Male sexual function requires an intricate interplay between the man and his environment. Cognitive integration and physiological response to sexual stimulation is dependent on complex neurologic functions that may be impaired by central or peripheral neurologic disorders. This article reviews the normal neuroanatomy of sexual functioning in men, and the epidemiology, pathophysiology and management of sexual dysfunction in spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular accident, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Sclerosis ; complications ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; complications ; Parkinson Disease ; complications ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; Stroke ; complications

PURPOSE: Impaired cardiovascular autonomic regulation is a non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) and may increase long-term morbidity. This study applied frequency-domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) to understand the progression of sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac regulation in patients with PD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 21 male and 11 female Taiwanese patients with advanced PD and 32 healthy gender- and age-matched subjects were enrolled. To minimize artifacts due to subject motion, daytime electrocardiograms for 5 minutes were recorded in awake patients during levodopa-on periods and controls. Using fast Fourier transformation, heart rate variables were quantified into a high-frequency power component [0.15-0.45 Hz, considered to reflect vagal (parasympathetic) regulation], low-frequency power component (0.04-0.15 Hz, reflecting mixed sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation), and low-frequency power in normalized units (reflecting sympathetic regulation). The significance of between-group differences was analyzed using the paired t-test. Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis were applied to assess the correlation of patient age, PD duration, and disease severity (represented by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) with each heart rate variables. RESULTS: Impaired HRV is significantly correlated with the duration of PD, but not with disease severity and patient age. Meanwhile, parasympathetic heart rate variable is more likely than sympathetic heart rate variable to be affected by PD. CONCLUSION: PD is more likely to affect cardiac parasympathetic regulation than sympathetic regulation by time and the heart rate variables have the association with Parkinsonian motor symptom duration.
Adult ; Aged ; Autonomic Nervous System/*physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Rate/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease/complications/*physiopathology ; Regression Analysis

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the risk factors associated with falls among patients with Parkinson's Disease(PD). METHOD: A retrospective study design was used through the collection of physiological and physical health, and psychosocial functions. RESULTS: Of the 100 participants, fifty-nine(59%) reported one or more falls and seventy-one(71%) reported one or more near-falls. Anaverage 34.7 falls and 150.3 near-falls were reported in the previous year per person. Stage of PD, foot problems, balance, fear of falling, and activities of daily living were significantly associated with an increased risk of falls. CONCLUSION: The findings confirm the high risk of falling in PD patients. Also these results have implications for developing fall prevention programs for PD patients.
*Accidental Falls/prevention & control ; Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease/*complications/physiopathology ; Postural Balance ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEThe selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease is suspected to correlate with the increase of cellular iron, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of PD by promotion of oxidative stress. This research investigated dopamine-induced oxidative stress toxicity contributed by iron and the production of dopamine-derived neurotoxins in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells.

METHODSAfter the SH-SY5Y cells were pre-incubated with dopamine and Fe2+ for 24 h, the cell viability, hydroxyl radical, melondialdehyde, cell apoptosis, and catechol isoquinolines were measured by lactate dehydrogenase assay, salicylic acid trapping method, thiobarbuteric acid assay, Hoechst 33258 staining and HPLC-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD), respectively.

RESULTS(1) Optimal dopamine (150 micromol/L) and Fe2+ (40 or 80 micromol/L) significantly increased the concentrations of hydroxy radicals and melondialdehyde in SH-SY5Y cells. (2) Induction with dopamine alone or dopamine and Fe2+ (dopamine/Fe2+) caused cell apoptosis. (3) Compared with untreated cells, the catechol isoquinolines, salsolinol and N-methyl-salsolinol in dopamine/Fe2+-induced cells were detected in increasing amounts.

CONCLUSIONDue to dopamine/Fe2+-induced oxidative stress similar to the state in the parkinsonian substantia nigra neurons, dopamine and Fe2+ impaired SH-SY5Y cells could be used as the cell oxidative stress model of Parkinson's disease. The catechol isoquinolines detected in cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease as potential neurotoxins.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Catechols ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dopamine ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Hydroxyl Radical ; metabolism ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron Metabolism Disorders ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Isoquinolines ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nerve Degeneration ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neurotoxins ; toxicity ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Parkinson Disease ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Salsoline Alkaloids ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects ; physiology