Germanium-Titanium-π Polymer Composites as Functional Textiles for Clinical Strategy to Evaluate Blood Circulation Improvement and Sexual Satisfaction

Conservative Non-surgical Options for Erectile Dysfunction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This study aimed to review recent evidence on conservative non-surgical options for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. A narrative review of the literature was performed. A comprehensive search in the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases was done. Papers in English language, published from May 2017 until May 2022, were included. Papers reporting basic research or animal research were excluded, as long as reviews or meta-analyses. Congress reports, clinical cases, or clinical trials protocols with no results were also excluded.

RECENT FINDINGS

We found a multitude of different treatment modalities for ED. We must take into account the type of patient, their comorbidities, the origin of their ED, and its severity in order to reproduce effective results using these therapies. Some of the treatments show good results with a good level of evidence (new IPDE5 formulations, intracavernous injections, shock wave therapy, hormonal theraphy, psycho-sexual theraphy). However, others (some new molecules, stem cell theraphy, platelet-rich plasma injections, oxygenation-based therapy, nutraceuticals), although some of them present promising results, require randomized studies with a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up time to be able to establish firm recommendations. Regarding the conservative treatment of erectile dysfunction, in recent years, some therapies have been consolidated as effective and safe for certain types of patients. On the other hand, other treatment modalities, although promising, still lack the evidence and the necessary follow-up to be recommended in daily practice.

A pilot study on the effects of far-infrared-emitting fabric on neuromuscular performance of knee extensor and male fertility

The aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of the effects of far-infrared emitting fabric (FIR) on neuromuscular performance of knee extensor over 120 h and to investigate whether the use of FIR affects semen. This is a crossover, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial split into neuromuscular and fertility assessments. Four (28.8 ± 4.7 years old) and six (29 ± 3.9 years old) healthy, resistance-trained males completed all neuromuscular and fertility assessments, respectively. In neuromuscular assessments, for five consecutive days, the participants underwent neuromuscular tests in an isokinetic dynamometer (maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) and fatigue test) every 24 h in both conditions (FIR and Placebo). In fertility assessments, participants performed three semen collections: Baseline, FIR, and Placebo. FIR and Placebo collections were performed after five consecutive days of use of the pants. Conventional parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were evaluated. In the FIR condition, the participants showed significant differences in total work at 96 h (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 3.73), 120 h (p = 0.01; Cohen’s d = 2.65), and pre-MVC at 120 h (p = 0.02; Cohen’s d = 2.15) when compared to Placebo. FIR did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect the conventional semen parameters or sperm DNA fragmentation compared to Baseline or Placebo. FIR improved the knee extensor neuromuscular performance of healthy resistance-trained individuals, with 112.4 ± 7.8 h accumulated, and did not affect their seminal parameters (conventional or sperm DNA fragmentation), with 113.1 ± 10.2 h accumulated.