Erectile Dysfunction among People Who Use Ketamine and Poly-Drugs

Despite the rise in recreational use of ketamine in Malaysia, there have been no studies of users or of the health-related consequences they face. This study was initiated to examine ketamine use and its health consequences. 

A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information. A final sample of 127 males was divided into persons who used only ketamine and those who were poly-drug users. Each group was further divided into long-period and short-period users. Urine toxicology screening for ketamine and other illicit drugs commonly used in Malaysia was also done. 

Our findings corroborate those of earlier studies that link ketamine use to urological problems such as frequent urination, dysuria, incontinence, painful bladder, nocturia, and urinary urgency. A new finding in this study is the significant association between ketamine use and erectile dysfunction, such that higher odds of reporting erectile dysfunction were linked to long-period users. Our findings strengthen the case for early intervention, as ketamine users are drawn from young and unmarried male participants. 

The association of ketamine use with erectile dysfunction, if substantiated, will help physicians in their diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, particularly among youths.

Purchase full article at: 

By:  Suppiah B1, Vicknasingam B2, Singh D3, Narayanan S4.

• 1 Graduate Student, Centre for Drug Research , Universiti Sains Malaysia , Penang , Malaysia.
• 2 Associate Professor, Centre for Drug Research , Universiti Sains Malaysia , Penang , Malaysia.
• 3 Senior Lecturer, Centre for Drug Research , Universiti Sains Malaysia , Penang , Malaysia.
• 4 Professor, School of Social Sciences , Universiti Sains Malaysia , Penang , Malaysia. 
• J Psychoactive Drugs. 2016 Mar 25:1-7. 

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv insight

And: http://twitter.com/Prison Health

Conflicts Within the Family & Within the Couple as Contextual Factors in the Determinism of Male Sexual Dysfunction

INTRODUCTION:

The deterioration of a couple's relationship has been previously associated with impairment in male sexual function. Besides a couple's dystonic relationship, other stressors can unfavorably influence dyadic intimacy. A largely neglected etiopathogenetic factor affecting couple sexuality is the frustration caused by conflicts within the family.

AIM:

To evaluate the possible associations between male sexual dysfunction (SD) and conflictual relationships within the couple or the family.

METHODS:

A consecutive series of 3,975 men, attending the Outpatient Clinic for SD for the first time, was retrospectively studied. Conflicts within the family and within the couple were assessed using two standard questions: "Are there any conflicts at home," and "Do you have a difficult relationship with your partner?" respectively, rating 0 = normal relationships, 1 = occasional quarrels, and 2 = frequent quarrels or always.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Several clinical, biochemical, and psychological (Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire) parameters were studied.

RESULTS:

Among the 3,975 patients studied, we observed a high prevalence of conflicts within the family and within the couple (32% vs. 21.2%). When compared with the rest of the sample, subjects reporting both type of conflicts showed a higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities. Hence, all data were adjusted for this parameter and for age. Family and couple conflicts were significantly associated with free floating anxiety, depression symptoms, and with a higher risk of subjective (self-reported) and objective (peak systolic velocity at the penile color Doppler ultrasound <35 mm/sec2) erectile dysfunction and hypoactive sexual desire. Female sexual function parameters, as reported by the patient, retained a significant association with both type of conflicts.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study indicates that the presence of often unexplored issues, like conflicts within the family or within the couple, can represent an important contextual factor in the determinism of male SD..

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/wAZCZk

By:  Boddi V1, Fanni E1, Castellini G2, Fisher AD1, Corona G3, Maggi M1

• 1Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
• 2Psychiatry Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Florence, Italy.
• 3Endocrinology Unit, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy. 

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv_insight

And:        http://twitter.com/Prison_Health

Antihypertensive Drugs and Male Sexual Dysfunction: A Review of Adult Hypertension Guideline Recommendations

Published clinical practice guidelines have addressed antihypertensive therapy and sexual dysfunction (SD) in many different ways.

In this systematic review, we evaluated guidelines that address antihypertensive drug-associated SD, guideline recommendations, and recent guideline trends.

Thirty sets of guidelines for hypertension management in adults that had been published in the English language since 2000 were reviewed. The primary outcome measure was antihypertensive-associated SD potential, which was independently evaluated using specific questions by 2 authors in a nonblinded standardized manner.

Sexual dysfunctions associated with thiazide-class diuretics, β-blockers, and centrally acting sympathoplegics were addressed by half of the guidelines reviewed. There is no clarity on β-blockers and thiazide-class diuretics because one-third of the guidelines are vague about individual β-blockers and diuretics, and there is no statement on third-generation β-blockers and thiazide-like diuretics that can improve erectile function. The revised guidelines never use terms such as loss of libido, ejaculatory dysfunction, lack of orgasm, and priapism. Summary versions of guidelines are inadequate to reflect the key interpretation of the primary guidelines on SD associated with antihypertensives, even in the major guidelines that were updated recently. Therapeutic issues such as exploring SD in clinical history, assessing SD prior to and during treatment with antihypertensives, substituting the offending agents with alternatives that possess a better safety profile, intervening with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, and avoiding the concomitant use of nitrovasodilators are superficially addressed by most guidelines, with the exception of 2013 European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology and Seventh Joint National Committee recommendations.

Future guideline revisions, including both full and summary reports, should provide a balanced perspective on antihypertensive-related SD issues to improve the impact of hypertension treatment guidelines on patient care and quality of life.

Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/aYqFzg

By: Al Khaja KA1, Sequeira RP2, Alkhaja AK3, Damanhori AH4.

• 1Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain khlidj@agu.edu.bh.
• 2Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
• 3Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
• 4Primary Care, Ministry of Health, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. 

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv_insight