Men who smoke cigarettes run an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction, and the more cigarettes smoked, the greater the risk, according to a study by Tulane University researchers published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

A team of researchers led by Jiang He, Professor of Epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, examined the association between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction in a 2000-2001 study in China involving 7,684 men. The researchers used questionnaires to assess the status of cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction. Those surveyed were men between the ages of 35-74 who did not have vascular disease.

The team found that there was a significant statistical link between the number of cigarettes that men smoked and the likelihood they would experience erectile dysfunction. The association between smoking and erectile dysfunction was even stronger in participants with diabetes. An estimated 22.7 percent of erectile dysfunction cases among Chinese men might be attributable to cigarette smoking, says the study.

Although erectile dysfunction is not a life-threatening condition, it compromises well-being and quality of life. The Tulane study results suggest that smoking prevention should be an important approach for reducing the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Source : Science Daily

¶ Wednesday, August 01, 2007 6:57:57 AM //

A new impotence drug, the world's fifth, has been developed by a Korean company and approved for sale in Korea.
SK Chemicals said on Thursday that its impotence drug MVIX was approved by the Korea Food & Drug Administration and will go on sale from the middle of next month.

MVIX is the 13th new drug developed by the Korean company. SK Chemicals has spent W15 billion (US$1=W915) on creating the drug in partnership with bio venture firm IN2GEN.

MVIX is the world's fifth impotence drug after Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra by multinational pharmaceutical companies and Zydena by Korean drug maker Dong-A Pharm.

With Korean drug company Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical selling Bayer's Levitra under the name Yaila, Korea's impotence drug market is expected to see competition between five drugs and six pharmaceutical companies.

Koreans are expected to spend more than W100 billion on impotence drugs this year.

Source : english.chosun

¶ Friday, July 27, 2007 3:54:34 AM //

Taking part in group psychotherapy can help men who have erectile dysfunction to over come their problem, and adding sildenafil to group therapy was more effective that sildenafil alone. In addition, group psychotherapy was more effective than taking sildenafil on its own, a Cochrane Systematic Review has found.

Normal sexual function relies on the coordination of psychological, endocrine, vascular and neurological factor. Recent research has increased attention on the role of psychological issues. In particular, depression, low self-esteem, anxiety and other psychosocial stresses can play a large role in erectile dysfunction.

A team of Cochrane Researchers drew data from nine randomised trials and two quasi-randomised trials. These involved 398 men with erectile dysfunction who had been given psychotherapy, medication, psychotherapy plus medication or vacuum devices. A further 59 were in non-treatment control groups.

"We found that 95% of men in the psychosocial therapy group benefited from the treatment, while there was no change in over the same period of time in the controls ." says Professor Tamara Melnik, a psychiatrists working at the Universidade de Sao Paulo in Brazil.

"We now need some large randomised trials with longer follow-up periods in order to measure exactly how effective psychosocial therapy can be. This research will need to group the men carefully, and also consider different forms of psychosocial treatment,"says Melnik.

"One problem with psychosocial therapy is that we are still uncertain which patients are most likely to benefit from it and if effectiveness depend upon personality factors, psychiatric co-morbid diagnosis, length of therapy time," says Melnik.

Source : Science Daily

¶ Wednesday, July 18, 2007 7:37:36 AM //

Viagra could save the lives of people with a certain type of heart ailment.

The pill, taken by millions of men for erectile dysfunction, has been shown to improve the performance of diseased right ventricles of the heart. While therapies exist to treat trouble in the left ventricle, which pumps blood around the body, there were no treatments for the right side of the heart, which pumps blood only into the lungs.

In a study reported in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, University of Alberta Hospital researchers report on the beneficial impact of Viagra on the right ventricle, which could add years to patients' lives.

Viagra targets an enzyme that constricts arteries in the lungs, the penis and now the right chambers of the heart.

Source: Canada

¶ Friday, July 13, 2007 6:17:09 AM //

Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence as it is often called, affects men of all ages. There was a time when treatments were few and success of treatment was rare. That was before the ED drug everyone has heard of. That was before "the little blue pill." That was before Viagra.
Viagra (sildenafil) belongs to a group of medicines that delay the enzymes called phosphodiesterase from working too quickly. By controlling phosphodiesterase, sildenafil helps to maintain an erection that is produced when the penis is physically stimulated. We have all heard of the popularity of Viagra. In fact, men of all ages are finding a new found sexual youth because of the little blue pill. But like any prescription medication, Viagra is not without its pitfalls and problems however.

Source : About

¶ Friday, July 06, 2007 6:24:45 AM //

Many people who suffer a heart attack had never had any symptoms of heart disease. Of the roughly 5,000 individuals who die of sudden cardiac arrest in Sweden each year, two thirds had not had any known heart disease. But in men there is one thing that should constitute a advance sign of coming heart problems: impotence.

In some cases, impotence can have neurological, psychiatric, and other causes. But the most common cause, accounting for up to four cases of five, is that the blood circulation in the penis has become so poor that erection is impaired, or no erection can occur at all. And if the circulation in these vessels has been affected by atherosclerosis, then it is highly probable that the same process is under way in the coronary artery in the heart.

In a dissertation from Lund University in Sweden, the physician Rasmus Borgquist has managed to show that this reasoning is correct.

"One of our studies shows that otherwise healthy men with impotence show signs of early atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries of the heart. In another study we saw that men with impotence evince a higher incidence of high blood pressure, high blood fat, abdominal fat, and other traditional risk factors for heart disease," he says.

The conclusion is that men with impotence problems should seek care as soon as possible, since both their impotence and the possible threat of heart disorders can be counteracted with early intervention. The first priority involves changes in life style, such as quitting smoking, exercise, and altered diet, and then if these are insufficient, medication for lowering blood pressure and blood fat and also pharmacological therapy for treatment of the impotence as such.

"It's probably easier to get men to accept changes in their life style if you can point out that they alleviate impotence, rather than talking about the risk of a heart attack sometime down the road. And there are studies that show that potency improves rather quickly in those who quit smoking and lose weight," says Rasmus Borgquist.

The notion that there is a connection between impotence and heart disease was put forward in the mid 1980s. But this connection has been studied seriously only in recent years.

"Today there is a greater interest in these issues, both among the public and at drug companies," claims Rasmus Borgquist. "On the one hand, several new drugs have appeared to combat cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors, and, on the other hand, potency drugs like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra have led many more men to seek help for impotence."

There is still a certain "awkwardness factor" that makes some patients reluctant to seek help, and some physicians are hesitant to take up the matter. But in Rasmus Borgquist's experience, once the physician has broached the subject, patients tend to respond frankly.

Source : Medicalnewstoday

¶ Wednesday, June 20, 2007 4:47:24 AM //

US scientists say they are closer to creating a gene therapy treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Human and animal trials suggest this could offer an alternative to current treatments for some patients, the American Society of Gene Therapy heard.

Researchers say gene therapy could be effective far longer than pills used just before sex, improving spontaneity.

The human trials involved injections into the penis and some experts queried whether men would choose this option.

New approach

Erectile dysfunction (ED), often referred to as impotence, is thought to affect about one in every 10 men in the UK.

ED collectively means an inability to get a good enough erection to achieve satisfactory intercourse, but it varies in severity.

There are many causes, and many effective treatments, including drugs like the three licensed in the UK - Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

But not all types of ED respond well to medication - for example, ED caused by nerve damage following prostate cancer surgery.

US researchers are hopeful that for these patients, and those who experience side-effects with medication, gene therapy may be a good alternative.

Nerve damage

A University of Pittsburgh team, led by Dr Joseph Glorioso, tested an experimental gene therapy in rats with ED caused by nerve damage.

The gene therapy used comprised the herpes simplex virus as a carrier and either a gene called GDNF, or one called neurturin, which both help promote nerve growth.

Rats treated with the gene therapy showed significant recovery and were able to regain normal penile function after four weeks.

Meanwhile, scientists at Wake Forest University, with the help of Dr Arnold Melman from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, have been conducting the first human study of gene therapy for ED.

Tests on 11 men with ED showed promising results. The treatment was well-tolerated, with few side effects, despite its delivery via an injection into the penis.

Although the primary goal of the study was to determine its safety, it also showed the therapy improved erectile function in some of the men.

Dr Melman said: "This is an exciting field of research because current treatments for men with erectile dysfunction, whether pills or minimally invasive therapies, must be used 'on demand', thereby reducing the spontaneity of the sexual act."

'Chronic disease'

The Wake Forest therapy works by inserting small pieces of DNA into cells to trigger the production of proteins which, in turn, help smooth muscle cells relax.

Relaxing the smooth muscle in the penis allows it to fill with blood and achieve an erection.

Dr Geoff Hackett, president of the British Society for Sexual Medicine, said the gene therapy might be appealing to some men for whom other treatments had failed, but predicted many men would be reluctant to have a shot in the penis.

He stressed that many men with ED also had underlying medical disease, such as high blood pressure, raised cholesterol or diabetes, and that this should also be treated.

And there is a good argument for treating ED as a chronic disease too, he said.

"Maybe men with ED should be taking a pill for it every day. If you take smaller amounts regularly, the side-effects are less," he explained.

Source :BBC News

¶ Tuesday, June 12, 2007 9:05:59 AM //

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is very common. Depending upon how you define ED, there are 15 million to 30 million men who have it. ED ranges from complete impotence to unsatisfactory performance.

But it doesn't have to be a part of getting older. As you age, you may need more stimulation and more time, but older men should still be able to get an erection and enjoy sex.

The incidence of ED increases with age. Between 15 and 25 percent of 65-year-old men experience this problem. In older men, ED usually has a physical cause, such as a drug side effect, disease or injury. Anything that damages the nerves or impairs blood flow in the penis can cause ED.

The following are some leading causes of erectile dysfunction: diabetes, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), prostate surgery, hormone imbalance, alcohol and drug abuse.

And, of course, there are your emotions. It should be no surprise that, if you’re having a relationship problem with your sex partner, you can suffer from ED. Here are some other psychological influences: anxiety over a previous failure, everyday stress, depression, and feeling unattractive to your partner. If you’re suffering from ED, you should see your doctor for a discussion and physical exam.

Monitoring erections that occur during sleep can help the diagnosis.

Healthy men have involuntary erections during sleep. If nocturnal erections do not occur, then ED is likely to have a physical rather than psychological cause. Tests of nocturnal erections are not completely reliable, however.

The cause of the ED will determine the treatment. Some ED medicines are injected into the penis. Other medicines are taken orally. In addition to medicines, there are vacuum pump devices and surgery.

Millions of men have benefited from three drugs that treat ED. These three, which are advertised endlessly, are Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. All of them increase blood flow to the penis, which produces an erection. Viagra, Levitra and Cialis improve the response to sexual stimulation, but they do not trigger an automatic erection as injections do.

Oral testosterone can reduce ED in some men with low levels of natural testosterone, but it is often ineffective and may cause liver damage. Nitroglycerin, a muscle relaxant, can sometimes enhance erection when rubbed on the penis.

Research on drugs for treating ED is expanding rapidly. If you have ED, you should ask your doctor about the latest advances.

Source : Consumer Affairs

¶ Tuesday, June 05, 2007 8:54:47 AM //

The male impotence drug Viagra may be useful for treating jet lag, say Argentine researchers who gave it to hamsters made to feel like rodent globe-trotters.

The researchers manipulated the schedule of turning lights on and off to induce jet lag in the laboratory animals, they reported Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Adult male hamsters given Viagra, also called sildenafil, recovered from jet lag up to 50 percent faster than hamsters that were not given it, the researchers said.

The scientists stopped giving the hamsters the highest dose they had been using in the experiment due to a certain side effect.

"However, we used the intermediate dose for the rest of the experiments because at that dose animals did not manifest the effects of sildenafil-induced penile erections," they wrote.

Flying across multiple time zones can confuse one's sleep-wake cycle, resulting in the condition called jet lag, marked by insomnia, sleepiness and difficulty concentrating.

Researchers Patricia Agostino, Santiago Plano and Diego Golombek of the Universidad Nacional de Quilmes in Buenos Aires gave doses of Viagra to the hamsters at night, then switched on bright lights six hours early to simulate eastbound flight.

They judged how well the hamsters adjusted to the changes by observing when they began running on exercise wheels.

Source : The Moscow Times

¶ Friday, May 25, 2007 4:10:15 AM //

More than 7 years after Viagra hit the market, women are still asking: "What about us?"

Now, what Viagra did for men, a new drug being studied could do for a woman's sex drive.

For years, low libido in women has been blamed on the laundry, the soccer games, the dishes and life in general.

While that may be partially to blame, millions of women have questioned how they can love their partners and spouses, but lose interest in their sex drive.

"Is this normal, what's wrong with me, what can I do to make it better?" asks one woman, who preferred to not be identified. "Then you start getting into insecurities. What's this going to do to my marriage, what are all the other women doing about this."

Until now, the answer has been - nothing.

That's why the clinical trial of a new drug is exciting - both to potential patients and doctors.

It was originally investigated as an anti-depressant.

"But it didn't work well," says UT Southwestern gynecologist Bruce Carr. "Now the company that was investigating it was going to shelve it but they found when they looked at the data that the women that had taken it, one of the side-effects is increased sex drive, or increased libido."

Dr. Carr is among the investigators of Flibanserin - a daily medication to improve a woman's sex drive.

Last year, the FDA refused to approve Intrinsa, a testosterone patch for women.

Instead of increasing hormone levels, Flibanserin targets the pleasure zones of a woman's brain.

For this phase three study, researchers are looking for pre-menopausal women, between 18-to-45 years old, in a stable, heterosexual relationship, with no other serious medical conditions.

Doctors say if it works, Flibanserin will help women and men.

"It'll hope both," says Dr. Carr. "It'll help fulfill their [a woman's] needs and also their husbands needs and it could really improve relationships."

That's why this North Texas mother and wife enrolled.

"I'm doing it for me, I'm doing it for my husband really. Partly because I'm trying to figure out if something's wrong with me that can be fixed," she says. "I'm hopeful."

She doesn't know if she's getting the real medication, or a placebo. Nor would she reveal if she's experiencing an improvement in sex drive.

But she knows many other women are also hoping this drug can do for them what Viagra did for men's sex lives.

Source : WFAA

¶ Friday, May 18, 2007 3:58:41 AM //