A Prospective Clinical Study of a Prosexual Nutrient: Nano Leo for Evaluation of Libido, Erection, and Orgasm in Indian Men with Erectile Dysfunction.

AIM: The present study aimed to assess the effects of Nano Leo, a prosexual nutrient formulation, on libido, erection, and orgasm in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, phase IV efficacy study. Patients received two capsules for 7 days and thereafter one capsule through 90 days. Main outcome measures: primary endpoint was change in erectile function assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Secondary endpoints included improvement in testosterone levels, FSH, LH, and prolactin levels; seminal parameters; and overall quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: Our study included 99 men (mean age 32.2 ± 4.71 years). Mean erectile function domain score increased from 18.9 ± 5.67 at baseline to 23.7 ± 4.01 on day 90 (P < 0.001). Similar improvements were observed in orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction domains of IIEF score which was seen as early as day 30. Improved IIEF corroborated with improvement in all QoL domains. From baseline to day 90, treatment with Nano Leo increased testosterone levels (5.04 ± 2.22 vs. 5.57 ± 1.53 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Similar improvements were observed in orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction domains of IIEF score which was seen as early as day 30. Improved IIEF corroborated with improvement in all QoL domains. From baseline to day 90, treatment with Nano Leo increased testosterone levels (5.04 ± 2.22 vs. 5.57 ± 1.53 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: Nano Leo showed improved libido, erection, and orgasm as evaluated by IIEF and QoL and was well tolerated. Therefore, Nano Leo could be an effective and safe pronutrient supplement in managing ED.

Assessment of liver function in pregnant anemic women upon oral iron and folic acid supplementation.

Oral iron therapy is the most widely prescribed treatment for iron deficiency anemia. However, oral iron supplementation may also lead to various health problems. The recognition of these physiological variations is essential for the diagnosis of liver diseases during the course of pregnancy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the variations in levels of routine liver function tests (LFTs) in pregnant women before and after iron and folic acid treatment. Iron and folic acid was supplemented to 500 normal pregnant anemic women (mild=200, moderate=200 and severe=100) and 100 age matched normal pregnant non-anemic as controls daily for 100 days. Blood index values and liver function parameters were precisely monitored. Hemoglobin (Hb), total protein (TP), iron (Fe), albumin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were found increased (P<0.001; P<0.01; P<0.05) after treatment in mild, moderate, severe and control, respectively. Lipid peroxidation (LPx), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were increased in pretreated mild, moderate and severe groups and further increased after all treated subjects. Moreover, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was found to decrease in pre and posttreated subjects. Treatment with iron and folic acid although has remarkable efficacy for Hb and body iron stores although for the cost of increasing the associated compartment of total bilirubin, AST and ALT concomitant with decreased GGT levels. Data obtained from the present study provide new insights into the mandatory application of liver function tests likely to be monitored at regular and specific intervals during the course of pregnancy.

NMR-based metabonomics study of sub-acute hepatotoxicity induced by silica nanoparticles in rats after intranasal exposure.

Silica nanoparticles (SiO(2) NPs) are widely used commercially; however, their potential toxicity on human health has attracted particular attention. In the present study, the intranasal toxicological effect of 10nm and 80nm SiO(2) NPs (dosed at 150µg for 90 days) on rats was investigated using conventional approaches and metabonomics analysis of serum. Oxidative stress was measured by assessing Lipid peroxide (LPO) levels and enzymatic activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and Glutathione (GSH) levels in liver tissue homogenate. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histological examination of liver sections. SiO(2) NPs enhanced lipid peroxidation with concomitant reduction in SOD, CAT, and GSH content. In addition, SiO(2) NPs also produced alterations in hepatic histopathology. We also evaluated the effect of SiO(2) NPs on the activities of hepatic enzymes such as aminotransferases (ALT/AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which revealed significant increase in their activity when compared with control. Metabonomic profile of 90 days SiO(2) NPs treated rat sera exhibited significant increase in lactate, alanine, acetate, creatine and choline coupled with a considerable decrease in glucose level. These perturbations, on the whole, implicate impairment in tricarboxylic acid cycle and liver metabolism, which suggests that silica nanoparticles may have a potential to induce hepatotoxicity in rats.

Protective potential of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) extract on aluminum induced cerebellar toxicity and associated neuromuscular status in aged rats.

The present study attempts to assess the comparative effects of Bacopa monniera, (40 mg/kg body weight) and donepezil (2.5 mg/kg b. wt) on aluminum (100 mg / kg b. wt. of AlCl3) mediated oxidative damage in the cerebellum of aged rats (24 months) along with the associated dysfunctioning of neuromuscular coordination and motor activity. A significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and increased total reacting oxygen species, lipid and protein peroxidation products observed in aluminum exposed rats. We observed that treatment with B. monniera extract restored the altered antioxidant enzyme activities more, when compared with donepezil. However, acetylcholinesterase showed similar effect both in donepezil and B. monniera treated groups. The content of aluminum was increased in all experimental groups, however, iron content was found increased in all groups except the B. monniera treated groups. Moreover, aluminum treated groups of rats exhibited significant changes in behavioral profiles but these changes were in both B. monniera and donepezil treated groups. The light microscopic and ultrastructural studies revealed damaged Purkinje's neurons and altered granular cell layer along with the increased accumulation of lipofuscin granules in aluminum treated animals. These changes were quite less pronounced in B. monniera group than that of donepezil and this may be due to the reduction of excess iron content by B. monniera. On the basis of our results it may be concluded that Al may be linked with cerebellar degeneration and neuromuscular disorders while Bacopa monniera extract helps in reversing these changes.