Tuesday 28 April 2009

Norfolk & Waveney Prostate Cancer Support Group

With this weeks AUA updated best practice regarding PSA testing I think it's worth highlighting this support group as their recent Newsletter shows the strong contrast between the UK and the USA.


"The results of the the mass screening event in Norwich on March 5th raise two matters of concern.

One is that the 31 results found to be abnormal was 40 per cent higher than the average found at other similar sessions elsewhere in the country.

The second is that of the 219 men 68 told us they had been refused a test by their GP.

One of them was a man whose father and grandfather had died from prostate cancer and his younger brother had been diagnosed with it.
Yet, still his GP refused a PSA test -despite reputable medical studies showing that a man with a family history of prostate or breast, cancer is 2.5 to 3.5 times more likely to contract prostate cancer than a man with no family history of these cancers.

It beggars belief that there are still a few GPs who are so anti PSA-testing that they are,unwittingly, exposing their patients to serious, potentially life-threatening, risks.
They are just not following Health Department guidelines, which state that any man over 50 who requests one should be given a free PSA test.
This does not preclude any GP from against a test, but I contend that no GP has the right to refuse one.
I believe there is an urgent need for the local PCT to remind all GPs of this."
Newsletter March 2009 - Issue 26

Norfolk and Waveney Prostate Cancer Support Group Website


In my opinion and what I hope we will see is the adoption of or part of this weeks AUA PSA Best Practice Policy in the UK.


The report is an update of the previous AUA PSA Best Practice Policy 2000.

There are 2 notable differences in the current policy.

First, the age for obtaining a baseline PSA has been lowered to 40 years.

Secondly, the current policy no longer recommends a single,threshold value of PSA which should prompt prostate biopsy.


Rather, the decision to proceed to prostate biopsy should be based primarily on PSA and DRE results, but should take into account multiple factors including free and total PSA, patient age, PSA velocity, PSA density, family
history, ethnicity, prior biopsy history and comorbidities. In addition, although recently published trials show different results with regard to the impact of prostate cancer screening on mortality, both suggest that prostate cancer screening leads to overdetection and overtreatment of some patients.

Therefore, the AUA strongly supports that men be informed of the risks and
benefits of prostate cancer screening before biopsy and the option of active surveillance in lieu of immediate treatment for certain men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate-Specific Antigen Best Practice Statement:2009 Update AUA-27th April


I think this man has played a major part in the new AUA guidelines-H.Ballentine Carter,MD Professor of Urology,Oncology Johns Hopkins Medicine Director,Division of Adult Urology Brady Urological Institute.

I can't remember exactly when this audio interview took place but was spot on in my opinion and has been now justified again in my opinion:

In my view the best information on PSA testing and the future that I have seen to date!

Monday 27 April 2009

News-27th to 30th April (Updated-12 Posts)

Africans Have Greatest Genetic Variation USA-30th April

Study predicts dramatic growth in cancer rates among US elderly, minorities USA-30th April

50-year-old McEnroe talks prostate health USA-29th April

Cancer Awareness Critical among Minority Communities USA-29th April

10,000 people seek advice from charity on prostate cancer in three years Ireland-29th April

Prostate cancer awareness urged India-29th April

More diagnosed with skin cancer UK(Scotland)-28th April


Urology group supports use of PSA test USA-28th April


In my opinion this is an excellent update to the original 'AUA PSA Best Practice Policy 2000'.The two changes shown below are pretty major additions and should go some way in appeasing the many USA organisations eg The "New" Prostate Cancer InfoLink who have campaigned for men to be given improved information regarding the +/-'s of the two initial tests.

The report is an update of the previous AUA PSA Best Practice Policy 2000.

There are 2 notable differences in the current policy.

First, the age for obtaining a baseline PSA has been lowered to 40 years.

Secondly, the current policy no longer recommends a single,threshold value of PSA which should prompt prostate biopsy.

Rather, the decision to proceed to prostate biopsy should be based primarily on PSA and DRE results, but should take into account multiple factors including free and total PSA, patient age, PSA velocity, PSA density, family
history, ethnicity, prior biopsy history and comorbidities. In addition, although recently published trials show different results with regard to the impact of prostate cancer screening on mortality, both suggest that prostate cancer screening leads to overdetection and overtreatment of some patients.

Therefore, the AUA strongly supports that men be informed of the risks and
benefits of prostate cancer screening before biopsy and the option of active surveillance in lieu of immediate treatment for certain men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate-Specific Antigen Best Practice Statement:2009 Update AUA-27th April


Merits of PSA screening affirmed in AUA Best Practice Statement
Apr 27, 2009
Urology Times Daily Meeting Report

Weighing in on the debate over the value and use of PSA testing, AUA today issued a new Best Practice Statement about prostate cancer screening that urges clinicians to offer the PSA test to well-informed men over age 40 whose life expectancy is at least 10 years.

Updating AUA’s previous guidance, issued in 2000, the current document asserts that, offered and interpreted appropriately, PSA testing provides information crucial to accurate diagnosis, pre-treatment staging and risk assessment, and post-treatment monitoring of prostate cancer. Further, the authors maintain that the decision to use the test is between a man and his physician.

"There is no single standard that applies to all men, nor should there be at this time," said Peter Carroll, MD, chair of the panel that developed the statement. "The panel carefully reviewed the most recently reported trials of PSA testing in both the United States and Europe before finalizing the guidelines. The strengths and limitations of these trials are reviewed in the guideline."

Among its key points, the Best Practice Statement states:

Serum PSA predicts the response of prostate cancer to local therapy.

Routine bone scans are not required for staging asymptomatic men with clinically treated disease when their PSA level is ≤20.0 mg/mL.

CT or MRI scans may be useful for staging men with high-risk clinically localized disease when their PSA is>20 ng/mL, their disease is locally advanced, or when their Gleason score is ≥8.

Pelvic lymph node dissection for clinically localized disease may be unnecessary if PSA is less <10
Merits of PSA screening affirmed in AUA Best Practice Statement AUA-27th April


Doctors Urge Baseline Test For Prostate Cancer USA-27th April


The American Urological Association (AUA) will offer journalists the opportunity to hear from world-renowned experts about prostate cancer screening and prevention during a special expert panel session on April 27, 2009 at 12:15 p.m.
Authors representing the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) and the Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) Trial will present data to the media. The panel will be moderated by William J. Catalona, MD.

The event will be immediately followed by a special press conference during which the AUA will unveil to the media its new Best Practice Statement on Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing. This guidance updates the AUA's previous statement, which was issued in 2000, and will provide valuable guidance about which patients should be offered the PSA test as well as when a biopsy is indicated following an elevated PSA reading.
Expert panel on prostate cancer screening and prevention AUA-27th April

Friday 24 April 2009

Early Prostate-Specific Antigen Changes

Early Prostate-Specific Antigen Changes and the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Prostate Cancer - Abstract



Friday, 24 April 2009
Department of Clinical Laboratories, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.

To delineate how recent findings on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) can improve prediction of risk, detection, and prediction of clinical endpoints of prostate cancer (PCa).

The widely used PSA cut-point of 4.0 ng/ml increasingly appears arbitrary, but no cut-point achieves both high sensitivity and high specificity. The accuracy of detecting PCa can be increased by additional predictive factors and a combinations of markers. Evidence implies that a panel of kallikrein markers improves the specificity and reduces costs by eliminating unnecessary biopsies. Large, population-based studies have provided evidence that PSA can be used to predict PCa risk many years in advance, improve treatment selection and patient care, and predict the risk of complications and disease recurrence. However, definitive evidence is currently lacking as to whether PSA screening lowers PCa -specific mortality.

PSA is still the main tool for early detection, risk stratification, and monitoring of PCa. However, PSA values are affected by many technical and biological factors. Instead of using a fixed PSA cut-point, using statistical prediction models and considering the integration additional markers may be able to improve and individualize PCa diagnostics. A single PSA measurement at early middle age can predict risk of advanced PCa decades in advance and stratify patients for intensity of subsequent screening.

Written by:
Botchorishvili G, Matikainen MP, Lilja H. Are you the author?

Reference:
Curr Opin Urol. 2009 May;19(3):221-6.

Early Prostate-Specific Antigen Changes and the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Prostate Cancer - Abstract

Thursday 23 April 2009

Harvard Medical School Prostate Disease Website Guide(New April 2009)

I'll try and explain tonight why I have put this news in a post of it's own:

Lets get one thing put right,the PSA test will be here for at least the next ten years-fact! The reason being that the PSA test along with the DRE are and will be over said time frame the only cost effective tests to catch PC early IE Initial tests!

The main issue from my research is this wording "PSA screening" and especially in the USA.

From my research into the USA regarding this issue and what has become blatantly clear over the last few years is that the USA have been under a misconception (generally) that the PSA test is a direct test for Prostate Cancer (PC) which has led to unnecessary invasive treatments and being the USA you could conclude that this was money driven! (Ed-Steady there,Mick).

Continued after point 3:





1.Harvard Medical School Prostate Disease Website Guides Patients Through Decision-Making Process

Harvard Medical School today announced the launch of a new website to help men with prostate cancer and other prostate conditions understand the issues related to their condition and make smart, well-informed decisions regarding treatment. The website, http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/ , was created by Dr. Marc Garnick, an internationally renowned expert in medical oncology and urologic cancer. This website is especially timely given all of the recent discussion on prostate disease and the complex information that men and their families have to sort through.

The site draws upon the expertise of the extensive medical staff within Harvard Medical School and its teaching hospitals, as well as that of international thought leaders on prostate disease. It includes interviews and group discussions with faculty experts and first-hand accounts from patients and their families. The website also features video and interactive tools and will be updated regularly.

Harvard Medical School Prostate Disease Website Guides Patients Through Decision-Making Process USA-23rd April





2.Welcome! This Web site combines prostate cancer news, expert commentary, relevant clinical findings, updates on important prostate cancer research, and personal case histories to help you fully understand the important considerations in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the prostate. We hope you find it useful.
Prostate Knowledge USA-23rd April


3.Lets have a look at what Harvard are saying about the PSA test:

What you should know about PSA screening

Prostate cancer is extremely common, yet only 3% to 4% of men die of it.


Screening doesn’t lower your risk of having prostate cancer;it increases the chance you’ll find out you have it.

PSA testing can detect early-stage cancers that a digital rectal examination (DRE) would miss.

A normal PSA level of 4 ng/ml or below doesn’t guarantee that you are cancer-free.

A high PSA level may prompt you to seek treatment resulting in possible urinary and sexual side effects.

Other conditions, like BPH and prostatitis, can also elevate your PSA level.
What you should know about PSA screening


Now,this relates to Mediwatch and PSAwatch directly-First of all it's all very well that......forgot it's name.........Provenge vaccine maybe fast tracked through the FDA approval route but this is to add extra time once PC is diagnosed IE late stage (and i'm not knocking this in any shape or form) but what about PSAwatch which has the ability to carry out the PSA test with results in ten minutes at a cost saving so more tests can be carried out to an individual and so get a better picture and therefore make a better decision before 'diving in with the knife'! ?

Getting back to the initial point in that the PSA test along with the DRE are the only initial cost effective tests available for the possible detection of PC.Testing does not cause problems and more frequent testing can only be beneficial to enable the correct decision to be made from the start which may involve a PCA3 test even before a Biopsy!

With PC an individual needs to know the negatives and positives before embarking on the initial testing route and this over the last few years has been the case with the USA playing catch-up from what I can gather but just my view!

Regarding Mediwatch and PSAwatch it doesn't really matter if you call it a National Screening Program or making the public more aware in getting checked but with the +/- of the initial tests explained to enable a more informed decision...........that goes for the GP too!!!!

I will probably edit the above tomorrow night as it was a bit rushed!

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Inverness Medical Innovations & PSAwatch

Inverness Medical Schedules Conference Call for 10:00 a.m. ET April 27, 2009 to Discuss First Quarter 2009 Results


Filed under News on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
Inverness Medical Innovations Schedules Conference Call for 10:00 a.m. ET April 27, 2009 to Discuss First Quarter 2009 Results
WALTHAM, Mass., April 20, 2009 -- Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: IMA), a global leader in enabling individuals to take charge of their health at home through the merger of rapid diagnostics and health management, today announced that it will release its first quarter 2009 earnings on Monday, April 27, 2009. The Company will also host a conference call beginning at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on that date to discuss these results and other corporate matters. During the conference call, the Company may discuss and answer questions concerning business and financial developments and trends. The Company's responses to questions, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may contain or constitute information that has not been disclosed previously.
The conference call may be accessed by dialing 706-679-1656 (domestic and international), an access code is not required, or via a link on the Inverness website at http://www.invmed.com/. It is also available via link at https://event.meetingstream.com/r.htm?e=143196&s=1&k=B623F2CFEF254698763484BC6914EF4B. An archive of the call will be available from the same link approximately two hours after the live call has concluded and will be accessible for 90 days.
By developing new capabilities in near-patient diagnosis, monitoring and health management, Inverness Medical Innovations enables individuals to take charge of improving their health and quality of life at home. Inverness’ global leading products and services, as well as its new product development efforts, focus on infectious disease, cardiology, oncology, drugs of abuse and women’s health. Inverness is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
For additional information on Inverness Medical Innovations, please visit http://www.invmed.com/.
Inverness Medical Schedules Conference Call for 10:00 a.m. ET April 27,2009 to Discuss First Quarter 2009 Results 21st April





Five year global distribution agreement secured.

Five year global distribution agreement secured with Inverness Medical InnovationsMediwatch plc (“Mediwatch” or “the Company”, AIM: MDW), the innovative urological diagnostic company, has signed a five-year agreement for the worldwide distribution of PSAwatch, its flagship point-of-care total PSA measuring system for prostate cancer, with Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (“Inverness”, NYSE: IMA) a leading provider of near-patient diagnostics, monitoring and health management solutions.

This is a very important and substantial distribution agreement for Mediwatch as Inverness has an extensive global sales-force which will complement Mediwatch’s own worldwide distribution network and provide the Company with considerably more market reach.

Inverness is recognised as a market leader with significant expertise in marketing point-of-care tests, which they already manufacture for other pathological conditions.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths with 670,000 men worldwide diagnosed with it annually. Approximately 10,000 men die every year in the UK from prostate cancer with over 34,000 diagnosed with the disease (Source: Cancer Research UK). There are 60 million PSA tests globally with PSAwatch the first quantitative, point-of-care PSA test in this £300 million market. It uses the Mediwatch Bioscan reader and therefore does not require laboratories.

Philip Stimpson, Mediwatch Chief Executive commented’“We are confident that this strategically important distribution agreement will deliver a significant revenue stream.

The market for point of care diagnostics is growing rapidly as a result of a combination of; the population aging, growth of local clinics, home testing and the need for faster, cheaper, more portable and easier to use medical equipment.“This is a significant development for Mediwatch as it means we can both actively promote worldwide the early diagnosis of prostate cancer, with portable rapid-testing equipment.

This is particularly poignant and gratifying for us, being a British company, as this is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the UK.”
Five year global distribution agreement secured. 16th March

Monday 20 April 2009

NURSE LED CLINICS/MOBILE CLINICS (Updated 29th Nov. 2010)




As the Mediwatch product range lends itself to 'Nurse led clinics' I think a section dedicated to this subject would be of interest:

*************************************************************************************
I forgot to add this here relating to August 2010 update on Mobilewatch:




Let mediwatch help you expand your clinical offerings with a service to beat all services, a one-stop shop for all your Urology Diagnostic needs.

This exclusive online platform is designed to be easy to use, and allows you to schedule your patients for a range of procedures, which are performed by experienced clinical professionals using top-of-the-line equipment.

The mobilewatch clinical services package is
only available in the USA at present.






To view the full list of mobilewatch
features click here to download the
latest information sheet.

************************************************************************************

From the Interim Results released 28th July 2010 for the six months to 30 April 2010

Mediwatch launched the Mobilewatch Clinic division in April 2010 and served its first customer in the US in that month. Mobilewatch Clinic has been specifically designed to deliver lower healthcare costs in anticipation of the future implementation of the Affordable Care Act (March 2010) in the US.

Mediwatch Mobilewatch Clinic allows us to service medical practitioners, who may lack the volume of cases or the recurring patient episodes necessary to justify the capital equipment outlay, with our Mediwatch diagnostic tests without their need to purchase our equipment.

Mobilewatch Clinic offers a new service to Mediwatch's customers and opens up a new market segment to the Company which has not been previously available.


Research and development

New software application for the Mobilewatch Clinic division to increase efficiency and deliver cost reduction to our service customers

Development of a low cost urodynamic system and software package that is portable and easy to use aimed at the Mobilewatch Clinic business

Current trading and outlook

The Board is very pleased with the results for the first half, maintaining turnover and increasing profits despite the current economic and political climate having an effect on customer budgets. In the UK the government cuts will ultimately affect capital expenditure so we are addressing this problem in advance as we have already done in the US.

We plan to gradually launch the Mobilewatch Clinic diagnostic service in the UK and place bigger emphasis on our disposable products which come out of our clients' operational rather than capital budgets. The Board will continue to monitor overheads and will actively manage the cost base as appropriate.

Interim Results for the six months to 30 April 2010


From the 2009 Mediwatch Final Results

Services

A new mobile diagnostics service will be operated through skilled nurses, which will create opportunities to present a cost efficient diagnostic service to physicians, with no major capital outlay. This service will incorporate new diagnostic procedures which should launch in the first half of 2010 and will run in parallel to the change in US government expenditure in regards to reimbursement and presenting a wider medical facility to all individuals. Initial efforts will be concentrated in Florida with the potential to be rolled out to the other 49 states through our nurse network.
Mediwatch-Final Results for year ending 31st October 2009


Mediwatch Statement

"Mediwatch has developed a range of medical equipment for the diagnosis of a variety of clinical conditions. Mediwatch focuses it's design skills on unique diagnostic products that can be used with simplicity, across the medical profession, by healthcare providers with different levels of clinical expertise.

Mediwatch's research and development strategy draws on extensive clinical knowledge with a seamless interface between the point-of-care and innovation with cutting-edge technology."
Mediwatch Website

Also

"Mediwatch is developing more point-of-care tests, including a range of relatively high-margin pathology tests. The company intends to provide mobile screening clinics for private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.

This is in line with Mr Stimpson’s original strategy when he launched Mediwatch in 1996.His aim was to provide a full range of diagnostic products and services, many with superior properties to what hospitals, clinics and surgeries typically provide, in areas such as diagnostic ultrasound and point-of-care biochemistry."
Mediwatch’s healthy growth prospects 8th April 2009

NHS Buyers' Guide-Urodynamic Systems UK-Dec.2008

Mediwatch response to the above:

Urodynamics
"A comprehensive, comparative assessment of clinical Urodynamic systems was performed independently for the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency. We are proud to report that this study found Mediwatch’s Urodynamic systems superior to those from competing manufactures (Laborie, LifeTech, MMS, Andromeda and Albyn). Mediwatch was the only manufacturer to receive a “Very Good” rating with five stars for its products."

*************************************************************************************

Examples of Nurse led Urology Clinics (New Section as of February 2010)

Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Opens-Canada Added 29th November 2010)

Revive Clinics-Australia (Added 28th November 2010)

Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust-UK(Added 27th November 2010)

Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (Added 27th November 2010)

The Blackpool,Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust



Mediwatch & General News relating to 'Nurse Lead Clinics'


Emerging Statistics for Nurse-led Clinics UK (Scotland)-September 2010


Emerging Statistics for Nurse-led Clinics UK(Scotland)-December 2009

Sponsored session 3-Urodynamics/Setting up a nurse lead clinic
BAUN 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition UK-2nd to 4th November 2009

Evidence for Nurse led clinics Australia-2009

Europe’s nurses:an untapped resource Cancerworld.org-March/April 2009 Edition

Mobile health clinics hailed a 'success' UK-April 2009


The findings of the first four full years of collection (2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08) are presented in the table below - covering nurse-led clinics in acute specialties and other non-acute specialties(Scotland).
Emerging Statistics for Nurse-led Clinics UK-Feb.2009

Nurse-led Clinics in Wales Help Expedite Clinical Trials of New Cancer Drugs UK-Oct.2008


Nurse-led PACs are fit for purpose. Guidelines for assessment and management are closely followed with minimal changes to treatment at consultant review.
Nurse-led prostate assessment clinics – are they fit for purpose? UK-2008

Surgery and Urology Directorate 2006-2011 UK-2007

Nurse Led Clinics and Nurse Prescribing UK-2006?

Interstitial Cystitis Towards a Nurse-Led Clinic UK-2004

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - Nurse-led telephone follow up for prostate cancer UK-2004


This audit shows how a change in practice can significantly improve the patient's journey. For people with cancer, quality information, communication, continuity and overall coordination of care are all vital. As well as benefiting patients, this service development has resulted in a radical reform of the urology/oncology service.
The nurse-led histology clinic has had significant benefits for the medical team as well as the patient. The patients attending the consultant clinic are more informed, better prepared and have their staging investigations completed. This allows the consultant to have a more meaningful and productive time with patients to discuss management of their cancer.
The development and audit of a nurse-led urology/oncology clinic. UK-2004


Cost-effective analysis of conventional and nurse-led clinics for common otological procedures-Abstract

Abstract

The need to reduce costs while providing a first-class service has led to the expansion in the role of nurses in recent years. We present results of a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of conventional and nurse-led out-patient ear clinics. Our results indicate that cost-effective health care is a distinct competitive advantage for nurses taking up some roles conventionally performed by doctors. The difference in mean cost of out-patient visit per patient between the two groups is £75.28. This is equivalent to a reduction in cost to the hospital of more than £47000 for the 626 patients seen in a nurse-led ear clinic in a year. The nurse-led service is thus more cost-effective and presents an opportunity by freeing up otolaryngologists’ time to see more complex patients and has the potential for reducing out-patient access time in the NHS.
Cost-effective analysis of conventional and nurse-led clinics for common otological procedures-Abstract UK-2004

Nurse-led clinics for assessing men with lower urinary tract symptoms UK-2003 (Added Nov 2010)


NURSE LED CLINICS-GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOLS UK-2001?



Turning out to be a well documented sector,will add more later.

NEWS-Week ending 26th April (Updated-16 Posts)

AUA-Official News Reort for Sunday 26th April Mediwatch advert on page 30


Bladder Ca mortality jumps 30% when diagnosis is delayed AUA 26th April

New active surveillance parameters allow for more individualized patient care AUA-26th April

Pomegranate Juice May Slow Prostate Cancer AUA-26th April


The Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer-DVD USA-26th April

21,000 cancer diagnoses each year Northern and Republic of Ireland-24th April

Tennessee blacks' death rates of cancer explored USA-24th April

695,049: The number of cancer survivors in Canada Canada-23rd April


Focal therapy for prostate cancer: revolution or evolution? USA-23rd April

Lagos fights diabetes, cancer, hypertension in grassroots Nigeria-23rd April

MEDIA ALERT for Thursday, April 23,2009-Discovery & Challenge: The State of Prostate Cancer Research USA

Development of a New Method for Monitoring Prostate-Specific Antigen Changes in Men with Localised Prostate Cancer: A Comparison of Observational Cohorts - Abstract UK-22nd April

Companies should get BPA out of packaging:Groups Canada-21st April


Researchers Discover Potential Functional Role of Genetic Variation in Prostate Cancer Risk USA-21st April

Agent Orange exposure increases veterans' risk of aggressive recurrence of prostate cancer USA-20th April

Prevalence,Severity,and Symptom Bother of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms among Men in the EPIC Study:Impact of Overactive Bladder-Abstract USA-20th April

Saturday 18 April 2009

AVF Périmédical-A distributor of MDW products

Interesting to note that AVF Périmédical have their own 'blog' as of February 2009.I wonder if it's an avenue MDW might want to explore but saying that their own website is probably sufficient.

http://avfperimediblog.wordpress.com/

Friday 17 April 2009

Overview of the Urological and Gynecological Devices Market

I think it's worth highlighting this in it's own post as well as under the Urology section of this blog.

http://www.brocair.com/downloads/UrologicalAndGynecologicalDevicesMarket_Jan2009.pdf


It's worth highlighting as this report indicates the advancement of Mediwatch (MDW) over a relatively short period of time.

MDW specialise in the field of Urology with their products focused on the diagnostic sector where accuracy,ease of use and in many cases offering 'point of care'/'near patient' testing as their goals while continuing to improve and add to the existing range.


As this blog only contains my posts at the present time,I will leave it at that and as such would like to say that I'm a long term investor in MDW so my views (I try to keep them at a minimum) lean to the positive side on the whole.

Please do not take my views or postings as a reason to buy shares in MDW.

Please do your own research at all times before buying ANY shares.

Wednesday 15 April 2009

2009 AUA Annual Meeting 25th-30th April (Updated 21st May)

I thought it might be a good idea to have a section specific to this years AUA annual meeting as it should be a very interesting one,especially relating to PC! With possible new guidelines on screening via the PSA test/DRE along with Dendreon and their Provenge vaccine.

AUA Annual Meeting 25th-30th April

Exhibitor Floor Plan,Mediwatch-Booth No.2237

Leading up to the event here is the April edition of the 'AUA News' with the front page on Bladder Cancer and then PC on page 10.I find it easier to read if down loaded in PDF format but it's quite a large file.
April edition of the 'AUA News'



Company Profile:

Mediwatch offers the best in Pelvic Floor diagnostic products. We provide Urodynamics, Ultrasound, Anorectal Manometry and Pudendal Nerve testing devices, which are complimented with complete training and long-term support. Our display includes the Sensic Urodynamics system, Encompass “Total” Pelvic Floor diagnostic system and Portascan Ultrasound systems.

Prostate UK view on the AUA


82IC:Focal Therapy of Early Stage Prostate Cancer � Techniques and Applications (Mark Emberton)



AUA 2009 - Session Highlights

AUA 2009 Pre-meeting podcast (Urology Times)

AUA 2009 Day One Podcast


AUA Report and Update 1: Sunday, April 26

AUA-Official News Report for Sunday 26th April Mediwatch advert on page 30


PROVENGE has nothing to do with Mediwatch but after the build up it's worth a post:
Data Presented at AUA Demonstrate PROVENGE Significantly Prolongs Survival for Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer in Pivotal Phase 3 IMPACT Study AUA-28th April


The report is an update of the previous AUA PSA Best Practice Policy 2000.

There are 2 notable differences in the current policy.

First, the age for obtaining a baseline PSA has been lowered to 40 years.

Secondly, the current policy no longer recommends a single,threshold value of PSA which should prompt prostate biopsy.


Rather, the decision to proceed to prostate biopsy should be based primarily on PSA and DRE results, but should take into account multiple factors including free and total PSA, patient age, PSA velocity, PSA density, family
history, ethnicity, prior biopsy history and comorbidities. In addition, although recently published trials show different results with regard to the impact of prostate cancer screening on mortality, both suggest that prostate cancer screening leads to overdetection and overtreatment of some patients.

Therefore, the AUA strongly supports that men be informed of the risks and
benefits of prostate cancer screening before biopsy and the option of active surveillance in lieu of immediate treatment for certain men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate-Specific Antigen Best Practice Statement:2009 Update AUA-27th April


Bladder Ca mortality jumps 30% when diagnosis is delayed AUA 26th April

New active surveillance parameters allow for more individualized patient care AUA-26th April

Pomegranate Juice May Slow Prostate Cancer AUA-26th April

Sunday 12 April 2009

Mediwatch’s healthy growth prospects (8th April)

Urological diagnostic specialist Mediwatch, which makes point-of-care equipment for urologists and doctors in this field, is planning new joint ventures and alliances and, so observers believe, acquisitions too. This would cement its position as a provider of a ‘one-stop shop’ service in this £495 million a year market. The Rugby-based company, founded 13 years ago by CEO Philip Stimpson, has clinched a new distribution agreement with leading US group Inverness Medical Innovations, a world-leading maker of point-of-care medical tests, and suggests this is the first of many deals.

New York-quoted Inverness has signed a five-year agreement with AIM counter Mediwatch for the global distribution of the British company’s flagship PSAwatch point-of-care measuring system for prostate cancer. Mediwatch, which already licenses some of Inverness’s technology, regards the PSAwatch deal (which brings it access to the US group’s 1,000-strong sales force direct into GPs’ surgeries) as the precursor of ‘more joint activities and the beginning of big things’, says Philip Stimpson, who recalls that the deal took two years to negotiate.

Mediwatch, which turned a £265,000 loss into a pre-tax profit of £408,000 in the year to last October, on turnover up 63 per cent to £9.3 million, is contemplating new joint ventures and alliances with other groups, says Stimpson. Company watchers expect some significant developments along these lines, perhaps including acquisitions before the end of the year.

Stimpson cites prostate cancer and kidney problems as areas of joint action and enthuses about the company’s own projects, including molecular testing and ‘Zero Flow’ technology, which Mediwatch argues has ‘exciting possibilities’ in genomics and proteomic science.

Mediwatch is developing more point-of-care tests, including a range of relatively high-margin pathology tests.The company intends to provide mobile screening clinics for private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.

This is in line with Stimpson’s original strategy when he launched Mediwatch in 1996. His aim was to provide a full range of diagnostic products and services, many with superior properties to what hospitals, clinics and surgeries typically provide, in areas such as diagnostic ultrasound and point-of-care biochemistry.

The strategy gained new momentum at the end of 2006, when the company raised £2.5 million at a lowly 7.5p to buy stock and license software from the urology diagnostics arm of Medtronic.

In January 2008, Mediwatch filled the last big gap when it won approval for PSAwatch.

PSAwatch is cheaper but no less accurate than laboratory tests and takes ten minutes, rather than three days, to deliver results.This is what has impressed Inverness.

Analysts suggest these developments leave Mediwatch particularly well placed to take advantage of long-term growth drivers in its sector. One driver is an ageing population, particularly males, who are likely to need the company’s products and services.

Another is pressure on healthcare costs and spending, which reinforces the trend towards switching diagnostic testing from centralised laboratories to point-of-care locations. Increasing regulatory pressure for control and monitoring of drugs and treatments is boosting demand for the medical analysis equipment Mediwatch can supply, while its equipment can also be used in self-testing at home, which is becoming more popular these days.

Mediwatch, which joined AIM in 2000 through the reverse takeover of troubled Prostcare and has had to cope with a succession of challenges, is now in better shape than before. The company, which ended its financial year with £446,000 of net borrowings, has arranged a new facility with Barclays Bank, which it says will match its future needs.

Mediwatch’s shares fell from more than 80p in 2000 all the way to 4.25p last December. They have since bounced to 8p, with analysts expecting £620,000 pre-tax this year and £1.2 million for 2010.

http://www.information-age.com/recommendations/1016867/mediwatchs-healthy-growth-prospects.thtml

Thursday 9 April 2009

Iwasawa Clinic-Japan

I'm not 100% sure if the Iwasawa Clinic are using PSAwatch but I will try and find out after the Easter holidays.

A little bit of history and the reason I've added this post:

About six months ago the original Iwasawa Clinic website mentioned PSAwatch but the translation from Japanese to English made it very unclear if they were actually using the test or just reporting about the test.

Since then the website has had a complete make-over (April 1st) with the 'Home Page' including the following,roughly translated as:

"Iwasawa Clinic," News from

2008 medi watch PSA watch 2008 July "medi watch companies (UK)" in "PSA watch" has been adopted. As a result, PSA test (prostate cancer screening by prostate-specific antigen) results in about 10 minutes you can check. (Self: 3,680 yen: U.S.)

http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.iwasawa-clinic.jp%2findex.html

http://www.iwasawa-clinic.jp/index.html


It can be seen after navigating around the website that the clinic specialises in the field of Urology (translated):

Medical content

Prostatic hypertrophy
Prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer
Urinary tract infection (cystitis, prostatitis, etc.)
Sexually transmitted disease (STD)
Dysfunction (ED)
Urinary lithiasis
Male infertility
Women's urologic diseases
Pediatric urologic disorders
Incontinence enuresis nocturna
Hematuria

http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.iwasawa-clinic.jp%2findex.html

http://www.iwasawa-clinic.jp/01.html

Monday 6 April 2009

NEWS-Week ending 12th April

Free clinics fill medical void USA-10th April

What Firefighters Should Know About Bladder Cancer USA-9th April

C-3PO backs Vader's cancer campaign UK-9th April

UAB helps in research to find better test to detect prostate cancer USA-9th April


Birmingham,Alabama doctor says PSA study is flawed USA-9th April



I'm not going to add every personal experience of the PSA test but thought this was worth including due to recent age v's testing discussions:
Letter:Proof that mammograms,PSA tests do work UK-7th April


Prostate Cancer Screening and Treatment in the Transplant Population: Current Status and Recommendations-Abstract University of California-7th April

Pioneering prostate unit to be handed to NHS UK-7th April

China in bold move on volatile health care issue China-6th April

Governor Announces New Wellness Plan for State Government Nebraska-6th April

Cancer risk 'not changing habits' UK-6th April

Ronan Keating discusses the big C UK-6th April

Eight US-based advocacy groups issue joint policy agenda USA-6th April

NEWS-Week ending 5th April

Workplace illness 'to get worse' (3 April)

"An ageing workforce and higher rates of illness and disease among employees will pose a serious threat to British business by 2030, a report warns."

Dr Natalie-Jane Macdonald, of Bupa UK Health Insurance, said: "For the first time, we have a clear picture of the major health issues that will affect British workers over the next 20 years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7971792.stm




Cancer Research UK scientists have shown that screening for prostate cancer using prostate specific antigen (PSA) would lead to a substantial number of tumours diagnosed at an earlier and more treatable stage.

However, after adjusting for overdiagnosis, two-yearly PSA testing might still result in a reduction in advanced stage prostate cancer of up to 54 per cent

(the usual +/- points relating to the PSA test are included within the article)

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=47803


Worthing man's shock cancer diagnosis

Published Date: 03 April 2009
"SHELLSHOCKED". That is how a Worthing man described the moment he was told he had prostate cancer.
At 47, John Palfrey was at the younger end of the spectrum of men getting the disease.

http://http//www.worthingherald.co.uk/health/Worthing-man39s-shock-cancer-diagnosis.5139947.jp


Weymouth man urges prostate cancer awareness
11:00am Friday 3rd April 2009

A MAN who overcame prostate cancer is urging other men to ‘get checked early and as quickly as possible’.
Eddie Kercher, of Cross Road, Weymouth, hopes his experience of being cured will reassure other prostate cancer sufferers.
His message is: “Come on lads, if in doubt, check it out.”

http://www.thisisdorset.net/news/tidnews/4263886.Weymouth_man_urges_prostate_cancer_awareness/


How African American men decide whether or not to get prostate
cancer screening.


Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States and affects African Americans disproportionately when compared to other ethnic groups.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19258830

Spare

fffff

PSAwatch-IN ACTION! (Updated-24th August 2011)


*******************************************************************************

New Zealand






REPUBLIC of IRELAND

This clinic in Co.Kildare are using both the Mediwatch Portaflow and PSAwatch/Bioscan system.





UNITED KINGDOM




"GlamUrologyGlamorgan Urology

A 10 minute PSA test is now available at Glamorgan Urology - PSAwatch. Contact us for details

6 Jul"
Glamorgan Urology 'Twitter' page

Glamorgan Urology


PROSTATE SCREENING TRUST

Patients Power

As a patient group who believe in screening we will be offering blood test to men and follow up with an individual management program.
Prostate Screening Trust





Prostate Cancer-New Tests Available-PSA watch™ & PCA3

These new tests provide a significant step forward in the early diagnosis of Prostate Cancer – a key factor in determining survival. We are delighted therefore to be the first provider of both these tests in Essex.

PSA watch™ is the first test to provide immediate, on the spot, measurement of PSA from a single drop of capillary blood. With no more waiting for lab results, it is the ideal test for our one-stop Prostate Cancer Diagnostic and Screening Service and is equally useful for follow-up patients. As well as its convenience it is also significantly cheaper, especially for self-pay patients.

Anglian Urology





New prostate centre opens at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital

A centre of excellence which specialises in diagnosing and treating a variety of prostate problems launches today in the South East. The British Prostate Centre will stand at the forefront of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment in the UK by providing the best possible care and counsel to patients across the South East.

Paul Miller explains; ‘The British Prostate Centre is all about empowering men and their families and providing patients with the best possible advice and treatment. It is a ‘virtual’ concept with clinics based in various convenient locations across the South East, including Brighton, Gatwick, Hayward’s Heath, and Tunbridge Wells - our aim is to make it easy and convenient for patients to choose when and where they want to see a specialist’.

The Centre also offers the latest diagnostic tools for early and advanced stages of prostate cancer, the PCA3 test, as well as the more traditional PSA test and the new PSA Watch test.

Spire Healthcare

The British Prostate Centre





We offer all our patients the new 10 minute PSA test. This means we can carry out the test and discuss your results during a single visit to our clinic.

Alan Doherty, Clinical Director of The Birmingham Prostate Clinic comments: “The big benefit of this new development is it enables the patient to discuss his results with the consultant immediately.

“Instead of sending patients home, often feeling very anxious about their results before returning to clinic days or weeks later, we can offer them an almost instant response.

“That may be to reassure them that they are not at risk of prostate cancer, or we may need to arrange for further tests to take place. In either scenario, we are able to eradicate that period of anxiously waiting.”

The Birmingham Prostate Clinic

NEW CLINIC TO PROTECT MEN WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF PROSTATE CANCER





We provide expert and experienced urological diagnosis and treatment personalised on the individual man or woman with the newest and best technology available.

For example, with prostate problems, we can examine a man's genetic profile to see if he has some of the underlying genes that increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. We use the PCA3 score in addition to PSA to determine the risk of prostate cancer. PSA results are available within 10 minutes of testing using the new PSAWatch.

Windsor Urology




ITALY


I'm not a 100% sure on this but will post the links:

Dr. Andrea Loreto - Urologists

Translated:

Dr. Andrea Loreto - Urologists


PSA Watch Bioscan

Translated:

PSA Watch Bioscan

GLOBAL HEALTH (Updated 11th February 2011-Bangladesh)

GLOBAL/CONTINENT

Cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean(2008)

Patient survival for all cancers combined as indicator of cancer control in Europe(2008)

New European cancer figures: ageing population is causing major increase in the cancer burden warn experts(2007)


Global Cancer Statistics,2002(2005)

FACTS AND FIGURES OF CANCER IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (1993)


COUNTRY SPECIFIC

The number to the left of the flag denotes the countries global position by population.The bracketed year at the end of each link is the date published or in some cases the date last published!

1. CHINA (Including Hong Kong and Macau)

Chinese health care reformers aim to help rural areas but face hurdles(2009)

A Comparative Study of Prostate Cancer Detection and Management in China and in France- Abstract(2009)

Diagnostic strategies and the incidence of prostate cancer: reasons for the low reported incidence of prostate cancer in China(2008)


2.INDIA

The Urological Society of India (USI)

Trends in the Prostate Cancer Incidence in India(2008)


3.UNITED STATES

Cancer Facts & Figures 2010

Estimated new cases and deaths from bladder cancer (2009)

Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2009-2010

American Cancer Society

More advanced cancer seen in uninsured Americans(2008)

Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2006-2008(2006)


Hawaii

Statistics-Last PSA test for men aged 40+ State of Hawaii BRFSS 2006(2006)

Statistics-Ever had a PSA test (men aged 40+)State of Hawaii BRFSS 2006(2006)

Statistics-Last PSA test for men aged 40+ State of Hawaii BRFSS 2005(2005)

Statistics-Ever had a PSA test among men aged 40+?State of Hawaii BRFSS 2005(2005)

Statistics-Last PSA test for men aged 40+State of Hawaii BRFSS 2004(2004)

Statistics-Ever had a PSA test among men aged 40+State of Hawaii BRFSS 2004(2004)







4.INDONESIA

General Lecture from Dr. David B Thomas of Washington(2009)


5.BRAZIL


HOSPITALAR 2009-16th International Fair of Products,Equipment,Services and Technology for Hospitals,Laboratories,Pharmacies,Health Clinics and Medical Offices

Prediction of pathological stage in prostate cancer through the percentage of involved fragments upon biopsy(2005)


Cancer Incidence in Eighteen Cities of the State of Sao Paulo(2001)


6.PAKISTAN

Progress of Oncology in Pakistan(2006)


7.NIGERIA

Cancer training workshop in Nigeria(2009)

Lagos fights diabetes, cancer, hypertension in grassroots Nigeria-23rd April

Lagos screens 20,000 for diabetes,hypertension(April 2009)

Why Cancer is on the Rise in Country(2008)

Prostate Cancer-The Absolute Basics(2008)

On the premise that an estimated 14 million Nigerian men afflicted with prostate cancer(2008)


8.BANGLADESH

Physicians’ reluctance to stay in villages worries PM(2011)


9.RUSSIA

Upper House Declares Men's Health Under Threat(2008)

Movement Against
Cancer Launches An All-Russia Cancer Awareness Campaign(2008)


Screening of prostate cancer. Is it needed? Russian experience(2006)


10.JAPAN

The Japanese Guideline for Prostate Cancer Screening-Abstract(2009)

Practice patterns regarding prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia in Japanese primary care practitioners.(2007)

Screening for prostate cancer using prostate-specific antigen testing in Japanese men on hemodialysis (2007)

Screening program of prostate cancer at Tokai University Hospital:Characterization of prostate-specific antigen measurement(2005)

11.MEXICO

Population based prostate cancer screening in north Mexico (2009)


13.VIETNAM

Vietnam seeks funds for Agent Orange victims(2009)

Prostate cancer twice as high in Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange(2008)

Paying for Health Care in Vietnam:Extending Voluntary Health Insurance Coverage(1999)


14..GERMANY

Trends in population-based cancer survival in Germany: to what extent does progress reach older patients?(2007)



17.TURKEY

Turkish Ministry Of Health Purchases Two CyberKnife(R) Systems Turkey-June 2009

Evaluation of cancer records from 2000-2004 in Denizli,Turkey(2009)

150,000 people get cancer in Turkey every year(2009)

Why Do Men Refuse Prostate Cancer Screening? Demographic Analysis In Turkey(2008)






18.Irân

The IRANIAN RED CRESCENT MEDICAL JOURNAL

Cancer Incidence in Tehran Metropolis: The First Report from the
Tehran Population-Based Cancer Registry,1998–2001(2009)



Diagnostic Value of Prostate Specific Antigen and Its Density in Iranian Men with prostate cancer(2009)

Cancer Incidence in Five Provinces of Iran 1996–2000(2007 & 193 pages)


The Incidence of Prostate Cancer in Iran: Results of a Population-Based Cancer Registry(2007)

Population-based screening for prostate cancer by measuring free and total serum prostate-specific antigen in Iran(2006)

Incidence of Genitourinary Cancers in the Islamic Republic
of Iran(2005)


Incidence of Genitourinary Cancers in the Islamic Republic of Iran(2005)

20.France

Trends in screening for prostate cancer(2009)

Cancer screening in France: subjects’ and physicians’ attitudes(2007)

France to pilot testing for prostate cancer(2006)

22.Great Britain

UK Prostate Cancer incidence statistics

England
Cancer Incidence and Survival By Major Ethnic Group,England,2002-2006
Statistics-North Yorkshire and York(2009)
Incidence of Prostate Cancer in Men in Somerset(1985 to 2005)

Scotland
Prostate cancer:Scottish data

Wales

Ireland


23..Italy

Regional estimates of prostate cancer burden in Italy(2007)



28.Spain

Frequent Urination Protects Against Bladder Cancer(2008)

Recent changes in prostate cancer mortality in spain: a trend study for period 1991-2005(2008)

Smoking and bladder cancer in Spain: effects of tobacco type, timing, environmental tobacco smoke, and gender.(2006)

36.CANADA

Canadian Cancer Statistics(General) Canada-2002-2009

695,049: The number of cancer survivors in Canada Canada-April 2009

50.TAIWAN

Cancer still the top killer in Taiwan in 2008: DOH Taiwan-17th June





53.AUSTRALIA

Survival benefit confirmed for prostate cancers diagnosed by PSA testing 2009

Bladder Cancer-South Australia(2005)

58.CAMEROON

Prostate Cancer in Cameroon

ARA Champions the fight against Cancer in Cameroon


116..UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

UAE-Stigma blamed for needless deaths(2008)

118.REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

New prostate cancer clinic for Galway June 2009

122.New Zealand

Ministry of Health

Cancer: New Registrations & Deaths 2006 Date of publication (online): April 2010

Survival benefit confirmed for prostate cancers diagnosed by PSA testing 2009

New Zealand Cancer Statistics Last Reviewed December 2006