Archive for September, 2008

A basic science breakthrough by Queen’s researchers into regulating a single enzyme may lead to new drug therapies that will help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Led by professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology Donald Maurice, the study focuses on the effects of Viagra – the popular erectile dysfunction drug, which is also used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

“As scientists, we’re excited about this discovery because it’s a fundamentally new approach to regulating what enzymes do in cells,” says Dr. Maurice, a Career Scientist with the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation. “The fact that it also offers a potentially novel use of a drug already widely in use for other applications is an unexpected bonus.”

The enzyme targeted by the Queen’s researchers is known to regulate the activity of platelets: small blood cells needed for normal blood clotting. Problems can arise when people have stents permanently implanted in their arteries to maintain blood flow. Their platelets sometimes bind to the stent and, if enough platelets accumulate to form a blockage, this may cause a sudden, massive heart attack or stroke to occur.

Drugs like Viagra Pro have been shown to inhibit PDE5, explains Lindsay Wilson, a PhD student in Pathology and Molecular Medicine and first author on the study. Until now, however, it hasn’t been possible to isolate the small “pool” of activity within the cell where this is occurring.

The Queen’s study shows that within each cell there are two different pools of the PDE5 enzyme, but that only one of them regulates platelet activation. “Understanding how the cell works should allow us to affect the activity of enzymes in one neighborhood – and leave alone their ‘identical twins’ in a different neighborhood in that cell,” says Ms Wilson.

“The idea is to use a PDE5 inhibitor such as canadian Viagra Pro selectively to inhibit platelet function,” she continues. We now know that not all the enzymes in the cell are doing the same job. Just like in real estate, it’s all about the location!”

The team’s findings were recently published online in the international journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Other members of the Queen’s research team are Hisham Elbatarny and Brian Bennett (Pharmacology and Toxicology), and Scott Crawley (Biochemistry). Funding came from the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

There are various health problems affecting man. Out of the various problems, erectile dysfunction is a major problem supposed to affect the normal life of man in the worst manner. This is the inability to maintain the erected posture that is needed for penetration. The disease is generally known as impotence.

This problem can affect men when they cross certain age limit. The abilities of erection will vary with men’s age and hence erectile dysfunction is not an indication of men’s health. This must not be considered as a disease if it occurs at the later ages since this is quite natural and expected of old age men.

Several reasons can attribute to the cause of erectile dysfunction. The problems can be concerning the brain or the nervous system. It can also be caused due to any health issues affecting the arteries and veins present in the penis. Problems can also be with the spongy tissue of the penis. A high level of blood pressure and cholesterol are supposed to be connected with erectile dysfunction.

There are various treatments available for erectile dysfunction. Viagra Professional pills are available and there are some surgical methods as well which all affect in the curing of this problem which interferes with the confidence and performance level of men. A treatment under the instruction of a doctor will help in overcoming this situation. There are natural remedies available that will help in treating this disorder completely.

The usual case of erectile dysfunction occurs at the age of 40. This condition is not a physiological problem since it occurs by the natural phenomenon and processes occurring in body. Men can have a partial dysfunction of erection or can be complete erectile dysfunction. When this affects his ability to bring satisfaction to his partner, the relationship and the emotional attachment is affected. This issue will affect the self esteem of the individual affecting his social life as well.

Having a proper health control is more important in curing erectile dysfunction. Keeping a control on the food and avoiding cholesterol completely will help you in the first stages of treatment of erectile dysfunction. Including vitamins and minerals in the adequate quantity in the food materials you intake and taking sufficient quantity of water are steps that you can take from your home. Following breathing exercises regularly and avoiding improper sitting postures will wipe away the chances for early erectile dysfunction. A total change in the fast and modern life style will bring in differences in men’s health conditions.

If impotence is due to physical factors, the latter should be treated accordingly. What methods are used in treating patients whose problem is physiological? Here’s what to expect but remember that all these methods carry certain risks so it’s important that your impotence is correctly diagnosed first.

Hormonal medications may be prescribed if impotence is due to a hormone deficiency. Low testosterone levels, for instance, can be treated with testosterone injections. However, this happens in very few cases.

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If testosterone shots are given haphazardly, this could lead to liver damage, tumors, and stop sperm production. What’s more, this therapy is not indicated for men with a history of prostate cancer, heart, kidney, or liver disease.

Impotence caused by obstructed arteries that block blood flow to the penis or a venous leak that allows excessive amounts of blood to drain from the penis can be remedied by surgery. This difficult and expensive procedure may include microscopic reconstruction of penile arteries or the removal of abnormal veins that cause blood to drain rapidly from the penis.

In the right candidate, surgery carries a 60 to 65 percent success rate. In others, it can result in infection, numbness, scar tissue formation with shortening or twisting of the penis, painful erections and swelling of the head of the penis. Some who opt for surgery may find that whatever improvement they have is temporary. Impotence may return in six months to a year.
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Another surgical technique for impotence entails the use of prosthetic implants. The first penile implant taken from a man’s rib was made in 1936 but technical difficulties forced the surgeons to abandon the idea. Modern implants are the brainchild of Dr. William Scott of the Johns Hopkins Medical School, Dr. Michael Small of the University of Miami Medical School and his associate Dr. H.M. Carrion.

Scott’s device was operated by a scrotal pump which transferred fluid from a reservoir located in the lower abdomen to the flaccid penis, producing an erection. The Small-Carrion devices, on the other hand, produced a constant state of erection when implanted. This is good during intercourse but has to be concealed afterwards.

In 1989, implants were used by about 27,5OO men in America alone. Worldwide sales of five implant manufacturers have reached more than $60 million. At present, there are several models that can be classified in three basic categories: rigid, semi rigid, and inflatable.

he surgical success rate for penile implants is 9O to 95 percent but patient and partner satisfaction is only 6O to 75 percent. To make things worse, a large number of men will require another operation owing to some complications like infection, penile pain, and mechanical failure of the implant. So think twice before you have one.
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For those who are afraid of surgery, there are several mechanical aids for impotence. We’ll talk about this in the fourth part of our series.