RESUMEN
Objective: Drugs for erectile dysfunction [ED] act by vasodilatation. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor for premature atherosclerosis, venous thrombosis and other cardiovascular diseases in both men and women. In addition, oxidative stress has long been regarded as a key pathophysiological mediator that eventually leads to cardiovascular disease, whereas oxidative stress is alleviated by antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase. The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of plasma homocysteine and antioxidant enzymes in male rats given ED drugs
Methods: Male rats were given a daily dose of 1.48 mg/kg body weight sildenafil citrate [Viagra], 0.285 mg/kg vardenafil [Levitra] or 0.285 mg/kg tadalafil [Cialis] for 3 weeks, and plasma levels of homocysteine, SOD and catalase were measured; high- and low-density lipoproteins, total cholesterol and triglycerides were also determined
Results: The level of homocysteine was increased by 93% and 67% in plasma of sildenafil- and vardenafil-treated rats, respectively, whereas tadalafil did not change the level significantly. Sildenafil and vardenafil also increased SOD activity by 35% and 46%, respectively; and sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil increased the activity of catalase by 33%, 50% and 43%, respectively. A nonsignificant increase in the level of total cholesterol was seen after treatment with all the drugs, and sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil increased the levels of high-density lipids by 25%, 41%, and 25%, respectively
Conclusion: The ED medications sildenafil and vardenafil increase the levels of homocysteine and antioxidant enzyme activities. Tadalafil appeared to be safer than the other two drugs, as it did not change the level of homocysteine. Patients taking sildenafil or vardenafil should therefore be advised to take vitamin B12 and folic acid in order to reduce the level of homocysteine, as these vitamins play an important role in biotransformation of homocysteine into methionine
RESUMEN
Eighty four samples of spices were collected from four districts in Alexandria viz. El Asafra, Cleopatra, El Ibrahimiya and Muharram Bey. These include twelve samples each of curcuma, capsicum, anise, caraway, coriander, cumin and fennel. Of these samples 10.7% were positive for aflatoxin. Aflatoxin B[1] was present in all contaminated samples and was detected together with aflatoxin G[1] in two samples of curcuma and cumin collected from Asafra and one sample of coriander collected from Cleopatra. Five of the positive samples [5.9%] were collected from Asafra district and two samples from each of Cleopatra and Ibrahimiya where as, all samples collected from Muharrarn Bey area were free from aflatoxin. The level of aflatoxin B[1] ranged between 13.8-52.4 ppm and aflatoxin G[1] between 6-10.5 ppm. Therefore, if these spices are to be consumed in large amount the level of aflatoxin should be taken into consideration