Volume 3 Issue 5, May 2006

Most surgeons no longer use urethral bulking agents for hypermobility-related stress incontinence due to the profusion of new synthetic slings that are more effective and highly durable. Nevertheless, there are situations where bulking agents are preferable. The author comments on the history of injectables, and explains why these agents still have a place in clinical practice.

When the Dornier HM3 lithotriptor was introduced in the early 1980s, shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) rapidly became the preferred treatment for most upper-tract calculi. A number of second- and third-generation machines have since become available. This Viewpoint discusses the evolution of SWL technology, and highlights concerns over the limitations of modern devices.

With the absence of clinical trials powered to address the issues of safety and efficacy of testosterone replacement therapy for late-onset hypogonadism, management of men with this condition is not straightforward. This Review examines the available evidence for the use of testosterone replacement therapy in men with late-onset hypogonadism and comments on how these men can be managed in the absence of definitive data.

In order to ensure that the results of histologic analyses are accurate, appropriate handling of tissue samples is essential. This Primer Review discusses tissue fixation and the morphological changes that can be induced by different methods of fixation. The medicolegal aspects of tissue harvesting and storage are also highlighted.