Can J Urol
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The American Board of Urology (ABU) has a very distinct mission that is often misunderstood by urologists in the community. In addition, there is an enormous number of acronyms associated with the ABU. ⋯ The mission of the ABU is to act for the benefit of the public to insure a high quality, safe, efficient, and ethical practice of urology by establishing and maintaining standards of certification for urologists. The ABU views that it truly serves the public, and decisions made by the ABU are measured against the publications best interests.
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Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains a widely utilized modality for treatment of localized and advanced prostate cancer. While ADT-induced alterations in testosterone have demonstrated impacts on quality of life, the effects on mental health remain ill-defined. We investigated the prevalence of de novo psychiatric illness and predictive factors following ADT induction for prostate cancer. ⋯ De novo psychiatric illness was identified in 27.9% of men. While no predictive factors were identified for de novo psychiatric illness, increasing PSA was associated with de novo anxiety. Prospective investigation using validated instruments is requisite to further delineate the relationship between ADT and psychiatric health.
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Advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of a variety of urological disorders have resulted in the development of novel medications to manage these diseases. While many disorders such as erectile dysfunction, overactive bladder, hypogonadism and benign prostatic hypertrophy have traditionally been managed primarily by urologists, the use of these newer medications has become commonplace in the primary care setting. For example, symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia therapy, while historically treated with primary surgical intervention, is now commonly initially managed with medical therapy. ⋯ Testosterone replacement therapy can be administered using a variety of oral, transdermal and intramuscular therapies in order to minimize side effects and provide a more consistent dosing pattern. Finally, overactive bladder, which is a significant problem socially, has many new medications available for its treatment. This article will review some of the newer classes of urological medications, provide an understanding of basic uropharmacology that may guide treatment recommendations, and provide insight into the potential adverse side effects and interactions of these useful medications.
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Asymptomatic microscopic and gross hematuria are common problems for the primary care physician. The exact definition of microscopic hematuria is debated, but is defined by one group as > 3 red blood cells/high power microscopic field. ⋯ Clinical evaluation of these patients often involves urological consultation with urine cytology, urine culture, imaging studies, and cystoscopy. Patients who have no identifiable cause after an extensive workup should be monitored for early detection of malignancy or occult renal disease.
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Stuttering priapism is a clinical phenomenon that occurs commonly in certain patient populations, including sickle cell anemia and other hematologic dyscrasias. Although the mechanism is still not completely understood, treatment is focused on prevention of recurrence in the outpatient setting, and immediate detumescence and minimizing corporal fibrosis in the acute setting. We present a case of stuttering priapism in a 44 year-old male with hereditary spherocytosis and discuss the pathophysiology and clinical management of this entity.