High levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream has been linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer. Among the findings in the new study was the observation that vitamin D levels interacted with specific areas of the vitamin D receptor gene, with increased vitamin D levels linked to even greater reductions in the risk of colorectal cancer. Read more

It may be time to make walnuts a regular part of your diet if you want to help fight prostate cancer. A new study from researchers in California notes that feeding mice the equivalent of 3 ounces of walnuts per day resulted in a 50% reduction in the size of prostate cancer tumors and a 30% slowing in the growth of prostate tumors. Read more

Green tea, onions, and olive leaf extract: no, it’s not a recipe but it is a list of natural substances that can help fight heart disease by assisting with weight loss and obesity. A researcher from the University of Southern Queensland reported that green tea and other foods fed to rats experienced a decline in fat cells and lost weight. Read more

Men with high-grade PIN (prostate intraepithelial neoplasia) are at significant risk of developing prostate cancer within one year of undergoing a repeat prostate biopsy. It may be possible to safely and effectively reduce the risk of prostate cancer by taking green tea catechins, according to a study published in Cancer Research. Read more

A pair of socks, a change of underwear and 63 pounds of erectile dysfunction drug.

Those were the contents of a man’s luggage as he attempted to enter Los Angeles International Airport from Seoul, South Korea, earlier this month, officials said.

“We’ve seen small quantities before, but we’ve never seen 63 pounds,” said Jaime Ruiz with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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Two Finnish experts have questioned the idea of the ‘overactive bladder syndrome’. According to them, this syndrome is mostly beneficial to those with commercial interests, while from the patient perspective and for the development of treatments, it may be detrimental.

“The overactive bladder syndrome has become an accepted way to simplify a complex array of symptoms and leads people to believe that an overactive bladder is an independent disease in itself. However, the truth is not as simple as this, as there are usually several factors at work explaining the symptoms. This is also one of the reasons why so called overactive bladder medications often do not bring the hoped result,” says Kari Tikkinen, MD, PhD, from the HUCS Department of Urology.

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Erectile dysfunction affects an estimated 6 million men in Mexico, but only 15 percent have sought treatment for ED, according to a recent Eli Lilly study.

And, according to the study, sex happens to be even more important for Mexicans, on average, than the rest of the world. Fifty-six percent of Mexicans over age 33 have sex an average of 2.03 times per week. The country ranked second only to Portugal, where the frequency is 2.05 times weekly. The world average is 1.5 times weekly.

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Researchers at the University of Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. studied 211 men with low, intermediate, and high-risk prostate cancer who were treated with proton therapy, a type of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) that delivers high doses of protons to a targeted area, which radiation oncologists can achieve using advanced imaging techniques that allow them to identify the exact location of the tumor. After a two year follow-up, the research team led by Nancy Mendenhall, reported that proton therapy as a treatment for prostate cancer was effective and that the gastrointestinal and genitourinary side effects were generally minimal.

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Results of a recent study show a consistent association of increasing C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and incontinence/overactive bladder (OAB)  among both men and women. The results support the hypothesis for the role of inflammation in the development of OAB and a possible role for anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of incontinence.

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Next time you are scheduled for a prostate biopsy you may want to take some Mozart and noise cancelling headphones. A recent study has shown positive effects of listening to music during the biopsy procedure including reduced anxiety and pain perception.

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See also

Maury’s Story-Three Biopsies Later, How I Reduced My PSA Over 30%

How to Prepare for a Prostate Biopsy

Choosing your Biopsy Procedure

“Watchful Waiting” after your Biopsy. Tips on How to Reduce your Anxiety

Can a Prostate Biopsy Give You Prostatitis?

Can a Prostate Biopsy Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

Can Cipro Before a Prostate Biopsy Increase the Risk of Infection?

What NOT to do Before a PSA Test

Can a Prostate Biopsy Give You an Infection?