Testosterone undecanoate improves erectile dysfunction in hypogonadal men with the metabolic syndrome refractory to treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors alone.

At least 30-35% of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) fail to respond to treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. Testosterone (T) has effects not only on sexual desire, but also on the anatomical and physiological substrate of erection. This study analysed the effects of T administration to men unsuccessfully treated for ED with PDE-5 inhibitors only. Twenty-nine men aged 36-75 years (mean 59 years) with ED were studied. They suffered from ED for a mean of 2.7 years and had subnormal plasma T levels (total T <3.5 ng ml(-1) ). They received parenteral testosterone undecanoate for 102 weeks. Changes of the domains of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were assessed. After 6 weeks of T treatment, the sexual desire domain of IIEF had improved (from 4.1 ± 1.4 to 7.2 ± 1.7) and erectile function as measured by IIEF started to improve, reaching a plateau after 30 weeks (from 9.1 ± 2.1 to 26.5 ± 2.3). Features of the metabolic syndrome also improved. There were no adverse effects of T administration. Addition of T to treatment of hypogonadal men unsuccessfully treated with PDE-5 inhibitors only, appeared useful and acceptably safe.

Malignant cell autolysis caused by intracytoplasmic liberation of lysosomal enzymes.

An ultrastructural study of the action of peptidoglycans on malignant lymphocytes was made. Glycans acted upon lysosomes labilizing and rupturing the lysosomal membrane. Lysosomal enzymes were discharged directly into the cell cytoplasm. Nucleus, mitochondria and all organelles were digested in situ, resulting in a completely structureless cell. Finally, cancerous cells disintegrated by the detachment of cytoplasmic fragments.

RU-486 inhibits rat gonadal steroidogenesis.

RU-486 is a synthetic steroid analogue that can inhibit adrenal steroid synthesis in the rat and rhesus monkey. We measured the activities of five testicular and two ovarian microsomal steroidogenic enzymes to assess the potential effect of RU-486 on rat gonadal steroidogenesis. Hypophysectomized, gonadotropin-replaced rats received RU-486 or a vehicle solution twice daily for seven days. The animals were sacrificed and their gonads were resected, weighed, and microsomal enzyme activities were measured according to RU-486 treatment. Testicular 17-hydroxylase and aromatase activity decreased in RU-486 treated animals whereas 17,20-desmolase, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17-ketosteroid reductase activities were unaffected. Ovarian 17-hydroxylase but not 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was decreased in the animals receiving the drug. We conclude that RU-486 inhibits both testicular and ovarian steroidogenesis in the rat.

Produccion de vacuna tifoidica por el metodo de Zagreb / Typhoid vaccine production by the Zagred method

Se prepararon seis lotes de vacuna tifoidica empleando el metodo de Zagred (M-I), los cuales se compararon con seis lotes producidos por el metodo empleado en el Instituto Nacional de Higiene (M-II). Se encontro que el metodo de Zagred reducia los tiempos de proceso y costo. Empleando el metodo tradicional se tenian problemas con el alto contenido de nitroseno, aun centrifugando la vacuna en algunos casos no resultaba suficiente antigenica siendo necesario adicionar antigeno "Vi" para elevar los titulos. En las vacunas producidas por el metodo de Zagreb, aun diluyendo al limite establecido de nitrogeno, se sobrepasan las 8 UP por mililitro