Herb formula enhances treatment of impotent patients after penile venous stripping: a randomised clinical trials

Herbs have been regarded as aphrodisiacs in treating impotence for many centuries despite little true scientific evidence. Our latest refined penile venous stripping (PVS) technique is effective in treating impotence, although this procedure remains controversial. A synergic effect of PVS and oral herbs was confirmed in our practice but lacked rigorous scientific proof. The objective of this report was to review our experience with this combination. From August 2010 to May 2014, 263 males underwent PVS. Among these, 67 unsatisfied men chose additional salvage therapy and were randomly assigned to oral herbs (n = 35) or placebo treatment (n = 32) which replaced herb eventually. All were evaluated with the international index of erectile function (IIEF‐5) scoring and our dual pharmaco‐cavernosography. The pre‐op IIEF‐5 score for the herb group was 9.7 ± 3.7, post‐operative 13.9 ± 3.3 and post‐herb 19.6 ± 3.4, while the control group scores were as follows: pre‐op 9.3 ± 4.1, post‐op 14.5 ± 3.6, post‐placebo 15.1 ± 3.5 and post‐herb 19.9 ± 3.2. Although there was no significant difference between the two groups pre‐operatively, post‐operatively and post‐herb, a statistically significant difference was found post‐salvage therapy (19.6 ± 3.4 versus 15.1 ± 3.6, P < 0.001). It appears that the combination of oral herbs and PVS treatment provides an enhanced outcome to impotent patients refractory to medicine and unsatisfied with PVS monotherapy alone.     

Decrease of the insulin‐like growth factor‐1 bioavailability in spontaneously hypertensive rats with erectile dysfunction

We investigated the role of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) in spontaneously hypertensive rats with erectile dysfunction. Firstly, we evaluated intracavernous pressure. The bioavailability of IGF‐1 at both mRNA and protein levels were measured by quantitative real‐time PCR and Western blot respectively. Then, cavernous cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentrations were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The cavernosal pressure was significantly decreased in the hypertensive and the propranolol treatment groups compared to the normal control group (P < 0.01). Cavernous IGF‐1 bioavailability and the concentrations of cavernous cyclic guanosine monophosphate were both significantly decreased in the hypertensive and the propranolol treatment groups compared to the normal control group (P < 0.01). This study suggests that an obvious decrease in cavernous IGF‐1 levels might play an important role in spontaneously hypertensive rats with erectile dysfunction.     

骨盆骨折合并后尿道损伤与单纯骨盆骨折对男性性功能影响的对比研究

目的探讨骨盆骨折合并后尿道损伤与单纯骨盆骨折对男性性功能影响的差异性。方法回顾性分析自2012-10—2015-01诊治的40例男性骨盆骨折的临床资料,其中25例为单纯性骨盆骨折(A组),15例伴后尿道完全断裂(B组),所有患者采用国际勃起功能评分表(IIEF-5)对其勃起功能进行自我评价,测定时间为回顾创伤前、创伤后;对IIEF-5评分21分的患者进行夜间勃起(NPT)检测,并进行统计学分析。结果所有患者获得随访6~12个月,平均9个月。B组均发生了勃起功能障碍(ED),受伤前后IIEF-5评分差异有统计学意义(P0.05);并将2组受伤后IIEF-5评分比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);将B组不同年龄段患者受伤后IEF-5评分进行比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);对所有患者进行NPT检测,2组NPT比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论骨盆骨折合并后尿道损伤的患者与单纯骨盆骨折患者相比更易发生勃起功能障碍。     

The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Cardiac Function and Tolerance to Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Male Rats

Background

Sleep deprivation (SD) is strongly associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease.

Objective

To determine the effect of SD on basal hemodynamic functions and tolerance to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in male rats.

Method

SD was induced by using the flowerpot method for 4 days. Isolated hearts were perfused with Langendorff setup, and the following parameters were measured at baseline and after IR: left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP); heart rate (HR); and the maximum rate of increase and decrease of left ventricular pressure (±dp/dt). Heart NOx level, infarct size and coronary flow CK-MB and LDH were measured after IR. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured at start and end of study.

Results

In the SD group, the baseline levels of LVDP (19%), +dp/dt (18%), and -dp/dt (21%) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower, and HR (32%) was significantly higher compared to the controls. After ischemia, hearts from SD group displayed a significant increase in HR together with a low hemodynamic function recovery compared to the controls. In the SD group, NOx level in heart, coronary flow CK-MB and LDH and infarct size significantly increased after IR; also SD rats had higher SBP after 4 days.

Conclusion

Hearts from SD rats had lower basal cardiac function and less tolerance to IR injury, which may be linked to an increase in NO production following IR.     

PDE5抑制剂与黑色素瘤风险的相关性研究进展

5型磷酸二酯酶抑制剂（PDE5抑制剂）是治疗勃起功能障碍的首选药物,其通过选择性抑制PDE5的活性,减少cGMP的降解,扩张阴茎海绵体血管,从而维持男性勃起反应。目前,部分基础研究表明PDE5抑制剂的作用机制可能会影响皮肤细胞的信号通路,导致患者黑色素瘤的风险增加。此外,较多临床研究也对PDE5抑制剂和黑色素瘤发病风险的相关性进行了评估,但目前尚未得出明确一致的结论。本文就上述研究进展进行综述。     

Predisposing factors for erectile dysfunction and response to treatment in younger males: Are they different from those of older men? An observational-comparative study

We aimed to correlate the predisposing demographic and clinical factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) in young men and treatment response in these men with data from older men. The patients were divided into two groups: <40 years (group I, n = 58) and ≥40 years (group II, n = 73). ED was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire, and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire was used to evaluate mood status. The number of patients with morning rigidity and normal libido was higher in group I (70.7% vs. 16.4%, p = .039 and 72% vs. 37%, p = .047). The increase in scores other than IIEF-Orgasmic Function and Sexual Desire domain scores after treatment was higher in the first group (p = .029, p = .035 and p < .001 respectively). In multivariate analysis, the factors predicting the low IIEF-Erectile Function domain score in young men were testosterone level and BDI score (p = .026 and p = .034). Although psychogenic factors contribute significantly to the aetiology of ED, hormone profile is more preserved in young men than in older men.