The erection pill

The introduction of sildenafil (Viagra) for the treatment of erection disorders has received much international attention. In the USA the prevalence of severe erection disorder amounts to 10% for men aged 40-70 years, which is much higher than was expected, in the Netherlands as well. This is probably due to embarassment with the condition and the absence of simple treatment. With the advent of sildenafil the problem of erection disorder is now openly discussed. An interview investigation in Leiden, the Netherlands, showed that two-thirds of men with erection problems (n = 200) who volunteered to participate in a relevant study, had consulted to a physician before; one-third of the volunteers were interested in using an erection pill, one-third also in other treatments, and one-third wanted to be treated by any method. These figures indicate that most men already take their problem seriously. As age is the main contributing factor to erection disorder, the safety of sildenafil in the elderly is a point of concern. Nitrate use is an absolute contraindication, poor cardiovascular condition is a relative contraindication. Sildenafil will probably become the drug of choice for the treatment of erection disorder. It constitutes a major step forward.     

Patterns of lesion development in multiple sclerosis: longitudinal observations with T1-weighted spin-echo and magnetization transfer MR

Alcohol and drug knowledge of inner-city mothers was evaluated following an educational mailing, and the relationship between knowledge and alcohol and illicit drug use during pregnancy was tested. Eighty-four postpartum African-American mothers with known alcohol and drug use during pregnancy received a U.S. Department of Education publication, Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention. Results of a phone-administered quiz from this booklet were compiled, and alcohol and drug use subgroups were compared. The average score was 50%. Half of the women did not know that alcohol is the most commonly used drug in the United States. Few identified alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana as the three drugs most commonly used by children. Lack of teenage substance use experience was perceived to increase the risk of chemical dependency. Drinkers and drug users were fourfold more likely to answer at least six questions correctly (p=.03 each, logistic regression). Parental knowledge of substance use, particularly of alcohol, remains inadequate. We suggest that appropriate parental education tools are still needed for optimal primary prevention of substance use by inner-city children.     

Efficacy and safety of transurethral alprostadil therapy in men with erectile dysfunction. MUSE Study Group

AIMS: To estimate the impact of co-morbid disorders for suicidal ideas in alcohol-dependent subjects seeking treatment. DESIGN: Life-time psychiatric co-morbidity and previous suicidal behaviours were assessed retrospectively after detoxification (t1). In addition, suicidal behaviours were assessed 12 months after discharge (t2). SETTING: An inpatient detoxification treatment unit. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and fifty dependent inpatients were studied after detoxification. One hundred and forty-nine of them participated in the follow-up face-to-face interviews. MEASUREMENTS: Using two extended standardized interviews (CIDI and IPDE) psychiatric co-morbidity (DSM-III-R, Axes I and II) was assessed at t1; suicide attempts were reported at t1 and t2, and suicidal ideas were assessed at t2. FINDINGS: A history of suicide attempts was reported by 29.2% at t1, and suicidal ideas by 14.1% and suicide attempts by 5.4% at the follow-up (t2). One female patient committed suicide within 6 months of discharge from hospital. The following co-morbidity patterns were associated with the greatest risk for suicidal ideas. Anxiety and depressive disorders, Axes I and 11 disorders, and a history of suicide attempt (for suicidal ideas at (t2). CONCLUSION. Our results underline the importance of psychiatric co-morbidity for the suicidal risk in alcohol-dependent patients, while alcoholism itself appears to be only a moderate risk factor.     

Synthesis of Volcanic Ash‐based Porous Inorganic Polymers Using Biomass as Pore Inducing Agent: Phase Evolution and Descriptive Microstructure

Silicon - In the present study, multi-scale sized porous inorganic polymers were produced by alkaline activation of volcanic ash. Rice husk ash, an agricultural biomass, was used both in the...