Erectile Dysfunction Drug Shows Promise in Animal Study. New research suggests the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra may have unexpected benefits for weary travelers. The little blue pill known for making time in the bed more enjoyable may also help weary jet travelers roll out of it in the morning.
New research shows Viagra may be the solution for travelers who suddenly find themselves needing to rise hours earlier as they cross time zones, at least if those travelers are hamsters.
A study at the Universidad Nacional de Quilmes in Buenos Aires showed that male hamsters who received an injection of sildenafil along with a 15-minute stimulation of light were able to adjust their internal clocks by six hours in roughly half the time that hamsters who did not receive the treatment took.
Sildenafil is the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.
Because humans and mammals have similar daily cycles, “there’s no reason not to believe it should work in humans,” said Diego Golombek, the lead investigator on the study.
At the same time, because the test was only done in animals, Golombek urged restraint for people thinking of trying it out.
“This is a study in laboratory animals, and clinical trials should be undertaken before deciding whether Viagra is a useful and safe treatment for those situations,” he said.
Rise and Shine
Sildenafil works by sustaining a molecule that increases blood flow. Because that signaling molecule is sensitive to light, Golombek said, increasing its quantity makes the system more responsive to a change in patterns of light and dark.
At the same time, the researchers found that sildenafil citrate was useful only for simulations of eastward travel. They found it ineffective when lengthening days to simulate travel westward.
While other treatments exist for jet lag, Golombek said that his research presents a novel approach to the problem — using what is “generally a safe drug.”
Viagra, he said, has been heavily studied for safety and effectiveness, so setting up a clinical trial “should be quite straightforward.”
Source: ABC News
An insomnia cure. Hmm... Before we go for a cure it may be a good idea to try and know our enemy. What are our signs and symptons. What type of Insomnia do we have. Perhaps a working definition would be helpful.
A herbal remedy for insomnia is probably the most popular herbal remedy reccomended in the western hemisphere today.
Insomnia cures by relaxation have been popular since before man invented fire. We can trace them back, certainly in the case of China, for many thousands of years.
The kids. The job. The house. The cell phone, blackberry and email. With all the responsibilities many women juggle, there is often no time for romance, and in many cases, even less desire. Well over a third (40- 45%) of adult women experience at least one symptom of sexual dysfunction, and few feel they can talk about it.
UCSD researchers are working to change the condition and this way of thinking.
“Women who have sexual dysfunction should realize this may be a treatable condition, not just a personal problem,” says Thuy-Tien L. Dam, M.D. of the UCSD Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. “Many women don’t know that other women experience this too, and that it might be a diagnosable disorder called Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder or HSDD.”
Dam, clinical director at UCSD Prevention Studies, is conducting a clinical trial to see whether an investigational drug is safe and effective for women with low sexual desire. HSDD is the most common form of female sexual dysfunction, characterized by decreased sexual thoughts and feelings as well as a loss of desire for sex. About 17% to 55% of women have low levels of sexual interest, depending on age.
“Candidates for the study are women who have desire problems; women who once had a healthy sex-drive who now notice a big difference in desire level, for some unknown reason,” says Dam. “If we can understand the physiologic process of what’s happening, we can tailor the treatment specifically for that.”
Studies have shown that erectile dysfunction in men is sometimes caused by a physiologic problem, such as reduced blood flow. There is a school of thought that perhaps physiologic changes in the female brain may be associated with female sexual dysfunction.
While male erectile dysfunction is widely known, publicly discussed and treated, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any investigational drugs for treating similar disorders in women. This study is an important step in the therapeutic options to help women regain a satisfactory sex life, and to be able to talk about it, said Dam.
Women who may qualify for this study:
Are premenopausal, 18 years of age and older
Are using a medically approved form of birth control or are surgically sterile
Are not nursing or pregnant
Have experienced a loss of sexual desire for at least 6 months
Have been in a stable, heterosexual, monogamous relationship for at least 1 year
Are not taking an antidepressant.
Approximately 30 women will be enrolled here at UCSD Prevention Studies. A total of 1,400 women are expected to enroll at 75 sites in the Unites States and Canada.
Source: Fox6