Yohimbine in the treatment of erectile dysfunction

Iochimbin hydrochloride was given to 153 men with erectile dysfunction. The results are available for 140 of them. The ability of iochimbin in a single dose of 5-10 mg to enhance arterial blood inflow to cavernous bodies of the penis was confirmed by dynamic angiopenoscintigraphy and Doppler ultrasonography. Iochimbin hydrochloride in a mean daily dose of 15-20 mg proved effective in erectile dysfunction--38 to 84% responders depending on the type of erectile dysfunction. Occasional side effects can be relieved by reducing the drug dose.     

Complications of transrectal biopsy of the prostate

The aim of the study was to assess frequency of various complications of transrectal multifocal biopsy of the prostate (TMBP), to specify prophylactic measures against such complications. Primary TMBP under US guidance was made in 612 patients (mean age 65.8 years, mean level of PSA 12.6 ng/ml). TMBP complications include: hematuria (220 patients, 35.9%), hemospermia (166 patients, 27.1%), pain in the perineum and the rectum (189, 30.9%), acute prostatitis (21 patients, 3.4%), acute orchiepididymitis (7 patients, 1.1%), acute urine retention (9 patients, 1.5%), long-term rectal hemorrhage (13 patients, 2.1%), loss of consciousness during the biopsy (7 patients, 1.1%). The analysis of TMBP complications leads to the conclusion that adequate preparation of the patients and accurate conduction of the prostatic biopsy technique under US guidance make this invasive manipulation diagnostically effective and safe.     

An expanded technique of transrectal prostatic biopsy

To compare diagnostic value of transrectal prostatic biopsy in obtaining samples of tissue from different sites in patients with various levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate size, we made primary transrectal biopsy of the prostate in 486 patients. The patients were divided into 7 groups by the number of punctures at biopsy (from 6 to 18). Among the patients with PSA under 20 ng/ml in the number of tissue biopsy samples 18, a rise in prostatic cancer detection rate (PCDR) was 16.6%. In PSA above 20 ng/ml, a statistically significant maximal rise in PCDR occurred in the increase of biopsy number from 6 to 12 (by 9.3%). The number of local cancer forms in patients with PSA < 20 ng/ml among all the detected cases rose from 70% (biopsy from 6 sites) to 92.3% (biopsy from 18 sites). Among the patients with PSA < 20 ng/ml and the size of the prostate > 50 sm3, a significant rise of PCDR increased from 20 to 33.3% in an increase of the puncture number from 6 to 12. In the group of patients with the same PSA level and prostate > 50 cm3 PCDR improves in biopsy from 14, 16 and 18 sites (from 12.1 to 27.7%, 28.5 to 33.3%, respectively). Standard biopsy is insufficient for adequate PCDR, it is necessary to obtain samples of tissue from a large number of sites with puncture of peripheral zone of the prostate. Transrectal biopsy of the prostate according to the extended method improves PCDR, primarily, in local cancer.     

Adamantylamides of 1,3-diphenylpyrazole-4-carboxylic acids

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 29–31, March, 1991.     

Effect of herpes simplex virus on spermatogenesis

To investigate the effect of Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) on spermatogenesis, HSV in ejaculate was detected by a rapid cultural method in 268 infertile males and 47 healthy ones. The number of mobile spermatozoa in HSV infected samples was less than in non-infected samples (21 mln/mlversus 40 mln/ml, p = 0.0001). The relative number of morphologically normal gametes was 13% versus 19% (p = 0.002), respectively. The quantitative karyological test discovered that males with HSV-infected ejaculate have more degenerating sex cells while in high virus contamination (more than 10 virus particles in 1 ml) the number of spermatides and spermatocytes of the 1 order at diploten stage is low. Organic testicular culture was used for more detailed study of pathogenetic mechanisms of HSV impact on spermatogenesis. Testicular explants infection was associated with reduction in the number of spermatogones, spermatocytes and spermatides on culturing week 2. The above findings reveal some pathogenetic mechanisms underling fertility disorders in males with HSV infection: a gametotoxic effect of the virus reducing populations of spermatogones, spermatocytes and spermatide; affected mobility and morphological characteristics of spermatozoa. Detection of the mechanisms of HSV action on spermatogenesis opens a perspective of antivirus drug administration in combined treatment of male infertility.     

Ultrastructural changes in the adenohypophysis-thyroid system in chronic poisoning by the herbicide linuron

Ultrastructural adenohypophysis-thyroid system investigation of Wistar male rats under conditions of chronic poisoning by Linuron herbicide and administration of thymohemin immunomodulator was performed. The release of thyrocyte fragments into the vascular lumen, electron-dense deposits in the area of vascular basal membrane, dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae as well as inhibition of Golgi complex in thyrocytes are observed in the thyroid exposed to Linuron; in the adenohypophysis under the same conditions swelling and splitting of microvessel basal membrane as well as the increase of biosynthetic and secretory thyrotrophic function can be seen. Thymohemin reduces the degree of degenerative processes in the thyroid gland.