Does Type 1 Diabetes Modify Sexuality and Mood of Women and Men?

BACKGROUND: Sexual disorders occurring in women and men with type 1 diabetes have not been sufficiently investigated and described until now. This study attempts to evaluate sexuality in women and men. METHODS: Altogether, the study comprised 115 patients with type 1 diabetes and 105 healthy people constituting the control group. All the studied persons underwent survey studies determining sexuality using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-19) in women and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) in men, and the occurrence of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory. The acceptance of illness among patients with diabetes was examined using the Acceptance of Illness Scale questionnaire. RESULTS: In 35% of the examined women with diabetes, the study demonstrated sexual dysfunction as determined by total FSFI. The point values of all the investigated FSFI domains were significantly lower in women with diabetes than in healthy ones (p < 0.001). Erectile dysfunction occurred in 50% of the studied men with diabetes and in 23% of the control group of men (p = 0.0017). CONCLUSIONS: Type 1 diabetes leads to sexual disorders which occur in 1/3 of women and in 1/2 of men. Sexual disorders in patients with diabetes more frequently occur in men, persons with coexisting complications of diabetes, and in those with a concentration of glycated hemoglobin higher than 6.5%.

Relationships of Sexual Dysfunction with Depression and Acceptance of Illness in Women and Men with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

An increased prevalence of sexual disorders has been reported in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is the assessment of the influence of the psychical condition, the concentration of glycated hemoglobin, the duration of diabetes, the body mass index, the age, and the subjective acceptance of the illness on sexual disorders occurring in women and men with type 2 diabetes. The study enrolled 215 patients (114 women and 101 men) with type 2 diabetes and 183 controls. Sexuality was determined in all of the studied subjects using: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in women and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) in men. The occurrence of depression symptoms was determined using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), whereas the acceptance of the illness in diabetic patients using the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). A sexual dysfunction was found in 68% of the studied diabetic women and 17% of controls. The point values of all the examined FSFI domains were significantly lower in women with diabetes than in controls (p < 0.001). Erectile disorders occurred in 82% of the studied men with diabetes and in 41% of the controls (p < 0.001). The point values of all the domains of FSFI and IIEF demonstrated a significantly negative correlation with the total BDI score, which was higher in patients with diabetes than in patients without diabetes, and a positive correlation with the total AIS score (p < 0.001). The occurrence of sexual dysfunction in patients with diabetes correlated with the age and the duration of diabetes. We conclude that sexual disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrate the correlation with the occurrence of depression and the acceptance of their illness. Sexual disorders in diabetic patients occur more frequently in older patients and in those with a longer duration of diabetes.

Bis-phenanthroline copper(II) phthalate complexes are potent in vitro antitumour agents with 'self-activating' metallo-nuclease and DNA binding properties.

Three, structurally characterised, bis-phen Cu(II) complexes of the phthalate isomers display rapid, low micromolar in vitro cytotoxicity against a range of epithelial tumour cells. The complexes induce relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA in the absence of external reducing agents and display efficient CT-DNA, Poly[d(A-T)](2) and Poly[d(G-C)](2) binding.

[High density lipoproteins and atherosclerosis]. / Lipoproteiny HDL w procesie miazdzycowym.

HDL lipoproteins play an essential protective role against development of atherosclerosis 2 they participate in reverse cholesterol transport, act as antioxidants and have antiinflammatory properties. Antioxidant properties of HDL are associated with enzymes such as paraoxonase, LCAT and apolipoproteins apo A-1, apo A-2. HDLs antiinflammatory functions are associated with inhibition of expression of cellular adhesion molecules. Increase of low HDL-cholesterol concentration is now one of the main goals of treatment of lipid disorders for prevention of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In this article we summarised the role of HDL in atherosclerosis development and influence of fish oils and antioxidant vitamins on lipids and lipoproteins fractions.