Short Sleep Duration and Erectile Dysfunction: A Review of the Literature

Cardiometabolic Disorder and Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), which is defined as the inability to attain and maintain a satisfactory penile erection to sufficiently permit sexual intercourse, is a consequence and also a cause of cardiometabolic disorders like diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, central obesity, and dyslipidemia. Although there are mounting and convincing pieces of evidence in the literature linking ED and cardiometabolic disorders, impairment of nitric oxide-dependent vasodilatation seems to be the primary signaling pathway. Studies have also implicated the suppression of circulating testosterone, increased endothelin-1, and hyperactivation of Ang II/ATIr in the pathogenesis of ED and cardiometabolic disorders. This study provides comprehensive details of the association between cardiometabolic disorders and ED and highlights the mechanisms involved. This would open areas to be explored as therapeutic targets in the management of ED and cardiometabolic disorders. It also provides sufficient evidence establishing the need for the management of cardiometabolic disorders as an adjunct therapy in the management of ED.

The Relationship between Allergic Disease and Sexual Dysfunction: A Scoping Review

INTRODUCTION

Sexual dysfunction (SD) and allergic disease are common health concerns worldwide and bear a potential relationship. This scoping review is conducted to analyze the currently available data regarding the associations between these two health issues.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed in the databases of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science to retrieve studies that were published before January 2023. A narrative synthesis was conducted to analyze the effects of allergic diseases on SD based on the evaluation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF).

RESULTS

Twelve observational studies were included after the selection process. The results generally suggested lower FSFI or IIEF scores in patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and urticaria compared to the healthy control groups. The underlying factors of this relationship could be inflammation, psychological factors, hormonal changes, sleep disorders, sexual behavior-related allergic reactions, social economic status, and the use of medications.

CONCLUSION

SD and allergic disease are interrelated based on the extant literature. This scoping review provides insights into the clinical implications of both entities, while more research studies are warranted to further elucidate this complex relationship.

Sleep Architecture and Daytime Sleepiness in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction

Obstructive sleep apnea is considered a risk factor for erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine sleep architecture and assess daytime sleepiness in patients with erectile dysfunction. The study group included 280 patients. The 107 enrolled patients had reported erectile dysfunction. The control group consisted of 173 patients who had no history of erectile dysfunction. The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) was used to measure the subjects' level of daytime sleepiness. All patients underwent a standardized overnight, single-night polysomnography in sleep laboratory. In the erectile dysfunction group, we observed increased ESS total score and N1 sleep phase duration. Mean and minimal oxygen saturation and mean oxygen desaturation were decreased in comparison to the control group. In summary, subjects with erectile dysfunction have altered sleep architecture, oxygen saturation parameters and increased daytime sleepiness.

Recent Progress in Long-Term Sleep Monitoring Technology

Sleep is an essential physiological activity, accounting for about one-third of our lives, which significantly impacts our memory, mood, health, and children's growth. Especially after the COVID-19 epidemic, sleep health issues have attracted more attention. In recent years, with the development of wearable electronic devices, there have been more and more studies, products, or solutions related to sleep monitoring. Many mature technologies, such as polysomnography, have been applied to clinical practice. However, it is urgent to develop wearable or non-contacting electronic devices suitable for household continuous sleep monitoring. This paper first introduces the basic knowledge of sleep and the significance of sleep monitoring. Then, according to the types of physiological signals monitored, this paper describes the research progress of bioelectrical signals, biomechanical signals, and biochemical signals used for sleep monitoring. However, it is not ideal to monitor the sleep quality for the whole night based on only one signal. Therefore, this paper reviews the research on multi-signal monitoring and introduces systematic sleep monitoring schemes. Finally, a conclusion and discussion of sleep monitoring are presented to propose potential future directions and prospects for sleep monitoring.

Alterations in Pregnenolone and Testosterone Levels in Male Shift Workers

Steroid hormone levels are closely related to the endogenous circadian rhythm induced by sleep-wake and dark-light cycles. Shift work that disrupts the circadian rhythm may influence the levels of steroid hormones. The association between shift work and alterations in female sex steroid hormone levels has been studied, but little is known about testosterone and its precursor pregnenolone levels in male shift workers. The present study investigated serum pregnenolone and testosterone levels in a group of shift and daytime male workers. All participants were sampled at the beginning of the morning shift. Lower levels of serum pregnenolone and total testosterone were found in the shift workers compared to the daytime workers. Variations in pregnenolone levels may have consequences for well-being, and they might produce consequences for the levels of hormones downstream of the steroid hormone cascade, such as testosterone. The low levels of testosterone found in shift workers demonstrate the perturbative effect of shift work on testosterone serum levels, which may be independent and/or related to pregnenolone synthesis.