Aging U.S. Population a Challenge for Oncologists
SAN DIEGO — By 2030 the entire Baby Boomer generation — now estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to number over 73 million people — will be older than 65. “This is really important for us who care for individuals with cancer because the peak incidence of cancer diagnosis is in the eighth decade of […]
To Combat Opioid Epidemic, Step Up Safe Prescribing Practices, Expert Urges
SAN DIEGO — While urology and other medical specialties have taken steps to rein in opioid overprescribing, the skyrocketing death rate in the U.S. due to opioid overdose indicates urologists — and other healthcare providers — are not being aggressive enough in implementing safe prescribing practices, according to Benjamin Davies, MD, of the University of […]
Pre-Op Axitinib Helps for Partial Nephrectomy of Complex Renal Tumors
SAN DIEGO — Use of neoadjuvant axitinib (Inlyta) resulted in significant reductions in tumor size and complexity, enabling partial nephrectomy in a cohort of patients with highly complex renal masses in whom the procedure would ordinarily not be feasible, according to an interim analysis from a small phase II trial. A course of the tyrosine […]
Sequential Gemcitabine/Docetaxel Promising in NMIBC After BCG Relapse
SAN DIEGO — The use of sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel appeared effective and well tolerated in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) following the failure of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy, a retrospective study showed. At a median follow-up of 18 months, the 6-, 12-, and 24-month high-grade recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates among […]
Bariatric Surgery Cuts All-Cause Mortality Rate Over Many Years
SAN DIEGO –Patients who underwent bariatric surgery saw a reduction in all-cause mortality that held strong over multiple years, researchers reported. In a retrospectives study, bariatric surgery patients were 16% less likely to die from any cause than their matched non-surgical counterparts over a median 13.2 follow-up period (hazard ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.79-0.90, P<0.001), […]
Testosterone Tied to Sustained Weight Loss in Men With Hypogonadism and Obesity
SAN DIEGO — Long-term testosterone therapy was associated with sustained reductions in weight for men with hypogonadism and class III obesity, a researcher reported. In registry data on 76 patients, those who opted to receive testosterone undecanoate experienced a 26% reduction in their body mass index (BMI) over close to a decade of follow-up, reported […]
Clinical Decision Tool Cuts Inappropriate BMA Therapy in Prostate Cancer
SAN DIEGO — An algorithm-based decision tool eliminated inappropriate prescribing of bone-modifying agents (BMA) in patients with advanced prostate cancer, according to a VA-based study. Prior to implementing the tool, inappropriate BMA prescribing was found in more than 50% of cases of men with metastatic sensitive-resistant prostate cancer (mCSPC) without bone metastases at the George […]
Some Reassurance That a Cuffless BP Sensor Works Regardless of Body Fat, Skin Color
SAN DIEGO — For a given individual, blood pressure (BP) readings were largely the same coming from a cuffless photoplethysmography (PPG)-based monitor or a traditional cuff-based device — regardless of the person’s sex, BMI, or skin color, a study showed. Calibrated to a cuffed device and used for cuffless wrist- and chest-based BP measurement, the […]
BP Lowering in Pregnant Women Continues to Take Shape
SAN DIEGO — Standard practice has changed since a major trial revealed earlier this year that treating mild hypertension in pregnant women helps them without hurting their children. Nevertheless, questions about the particulars of this approach arose during a discussion at the annual Hypertension meeting hosted by the American Heart Association. In April 2022, the […]
Pharmacist-Led Hypertension Clinics Able to Lower BP Within Weeks
SAN DIEGO — Across the country, nurse- and pharmacist-led hypertension clinics consistently found it feasible to get blood pressures (BPs) at or close to goal quickly — within a matter of weeks, even — according to single-center reports. In posters presented here at the annual Hypertension Scientific Sessions hosted by the American Heart Association, researchers […]