Abstract Context Concerns about potential prostate-related complications associated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) often lead hypogonadal men to remain untreated. Methods This large-scale retrospective cohort study aimed to address these concerns by analyzing Medicare enrollment and claims data (Parts A/B/C/D) from 2007 to 2020 for men aged ≥65 with diagnosed primary or secondary hypogonadism. Cox regression analysis and 1:1 propensity score matching, both strati

Abstract Background: Centralized locations in the electronic health record (EHR) improve access to advance care planning (ACP) information; however, the prevalence of documentation errors in these locations is unknown. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included primary care patients aged ≥65 years or ≥18 years with a serious illness. We verified errors using keyword queries and categorized them as “Patient Safety Errors” (e.g., ACP not in the centralized location)

Abstract Background and objective Several phase 2–4 studies have investigated mirabegron for treating patients with overactive bladder (OAB). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mirabegron in adult male OAB patients with or without benign prostate enlargement (BPE) receiving medications for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) management. Methods A post hoc analysis of 13 phase 2–4 studies using mirabegron (2- or 4-wk single-blind placebo run

Abstract Gait is a complex, multifaceted process involving multiple organ systems. Both gait and transfer activities are key requirements for independent living. As individuals age, gait undergoes characteristic changes, including reduced walking speed, altered stride length, and increased variability. These changes are closely linked to the frailty syndromes of immobility, instability, cognitive impairment, incontinence, and iatrogenic harm. Alterations in gait and transfer

INTRODUCTION: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a common problem among older patients in primary and general care. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of LUTS and their associates related to health, other geriatric problems, lifestyle, and social conditions in the Polish population of citizens aged over 60 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The analysis was part of a national cross-sectional study, PolSenior2, conducted in 2018-2019 on a cohort of 5698 community-dwelling

Emma Sinclair, a 30-year-old community nurse from Eastleigh, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for the neglect and ill-treatment of three teenage cancer patients in her care. The offences occurred on 6 February 2024 while Sinclair was working with children undergoing cancer treatment. In addition to her prison sentence, she received a 10-year restraining order, barring any contact with the victims. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary described Sinclair’s actions

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron has urged men to prioritize prostate cancer checks after revealing his own diagnosis last year. He discovered the disease at age 59, encouraged by his wife Samantha following an interview about another man's cancer journey. Now cancer-free, Cameron is using his platform to raise awareness as prostate cancer has become the most common tumour in England, with over 55,000 men diagnosed in 2023—surpassing breast cancer cases. The rise in dia

The DME MAC contractors have issued a finalized Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for urological supplies, effective January 1, 2026. The update integrates revisions based on stakeholder comments and provides an important clarification for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). According to CMS, documentation of SCI in a patient’s medical record is now sufficient to qualify for sterile catheter kits, without requiring proof of recurrent urinary tract infections. The LCD exp

As palliative care physicians, we frequently refer patients to hospice care. When we do so, we often worry about them. How will they and their families manage custodial care—the day in, day out, physical and financial demands of caregiving—on top of navigating the inherent challenges of end of life? We know that high-quality hospice agencies provide patients and their families with invaluable support for symptomatic, emotional, and spiritual needs. But in the US, due to const

A new study reports that combining a PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) significantly delays the worsening of prostate cancer in men with oligorecurrent disease. This stage of prostate cancer occurs when the disease returns years after initial treatment but appears as only a few new lesions. While SBRT is a common treatment option, many patients eventually relapse because of microscopic cancer cells that imaging cannot detect. The add

Abstract Introduction: Residents who use multifunctional wheelchairs before nursing home admission often face discontinuation of such devices after nursing home admission. However, basic data on this issue remain limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to provide preliminary data by investigating the occurrence of fall-related fractures after nursing home admission, stratified by the type of wheelchair used before nursing home admission. Methods: We used linked long-ter

Abstract Importance   Hospitals have reported growing difficulty in discharging patients in a timely manner, often citing bottlenecks in postacute care. Medicare Advantage plans, now the dominant form of Medicare coverage, may contribute to these delays due to administrative and network constraints, yet national evidence is lacking. Objective   To quantify changes in hospital length of stay for Medicare Advantage vs traditional Medicare beneficiaries. Design, Setting, and Par

Abstract Background Closing the toilet lid before flushing is widely recommended to minimize the dispersal of pathogen-laden aerosols. However, an often-overlooked issue is that aerosols can still escape through the air gap between the bowl and seat even when the lid is closed. Methods We conducted a pilot investigation on how the gap height and lid influence droplet and bioaerosol escape in a seated toilet. Three microbes were studied, including one bacterium Escherichia col

Abstract Objectives To assess whether innovation in medical procedures and products—proxied by the expansion of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes linked to Medicare Coverage Determinations (MCDs)—is associated with declines in disability among U.S. adults from 1997 to 2019. Methods We link HCPCS codes to ICD condition categories using Local Coverage Determinations (LCD) and merge these with Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data to construct 21 con

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine  reveals a growing crisis in U.S. healthcare: nearly 5% of physicians left clinical practice in 2019—a 40% increase in just six years. Burnout, bureaucracy, and declining reimbursements are pushing doctors out of medicine. For every hour spent with patients, physicians spend nearly two on documentation, leaving little time for family or rest. Fear of malpractice lawsuits further fuels “defensive medicine,” where unne

St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne has sparked controversy after introducing a policy that fast-tracks Indigenous patients in its emergency department by automatically classifying them as “Category Three,” ensuring treatment within 30 minutes. The hospital argues this move aims to close the gap in emergency care outcomes after internal research showed Indigenous patients waited longer than others. However, critics, including Indigenous leader Nyunggai Warren Mundine, have con

A major European study published in the New England Journal of Medicine  suggests that prostate cancer screening can reduce deaths by 13%, strengthening the case for a UK screening program. The research, involving 162,000 men across eight countries over 23 years, found that one prostate cancer death was prevented for every 456 men invited for screening and for every 12 diagnosed cases. Experts say the results are comparable to those from breast and bowel cancer screening prog

New research presented at IDWeek 2025 revealed that deaths from Clostridioides difficile  infection (CDI) are significantly more common among White Americans and people living in large urban areas. Between 1999 and 2023, 83.9% of the 216,311 CDI-related deaths in the United States occurred in White individuals, compared with 8.1% in Black and 5.5% in Hispanic populations—despite their smaller share of the population. Researchers found that 83.8% of deaths were in metropolitan

Abstract Objectives Sacral neuromodulator implantation (SNM) is an advanced line of treatment for patients with overactive bladder (OAB) or underactive bladder (UAB). The procedure has two steps; patients who respond to temporary SNM proceed to permanent implantation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of SNM in our patient population, as well as to identify potential correlations between patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and procedura

New research indicates that nearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Southern California are linked to Escherichia coli  strains originating from food-producing animals, particularly chicken and turkey. Scientists from George Washington University and Kaiser Permanente Southern California analyzed over 5,700 E. coli  isolates from UTI patients and retail meat, using genomic sequencing and models to trace the bacterial origin. They found that 18% of UTIs were caused by