Healthsystem

In this study, the hands and feet of 15,384 undergraduate and postgraduate students in 3 colleges in Beijing were examined for the presence of cutaneous warts at college-entry, and those diagnosed with warts were followed up 2–3 years later. We identified totally 215 (1.4%; 95% CI, 1.2–1.6%) students with warts. The prevalence was significantly higher in male than in female students (2.0% vs. 0.9%, P < 0.0001). Of the 215 patients, 66.9% and 62.1% had only one wart and 98.3% and 93.2% had warts

Background
Topical ionic contraviral therapy (ICVT) with digoxin and furosemide inhibits the potassium influx on which DNA viruses rely for replication. Therefore, ICVT was hypothesized to be a potential novel treatment for cutaneous warts.
Objectives
To assess the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of ICVT in adults with cutaneous warts. The secondary objective was to gain insight into the underlying working mechanism of ICVT.
Methods
Treatment with ICVT was assessed for efficacy, safety and tolerability in a single‐ centre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase IIA trial. Eighty adult patients with at least two cutaneous warts (plantar or common) were randomized to one of four treatments: digoxin + furosemide (0·125%), digoxin (0·125%), furosemide (0·125%) or placebo. The gel was administered once daily for 42 consecutive days. Predefined statistical analysis was performed with a mixed‐model ancova. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with number NCT02333643.
Results
Wart size and human papillomavirus (HPV) load reduction was achieved in all active treatment groups. A statistically significant reduction in wart diameter of all treated warts was shown in the digoxin + furosemide treatment group vs. placebo (−3·0 mm, 95% confidence interval −4·9 to −1·1, P = 0·002). There was a statistically significant reduction in the HPV load of all treated warts in the digoxin + furosemide group vs. placebo (−94%, 95% confidence interval −100 to −19, P = 0·03). With wart size reduction, histologically and immunohistochemically defined viral characteristics disappeared from partial and total responding warts.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates the proof of concept for the efficacy of topical ICVT in adults with cutaneous warts.
Cutaneous warts, or verrucae, are a common benign skin condition with an estimated prevalence of 3–13% in the general population in the Western world.1 Most people are affected by cutaneous warts, either plantar warts (located on the foot soles) or common warts (mostly located on the hands or dorsal feet), at some point in their life.1, 2, 3, 4
Although cutaneous warts are benign and usually resolve spontaneously,5 they cause both physical and psychosocial discomfort.6 Many patients use a variety of wart‐removing products.6, 7, 8 Efficacy rates of common treatments are approximately 39% for cryotherapy, 24% for salicylic acid and 46% for monochloroacetic acid, whereas spontaneous regression rates are around 16%.7, 9, 10, 11 As current treatments such as cryotherapy and monochloroacetic acid often have side‐effects (e.g. pain, erythema and burning sensation)12 and low efficacy rates, there is a need for therapies with a greater efficacy and minimal side‐effects.13, 14, 15
Cutaneous warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The great majority (> 80%) of verrucae in the general population are related to HPVs 1, 2, 27 and 57.16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 It is well known that papillomaviruses are dependent of the milieu of the infected host cell for proliferation.22, 23 More specifically, it has been shown that DNA viruses, such as HPV, rely on potassium ion influx for replication.24 The cardiac glycoside digoxin and loop diuretic furosemide both inhibit K+ influx by interacting with the cell‐membrane ion cotransporters Na+/K+‐ATPase and Na‐K‐Cl. These two compounds may therefore be valuable for the treatment of HPV‐induced diseases, such as cutaneous warts. In 2006, an in vitro study found that the inhibitory effect on DNA replication was most potent when digoxin and furosemide were combined. This new approach with two well‐known, established drugs, described as ionic contraviral therapy (ICVT), is suggested to be most effective via local application.25
A previous phase I/II open‐label study recently demonstrated the safety and efficacy of ICVT in a group of 12 healthy patients with common warts.26 The aim of the current proof‐of‐concept study was to assess the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of ICVT in adults with cutaneous warts in a single‐centre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase IIA trial. The secondary objective was to gain insight into the underlying working mechanism of ICVT.

The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

Vi**ra turned 23 in 2021, and while we don't mean to diminish the little blue pill, it's not the be-all and end-all of erectile dysfunction treatments. In fact, there are a number of lifestyle modifications and natural remedies that can have the same effect. While Vi**ra has proven to be a bestseller — with good reason, it's very effective for many people — it has a number of potential side effects, including headaches and anecdotal reports of possible links to heart attacks.

RELATED: How to Treat Your Erectile Dysfunction

The major problem with Vi**ra, however, is that it’s often a band-aid and doesn’t get at the root cause of a man’s ED. Given that it works so quickly and effectively (sometimes in as little as 30 minutes!), it encourages users to forget about visiting a doctor for treatment of their erectile dysfunction. Contrary to popular belief, Vi**ra should not be the first line of treatment, but rather one of the last resorts and most importantly used only after consulting with a doctor.

Why? “There is a strong correlation between mental and physical health and s*xual function,” says Dr. Arash Akhavein, a urologist at the Cedars Sinai Medical Towers in Los Angeles. “As such, men can sometimes treat ED with a series of diet and lifestyle changes.” Here’s a look at some of those helpful changes, which are not only effective for treating and preventing ED, but for better health in general.

How Vi**ra Works
"Vi**ra" is just the product name given to the drug Sildenafil, a drug that was originally being tested to treat hypertension in middle-aged men. Its active ingredient promotes the release of a messenger compound, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, that causes your body's smooth muscle cells – including those in your p***s – to relax, allowing the nearby arteries to expand. When the arteries in your p***s expand, you get an er****on.

Vi**ra is so effective because so many of the leading causes of erectile dysfunction boil down to circulatory problems: heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. Therefore, it stands to reason that anything that helps promote blood circulation or reduce cholesterol or blood pressure will help you achieve stronger er****ons.

They might feel like their bodies aren’t s*xy enough, their p***ses aren’t big enough, they can’t last long enough, get hard enough, aren’t experienced enough, and so on. Some guys worry about some of these, while others think of these things at the same time.

RELATED: Premature Ej*******on Myths, Debunked

Unsurprisingly, grappling with these fears internally typically doesn’t produce the best results when it comes to enjoying yourself or pleasing your partner. The best way to approach the situation, more often than not, is to simply open up about what you’re struggling with. But that can be daunting for men raised in a culture where admitting weakness is seen as something to avoid altogether.

In order to get a handle on how to navigate conversations about perceived s*xual inadequecies, AskMen spoke to a handful of s*x experts about different things guys worry about in bed, why they can be so stressful, and what to do if your partner is unkind about something you’re sensitive about. Here’s what they had to say:

Common S*xual Inadequacies Men Experience
When men are worrying that they don’t measure up, there’s no limit as to how many ways they can arrive at that conclusion. But there are a handful of more common ones that guys tend to settle on.

“As a s*x advice columnist, I can safely say the biggest fear men have is not being big enough (i.e., p***s size),” says Zachary Zane, brand ambassador for Promescent.

To this list, Kenneth Play, s*x educator and creator of the S*x Hacker Pro Series, would add premature ej*******on (PE) and erectile dysfunction (ED), noting that people see their inadequecies as “an innate issue that is set in stone.” That’s hardly the case, though, according to Daniel Saynt, founder of the New Society for Wellness (NSFW), who suggests the issue is more of a psychological one for most men.

“So many of the shortcomings that men deal with privately can be attributed to low self-esteem due to size of p***s or body dysmorphia, depression, stress, anxiety, the pressure to perform or to have s*x when they don’t want to,” he says. “Men are expected to lead. They are expected to know how to please [their partners.] They are expected to always come or be rock hard. They’re expected to always want s*x and to know what we’re doing without any education outside of p**n. They are expected to have a certain body type.”

The list goes on. And to no real surprise, worrying about these kinds of things while in the act isn’t exactly an aphrodisiac.

The Right Way to Open Up About Your Inadequacies in Bed Don’t let PE, ED, size or anything else hold you back from good s*x.

Beli for Men Helps Guys Optimize Their Reproductive Health
Give Your S***m a Boost With Beli for Men's Innovative Fertility Multivitamin
Jack Dawes
October 11, 2021
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When Beli set out to make a comprehensive multivitamin to enhance fertility and improve a couple's chances of conceiving, they naturally focused on women's health. After all, it is women who bear the greater burden after conception, so it only makes sense that optimizing their prenatal health would also matter most, right?

Well, the more Beli's researchers dug into problems of modern infertility, the more they came to the startling conclusion that we men are playing a central role in the problem. It was a light-bulb moment for Beli, and a massive step forward for the fertility industry.

RELATED: Beli Vitality for Men Multivitamin Can Increase S***m Count

In the words of Joni Hanson Davis, the CEO of Beli: "Fertility issues are on the rise. One in five couples will seek fertility care over their lifetimes, and the root cause for more than 40% of couples experiencing fertility trouble is poor s***m quality or low s***m count."

The science backs Davis up: a recent meta-analysis of infertility problems found that a whopping 50% of pregnancy issues involve problems with the man’s reproductive system, with 20% of all problems being male-exclusive. And with our modern trend of delaying marriage and childbirth, fertility troubles are sadly becoming much more common: an estimated one in four couples in the developing world experience some form of infertility, with 15% of couples unable to conceive after one year of trying and 10% unable to conceive after two years of trying.

There is one important gender difference in infertility, however: whereas women’s fertility can suffer for a wide variety of reasons, men’s fertility issues almost always come down to a combination of low s***m count and poor s***m quality. The average ej*******on contains roughly 55 million individual s***m, but typically only fifteen ever make it through the female reproductive tract, and when you’re facing odds like that, it helps to have more than luck on your side.

There's good news for the guys, though: your health is in your hands. You can take active steps to improve your fertility and boost your s***m count and quality. Here's Davis again: "You would be surprised by how much power you have over the health and vitality of your s***m. It's been well established that nutritional deficiencies in men contribute to risk factors around s***m health, fertility, conception, miscarriage, birth defects, overall health, and the future health of the baby. One of the easiest ways to increase s***m health is to take a men's prenatal that is optimized for men's unique nutrient needs.

That’s where Beli for Men comes in. They basically revolutionized prenatal supplementation by refocusing the industry on the neglected half of the equation: men. Their unique prenatal vitamin formula is designed to restore your s*xual health by increasing s***m count, improving s***m quality and egg pe*******on, and nurturing infant s***m with the nutrients they need to grow. And for a limited time, AskMen readers can get 15% off by using the code AskMen15 at checkout.

Quercetin protects against chronic prostatitis in rat model through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways
Ling-Quan Meng 1, Fei-Ya Yang 1, Ming-Shuai Wang 1, Ben-Kang Shi 2, De-Xi Chen 3 4, D**g Chen 1, Qiang Zhou 5, Qing-Bao He 1, Lin-Xiang Ma 1, Wen-Long Cheng 6, Nian-Zeng Xing 1
Affiliations expand
PMID: 29654614 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23536
Abstract
Background: Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common disease of urology, of which the pathogenesis and therapy remain to be further elucidated. Quercetin has been reported to improve the symptoms of CP/CPPS patients. We aimed to verify the therapeutic effect of quercetin on CP/CPPS and identify the mechanism responsible for it.

Methods: A novel CP/CPPS model induced with Complete Freund Adjuvant in Sprague Dawley rats was established and the prostates and blood specimens were harvested for further measurement after oral administration of quercetin for 4 weeks.

Results: Increased prostate index and infiltration of lymphocytes, up-regulated expression of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17A, MCP1, and TNFα, decreased T-SOD, CAT, GSH-PX, and increased MDA, enhanced phosphorylation of NF-κB, P38, ERK1/2, and SAPK/JNK were detected in CP/CPPS rat model. Quercetin was identified to ameliorate the histo-pathologic changes, decrease the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17A, MCP1, and TNFα, improve anti-oxidant capacity, and suppress the phosphorylation of NF-κB and MAPKs.

Conclusions: Quercetin has specific protective effect on CP/CPPS, which is mediated by anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and at least partly through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Keywords: Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome; anti-inflammation; anti-oxidation; quercetin; signal pathway.

Imagine that you have looked through all the best dating apps and finally found someone nice to meet. You're all dressed up to meet them on the first date, you took the keys and check yourself when you go to the door. It is at this moment that you begin to realize that your palms are sweaty, your knees are weak, and your hands are heavy. (But I hope there's no vomit on your sweater anymore, a la Eminem.)

"Of course," you think, "a first date can cause anyone a little anxiety, right?"

It's true that some nervousness can be useful, because certain situations do require weighing risks and creating anticipation. But what if this nagging feeling becomes so overwhelming and persistent that it goes far beyond healthy nervousness? What if it really prevents you from going on this date or completely destroys the relationship that you have already started? Or, worst of all, what if it makes you believe that you shouldn't be in the dating world at all?

link: How to Talk to a New Partner about Your Mental Health

If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you probably recognize that all these racing questions are just talking about your anxiety. Of course, you also know that by naming a condition, it's not easier to just talk about your feelings - as well as sometimes paralyzing physical reactions- in order to leave and just let you live your life. That's why we've reached out to several mental health experts for advice on what can help you successfully take control of your dating life, anxiety be damned. And, if you already have a relationship, they shared some tips that will help your partner navigate how to date someone who is experiencing anxiety.

What are the types of anxiety?
It's true that we all experience a little stress and anxiety from time to time. This is our natural reaction to uncertain situations and the body's way of keeping us on our toes and aware of our safety. However, the problem arises when this anxiety becomes excessive, obsessive and persistent and can lead to physical reactions such as headaches, sweating, high blood pressure, palpitations and inability to sleep properly.

If you or your partner are experiencing anxiety, it is important to understand that you are not alone. In fact, anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in the United States, with more than 40 million adults experiencing an anxiety disorder each year, according to the American Anxiety and Depression Association.

There are several different types of anxiety disorders, the causes of which vary from your genetic structure and brain chemistry to events that you have experienced in your life. No matter what kind of anxiety disorder you live with, the fact remains that each of them can create serious problems for your dating life. These are just some of the most common anxiety disorders:

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by constant and excessive anxiety, which is difficult to control and which may not have any obvious cause. It affects nearly seven million adults in the U.S. - more than three percent of the population - and it can make it difficult.

Panic disorder is characterized by repeated panic attacks or feelings of intense fear and frightening physical reactions, including palpitations, dizziness and shortness of breath. These attacks can occur unexpectedly, and also cause fear of not knowing when another attack may occur. They affect up to three percent of the U.S. population and are about twice as common in women as in men.

Social anxiety disorder, affecting approximately 15 million adults in the U.S., is often defined by a strong fear of judgment or rejection in a social situation, which causes a person to eventually avoid these situations whenever possible. For obvious reasons, this can be one of the most pernicious forms of anxiety disorder when it comes to dating.

It should also be noted that other anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), separation anxiety, agoraphobia and other specific phobias, also fall under this heading, as they manifest in many cases. anxiety, stress and anxiety, which can also keep a person from living a full life.

Regardless of the specific anxiety disorder you may be living with, it is important to note that it can cause difficulties, especially in your dating life, if it is not properly diagnosed and given the opportunity to be treated in the most appropriate way for you. . The good news is that anxiety disorders are absolutely treatable if you cross the border of possible excessive anxiety to seek treatment at all. Options may include medications and/or psychotherapy methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, that can help you deal with anxiety in a healthy and productive way.

How to Date If You Have Anxiety
Depending on the type (or types) of anxiety you live with, they can manifest in different ways when it comes to your relationship. To help you win in your personal life, licensed psychologist Dr. Kelly Rabenstein Donohoe suggests getting to know yourself and your worries as much as possible before even going on a date.

"Do you know what your problems are - does this happen in potentially busy places? Or the fear that you will stay? ", - she asks people living with anxiety to think. "You already know where it's getting hard for you, so be prepared in advance, using your survival skills and the support of friends."

Victoria Goldenberg, a licensed clinical social worker and member of the newly established Media Advisory Group at the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, also suggests knowing what you're looking for when you start dating. Check yourself and determine if you are hoping for a relationship that will lead to marriage, just looking for dating or looking for something in between. Awareness of the ultimate goal can help you reduce anxiety by being more communicative. It can also help you ease the pressure on yourself in a short-term relationship without getting too far ahead of yourself.

When it comes to sharing your concerns with a potential partner, Dr. Rabenstein Donohoe suggests taking communicative steps in the early stages of a growing relationship. It's not necessary to shout "I have an alarm!" from the rooftops, but it's important to understand that openness can prevent anxiety in the future without revealing your diagnosis if you don't like it yet.

"Many, many people experience anxiety to one degree or another, and it's important to talk about these feelings right away," she says. "You can just say you're worried and [tell them] what might help. For example, "I like to know if someone is interested in me" or "Because I'm trying my best, I feel uncomfortable, not excited.""

Goldenberg agrees and suggests taking a light-hearted approach and admitting that the other person is probably feeling some nerves too. She recommends sharing these anxious feelings as a kind of icebreaker that can help establish trust and a deeper connection between you and your date.

Although being honest and sociable with your partner is the best way to reduce anxiety during dates, you may still find that your anxiety takes over before the date or that it destroys the relationship that you have worked hard to create. When this happens, Dr. Rabenstein Donohoe suggests using soothing breathing techniques and repeating mantras such as "This will pass too" or "You're cute" to redirect and focus your mind. She adds that friends can also help reduce anxiety by discussing scenarios and helping you mentally prepare for a date or other worrying situation.

Goldenberg shares this opinion, noting that you can also practice role-playing games with a therapist. This is especially useful if you live in conditions of social anxiety, because you can learn to open up and talk more about yourself. Expressing your hobbies and interests in a fun way will help facilitate the conversation.

Goldenberg also notes that it's not so much about sharing your anxiety with your partner as it is about managing your anxiety in any ways you can handle. You need to make sure that you don't use the diagnosis as a crutch, because it can cause resentment in your partner.

"Your anxiety is not their burden," she warns, "you came with your own story and journey, and so do they, but it's not their 'routine work' or 'project' that needs to be 'fixed'."

However, if you actively take steps to deal with your anxiety, your partner will see this and recognize your anxiety as nothing more than part of the package that comes with you. And while the ultimate goal is to find a partner who supports, understands and encourages when it comes to your mental health, it's important to understand that you shouldn't depend on them for these things, and they shouldn't be the reason why you strive to get better.

The Serendipitous Story of Sildenafil: An Unexpected Oral Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

Irwin Goldstein 1 , Arthur L Burnett 2 , Raymond C Rosen 3 , Peter W Park 4 , Vera J Stecher 4
Affiliations expand
PMID: 30301707 DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.06.005
Abstract

Introduction: The serendipitous discovery of sildenafil (Vi**ra [sildenafil citrate]) as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most fascinating drug development stories of our time. When sildenafil was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998, it revolutionized the treatment protocol for men with ED, once considered a psychological issue or an inevitable part of aging.

Aim: To review the discovery of sildenafil and its role in changing the field of s*xual medicine in the context of the epidemiology and history of treatment for ED.

Methods: For this narrative review, a literature search was conducted to identify essential articles and was supplemented by author observations from a historical perspective.

Main outcome measure: A broad overview of ED and its past, current, and future treatments.

Results: ED is a prevalent condition for which medical treatment had been limited to genitally localized interventions, including surgery, vacuum pumps, injectable therapies, and intraurethral suppositories. The discovery of sildenafil provided a safe, oral pharmacotherapy for the treatment of ED, sparking greater understanding of the science behind ED and its role in men's overall health.

Conclusion: The approval of sildenafil initiated a global conversation about ED that had profound implications for patients, methods of clinical practice, and academic s*xual medicine. These changes will catalyze continued advances in ED treatment. Goldstein I, Burnett AL, Rosen RC, et al. The serendipitous story of sildenafil: an unexpected oral therapy for erectile dysfunction. S*x Med Rev 2019;7:115-128.

Keywords: Clinical Trials; Erectile Dysfunction; Impotence; Nitric Oxide; Sildenafil.

Copyright © 2018 International Society for S*xual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cutting through the Paleo hype: The evidence for the Palaeolithic diet

Christopher E Pitt
PMID: 27051985
Free article
Abstract

Background: General practitioners (GPs) are commonly asked about popular diets. The Palaeolithic diet is both highly popular and controversial.

Objective: This article reviews the published literature to establish the evidence for and against the Palaeolithic diet.

Discussion: The Palaeolithic diet remains controversial because of exaggerated claims for it by wellness bloggers and celebrity chefs, and the contentious evolutionary discordance hypothesis on which it is based. However, a number of underpowered trials have suggested there may be some benefit to the Palaeolithic diet, especially in weight loss and the correction of metabolic dysfunction. Further research is warranted to test these early findings. GPs should caution patients who are on the Palaeolithic diet about adequate calcium intake, especially those at higher risk of osteoporosis.