The Journal of urology
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The Journal of urology · Jun 2007
Clinical TrialDetermining dosing intervals for luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonists based on serum testosterone levels: a prospective study.
Long acting luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonists are the predominant form of androgen suppression in the treatment of prostate cancer with the goal of maintaining castrate levels of testosterone. Current dosing of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonists does not include monitoring the end organ response of serum testosterone. Recent evidence suggests standard dosing regimens fail to achieve castrate levels of testosterone in some patients while in other patients testosterone can remain at castrate levels longer than the manufacturer recommended dosing interval. We prospectively evaluated patients with prostate cancer receiving luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist hormonal therapy to determine the length of time that serum testosterone remains at or below castrate levels. ⋯ Testosterone based luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist therapy makes empirical sense. It represents continuous androgen ablation based on the patient physiological end point, namely testosterone. Early data suggest that using serum testosterone to guide luteinizing hormone releasing hormone dosing is safe, efficacious and cost-effective. By following end organ response, patients receive individualized care and more accurate androgen suppression therapy.
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The Journal of urology · Jun 2007
Autonomic nervous system changes in men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
We investigated the role of the autonomic nervous system in the chronic pelvic pain syndrome by studying blood pressure changes, power spectral analysis of heart rate variability, and hand and foot sympathetic skin responses in men with the chronic pelvic pain syndrome and healthy controls. ⋯ The heart rate variability and blood pressure changes suggest altered autonomic nervous system responses in men with the chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Sympathetic skin response findings were not conclusive. Heart rate variability and blood pressure findings provide a basis for therapeutic manipulation of the autonomic nervous system for management of the chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
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The Journal of urology · Jun 2007
Cranberry products inhibit adherence of p-fimbriated Escherichia coli to primary cultured bladder and vaginal epithelial cells.
Cranberry proanthocyanidins have been identified as possible inhibitors of Escherichia coli adherence to uroepithelial cells. However, little is known about the dose range of this effect. Furthermore, it has not been studied directly in the urogenital system. To address these issues we tested the effect of a cranberry powder and proanthocyanidin extract on adherence of a P-fimbriated uropathogenic E. coli isolate to 2 new urogenital model systems, namely primary cultured bladder epithelial cells and vaginal epithelial cells. ⋯ Cranberry products can inhibit E. coli adherence to biologically relevant model systems of primary cultured bladder and vaginal epithelial cells. This effect occurs in a dose dependent relationship. These findings provide further mechanistic evidence and biological plausibility for the role of cranberry products for preventing urinary tract infection.
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The Journal of urology · Jun 2007
Genitourinary trauma at a combat support hospital during Operation Iraqi Freedom: the impact of body armor.
This report details the occurrences of genitourinary trauma experienced during Operation Iraqi Freedom at a United States Army Combat Support Hospital, and determines if wearing body armor decreases the frequency of genitourinary and specifically kidney trauma. ⋯ The percentage of casualties with genitourinary injuries and the distribution of these injuries appear similar to previous conflicts. The percentage of casualties undergoing nephrectomy appears to be greater than that observed in other recent conflicts. There was a significant reduction in overall genitourinary injuries and specifically kidney injuries in those casualties wearing body armor.