OBJECTIVETo determine whether smoking affects the endothelial function of young ED patients with no cardiovascular disease.

METHODSThis study included 69 ED patients (21 smokers and 48 non-smokers) and 16 age-matched normal healthy controls. All underwent measurement of brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and examinations of blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose.

RESULTSBrachial artery FMD was remarkably decreased in the ED patients, even more significantly in the smokers ([6.0 +/- 0.8]%) than in the non-smokers ([9.7 +/- 2.5]%) (P < 0.05), as compared with that in the normal healthy controls ([14.0 +/- 2. 5]%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEndothelial function is impaired in ED patients, and is further damaged by smoking.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; physiopathology ; Male ; Smoking ; Vasodilation

Erectile function is a typical neurovascular process. Penile vascular endothelial dysfunction is indicated to be one of the important mechanisms of ED. Protective agents to improve penile vascular endothelial function show significant benefits to erectile function by decreasing the damage of oxidative stress and optimizing the related mediators. The protection of penile vascular endothelial function is a new approach to the treatment of ED.
Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Erectile Dysfunction ; therapy ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Penis ; blood supply

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between the deformation of penile artery and the primary artery erectile dysfunction, and to improve the treatment and diagnosis of primary artery erectile dysfunction.

METHODSOne case of primary artery erectile dysfunction was presented with its primary clinic data.

RESULTSThe dorsal artery of the penis was thin and the bilateral penile arteries were lacking by arteriography. The implantation of a penile prosthesis significantly improved the patient's erectile function.

CONCLUSIONThe primary artery erectile dysfunction is a relatively rare disease. The possibility of primary artery erectile dysfunction should be kept in mind. Penile prosthesis implantation is an effective means for the treatment of primary artery erectile dysfunction.

Adult ; Arteries ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Penile Implantation ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo evaluate deep penile arterial flow after an intracavernosal injection with prostaglandin E1 in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODS527 patients with ED were evaluated using Color Doppler Ultrasonography. Diagnostic tests were undertaken after an intracavernosal injection with 20 microg prostaglandin El. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) were analysed.

RESULTSThere were 112 patients (26.99%) with nonvasculogenic ED, 207 patients (49.88%) with arteriogenic ED, 144 patients (34.70%)with venogenic ED, 64 patients (15.42%)with mixed ED.

CONCLUSIONThe Color Doppler Ultrasonography technique allows accurate location and evaluation of deep penile arteries. Vascular pathology may be differentiated after an intracavernosal injection with a vasomotor agent. Recognising the pathological pattern assists in choosing the best method of treatment.

Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Regional Blood Flow ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

OBJECTIVETo establish the animal model of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction induced by high-cholesterol diet and explore the mechanisms of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction.

METHODSThirty male rabbits were divided into two groups randomly: normal diet (ND) group (n = 10) and high-cholesterol (HCH) group fed with 1.5% cholesterol diet (n = 20). Serum total cholesterol, plaque areas of the ascending aorta, the ratio of intima/media thickness and level of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) mRNA expression of internal pudendal artery were determined after twelve weeks.

RESULTSAfter twelve weeks, all rabbits of the HCH group got hyperlipemia, 9 of which presented typical atherosclerosis (ATH). The rate of atherosclerosis induced by high-cholesterol diet was 52.9%. Serum total cholesterol levels of the ATH and HCH groups were higher than that of the ND group (P<0.01). The penile erection times and rate in the ATH and HCH groups decreased significantly, compared with the ND group (P<0.01). Both the ratio of intima/media thickness and the level of VCAM-1 mRNA expression of internal pudendal artery in the ATH group were higher than those in the HCH and ND groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt is easy, prectuable and reliable to establish the animal model of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction induced by high-cholesterol diet. And one of the main causes of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction is hypercholesterolemia, which through VCAM-1 may induce the structural and functional modifications of the endothelium of the internal pudendal artery and make the corpus cavernosum ischemia.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Diet, Atherogenic ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypercholesterolemia ; complications ; physiopathology ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

This study was intended to explore the effects of endothelium-independent, direct smooth muscle relaxants(papaverine, verapamil) and endothelium-dependent vasodilators(acetylcholine, bradykinin, adenosine) on the isolated cavernosal smooth muscle strips taken from diabetic men with impotence. When smooth muscle contraction was evoked with norepinephrine for the study of relaxation to these vasodilators, the tension induced was similar in diabetic and non-diabetic men with importance. Papaverine showed the strongest relaxation response followed by verapamil, acetylcholine, bradykinin and adenosine both in non-diabetic and in diabetic men. Relaxation of the cavernosal tissues to endothelium-independent vasodilators was similar in non-diabetic and diabetic men. However, the relaxation response of the tissues to endothelium-dependent vasodilators was significantly reduced in the diabetic group compared with that in the non-diabetic group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the impairment of endothelium-mediated relaxation of cavernosal smooth muscle seems to play a more important role in the pathogenesis of diabetogenic impotence rather than the problem of smooth muscle itself. This finding forms a rational basis for the use of intracavernosal injections of vasodilators to induce endothelium-independent relaxation of the cavernosal smooth muscle in the patients with diabetogenic impotence.
Adult ; Comparative Study ; Diabetes Mellitus/*physiopathology ; Endothelium, Vascular/*physiology ; Human ; Impotence/*physiopathology ; In Vitro ; Male ; Middle Age ; Muscle Relaxation/drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth/*drug effects/physiology ; Penis/*physiopathology ; Vasodilator Agents/*pharmacology

AIMTo evaluate the plasma TGF-beta1 level in erectile dysfunction (ED) patients of various causes.

METHODSSixty-two patients with ED and 26 potent men were subjected to the study. Based on multidisciplinary work-ups, including medical history, physical examinations, blood tests with lipid profile and hormones, penile duplex Doppler ultrasonogram and neurophysiological tests, causes for ED were classified as psychogenic (n=15), neurogenic (n=16) and vasculogenic (n=31). The plasma TGF-beta1 level was measured by the ELISA method.

RESULTSThe plasma TGF-beta1 level was significantly increased in the ED group (6.7+/-4.9 ng/mL), compared to the control (4.0 +/-2.1 ng/mL) (P<0.01). In the ED groups, there was a significant increase in the vasculogenic group (9.0 +/-5.5 ng/mL), compared to the psychogenic (3.8 +/-1.8 ng/mL) and neurogenic groups (4.8+/-3.2 ng/mL) (P<0.01). Of the vascular risk factors, both the smoking (7.5 +/-4.7 ng/mL) and dyslipidemia groups (7.4+/-4.4 ng/mL) showed significantly increased plasma TGF-beta1 levels, compared to the non-smokers (5.5+/-2.8 ng/mL), and those without dyslipidemia (4.8+/-2.8 ng/mL) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONVascular risk factors are associated with an elevated plasma TGF-beta1 level, which may contribute to cavernous fibrosis and ED.

Adult ; Aged ; Arteriosclerosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; physiopathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Erectile Dysfunction ; blood ; etiology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; physiopathology ; Hypertension ; complications ; physiopathology ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; blood ; psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; diagnostic imaging ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; physiopathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Ultrasonography

Diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED) is a multifactor syndrome, which involves vascular disease, neuropathy, metabolic control, nutrition, endocrine disorders, psychogenic factors, and anti-diabetes drugs. Among all these factors, vascular disease plays a very important role. In the development of diabetic vasculopathy, some vasomotion factors and growth factors undergo conspicuous changes, which may be significantly correlated with the development of diabetic erectile dysfunction.
Angiotensins ; metabolism ; Diabetes Complications ; complications ; Endothelins ; metabolism ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; metabolism ; Epoprostenol ; metabolism ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; etiology ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Penis ; physiopathology ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore an efficacious therapy for arterial erectile dysfunction (ED) by observing the effect of the Chinese traditional medicine Zhenyangjian on the penile hemodynamics of the patient.

METHODSForty-seven patients with arterial ED, aged from 40 to 49 years, were treated with Zhenyangjian for 1 month. Intracavernous injection of papaverine and phentolamine (30 mg/l mg) was given and multifunctional color Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the peak systolic velocity(PSV) of the corpus cavernous arteries before and after Zhenyangjian administration.

RESULTSThe PSV of the penis corpus cavernous arteries was obviously ameliorated in all the patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese traditional medicine Zhenyangjian can promote penile erection effectively.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Phytotherapy ; Regional Blood Flow ; drug effects ; physiology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color