Fissure in Ano

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Aisha Akhtar, MD, FCPS, is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Healthcare Professional for her contributions to the field of Colorectal Surgery. Continue Reading Aisha Akhtar Dr. Akhtar pursued higher education at the Army Medical College, National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad, Pakistan where she earned an MBBS. She then completed a surgical residency at Shiffa International Hospital in Pakistan and relocated to the United States at the age of 29 where she finished a surgical oncology fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas; a surgical residency at Texas Tech University in Lubbock; Penn State Medical Cente; and St. Agnes Hospital. The doctor is FCPS certified in Pakistan and board certified by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) in the United States. Dr. Akhtar explained that the ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge. According to the doctor, colorectal surgery is a field in medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. It involves caring for patients with cancers of the colon, rectum, and anus, along with other benign disorders, like inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease); diverticulitis; and a myriad of anorectal pathologies, like hemorrhoids, fistulas, abscesses, and fissures. Specializing in the treatment of benign and malignant conditions, Dr. Akhtar practices at Arizona Advanced Surgery in Glendale Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona. She is an expert in treating many different ailments including cancers of the colon and rectum; inflammatory bowel disease; hemorrhoids; anal fissures; anal fistulas; pelvic floor problems; and fecal incontinence. The doctor is a general surgeon and also performs colonoscopies using the latest surgical techniques to treat the full range of colorectal disorders from simple to complex and notes that she is committed to providing quality care to patients with compassion and dignity. A testament to her professional and acumen in the field, Dr. Akhtar is licensed to practice in New York; Maryland; and Arizona; and is affiliated with HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center; HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center; HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center; HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center; and HonorHealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center. The doctor is trained in the most advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the colon rectum and anus and maintains affiliation with many professional organizations including the American College of Surgery; the American Medical Association; the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons; and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. She is also a distinguished Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. The doctor has published in various medical journals, including International Surgery Journal and Cureus, and has presented many posters at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dr. Akhtar asserts that she is ardent about being a female colorectal surgeon to provide personal care to female patients who want female providers for medical care and feel ashamed to discuss anorectal problems with male surgeons. Expanding her reach into underserved populations, she also specializes in screening for anal cancer in the LGBT-Q population and performs anal PAP smears and High-Resolution Anoscope's for high-risk patients. Dr. Akhtar lives in Scottsdale and enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her two sons in her spare time. She has been married to Mr. Muhammad Khawaja for 9 years. The doctor speaks multiple languages including English, Hindi, and Urdu, and volunteers her time with the Islamic Society of the Northeast Valley Free Clinic, providing educational seminars and seeing patients who are underinsured. Dr. Akhtar would like to dedicate this honor to her mother, Mrs. Kosar Praveen. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle

WEDNESDAY, May 31, 2023 -- You're due for a prostate exam, but you don't know what to expect. So, what is this exam like? Regular check-ups are essential for maintaining your health, and a prostate exam is crucial to preventive care for men. Not only is it a screening test for early signs of prostate cancer, but it also helps detect other potential health issues. Here, experts walk you through what a prostate exam entails, when to consider scheduling one, how to prepare, and what the results might mean for you. So, dive in and learn more about this medical examination that every man should get at some point in his life. What is a prostate exam? Per the Cleveland Clinic, a prostate exam is a screening method to detect early signs of prostate cancer . Typically, the exam involves two main components: a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, and a digital rectal exam. The PSA blood test measures the levels of PSA in the bloodstream. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , PSA is a substance produced by the prostate gland, and higher levels can indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, it's important to note that elevated PSA levels can also be caused by other prostate-related conditions and factors such as age and race. Medical procedures, medications, an enlarged prostate or a prostate infection can all influence PSA levels. Therefore, it is crucial to consult with your doctor to accurately interpret PSA test results. If the PSA test shows abnormal results, your doctor may recommend a biopsy to determine if prostate cancer is present. The other test that is often conducted during a prostate exam is the digital rectal exam, or DRE. The prostate gland is located just in front of the rectum. The Prostate Cancer Foundation says that during this part of your prostate exam, your doctor will gently insert a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to assess the size, shape and texture of the prostate for any irregularities. Although the test is brief, it may cause some discomfort, but it should not be painful. By combining the PSA blood test results and the digital rectal exam, health care providers can gather vital information to evaluate the health of your prostate. When should men get a prostate exam? The ideal prostate exam age can vary, depending on individual risk factors. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommendations, men should have an informed discussion with their health care provider about the potential benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening starting at age 50 for average-risk individuals . For men at higher risk, such as those with a family history of prostate cancer or Black men, the discussion should take place at age 45. Men at even higher risk, such as those with multiple close relatives diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, may consider starting the discussion as early as age 40. Further, the Prostate Cancer Foundation suggests that Black men are 1.6 times more likely to get prostate cancer . For this reason, if you are Black or if you have a family history of prostate cancer, you should talk with your doctor about starting a prostate exam at age 40. The frequency of prostate exams also depends on the individual's risk profile and the results of previous screenings. Based on the ACS guidelines, if the initial PSA blood test and digital rectal exam results are normal, further testing is typically recommended every two years. However, if the results indicate a higher risk, more frequent screenings may be necessary. How to prepare for a prostate exam Preparing for a prostate exam typically requires minimal effort. As per the Cleveland Clinic, there is little specific preparation needed. However, it is important to inform your health care provider if you have existing conditions such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures or anal tears, as they may cause discomfort during the exam. Additionally, your health care provider may advise abstaining from sexual activity for 48 hours prior to the exam. Ejaculation can temporarily raise PSA levels, which might affect the accuracy of your test results. Regarding the common question on whether you should poop before a prostate exam, urologist Dr. Wagner Baptiste suggested in a recent article that it is acceptable to do so if you feel the need. “But don’t force it if you don’t need to move your bowels," Baptiste added. “There’s no specific bowel prep necessary. It’s common for poop to appear during the exam, but your doctor is used to it and knows what they’re doing and knows where your rectal wall lies to move feces out of the way.” What is a prostate exam like? “A prostate exam is a digital or finger exam in the rectum to feel the prostate through the rectal wall,” Dr. Matthew Sand , a urologist at Piedmont Physicians Urology in Atlanta, said in a recent article. “We estimate the size of the prostate and then we feel around for nodules, which are concerning for prostate cancer.” Sand explained that the purpose of the exam is to assess the size of the prostate and check for any nodules that could indicate prostate cancer. The procedure is fairly straightforward and typically lasts only a few seconds. "The whole procedure probably takes three to five seconds," Sand noted. Despite its brevity, the prostate exam serves as a crucial step in monitoring prostate health. What do the results mean? “ Screening can lead to earlier prostate cancer detection, and with earlier detection, you’re eligible for multiple different treatments or active surveillance ,” said Dr. Sia Daneshmand , director of urologic oncology at Keck Medicine of USC and a professor of clinical urology at USC's Keck School of Medicine. “So we encourage patients who are candidates for screening to discuss it with their urologist and/or primary care physician so that we can determine what’s the best course of treatment for them.” According to the CDC , the goal of screening for prostate cancer is to detect cancers that may be at a high risk of spreading if left untreated and to identify them before they have a chance to spread. However, the U.S. National Cancer Institute states there is no specific normal or abnormal level of PSA in the blood . While PSA levels below 4.0 ng/mL were previously considered normal, it is important to note that some individuals with levels below this threshold can still have prostate cancer, while many with levels between 4 and 10 ng/mL do not have prostate cancer. PSA levels can fluctuate due to age, prostate gland size, inflammation or infection, recent prostate biopsy, ejaculation and intense exercise. Certain medications used to treat an enlarged prostate can lower PSA levels. Generally, a higher PSA level increases the likelihood of prostate cancer, but it is crucial to interpret PSA results in consultation with a health care provider who can assess the individual's overall risk profile and consider additional factors for a more accurate diagnosis. Posted May 2023

TAVT-45 (abiraterone acetate) Oral Suspension: Phase 3 Trial Demonstrates Therapeutic Equivalence Between TAVT-45 and Zytiga® with a Comparable Safety Profile, Suggesting the Potential of TAVT-45 as an Alternative to Zytiga® for Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients Who Have Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia) TAVT-119 (amlodipine besylate) Gel: Results from Phase 2 Study Demonstrate that Topical TAVT-119 Treatment was Well Tolerated and Showed Promise in Reducing Pain in Patients with Anal Fissure KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tavanta Therapeutics, a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it will present new data from its metastatic prostate cancer program during the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting taking place June 2-6 in Chicago, as well as from its anal fissure program during the upcoming American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Meeting being held June 3-6 in Seattle. "At ASCO, we will present detailed Phase 3 results for TAVT-45 that further demonstrate its potential to become the first FDA-approved oral suspension formulation of abiraterone acetate for patients with metastatic prostate cancer and provide a much-needed alternative for patients with dysphagia," said Andreas Maetzel, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Tavanta Therapeutics. "At ASCRS, we are excited to present the first data from our Phase 2 study of TAVT-119 in people with anal fissure. Currently, non-surgical options to treat anal fissures include topical nitrates (which are limited by headache/tolerability) and topical calcium channel blockers (which are only available via compounding pharmacies as none are FDA-approved for anal fissure). Based on the data that will be presented, we believe that TAVT-119 has the potential to offer patients a therapeutic option that is safe, efficacious and accessible." "We are pleased to highlight these promising new data, which reflect the significant progress of our clinical development programs," said Lynne Powell, Chief Executive Officer of Tavanta Therapeutics. Details of presentations are as follows: ASCO Presentation Poster: A Novel Abiraterone Acetate Oral Suspension for Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer: An Open-Label, Phase 3, Randomized Trial Poster Number: 146 Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023 Poster Session Time: The poster will be presented from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. CDT, during the "Genitourinary Cancer—Prostate, Testicular, and Penile" poster session The Company's abstract, which has been made available on the ASCO website can be viewed here. For more information about ASCO visit . ASCRS Presentation Poster: Phase 2 Study of TAVT-119 (amlodipine besylate) Gel in Patients with Chronic Anal Fissure Poster Number: eP600 Date: Monday, June 5, 2023 Poster Session Time: An oral presentation of the ePoster will occur from 11:25 – 11:30 a.m. PDT, during the "ePoster Monitor 16 Benign Anorectal Disease" session The Company's abstract will be made available after the presentation on Tavanta's website. For more information about ASCRS visit About Prostate Cancer and TAVT-45 Granules for Oral Suspension Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in men.1 TAVT-45 (abiraterone acetate) Granules for Oral Suspension ("TAVT-45"), is an enhanced formulation of abiraterone acetate, an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor. Abiraterone acetate is currently marketed in the U.S. and EU as Zytiga® tablets for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. When reconstituted with water or juice to yield an oral suspension, TAVT-45 may provide an alternative for 20 to 30 percent of patients who suffer from dysphagia or have difficulty swallowing tablets. Other limitations of the commercially available abiraterone tablets include the requirement to be taken on an empty stomach and the high variability in systemic exposure. This high variability in systemic exposure can result in patients with low abiraterone plasma concentrations and exposure, which can lead to suboptimal clinical outcomes.2,3 It is anticipated that TAVT-45 may be taken regardless of food consumption and may result in fewer patients with sub-optimal abiraterone trough plasma concentrations. About Anal Fissures and TAVT-119 Gel Anal fissures are tears in the anal canal that cause pain, bleeding, and spasms, and are quite common in the general population.4 TAVT-119 is a novel topical formulation of amlodipine, a long-acting calcium channel blocker (CCB) that can relax smooth muscle and improve vasodilation. Amlodipine is currently marketed in the U.S. and EU as Norvasc® tablets for treating hypertension and coronary artery disease. TAVT-119 gel is under development for treating moderate to severe pain associated with anal fissure. Current non-surgical treatment options for anal fissure include topical nitrates and CCBs. However, topical nitrates are associated with side effects such as severe headaches, while CCBs are not approved in the U.S. to treat anal fissures and are often used off-label via compounding pharmacies.4,5 TAVT-119 has the potential to become the first FDA-approved CCB for anal fissure, which could overcome access/availability issues of compounded agents, with fewer adverse events expected compared to topical nitrates. About Tavanta Therapeutics Tavanta Therapeutics (Tavanta), headquartered in King of Prussia Pa., is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing a diverse pipeline of specialty drugs designed to bring clinically meaningful benefits to patients with serious or debilitating diseases. Tavanta has developed a risk-balanced approach to discovery and product development by both enhancing the clinical performance of established molecules and synthesizing novel small molecules and therapeutic peptides. For more information, visit and connect with us on LinkedIn. References: 1. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. 2. Carton E, Noe G, Huillard O, et al. Relation between plasma trough concentration of abiraterone and prostate-specific antigen response in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. Eur J Cancer. 2017;72:54-61. 3. van Nuland M, Groenland SL, Bergman AM, et al. Exposure-response analyses of abiraterone and its metabolites in real-world patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2020;23(2):244-251. 4. Davids JS, Hawkins AT, Bhama AR, et al; Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Anal Fissures. Dis Colon Rectum. 2023 Feb 1;66(2):190-199. 5. Shah M, Sandler L, Rai V, et al. Quality of compounded topical 2% diltiazem hydrochloride formulations for anal fissure. World J Gastroenterol. 2013 Sep 14;19(34):5645-50. Contacts: Corporate: Lynne Powell, CEO [email protected] Media: Elixir Health Public Relations Lindsay Rocco +1 862-596-1304 [email protected] SOURCE Tavanta Therapeutics