Does transcutaneous nerve stimulation have effect on sympathetic skin response?

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the sympathetic nerve system by sympathetic skin response test. METHODS: Fifty-five healthy volunteers received either: (i) 30minutes TENS (25 participants) (ii) 30minutes sham TENS (30 participants) and SSR test was performed pre- and post-TENS. The mean values of latency and peak-to-peak amplitude of five consecutive SSRs were calculated. RESULTS: A significant amplitude difference was found between TENS and sham TENS group both in right and left hand (p=0.04, p=0.01, respectively). However there was no significant latancy difference between two groups (p>0.05 ). CONCLUSION: TENS has an inhibitory effect on elicited SNS responses when compared with sham TENS control group.

EEG abnormalities during treatment with tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor.

OBJECTIVE: Tadalafil is a selective phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Less is known about the electroencephalography (EEG) effects of PDE-5 inhibitors, and the present study, therefore, examined the risk of EEG abnormalities associated with tadalafil. METHOD: EEG recordings from 35 erectile dysfunction patients taking tadalafil (20 mg) were graded for severity of EEG abnormalities (at admission, 2 and 48 hours after tadalafil administration). RESULTS: At admission, there were no EEG abnormalities. At second EEG, abnormalities occurred in 12 (34.3%) of the 35 patients. Eight (22.9%) patients had mild and four (11.4%) patients had moderate EEG abnormalities. At third EEG, one (2.9%) patient had mild and one (2.9%) patient had moderate EEG abnormalities. CONCLUSION: PDE-5 inhibitors may produce EEG abnormalities. Although the exact role of PDE in altering susceptibility to seizure remains unclear, epileptic seizures may occur during treatment with PDE inhibitors.