Blog Updates for October 2007

We are highlighting updates that may be of particular interest.

Oct 2. In the Links section to the right we added Glode blog and EAU guidelines.

Oct 4. In How Healthy Men Can Reduce Their Risk we added this 6 page brochure by Neal Barnard [link] .

Oct 4. In Free Downloadable Materials post we added a new section entitled SINGLE TOPICS and started it out with these two documents:

• Wassersug on Transdermal Estradiol. Article advances the view that "Transdermal Estradiol versus LH-RH Agonists for Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Benefits and Risks Richard Wassersug, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS LAY ABSTRACT Transdermal estradiol (tE2), in the form of patches or topical gel, can provide the same level of androgen suppression (AS) for advanced prostate cancer (PCa) as Lupron and Zoladex; i.e., LHRH agonists (aLH-RH). tE2 treatment prevents the hot flashes, weak bones, and increased risk of a fatal heart attack associated with aLH-RH. It also costs much less. However, tE2 is not usually prescribed for AS. To better inform clinicians and patients about the tE2 option for AS, I undertook a comparative review of the pharmacology and side effects of estrogen versus aLH-RH."
  
• Jon Nowlin's Active Survellience Summary. This table summarizes entry and exit criteria for active surveillance (watchful waiting).
  

Oct 7. Added to the Community Resources page a new section on Financial items. So far we just have this one: The Baby Bells gives discount to those in financial distress due to illness.

Oct 19. Above the rotating news at the top of the page we added a link to (1) a dynamically generated Pubmed list of recent free full text papers and (2) a similar list not restricted to those with full free text. The first is something I have wanted for a while now and I finally discovered how to automatically generate such a list.

Oct 28. In Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer we added some additional information on dosage.

In his PCAAT article Dr. Donald Trump suggests that if "blood 25(OH) D3 levels are raised into the 32-100 nmol/L level, PTH levels decrease and loss of bone density improves in most individuals. Whether this level (32-100 nmol/L) reflects the optimal or ideal for any individual is not clear." The 32-100 nmol/L levels that Trump mentions correspond to 8 to 40 ng/mL. In this 2006 survey [PMID: 16825677] [Full Text] Bischoff-Ferrari et al conclude that optimum serum (i.e. blood) levels of "25(OH)D begin at 75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL), and the best are between 90 and 100 nmol/L (36–40 ng/mL)".

In a report written by the University of Ottawa for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health found "a significant positive association comparable to an increase of 1 - 2 nmol/L in serum 25(OH)D for every 100 additional units of vitamin D although heterogeneity remained after adjusting for dose". Although dose-response cannot be assumed linear if we use this as a gross approximation this would indicate that 1000 IU/day would raise serum levels by 10-20 nmol/L or 4-8 ng/mL.

Oct 28. In PSA Screening and Early Detection. Part 2 we note:
PSA is decreased by metabolic syndrome [link]

Oct 28. In ED After Prostatectomy. Part 2 - Rehabilitation in this paper [PMID: 17822466] investigators perform a randomized control trial which concludes that daily use of a VED starting one month after prostatectomy signficantly "improves early sexual function and helps to preserve penile length".