Current Date

~ OPEN LETTER TO PHYSICIANS ~

Dear Fellow Colleague,

  For the past 4.5 years, my urologic interest has focused on Type IIIA (non-bacterial) Prostatitis in accordance with the new classification as set forth by the National Institute of Health, NIH.  As you know, Prostatitis is an orphan disease or as Thomas Stamey, M.D. has stated, is "the wastebasket of clinical ignorance".  Prostatitis to most physicians represents confusion in clinical presentation, confusion in diagnosis, and confusion in treatment.  It is well known that the vast majority of cases of prostatitis are non-bacterial meaning that fewer than 5% of all cases respond to antibiotics.  Despite this fact, 80% of all Urologists prescribe antibiotics as their first line of therapy, virtually 100% of the time.

  In a study presented at the NIH in November of 1999, I reviewed our findings on 235 consecutive men seen at our clinic over the span of 10 months.  These men presented with a myriad of urologic complaints as their chief complaint.  All men underwent an AUA symptom score evaluation, administered by a physician.  If men experienced any level of voiding symptoms, an EPS, expressed prostatic secretion, was performed.  While admittedly, men with a voiding symptom score of 1-7 have mild symptoms and present little or no clinical consequence, this group of men were included as well in this unbiased prospective review.

  In the group of men less than 50 years old (n=83), 81% of men had prostatitis as determined by an EPS of greater than or equal to10 wbcs/400 power (microscopically).  This data is consistent with the literature as referenced in Campbell's Urology and tends to validate our research.

  In the group of men 50 years or older, 88% of men (n=152) had prostatitis by the same criteria.  This data has never been reported, in any Urologic Reference Text or prior study.  This data further suggests that men with voiding symptoms should be evaluated for prostatitis prior to use of alpha blockade or surgical intervention for symptoms previously presumed to be those of BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia.  Such evaluation can only enhance the clinical outcome of these patients, improving quality of life surveys.  In corollary studies, it was noted that men with a PSA equal to or greater than one had prostatitis 100% of the time, (n=131), based on a positive EPS, the definitive diagnostic test.  Men with a PSA of less than one may or may not have prostatitis and should be tested for prostatitis, if their voiding symptom score is greater than or equal to eight.

  In regard to PSA, our data supports the cutting edge literature that a PSA of 0-4ng/ml is not normal, but common.  This is correlated to the fact that 20-30% of all prostate cancers are in this range. Thus, to call a PSA of 0-4 normal is a true medical oxymoron.  If we ever hope to promote a healthier adult male population, as well as decrease disease, we must change the reference range (of normal) to less than one as the new standard of practice and acceptance.

  Given our collective frustration level to the lack of benefit of antibiotics for prostatitis resolution, physicians have used various regimens, whether alone or in combination for such patients.  These include alpha-blockade, Proscar, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and even Interstitial Cystitis remedies such Elmiron.  While the war is waged on symptom and disease amelioration, the agents mentioned above do little to change the face of the disease.  Physicians, nonetheless, should be applauded, as it appears that we are increasingly willing to look at all options with an open mind.

  I had faced the same challenge as you and decided to evaluate a unique now patented, all-natural remedy that avoided controversial ingredients, has no side effects, and is cost effective.  In a review of many hundreds of patients, I have evaluated both subjective and objective markers of prostate disease.  My basic goal was to validate the benefit of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, beta-sitosterols, and immune boosters in combination, as they related to durable and accepted biologic/clinical markers.  The data we obtained in clinicals has never been shown previously with either an FDA regulated product or dietary supplement.  The product we evaluated improved the voiding symptom score by almost 13 points on average, while the EPS improved by 66%.  Additionally, the PSA dropped by almost 50%.  PEENUTS, the name for this unique formula works synergistically at the prostate cellular level to reduce the inflammatory response.  This process is mediated through immune modulation.  As the EPS decreases, the PSA response also falls as the prostate becomes healthier.  Not surprisingly, voiding symptoms vanish while spurious lower tract symptoms of pain or discomfort abate.  Notwithstanding this success, our current research continues to focus on the immune system modulations through cytokine and natural killer T cell modification.

  When prostate biopsy patients receive the word from you that there is no indication for alarm as no cancer was found, I encourage you to consider that these patients indeed have prostatitis and likely will benefit from the PEENUTS formula.  Historically, only 25-33% of patients who undergo a prostate biopsy will receive the diagnosis of prostate cancer.  In a review of more than 1000 patients at a national laboratory, approximately, 30% of biopsy specimens showed prostate cancer while virtually all patients had pathological findings consistent with prostatitis.  It is with this information, that I urge you to be proactive and give your patients an opportunity to avoid future angst and unnecessary future biopsy triggered primarily, by prostatitis.  Therefore, I suggest that you consider the product with which I have had great success.  Over the past year or so, I have had quite a few physicians contact me to ask about our product PEENUTS.  PEENUTS, launched in August of 1997, is an acronym for “Power to Empty Every time, while Never Urinating Too Soon”.  Obviously, this implies normal bladder function.

  Significant scientific data speaks to the benefit of the ingredients in the PEENUTS formula.  As example, Vitamin E and Selenium have been shown to be of benefit versus prostate cancer in the Finnish and Clark studies, respectively. Additionally, Dr. Snuffy Myers, of the University of Virginia, has stated publicly that he “has never seen a prostate cancer patient with a normal selenium level”.  Saw Palmetto, a sitosterol, is also in the formula.  The works of Dr.’s Gerber and Marks in separate studies have shown that PSA is not altered by saw palmetto.  Other ingredients in the PEENUTS formula include: nettle, (an excellent source of Vitamin E), a trio of amino acids; popularized by Chinese medicine, zinc, B6, Ginkgo, garlic, Vitamin C, pygeum, pumpkin seed, and a small but effective amount of Echinacea.

Presently, more than 300 physicians, the prestigious Watson Clinic, and thousands of gratified patients endorse the product.  A review of our websites is encouraged to allow you to gain an improved understanding of this product.  Recently, Dr. Neil Baum, Urologist, commented that a male patient with Interstitial Cystitis had decreased his use of Elmiron by two-thirds by simply adding PEENUTS to his daily regimen.  Dr. Baum stated further, “this was just another fine example of the benefit of PEENUTS”.  I have seen similar benefit to IC patients in my practice, both male and female.  Presently, family physicians, urologists, and oncologists endorse and/or personally use the PEENUTS product.  It seems that we ultimately suffer the same problems as our patients while prostatitis, BPH, prostate surgery, or worse yet prostate cancer is equally unsettling to us.

  Via the Internet you may view additional studies open for your participation that include the  “QPF study”, comparing the effects of Quanterra saw palmetto (the extract), PEENUTS, and Flomax in an open label, randomized trial with crossover.  It is hypothesized that 15-20% of patients, who suffer voiding symptoms, may benefit from an alpha-blocker in addition to the PEENUTS formula; this based on the presence of bladder neck hypertrophy in this group of patients.  An additional study is “The Prostate Challenge” comparing Floxin, Cipro, Septra DS, and PEENUTS versus prostatitis resolution.  Should you have any interest in either study participation or the PEENUTS product for your patients or yourself, kindly call us toll free in the United States at 1-888-733-6887 or visit our websites at www.peenuts.com or www.theprostatecenter.com and/or contact me at prostadoc@aol.com.  Thank you for your time and attention.

Best regards,

  Ronald E. Wheeler, M.D.