New ED treatment!

It has taken more than a few days but I promised some information on a company with an innovative new product for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

First of all, let me point out what I have been seeking. An innovative product should have three principal advantages over existing solutions:

• it should be able to be taken by all (including those with heart conditions)

• it should be a cure rather than a temporary fix (i.e. more than 4 hours!)

• it should not have any side-effects (no headaches, palpitations etc)

One could also add that it should be reasonably priced, should not interfere with the sexual act in any way (e.g. when do you pop the Viagra pill?), the treatment is not complicated etc.

One of the major causes of ED is related to vascular problems – the amount of blood (or lack of it) flowing into the penis. Smooth muscle loss, smooth muscle dysfunction and cavernosal fibrosis can cause a failure of the veno-occlusive mechanism leading to the lack of an erection or its maintenance.

I have identified a treatment for ED which is being developed by a small Swiss pharmaceutical company called Inpharma. It is based in Lugano in the southern canton of Ticino (Tessin) and is run by a former high ranking executive of Sandoz.

I believe this treatment could be an exceptional medication for ED for the following reasons:

• it offers a cure rather than a temporary 4 hour or so fix as is the case with Viagra, Cialis, Levitra etc

• it is suitable for patients refractory to PDE5-Is

• it can be taken by patients using NO-donors (i.e. affected by angina pectoris)

• it is suitable patients who suffer PDE5-Is side-effects (headaches, flushing, rhinitis, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, visual side-effects, and sudden hearing loss)

• it is suitable for patients with a need to increase PDE5-Is doses (diabetics, developed resistance)

 

So what is this miracle treatment?

The medication is a gel preparation which represents a new therapeutic treatment approach for patients suffering from vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction. Specifically it re-establishes the physiological vascular tissue functionality.

This is my first posting on this company and its medication. I am putting together more information and will post again soon. Keep following!

Potential use of Infrared technology

Infrared (IR) technology holds promise as the diagnostic technique of choice – the gold standard – for a number of examinations of urological problems. It is perfectly suited for screening programs. It is a technique which is quick, non-invasive and contact free - in other words, patient friendly.

Whilst the technology has been around for many years, there have been limitations as to its practical application. However, over the last few years there have been a number of improvements which should lead to this technology becoming more widespread in the clinical field. The first is a hardware issue. Electronics and camera quality have progressed in leaps and bounds. Equally important is the fact that costs have also fallen. In part this is due to technological and manufacturing advances but equally important is the fact that high quality infrared optics is no longer the exclusive preserve of the military – see http://www.flir.com/thermography/eurasia/en/ for examples of various end users of this technology. Second, significant improvements in software algorithms have increased the rigour of diagnosis, analysis etc.

Let me give you an example if the potential use of IR for urological diagnostics. The Digital Telethermography and Infrared Functional Imaging Laboratory at ITAB (Istituto Tecnologie Avanzate Biomediche), Chieti, Italy has been working on using IR technology to detecting impaired thermoregulatory control in men with asymptomatic varicocele. This is important because varicocele is one of the principal causes of male infertility. IR technology is perfectly suited to be used in a screening program which, for obvious reasons, needs to be directed at young males. It is a pity – and I am talking purely for medical reasons – that there is no longer military service in many democracies. The occasion when medical tests are undertaken on all new recruits would be the best opportunity to perform a screening.

I intend to make additional postings on IR technology. Should anyone be interested in seeing some papers on the detection of varicocele, please contact me.

Motivations for Seeking Treatment for ED: The Woman's Perspective

A very interesting article was published in the International Journal of international Research covering the female perspective as regards the motivations for seeking treatment for ED. You can access the article here (registration may be required but it is free) or alternatively here.

BioSquare 2010

As is my wont, I have been trawling through the list of participants at the BioSquare 2010 meeting held in Geneva at the beginning of February concentrating on the lesser known companies present. I have come across a small company which appears to have an exciting new product for the treatment of ED which can be taken by those who cannot take Viagra, Cialis, Levitra/Vivanza etc.

I am looking into this and will post more details within the next few days.

Is Infrared (IR) a valid diagnostic technology for evaluating ED and other urological conditions?

Infrared (IR) technology has been used for a number of years as a diagnostic tool for a number of medical conditions. The principal attraction is that is a totally non-invasive technology deriving information in a passive way.

To date the technology has not been widely adopted for two principal reasons. The first has been the availability of high quality IR cameras at a reasonable cost. Traditionally the manufacturers of such devices have kept the price high because one of their principal markets is the military. Prices have been dropping but it still is a limiting factor. The other reason is the relative inadequacy of rigorous algorithms to interpret the acquired data.

The two leading centres worldwide for research into the application of infrared technology in the medical field are the Computational Physiology Lab (http://www.cpl.uh.edu/) at the University of Houston and the Functional Infrared Imaging Lab at ITAB (http://www.fondazioneunich.it/portal/Default.asp?p=31&m=0 only in Italian!) – the Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technologies at the Foundation University G. D’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.

It is worthwhile noting that the Functional Infrared Imaging Lab at ITAB has undertaken significant research regarding the application of IR for the diagnosis of urological and related complaints which impact on ED.

I am looking into this and will post more details as soon as I have them available.

Female Viagra

Just seen this news item.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61O3OS20100225?type=globalMarketsNews

Is this truly the best solution knowing the limitations and side-effects of Viagra etc?

Package leaflet warnings - Levitra/Vivanza (Vardenafil)

Do not take Levitra

* If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to vardenafil or any of the other ingredients of Levitra. See the ingredients in section 6. Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash, itching, swollen face or lips and shortness of breath.

* If you are taking medicines containing nitrates, such as glycerol trinitrate for angina, or nitric oxide donors, such as amyl nitrite. Taking these medicines with Levitra could seriously affect your blood pressure.

* If you are taking ritonavir or indinavir, medicines for HIV.

* If you are over 75 years of age and are taking ketoconazole or itraconazole, anti-fungal medicines

* If you have a severe heart or liver problem

* If you are having kidney dialysis

* If you have recently had a stroke or heart attack

* If you have or have had low blood pressure

* If your family has a history of degenerative eye diseases (such as retinitis pigmentosa)

* If you have ever had a condition involving loss of vision due to damage to the optic nerve from insufficient blood supply known as non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)

Take special care with Levitra

* If you have heart trouble. It may be risky for you to have sex

* If you suffer from irregular heart beat (cardiac arrythmia) or inherited heart diseases affecting your electrocardiogram

* If you have a physical condition affecting the shape of the penis. This includes conditions called angulation, Peyronie’s disease and cavernosal fibrosis

* If you have an illness that can cause erections which won’t go away (priapism). These include sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma and leukaemia

* If you have stomach ulcers (also called gastric or peptic ulcers)

* If you have a bleeding disorder (such as haemophilia)

* If you are using any other treatments for erection difficulties

* If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking Levitra and contact your doctor immediately


Extracted from European Medicines Agency package leaflet information. (EMEA/H/C/475, August 2008)

Package leaflet warnings - Cialis (Tadalafil)

Do not take CIALIS

* If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to tadalafil or any of the other ingredients of CIALIS.

* If you are taking any form of organic nitrate or nitric oxide donors such as amyl nitrite. This is a group of medicines (“nitrates”) used in the treatment of angina pectoris (“chest pain”). CIALIS has been shown to increase the effects of these medicines. If you are taking any form of nitrate or are unsure tell your doctor.

* If you have serious heart disease or have had a recent heart attack.

* If you have had a recent stroke.

* If you have low blood pressure or uncontrolled high blood pressure.

* If you have ever had loss of vision because of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition sometimes described as “stroke of the eye”.

Take special care with CIALIS
Be aware that sexual activity carries a possible risk to patients with heart disease because it puts an extra strain on your heart. If you have a heart problem you should tell your doctor.

The following are reasons why CIALIS may also not be suitable for you. If any of them apply to you, talk to your doctor before you take the medicine:

* You have sickle cell anaemia (an abnormality of red blood cells), multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow), leukaemia (cancer of the blood cells) or any deformation of your penis.

* You have a serious liver problem.

* You have a severe kidney problem.

It is not known if CIALIS is effective in patients who have undergone pelvic surgery or radical non-nerve-sparing prostatectomy.

If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking CIALIS and contact your doctor immediately.


Extracted from European Medicines Agency package leaflet information. (EMEA/H/C/436, November 2008)

Package leaflet warnings - Viagra (Sildenafil)

Do not take VIAGRA

* If you are taking medicines called nitrates, as the combination may cause a potentially dangerous decrease in your blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines which are often given for relief of angina pectoris (or “chest pain”). If you are not certain, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

* If you are using any of the drugs known as nitric oxide donors such as amyl nitrite (“poppers”), as the combination may also lead to a potentially dangerous decrease in your blood pressure.

* If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to sildenafil or any of the other ingredients of VIAGRA.

* If you have a severe heart or liver problem.

* If you have recently had a stroke or a heart attack, or if you have low blood pressure.

* If you have certain rare inherited eye diseases (such as retinitis pigmentosa).

* If you have ever had loss of vision due to non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

Take special care with VIAGRA
Tell your doctor

* If you have sickle cell anaemia (an abnormality of red blood cells), leukaemia (cancer of blood cells), multiple myeloma (cancer of bone marrow).

* If you have a deformity of your penis or Peyronie’s Disease.

* If you have problems with your heart. Your doctor should in that case carefully check whether your heart can take the additional strain of having sex.

* If you currently have a stomach ulcer, or a bleeding problems (such as haemophilia).

* If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking VIAGRA and contact your doctor immediately.


Extracted from European Medicines Agency package leaflet information. (EMEA/H/C/202, November 2008)

Side effects – why PDE5-Is may not be for you

Let's get the easy part out of the way first! I am referring to 5-phosphodiesterase inhibitors otherwise known as PDE5-Is.

Still doesn't help?

Perhaps it will mean something when I refer to them under their more familiar names:

Marketing name Pharmaceutical name Company

Viagra Sildenafil Pfizer

Cialis Tadalafil Eli Lilly

Levitra/Vivanza Vardenafil Bayer/GSK


I am sure that even if you have never once taken either of the above you undoubtedly have heard of them from a friend, or from Hollywood or from emails in your inbox!

However, they are not necessarily the panacea you are looking for, especially if you have heart problems. I strongly advise everyone to read the warnings on the three principal medications. This is particularly the case if you have or intend to acquire them from non-regular sources i.e. not from your usual doctor/physician.

Some facts – boring but necessary

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects over 150 million worldwide and roughly 30 million in the US and 20 million in the European Union. The UN estimates that incidence will double by 2025!

Vascular disease is probably the most common cause of ED and is almost always associated with it.

Cardiovascular disease is the most common of all the causes, with its risk factors of:
Smoking
Hypertension
Hyperlipidaemia
Diabetes
Therapeutic drugs side-effects

Why have I established this blog?

The principal object of this blog is to explore up-and-coming alternative and innovative treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) which avoid medication with potentially harmful side effects as well as solutions for individuals who cannot, for medical reasons, take Viagra, Cialis, Levitra etc.

The blog will also highlight new and up-and-coming technologies with a potential impact in the field of urology and andrology.