Autonomic nerve involvement and venous leakage in diabetic men with impotence

Relation of pharmacopenile duplex ultrasonography parameters and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the main threats in diabetic patients. This research aimed to assess the relationship between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level and pharmacopenile duplex ultrasonography (PPDU) indices in diabetic patients with ED.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 130 males with ED were recruited (100 had diabetes mellitus (DM) and 30 did not as control). The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used to evaluate patients for ED. Measurement of HbA1c, lipid profile and assessment of erectile function using PPDU were performed. All participants were assessed to take the medical history.

RESULTS

The mean age±SD was 53.8±8.9 and 53.6±2.8 years for patients and controls, respectively. Patients had variable grades of ED: mild in 20%, mild to moderate in 32.3%, moderate in 35.3%, and severe in 12.3%. A significant association was found between the existence of DM and a deprived response to intracorporeal injection (ICI), rising end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and reducing resistance index (RI) values. Comparing all diabetic groups according to HbA1c with controls, a significant relationship was found in; severity of IIEF-5 score, poor response to ICI, decreased peak systolic velocity (PSV) at 10min, increased EDV at 10, 20min and decreased RI at 10, 20min. A significant relationship was found between smoking, dyslipidaemia, and decreased PSV at 10, 20min and decreased increment ratio. However, a non-significant relationship was observed between age, type of DM and PPDU parameters.

CONCLUSION

Poor glycaemic control of DM is associated with an increase in EDV and decrease in RI, and PSV of PPDU.

Review type 2 diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for the development of erectile dysfunction (ED). Although most diabetic ED cases are in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), the majority of basic science studies examining mechanisms of diabetic ED have been conducted in animal models of type 1 diabetes.

AIM

Recently, however, clinical and laboratory-based studies have uncovered some key underlying factors of T2DM-associated ED, which we have compiled in this review of T2DM ED.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcomes discussed in this review include major mechanisms underlying T2DM, discussing both clinical and basic science studies.

METHODS

We conducted an extensive search of pertinent clinical and basic science literature using PUBMED.

RESULTS

Mechanisms causing ED in T2DM are multifactorial and often lead to resistance to current therapy. Systemic effects of hyperglycemia and hypogonadism contribute to the development of impaired vasodilatory signaling, smooth muscle cell hypercontractility, and veno-occlusive disorder in T2DM ED.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the different causes for ED in T2DM patients may allow targeted therapy for improved erectile function.

Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes, hypertension, or both diseases: a community survey among 1,412 Israeli men

BACKGROUND

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors and may be further aggravated by medical treatment for reducing them.

HYPOTHESIS

The study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of ED in patients with diabetes (DM), hypertension (HTN), or both diseases, and to evaluate the effect of patient age, medical treatment, and disease duration and control on the prevalence of ED in this population.

METHODS

A group of 150 primary practitioners who had patients with known DM and/or HTN conducted a survey, utilizing IIEF-15, a 15-item multidimensional, self-administered questionnaire used for the clinical assessment of ED.

RESULTS

In all, 1,412 patients were included: 37% had DM, 38% had HTN, and 25% had both diseases. Their mean age was 55, 58, and 60 years, and 62, 46, and 67% had some degree of ED, respectively. The prevalence of ED increased with age and disease duration in each age group and was higher in subjects with DM than in those with HTN, especially in those aged < 65 years. Poor glycemic control was associated with a higher prevalence rate of ED early in the course of the disease. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of ED according to type and number of antihypertensive drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Erectile dysfunction is common among patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease because of diabetes and/or HTN. Diabetic men are affected earlier than those with HTN. Given the high frequency of ED in young patients with these risk factors, physicians should encourage an open discussion on the subject during routine visits to promote early detection and treatment.

Contractile activity of the prostate at ejaculation: An electrophysiologic study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the hypothesis that the prostate contracts at ejaculation to push its secretions into the urethra. Although it has been mentioned that the prostate contracts at ejaculation, a report of this finding could not be traced in published studies.

METHODS

The electromyographic activity of 8 canine prostates was recorded by applying an electrode to the prostate. The prostatic urethral pressure was simultaneously measured by means of a manometric catheter. The prostatic electromyographic and urethral pressures were recorded at rest and on ejaculation by penile electrovibration.

RESULTS

The prostatic slow waves (SWs) and action potentials (APs), as well as the urethral pressure at rest, showed a significant increase during the ejaculatory bouts (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively). The SWs, APs, and pressure increase occurred simultaneously with each bout of ejaculatory spurt, which occurred at mean intervals of 1.1 +/- 0.02 seconds and a number of 4.6 +/- 1.2 bouts.

CONCLUSIONS

The electric waves discharged from the prostate at rest seemed to produce prostatic contractions, which cause prostatic urethral pressure increases. At ejaculation, the intermittent increase of the wave variables and urethral pressure coincided with the ejaculatory spurts, apparently denoting intermittent prostatic smooth muscle contractions. These contractions seem to squeeze the prostatic secretions into the prostatic urethra.

Nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment in diabetic men with erectile dysfunction before and after tadalafil intake

Nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment (NEVA) is a procedure that can measure penile volume changes together with the number and duration of nocturnal erectile events. This study was conducted to evaluate the different NEVA patterns in diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), and demonstrate the extent to which tadalafil may affect the characteristics of nocturnal penile erections in these patients. Therefore, 38 patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes and ED participated in this study. They were assessed with history intake including evaluation by the abridged five-item version of International Index of Erectile Function, clinical and psychiatric assessment and NEVA for three consecutive nights where placebo was given on the second night and tadalafil on the third night. In all, 14 potent males were taken as a control group. Data were analyzed using t-test. Results showed normal patterns in only six (16%) patients (central organic group), while abnormal patterns were observed in the remaining 32 (84%) patients (peripheral organic group). These abnormal patterns showed significant decrease in both the number (P=0.0001) and duration (P=0.03) of erectile events compared to those of controls. The percentage of penile blood volume change over baseline also decreased significantly (P=0.0002) relative to controls. Veno-occlusive dysfunction was the main pathology (23 patients, 72%) as suggested by NEVA. Tadalafil did not significantly change basal nocturnal penile tumescence results in either the central organic or control groups, but it did so significantly in the peripheral organic group (P=0.02 for duration change and P=0.01 for % blood volume change). In conclusion, NEVA may suggest some evidence about the pathophysiology of an underlying vasculogenic cause, thus directing towards the next specific step needed for a precise diagnosis. Tadalafil improves nocturnal erections in diabetic patients with peripheral but not central organic impotence.

Erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients with diabetes mellitus: Association with age and hemoglobin A1c levels

AIM

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as those undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The purpose of this study is to investigate the frequency and severity of ED in HD patients with DM and those without DM. In addition, we examined the relationship between erectile function and several risk factors, including presence of DM and hemoglobin A1c levels in HD patients.

METHODS

This study involved 180 patients on HD, including 66 HD patients with DM (DM-HD) and 114 patients without DM (non-DM-HD). We evaluated erectile function using an abridged five-item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5). Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between presence of ED and several risk factors.

RESULTS

The total score of IIEF-5 in DM-HD patients (9.5 +/- 4.2) was significantly lower than in non-DM-HD patients (13.5 +/- 5.7). The prevalence of severe ED was 42.4% and 18.4% in DM-HD patients and non-DM-HD patients, respectively. Age, cardiovascular disease history, and DM were identified as independent risk factors for the presence of ED. Furthermore, age and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were identified as independent risk factors for the presence of severe ED.

CONCLUSION

DM-HD patients are more likely to have ED, and particularly severe forms of ED, than non-DM-HD patients. DM and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were associated with the presence of ED or severe ED, respectively. Aging was identified as an independent factor in both ED and severe ED.

Diabetes induced erectile dysfunction and apoptosis in penile crura are recovered by insulin treatment in rats

PURPOSE

We hypothesized that apoptosis is a downstream event in erectile dysfunction, and pro-apoptotic (Bak and Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2 and Bcl-x) factors are involved in the etiology of diabetes induced erectile dysfunction. To test this hypothesis the intracavernous pressure of diabetic and insulin treated rats was measured to assess erectile function. Molecular and immunohistochemical analyses for apoptosis were then performed in rat crura to assess their role in diabetes induced erectile dysfunction and insulin treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 70, 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups, including a diabetic (50) and a healthy control (20) group. The diabetic group received intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (Sigma-Aldrich Co., St. Louis, Missouri) to induce diabetes. Subcutaneous injection of insulin was administered daily to 9 diabetic rats 4 and 8 weeks after STZ injections for 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Functional studies were performed in 9 diabetic rats each 4, 8 and 12 weeks after STZ injections, in 6 age matched control rats and in insulin treated rats at the termination of therapy. After the completion of functional study the penile crura were collected from rats for molecular and immunohistochemical studies.

RESULTS

Mean intracavernous pressure of diabetic rats was significantly lower than in control rats and the decrease in intracavernous pressure was significantly recovered by insulin treatment. Gene expressions of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors were present in control, diabetic and insulin treated rat crura. However, anti-apoptotic protein expression was lacking in diabetic rat crura and pro-apoptotic protein expression was lost in insulin treated rat crura. The apoptotic index of diabetic rat crura was significantly higher than that of control rat crura and this index was significantly decreased in insulin treated rat crura.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant correlation between the decrease and recovery in intracavernous pressure, and protein expression of apoptotic factors in diabetic and insulin treated rat crura. To our knowledge this is the first report demonstrating that the relief of diabetes associated erectile dysfunction by insulin treatment is due to alterations in the protein expression of apoptotic factors in rat crura.

Evoked cavernous activity

PURPOSE

Corpus cavernosum electromyography has been widely done to evaluate autonomic dysfunction in patients with erectile dysfunction. We assessed the value of corpus cavernosum electromyography, evoked cavernous activity and penile sympathetic skin responses for their accuracy in determining autonomic involvement in cases of erectile dysfunction.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

We evaluated 75 men with erectile dysfunction by corpus cavernosum electromyography, evoked cavernous activity and penile sympathetic skin response tests at our neurourology laboratory. The etiology of dysfunction was vascular, neurogenic, psychogenic or mixed based on a detailed medical and sexual history, physical examination, electrophysiological and laboratory studies, penile color Doppler ultrasonography, and cavernosography and/or cavernosometry. Autonomic involvement was clinically assessed by systemic findings, such as orthostatic hypotension, impaired gastrointestinal motility, sinus dysrhythmia and secretomotor changes. A concentric electromyography needle placed in the right cavernous body was used to record corpus cavernosum electromyography and evoked cavernous activity. The right median nerve was stimulated electrically with 13 to 16 mA. to determine evoked cavernous activity and the penile sympathetic skin response. The latter response was recorded with silver disc electrodes placed on the left cavernous body. All tests were performed using an electromyography/evoked potential machine. We determined the relationships among corpus cavernosum electromyography, evoked cavernous activity and penile sympathetic skin response tests in respect to etiological factors.

RESULTS

The 56 patients with normal corpus cavernosum electromyography activity had also evoked cavernous activity and a penile sympathetic skin response except for 1 with no penile sympathetic skin response but evoked cavernous activity. None of these patients had autonomic neuropathy. Of the 19 patients without corpus cavernosum electromyography activity 11 had evoked cavernous activity, including 10 with no autonomic neuropathy. The remaining 8 patients had no evoked cavernous activity, of whom 7 had autonomic neuropathy. A penile sympathetic skin response was recorded in 18 men with absent corpus cavernosum electromyography.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to false-negative results on corpus cavernosum electromyography and penile sympathetic skin response testing evoked cavernous activity seems more reliable for determining autonomic involvement in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction.

Neurologic erectile dysfunction

Neurologic erectile dysfunction presents a diagnostic and treatment challenge to the internist and urologist. Multiple chronic disease modalities and traumatic etiologies exist. Education regarding these conditions and a detailed and thorough history and office work-up are the best resources for the clinician. Treatment can follow the model of proceeding from the least to most invasive procedure (process of care), taking into account patient and partner satisfaction. Because the psychology of grief and loss may enter into treatment of some neurologic conditions (e.g., erectile dysfunction after radical retropubic prostatectomy, spinal cord injury, or chronic diseases), a whole-patient approach encompassing psychotherapy is warranted.

Computational tools in rehabilitation of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection adequate for satisfactory intercourse. It is a common problem among approximately 50% of men between the ages of 40 and 70. Erectile dysfunction is not only stressful to both the affected individual and his partner, but it can also negatively affect self-esteem. Biomechanical models have recently been developed to study both the structural and hemodynamic factors involved in normal and pathological erectile conditions. These computational models, which are reviewed in the present paper, allow for better understanding of the mechanisms acting in ED and provide a suitable basis for development of state-of-the-art interdisciplinary treatment approaches aimed to improve the quality of life for these men.