The Influence of prolonged beta-blockers treatment on male rabbit's sexual behavior and penile microcirculation.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the prolonged intake of three beta-blocking drugs (propranolol, metoprolol and nebivolol) on the sexual behavior and penile microcirculation of rabbits. Drugs were administered p.o. for 9 weeks and every three weeks in each group (n=13) one subgroup (n=7) performed behavioral tests, whereas in the second subgroup (n=6) penile microcirculation was measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter. The copulation studies revealed significant impairment of sexual function only in the propranolol treated group. The measured behavioral parameters suggest that at a given dose propranolol affects more performance rather than arousal aspects of rabbits' sexual behavior. In the course of the whole study no significant difference was observed among groups in penile blood flow. The data indicate that among the beta-blockers given only propranolol interferes with sexual behavior, and that beta-blockers do not appear to have a negative effect on penile microcirculation.

The combined treatment of transplantable solid mammary carcinoma in Wistar rats by use of photodynamic therapy and cysteine proteinase inhibitor.

Numerous studies have shown that lysosomal proteinases play an important role in carcinogenesis. The enzymatic activity of tumor-associated proteases is counter-balanced by specific inhibitors. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a technique which involves photoexcitation of sensitizing drugs retained in neoplastic tissue that is subsequently destroyed. Intraperitoneal injections of hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) were given at a dose of 20 mg/kg in rats transplanted with mammary carcinoma. A halogen lamp was used 24 hours later at 630 +/- 20 nm and total dose--200 J/sq.cm. Cysteine proteinase inhibitor (CPI) was dissolved in saline and injected subcutaneously in doses of 50 mg and 200 mg per animal. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated with regard to survival time and tumor response and to depth of necrosis. In several cases tumors completely disappeared following HpD-PDT + CPI. The number of complete tumor responses was higher when PDT + 200 mg of CPI was used, i.e. 6 out of 10 rats. Promising results have also been obtained with regard to survival time of treated animals and to induction of tumor necrosis. We may presume that a combination of PDT and proteinase inhibitors could be a useful tool in further anticancer studies and, hopefully, in anticancer therapy.

[Clinical applications of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of laryngeal lesions]. / Kliniczne zastosowanie fotodynamicznej terapii w leczeniu schorzen krtani.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used in the treatment of laryngeal lesions. The disorders comprised primary dysplasia and leukoplakia of the vocal cords. The patients after diagnosis were subjected to the therapy. Six hours prior to the light irradiation the patients received 4% solution of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) during 30 minutes inhalation. After 6 hours all the changes were irradiated using 400 nm wavelength light from 300 W halogen lamp (range: 380-420 nm) in order to visualize them. Next, the wavelength was tuned to 650 nm (range 620-680 nm) and the total dose 120 J/cm2 for all cases. Control examinations in patients revealed complete response of the lesions within 2-3 months after PDT.