PURPOSE: Long-acting injectable testosterone undecanoate (TU, Nebido(R)), a new parenteral testosterone preparation, has recently been introduced to avoid frequent injections of the conventional injectable esters. We performed this study to assess the efficacy and safety of long-acting injectable TU in patients who suffer with testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, non-controlled single arm trial, a total of 33 patients (a mean age of 55.8+/-6.4 yrs) with TDS, as defined by serum testosterone levels of less than 3.5 ng/mL, were injected with 1000 mg of TU (4mL/ampule) on day 1, followed by another injection 6 weeks later with follow-up injections 3 months thereafter for a total of 54 weeks. Before and 18 and 54 weeks after the TU injections, the changes of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale, the serum total testosterone, the lipid profiles, the CBC, the PSA level, the prostate volume by TRUS and the body mass index (BMI) were compared by Students' paired t-tests. Any adverse effects were also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to the pretreatment results, the serum total testosterone level was significantly increased at 18 and 54 weeks (P<0.01), but there was no difference for the serum total testosterone level between weeks 18 and 54, that is, they were stable. The BMI was not significantly decreased at 54 weeks compared to pretreatment. Injectable TU also significantly improved the AMS scores, and especially in the sexual domain (P<0.01). The other data, except the hematocrit, was not significantly changed (P<0.05). Injectable TU did not show a harmful effect on the prostate during the 54 weeks. No patient reported any adverse side effects or events. CONCLUSIONS: Injectable TU effectively elevated the serum total testosterone levels and it maintained stable concentrations during the treatment period. Injectable TU significantly improved the total AMS score, but there were no reported significant changes in the body habitus and lipid profiles. Further large, well-controlled, long-term studies should be done to assess the effect of injectable TU on TDS patients.
Aging ; Arm ; Body Mass Index ; Esters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Sorbitol ; Testosterone ; Tyramine

Corrected transposition of the great arteries is usually characterized by inverted ventricles and transposition of the great arteries. This combination without cardiac anormalies results in normal arterial oxigen content, hence the term corrected. Unfortunately, the condition rarely exists without other major cardiac anormalies. The authors report a case of situs inversus that was associated with corrected TGA, VSD, PS and ASD. The girl was admitted for evaluation of systolic ejection murmur on the both lower sternal border. Doppler echocardiography and cardiac angiography showed the diagnosis and so valvulotomy and closure operation of VSD and ASD was done.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Humans ; Situs Inversus ; Systolic Murmurs

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) on the pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in mouse colon and to identify the underlying mechanisms of PACAP action. Spontaneous pacemaker activity of colonic ICC and the effects of PACAP were studied using electrophysiological recordings. Exogenously applied PACAP induced hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and inhibited pacemaker frequency in a dose-dependent manner (from 0.1 nM to 100 nM). To investigate cyclic AMP (cAMP) involvement in the effects of PACAP on ICC, SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase) and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP were used. SQ-22536 decreased the frequency of pacemaker potentials, and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP increased the frequency of pacemaker potentials. The effects of SQ-22536 on pacemaker potential frequency and membrane hyperpolarization were rescued by co-treatment with glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker). However, neither N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase) nor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase) had any effect on PACAP-induced activity. In conclusion, this study describes the effects of PACAP on ICC in the mouse colon. PACAP inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC by acting through ATP-sensitive K+ channels. These results provide evidence of a physiological role for PACAP in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility through the modulation of ICC activity.
8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate ; Animals ; Cell Membrane ; Colon* ; Cyclic AMP ; Glyburide ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal* ; Membranes ; Mice ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide*

The combination of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs (LHRHa) with tamoxifen is used as a standard postoperative adjuvant therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive/premenopausal breast cancer. Long-acting LHRHa formulations offer advantages in terms of patient convenience. However, data on the effectiveness of the 3-month (3M) acting formulation are still insufficient. This study was performed on patients who received the 3M LHRHa after surgery. The serum estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were measured before surgery, and periodically after surgery. In total, 318 patients were included in the study and analyzed. The mean E2 level before surgery was 63.7 pg/mL, while the mean E2 level during the administration of 3M LHRHa was 4.9 pg/mL.None of the patients were menstruating and had E2 values above 30.0 pg/mL. It is thought that the 3M LHRHa formulation can suppress the ovarian function effectively and be safely used to improve compliance.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fentanyl-TTS in the management of radiotherapy induced acute pain and cancer pain treated with radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was open labelled prospective phase IV multi-center study. the study population included patients with more 4 numeric rating scale(NRS) score pain although managed with other analgesics or more than 6 NRS score pain without analgesics. Patients divided into two groups; patients with radiotherapy induced pain (Group A) and patients with cancer pain treated with radiotherapy (Group B). All patients received 25 ug/hr of fentanyl transdermal patch. Primary end point was pain relief; second end points were change in patient quality of life, a degree of satisfaction for patients and clinician, side effects. RESULTS: Between March 2005 and June 2005, 312 patients from 26 participating institutes were registered, but 249 patients completed this study. Total number of patients in each group was 185 in Group A, 64 in Group B. Mean age was 60 years and male to female ratio was 76:24. Severe pain NRS score at 2 weeks after the application of fentanyl was decreased from 7.03 to 4.01, p=0.003. There was a significant improvement in insomnia, social functioning, and quality of life. A degree of satisfaction for patients and clinician was very high. The most common reasons of patients' satisfactions was good pain control. Ninety six patients reported side effect. Nausea was the most common side effect. There was no serious side effect. CONCLUSION: Fentanyl-TTS was effective in both relieving pain with good tolerability and improving the quality of life for patients with radiotherapy induced acute pain and cancer pain treated with radiotherapy. The satisfaction of the patients and doctors was good. There was no major side effect.
Academies and Institutes ; Acute Pain ; Analgesics ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Male ; Nausea ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Transdermal Patch*