Der Urologe. Ausg. A
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Der Urologe. Ausg. A · Sep 2004
Comparative Study[Impact of immunochemotherapy on survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. A retrospective study comparing interferon-alpha-2a/vinblastine versus interferon-alpha-2a/interleukin-2/5-fluorouracil].
The prognosis for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unsatisfactory to date. Combined immunochemotherapy (ICT) strives for a synergistic effect avoiding a substantial increase of therapy-related adverse events. The combination therapy regimes consisting of either interferon-alpha-2a/vinblastine (IFN-alpha2a/VBL) or interferon-alpha-2a/interleukin-2/5-fluorouracil (IFN-alpha2a/IL-2/5-FU) demonstrated objective remission rates, surpassing the results obtained with the administration of single immunotherapeutic agents. ⋯ Eight patients discontinued the ICT, two of whom died of a myocardial infarction. Despite an overall limited prognosis, patients showing a tumor remission seem to benefit from ICT in terms of overall survival. While both treatment options offer comparable remission and survival rates, the IFN-alpha2a/VBL regimen induces fewer adverse events than the treatment with IFN-alpha2a/IL-2/5-FU.
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Der Urologe. Ausg. A · Jul 2004
[Laser acupuncture as third-line therapy for primary nocturnal enuresis. First results of a prospective study].
Laser acupuncture is a painless, non-invasive, and cost effective treatment for children with therapy resistant monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis. This kind of acupuncture is an alternative treatment with positive results. Currently, we are treating 24 children (22 males, 2 females) out of a planned 200 children aged between 5 and 12 years. ⋯ Over 3 months, we treated the children once a week with acupuncture, inserting at the following points: medial Ren 3, bilateral Ma 36, bilateral Mi 6, bilateral Bl 33, medial Ren 6, medial Ex B5. A better enuresis frequency was achieved in 21 out of the 24 children (87.5%). Before the end of the 12th treatment, six of the 24 children (25%) were completely dry and 16 (66.6%) had an enuresis frequency reduced by more than half after the 12th treatment.
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Sexual dysfunction in the aging male has only recently found widespread attention. As apposed to enduring conceptions of "asexual" elderly, recent representative surveys show that the majority of men maintain sexual wishes and fantasies into old age. ⋯ Sexual dysfunctions in aging result from physical, psychological, partner-related changes and lifestyles. These should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunctions in the aging male.
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Der Urologe. Ausg. A · Mar 2004
Historical Article[Urology and Psychosomatics. A historical summary].
The investigation and description of psychosomatic interrelationships has a long tradition in the field of urology. At the beginning of last century, psychosomatic theories and therapies involving urologic questions were developed, some of which are still part of current therapeutic strategies. Numerous studies accentuated the need for a psychosomatic diagnostics and therapy of urologic diseases. The appreciation of psychosomatic urology is growing, a fact which is reflected in current urological teaching curricula.
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Der Urologe. Ausg. A · Mar 2004
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial[Influence of transrectal endosonography on the clinical staging of impalpable prostate cancer. A controversy over the TNM system].