Updates on the use of vardenafil (Levitra) in the treatment of erection disorders including: specific inhibition with PDE5, treatment efficacy, pharmacokinetics, tolerance level, interaction, contraindication, cautions especially for people with cardiovascular diseases or penis surgery deformation, dosage and use. Except for above contraindication and cautions, vardenafil can be considered as first choice for men with erection disorders in accordance with PDE5 inhibition treatment
Penile Erection ; Imidazoles ; Piperazines ; Therapeutics

Ferroptosis ; Piperazines/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor

PURPOSE: The progressivity of central precocious puberty (CPP) seems to depend on the age at presentation. We evaluated the clinical courses of CPP girls according to their age at initiation of treatment. METHODS: One hundred thirty five girls with CPP diagnosed between Jan. 2003 and Dec. 2009 and regularly followed for more than one year were included. They were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) every four weeks. Subjects were divided into two groups based on whether they were treated before (Group I, N=20) or after seven years of age (Group II, N=115). We compared the anthropometric parameters, the predicted adult height (PAH), predicted treatment periods, and the laboratory findings of the two groups every six months. RESULTS: Out of 135 CPP patients, 123 were idiopathic and twelve had neurogenic problems. At the baseline, patients' average bone age (BA) was significantly older than chronologic age (CA) and PAH was significantly shorter than target height (TH). BA and CA were significantly older in group II, but the BA/CA ratio was significantly greater in group I. The average treatment period required to overcome the CA-BA difference was 4.64 yr (group I vs II; 7.98 yr vs 4.24 yr, P < 0.01), and the period needed to overcome PAH-TH difference was 2.49 yr (group I vs II; 4.37 yr vs 2.32 yr, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Among the girls with CPP, the younger age group had more advanced BA than CA, and needed significantly longer treatment periods to overcome the BA-CA gap and PAH-TH gaps.
Adult ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Piperazines ; Puberty, Precocious

PURPOSE: The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) test results of girls with precocious puberty were analyzed to determine whether this test can efficiently and clearly differentiate between central precocious puberty (CPP) and other disorders. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data of 54 girls with precocious pubertal signs were reviewed. Intravenous GnRH test was performed with blood samples obtained at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes. A peak luteinizing hormone (LH) level of > or =5.0 IU/L was indicative of CPP. RESULTS: Of the 40 girls with CPP, 36 (90.0%), 3 (7.5%), and 1 (2.5%) showed peak LH levels at 30, 60, and 90 minutes, respectively. A percentage of girls whose peak LH > or =5.0 IU/L up to 30, 60, and 90 minutes was 92.5%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The peak LH/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio of girls with CPP was 0.89+/-0.49 and was <1 in 16 of the 40 girls (40.0%). Girls with peak LH/FSH ratio of >1.0 showed higher chronological age (CA) (8.3+/-0.6 vs. 7.7+/-1.0 years, P=0.033), bone age (BA) (10.9+/-0.8 vs. 9.7+/-1.1 years, P=0.001), and BA-CA difference (2.6+/-0.7 vs. 2.0+/-0.7 years, P=0.009) than those of girls with peak LH/FSH ratio of < or =1.0. Higher percentage of girls with peak LH/FSH ratio of >1.0 showed advanced breast development (> or =Tanner III) (93.7% vs. 41.7%, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: LH levels after 30 and 60 minutes of intravenous GnRH administration are the most useful for diagnosing CPP in girls.
Breast ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Piperazines ; Puberty, Precocious

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the favorable factors for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment with regard to the growth velocity and the predicted adult height (PAH) in central precocious puberty (CPP) girls. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and auxological parameters in 46 CPP girls who were treated with GnRH agonist at the pediatric endocrinology clinic of Korea University Hospital from January 2001 to August 2007. We divided the two groups according to the growth velocity of 5 cm/yr and we assessed the related factors associated with growth velocity. We also assessed the changes in PAH for two years. RESULTS: The pretreatment chronological age and bone age were significantly younger in the high growth velocity group (> 5 cm/yr) compared to that of the low growth velocity group (7.8 +/- 0.9 year vs. 8.4 +/- 0.5 year, 9.4 +/- 1.2 year vs. 10.1 +/- 0.9 year, respectively) (P < 0.05). The PAH after treatment was significantly greater in the high growth velocity group (> 5 cm/yr)(P < 0.05). Growth velocity during treatment had negative correlation with the pretreatment chronological age and positive correlation with the PAH after one and two years of treatment (r = -0.45, P < 0.05 and r = 0.51, P < 0.01). PAH had positive correlation with the treatment duration (r = 0.31, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In our study, the growth velocity during GnRH agonist treatment was negatively related to age at the initiation of treatment. Therefore, earlier treatment is important to improve the outcomes and to maintain appropriate growth velocity in CPP girls.
Adult ; Endocrinology ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Korea ; Piperazines ; Puberty, Precocious

Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect in patients treated with antipsychotics but significant differences exist across different compounds. We report hypersexuality symptoms in two female patients with schizophrenia who were receiving treatment with aripiprazole. The patients experienced more frequent sexual desire and greater sexual preoccupation after taking aripiprazole. We discuss the potential neuro-chemical mechanisms for this and argue that aripiprazole's unique pharmacological profile, partial agonism with high affinity at dopamine D2-receptor, may have contributed to the development of these symptoms.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Dopamine ; Felodipine ; Female ; Humans ; Piperazines ; Quinolones ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole

No abstract available.
Benzamides ; Mesylates* ; Nails, Malformed* ; Piperazines ; Pyrimidines ; Imatinib Mesylate

No abstract available.
Benzamides ; Drug Eruptions* ; Mesylates* ; Piperazines ; Pyrimidines ; Imatinib Mesylate

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of aripiprazole for the management of cognitive impairments and hyperprolactinemia in patients with schizophrenia on a stable dose of risperidone. METHODS: Thirty-five subjects stabilized on risperidone (3-6 mg/day) for a minimum of 3 months were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase for 12 weeks and an open-label phase for another 12 weeks. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/day aripiprazole (n=17) or placebo (n=18). Over the following 12 weeks, the the aripiprazole group received a flexible dose of aripiprazole while tapering risperidone. At baseline, week 12, and week 24, subjects were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Extrapyramidal Syndrome Rating Scale (ESRS), and standardized neuropsychological assessments. Serum prolactin levels were checked at baseline, week 1, week 2, and week 24. RESULTS: The mean change in total PANSS and cognitive function test scores between baseline and endpoint were similar in the aripiprazole and placebo groups. Scores on the ESRS and negative subscale of PANSS differed significantly between groups in both phases of the study (p<0.05), indicating a positive effect of aripiprazole. Compared with placebo, aripiprazole significantly reduced mean baseline serum prolactin levels within 1 week (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Adjunctive treatment with and switching to aripiprazole were not associated with improved cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia receiving risperidone; however, aripiprazole treatment decreased negative symptoms and risperidone-induced motor side effects and lowered serum prolactin levels.
Cognition ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Piperazines ; Prolactin ; Quinolones ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of long-term aripiprazole therapy on social functioning in Korean patients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, or schizoaffective disorder. METHODS: In this 52-week open-label, multicenter, single-arm study, 300 Korean patients with schizophrenia were treated with aripiprazole 10-30 mg/day after administration of 15 mg/day during the first 2 weeks. The primary efficacy measure was the Korean-Social Functioning Scale (SFS-K), and the secondary efficacy measures were the Emotion Assessment, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score and the Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness (CGI-S) to investigate for correlation between social functioning and clinical symptoms. RESULTS: At week 52, there were significant improvements in all the areas of the SFS-K. There was generally no difference in the change of social functioning between patients in the first episode and patients having previous episodes. Significant improvements were also observed in negative emotion and emotional control. Statistically significant correlation between the SFS-K and the PANSS score was observed at week 52. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that long-term treatment with aripiprazole contributed to significant improvement in social functioning in patients with schizophrenia in the long-term treatment. This improvement of social functioning was modestly associated with clinical improvement of symptoms. The results suggest that long-term aripiprazole therapy could be effective not only in treating clinical symptoms, but also in improving social functioning in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder.
Humans ; Piperazines ; Prospective Studies ; Psychotic Disorders ; Quinolones ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole