Biomedical subjects

R Selice

Publications and source records attributed to R Selice.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Resumption of spontaneous erections in selected patients affected by erectile dysfunction and various degrees of carotid wall alteration: role of tadalafil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible improvement of sexual activity following a non on-demand administration of a long half-life selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) in elderly patients without major cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Sixty subjects with erectile dysfunction (ED) aged 60-70 years and 30 control patients aged 18-40 years, affected by psychogenic ED, were studied. All underwent routine and hormonal blood tests, Nocturnal Penile Tumescence Rigidity Monitoring test (NPTRM), ultrasonographyc evaluation of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and penile colour Doppler ultrasonography (P-CDU). All patients underwent therapy with tadalafil 20 mg in alternative days, non on-demand, at 5.00 p.m., for three consecutive months. IIEF-5, NPTRM test and P-CDU were re-evaluated one month after the end of the therapy. RESULTS: Among elderly subjects 20 (33%) had normal carotid IMT (< 0.9 mm), 15 (25%) minimal increase of carotid thickness (IMT = 0.9-1.2 mm) and 25 (42%) one or more carotid plaques (IMT > 1.3 mm). NPTRM and P-CDU parameters were inversely related to different degrees of carotid wall alteration and showed a significant improvement respect to pre-treatment only in patients without atherosclerotic plaques. Also IIEF-5 showed significant improvements only in patients without atherosclerotic plaques. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly subjects with slight or no signs of vascular disease at the carotid level, chronic and non on-demand treatment with tadalafil can induce spontaneous resumption of erections, probably through the improvement of endothelial function, but direct evidences to confirm this hypothesis are required.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Diagnosing erectile dysfunction: flow-chart.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been defined by the National Institute of Health (NIH) as the inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection for a satisfactory sexual intercourse. Discordant data have been reported on ED epidemiology with prevalence ranging from 12% to 52%. A recent study reported an ED prevalence of 12.8% in Italy. ED is a symptom, sometimes the first, of different internal diseases. ED can mark the point where evaluation and prevention of important diseases (such as diabetes, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis) hitherto unknown by the patients, can begin. The andrologist's cultural baggage must include the ability to identify the pathology that can determine ED and the capacity to programme a specific diagnostic workup.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Paracrine and endocrine roles of insulin-like factor 3.

Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is expressed in Leydig cells of the testis and theca cells of the ovary. This peptide affects testicular descent by acting on gubernaculum via its specific receptor leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 8 (LGR8). From initial animal data showing the cryptorchid phenotype of Insl3/Lgr8 mutants, an extensive search for mutations in INSL3 and LGR8 genes was undertaken in human patients with cryptorchidism, and a frequency of mutation of 4-5% has been detected. However, definitive proofs of a causative role for some of these mutations are still lacking. More recent data suggest additional paracrine (in the testis and ovary) and endocrine actions of INSL3 in adults. INSL3 circulates at high concentrations in serum of adult males and its production is dependent on the differentiation effect of LH. Therefore, INSL3 is increasingly used as a specific marker of Leydig cell differentiation and function.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Age-matched cavernous peak systolic velocity: a highly sensitive parameter in the diagnosis of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction.

Recently it has been reported that there is a strict correlation between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular diseases, but the importance of such relationship still needs to be addressed. Ultrasonographic peak systolic velocity (PSV), is considered a reliable parameter for the diagnosis of arteriogenic ED. However, the cut-off value of PSV<30 cm/s has sufficient sensitivity only in the diagnosis of advanced arteriogenic ED and it is not representative of peripheral vascular alterations. In the present study, we set up an age-adjustment of PSV - calculated with the formula PSV <6.73+age x 0.7 - that permits a more accurate diagnosis of vascular aetiology in ED patients and may predict the presence of carotid wall alterations. We studied 179 consecutive subjects (mean age 52 years, range 23-79 years), with a history of ED of at least 6 months, by means of penile colour doppler ultrasonography (P-CDU) and common carotid arteries colour doppler ultrasonography (CCA-CDU) between June 2003 and September 2004. Statistical analysis was carried out with the statistical software R. PSV and CCAD values showed a statistically significant negative correlation. Age adjustment further improved this relationship permitting to identify an age-dependent PSV cut-off given by the formula PSV <6.73+age x 0.7. The age-adjusted PSV cut-off allows an accurate interpretation of vascular aetiology in ED patients and predicts the presence of carotid wall alterations, from the intima-media pathologic thickness to the plaque formation, with high values of both sensitivity and specificity.

Adolescent↗