.

Tool May Improve PCa Prognostication

CHICAGO—Researchers say they have developed a nomogram that could provide more accurate survival predictions of men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).

Tumor Cells in Blood Predict Outcome.

CHICAGO—Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with castration-refractory prostate cancer (CRPC) may help predict how they will respond to chemotherapy, according to findings presented here ...

Gemcitabine Prevents TCC Relapse

CHICAGO—Intravesical gemcitabine is an effective and well tolerated adjuvant local chemotherapy in patients with superficial bladder cancer, according to researchers in Algeria.

Daily Sildenafil May Improve CVD

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Daily dosing of sildenafil (Viagra) may offer both penile vascular and cardiovascular health benefits in type 2 diabetic men with erectile dysfunction (ED), according ...

Fabry Disease Renal Decline Slowed

COMBINING AN ACE inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) with enzyme replacement therapy using agalsidase-beta (Fabrazyme, Genzyme) may help stop progressive loss of kidney function ...

AKF Survey Reveals Medicare D's Pitfalls

PATIENTS with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are facing substantive challenges with the onset of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program, a new survey ...

CRP Predicts Prostate Cancer Survival

CHICAGO—Elevated plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) predict worse survival in patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC) receiving docetaxel-based therapy, a study found.

New Drug for Advanced RCC

CHICAGO—Pazopanib, a new oral angiogenesis inhibitor, may be effective in treating metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), according to data from an ongoing phase II trial.

Cover Articles

Acute Renal Failure Is On the Increase

ACUTE RENAL failure (ARF) is on the increase in the United States, according to a study that researchers say provides the most accurate estimates of ...

Stones, Heart Disease Linked

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Nephrolithiasis may be associated with a modest but significantly elevated risk of heart disease, according to a new study presented here at American Urological ...

Epilepsy Drug Eases the Hot Flashes of ADT

GABAPENTIN (Neurontin) may provide a safe and effective treatment for hot flashes in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer.