Radiotherapy

Early results from a study of stereotactic body radiotherapy in 41 men with localized prostate cancer are encouraging. One year after receiving five 7.25 Gy doses using the CyberKnife® (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA), three-quarters of patients achieved a PSA nadir of 0.4 ng/ml or less. Toxicity profiles at 3 and 6 months were favorable, particularly when doses were delivered every other day rather than consecutively.

King, C. R. et al. Stereotactic body radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: interim results of a prospective phase II clinical trial. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 73, 1043–1048 (2009).

Pain

Capsaicin—the active ingredient of chili—is used to treat chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Expression of the capsaicin receptor TRPV1 is elevated in peritoneal samples from women with this condition. New work has established a direct link between depletion of the lipid PIP2 and desensitization of TRPV1. Novel data supporting an adaptive response of the receptor were also generated.

Yao, J. & Qin, F. Interaction with phosphoinositides confers adaptation onto the TRPV1 pain receptor. PLoS Biol. 7, e46 (2009).

Prostate Cancer

Detecting an effect of selenium or vitamin E on prostate cancer incidence has been difficult. Microarray analysis of biopsy samples from 39 men with prostate cancer who received a short course of supplements has revealed potentially important differences in gene expression. Most notably, the proportion of prostate tumor cells harboring the tumor suppressor p53 was 5 times greater in the selenium-supplementation group.

Tsavachidou, D. et al. Selenium and vitamin E: cell type- and intervention-specific tissue effects in prostate cancer. J. Natl Cancer Inst. 101, 306–320 (2009).

Pediatrics

The rapid-absorption suture material polyglytone is as safe and effective as polydioxanone for hypospadias repair. A randomized comparison in 100 boys aged 8–24 months indicated that use of polyglytone during tubularized incised plate repair (with or without preputial reconstruction) dramatically minimized suture tracks, without increasing the likelihood of complications such as urethral fistula, skin dehiscence and infection.

Guarino, N. et al. A new suture material for hypospadias surgery: a comparative study. J. Urol. 181, 1318–1322 (2009).