Effects of pioglitazone on erectile dysfunction in sildenafil poor-responders: A randomized, controlled study

Purpose. The effects of pioglitazone on sildenafil responsiveness in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and a history of poor response to sildenafil were assessed. Methods. In a double-blinded study, 38 men aged 47 ± 1.5 years with moderate-tosevere ED and poor response to sildenafil were randomly assigned to take a premedication of pioglitazone 30 mg (n=19) or placebo (n=19) once daily for 9 weeks along with on-demand use of sildenafil during the last month of pioglitazonetreatment. Erectile function (EF) scores, assessed by EF domain of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), along with responses to Global Assessment Questions (GAQs) were major outcome measures. Serum levels of total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), glucose, lipid profile and liver function test were minor outcome measures. Results. Pioglitazone significantly improved major outcome measures compared with placebo. The decrease from baseline of total cholesterol level was more in pioglitazonethan in placebo-treated groups. In 84 (32 out of 38) of the sildenafil poor-responders, at least one of the associated risk factors of ED was found. There was undiagnosed hypercholesterolemia in 34 of the subjects. Serum levels of T, DHEAS, glucose and other parameters remained unchanged in both groups. The intervention was well tolerated. Conclusions. Pioglitazone increased sildenafil response to improve ED of men with prior sildenafil failure and seems to be safe based on the present preliminary study. This improvement is likely regardless of fasting glucose and sex hormones levels

An overview of the uses of propolis for oral health

Propolis is a gummy agent exploited from bees, which has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergic, wound healing, antidiabetic, and antiviral effects against various injuries and diseases. It also produces antifungal, antitumor and local anesthetic effects. The aim of the review was to review research findings on the role of propolis in oral health. This study was conducted by reviewing published articles on the use of propolis in oral health. To this end, Persian electronic databases such as Google, SID and Magiran as well as English databases such as PubMed and WOS were searched for articles published from 1979 onwards, 140 papers were retrieved, 21 articles were excluded, and 119 articles were included in final review. So far, propolis has been studied for the treatment of surgical wounds, intracanal irrigation, inhibition of the decay process, treatment of periodontitis and dentin hypersensitivity, and potential antifungal and antibacterial activities in the canal with a mostly satisfactory efficacy. Propolis has been reported to improve surgical wounds and produce anti-decay, anti-dentin hypersensitivity and anti-aphthous ulcer properties, and to be useful as a tooth-storing medium after tooth extraction, an intracanal irrigant and a mouthwash. substances highly useful properties of propolis, it can be argued that in the future, the substance will play a substantial role in dental science are necessary to isolate its compounds and identify their beneficial effects

Toward a new ‘EPOCH’: optimising treatment outcomes with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction

Despite the marked adverse impacts of erectile dysfunction (ED) on quality of life and well-being, many patients (and/or their partners) do not seek medical attention for this problem, do not receive treatment or discontinue such treatment even when it has effectively restored erectile responses to sexual stimulation. Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are considered first-line therapies for men with ED. To help physicians maximise the likelihood of treatment success with these agents, we conducted an English-language PubMed search of articles involving approved PDE5 inhibitors dating from 1 January 1998 (the year in which sildenafil citrate was introduced), through 31 August 2008. In addition to sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil, search terms included ‘adhere*’, ‘couple*’, ‘effect*’, ‘effic*’, ‘partner*’, ‘satisf*’, ‘succe*’ and ‘treatment outcome.’ Based on our analysis, physician activities to promote favourable treatment outcomes may be captured under the mnemonic ‘EPOCH’: (i) Evaluating and educating patients and partners to ensure realistic expectations of therapy; (ii) Prescribing a treatment individualised to the couple’s lifestyle needs and other preferences; (iii) Optimising treatment outcomes by scheduling follow-up visits with the patient to ‘fine-tune’ dosages and revisit key educational messages; (iv) Controlling comorbidities via lifestyle counselling, medications and/or referrals and (v) Helping patients and their partners to meet their health and psychosocial needs, potentially referring them to a specialist for other forms of therapy if they are not satisfied with PDE5 inhibitors

Antibiotic Resistance of Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter Baumannii in Hospitals of Kermanshah, Iran during one year

Abstract: Background & Aims: Acinetobacter spp. are non-fermenting gram-negative coccobacilli that have emerged in recent three decades as major causes of nosocomial infections. Acinetobacter baumannii is the most common pathogen causing a wide spectrum of infections. Acinetobacter infections are difficult to treat, due to both the intrinsic resistance of the pathogen and its ability to readily acquire new resistance mechanisms. Methods: A total of 84 Acinetobacter strains isolated from clinical samples were identified at the species level by biochemical tests. Then their susceptibility to 23 antibiotics and synergism among some of them were determined using disk agar diffusion testing. Antibiogram results were interpreted by using CLSI standard tables. Results: The highest rate of drug resistance (92-98%) was observed to ampicillin, cefpodoxime, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. Tigecycline, colistin and polymyxin B with the least resistance (3-14%) were identified as the most effective antibiotics. Conclusion: Non-fermentative bacteria such as Acinetobacter always are known as examples of drug-resistant bacteria. The results of the present study also indicate a high level of resistance to different antibiotics. Difference in the rates of Acinetobacter resistance to antibiotics based on geographical areas was observed. Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, Antibiotic resistance, Kermansha

Gallic acid ameliorates sodium arsenite-induced renal and hepatic toxicity in rats

Chronic exposure to toxic inorganic arsenic results in the adverse health effects including skin lesions, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurological disorders, and liver and kidney diseases. Gallic acid (GA) is an important phenolic compound, which could protect different tissues from oxidative stress induced damage. The present study investigated effects of GA against sodium arsenite (SA)-induced renal and hepatic toxicity. Thirty-five rats were randomly divided in to five groups; group 1 was treated with normal saline (2 ml/kg/day, p.o.; for 21 days); group 2 was exposed to SA (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.; for 14 days); groups 3 and 4 were treated with GA (10 and 30 mg/kg/day, respectively; for 7 days) prior to exposure to SA, and treatment was continued up to 21 days in parallel with SA administration; group 5 was treated with GA (30 mg/kg/day, p.o.; for 21 days). The level of MDA, IL-1β, NO and glutathione (GSH) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were evaluated in kidney and liver tissues. Histopathological parameters and serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, Cr and BUN were also assessed. Treatment with GA remarkably improved SA-induced alteration of hematological and histopathological parameters; these protective effects were associated with the reduction of SA-induced elevation of MDA, IL-1β and NO levels as well as reduction of GSH level and GPx, SOD and CAT activity. Our results suggest that GA may inhibit SA-induced kidney and liver toxicity through scavenging reactive free radicals and increasing intracellular antioxidant capacity. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Anticonvulsant activity of the ethanolic extract of Punica granatum L. Seed

Objective: Various morphological parts of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) have extensively been used in the folk medicine to treat an array of human ailments. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the anticonvulsant potential of the ethanolic extract of P. granatum L. seed in chemoconvulsant-induced seizures in mice. Method: The anticonvulsant activity of the ethanolic extract was investigated in strychnine (STR)-induced and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure models in mice. Diazepam was used as reference anticonvulsant drug. Ethanolic extract (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg per os, p.o.), diazepam (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally, i.p.), and distilled water (10 ml/kg, i.p.) were administered before induction of seizures by PTZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.) or STR (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.). The latent time before the onset of convulsions, the duration of convulsions, the percentage of seizure protection, and mortality rate were recorded. Results: The seed ethanolic extract did not show any toxicity and did not protect the animals against seizures but demonstrated a significant increase in seizure latency at 300 and 600 mg/kg in both STR and PTZ seizure models (P < 0.001). It also showed a significant reduction in seizure duration at 300 mg/kg (P < 0.05) and 600 mg/kg (P < 0.001) in the STR seizure model and 600 mg/kg (P < 0.01) in the PTZ seizure model compared with the control group. Conclusion: Ethanol extract has dose-dependent anticonvulsant activity against STR- and PTZ-induced seizures. This activity might be due to its saponins, flavonoids, triterpenes, and alkaloids ingredients. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2015