A comparison of the available phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: a focus on avanafil.

Background: Numerous pathways can lead to erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients, with some patients having multiple causes. Regardless of the etiology, ED has been successfully treated in many patients with the advent of oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5Is). With the release of avanafil, there are currently four PDE5I options available, and choosing between them should be based on patient-specific considerations and preferences.

Cardiovascular risks and benefits with oral drugs for Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects approximately 321 million people worldwide. It is estimated that about half of these patients will die from cardiovascular complications. In spite of these statistics, medications for diabetes are approved based not on outcomes, but on surrogate markers such as blood glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin.

Avanafil for treatment of erectile dysfunction: review of its potential.

Avanafil is a medication that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of erectile dysfunction. Avanafil is a new phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor similar to sildenafil and tadalafil. Avanafil was studied in over 1300 patients during clinical trials, including patients with diabetes mellitus and those who had undergone radical prostatectomy, and was found to be more effective than placebo in all men who were randomized to the drug.

Role of student pharmacists in the identification and prevention of medication-related problems.

Objectives: To measure the total rate of attending physician, medical resident, and medical student acceptance of interventions recommended by third-year student pharmacists supervised by a licensed pharmacist and to determine the type of health care provider group that accepted the most interventions, type of interventions provided, and number of patients counseled on medication use.

Methods: This prospective unblinded pilot study followed single interventions documented by nine third-year student pharmacists enrolled at the University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy. Success rates of suggested interventions made to family medicine attending physicians, pharmacists, medical residents, and medical students in three Louisiana outpatient clinics were documented.

Natural therapies used by adult men for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and for augmenting exercise performance.

It is estimated that over 15% of men use natural biologic-based therapies, which includes herbal products and supplements. There are certain conditions that are specific to men, such as erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hypertrophy, for which there is some evidence of the efficacy and safety of herbal medications. Furthermore, men may also be more likely to use supplements for energy improvement, muscle gain, and exercise tolerance, and there are a number of supplements proven to aid in these.

Impact of a pharmacistdeveloped protocol on the cardiac monitoring of methadone in chronic noncancer pain management.

Objectives: To describe the roles of pharmacists in a chronic pain management clinic (PMC) and to discuss the impact of a pharmacist-developed protocol on monitoring for rate-corrected QT interval prolongation with methadone when used for chronic noncancer pain.Setting: An academic family medicine department with an affiliated PMC in which pharmacists practice, from 2005 to 2008.Practice description: Pharmacy services in the PMC included taking medication histories and reconciling the medication record at each visit, assessing the efficacy and safety of drug therapy, making therapeutic recommendations to the two PMC physicians, and counseling patients on their drug regimens.

Developing clinical role of a CCR5 co-receptor antagonist in HIV-1 infection.

Background: Maraviroc is the only approved CCR5 coreceptor antagonist on the market for treatment of HIV-1 infection. It uses a previously untargeted step in the HIV-1 replication cycle necessary for viral entry into the host cell.

Objective: This review will describe and evaluate recent clinical literature regarding maraviroc, focusing on safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of treatment failure.

Role of acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Objective: To examine the role of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Data Sources: A MEDLINE search (1966-April 2008) of the English-language literature was performed using the search terms carnitine, diabetes, nerve, and neuropathy. Studies identified were then cross-referenced for their citations.

Emerging lipid-lowering drugs: squalene synthase inhibitors.

Background: Lapaquistat was the only squalene synthase inhibitor in Phase III clinical trials in Europe and the United States, but was recently discontinued from clinical development. Unlike statins, the inhibition of de novo cholesterol biosynthesis by lapaquistat does not deplete mevalonate, a precursor of isoprenoids. Isoprenoids are critical in cell growth and metabolism.

Inflammation in chronic heart failure.

Objective: To summarize findings regarding the association of inflammatory processes with chronic heart failure (HF).

Data Sources: We conducted PubMed/MEDLINE searches (1966-January 2008) of primary literature using the following key words: ACE inhibitors, allopurinol, angiotensin-receptor antagonists, cardiomyopathy, chemokines, cytokines, diuretics, heart failure, inflammation, interleukins, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, immunotherapy, medications used in heart failure, thalidomide, tumor necrosis factor, and uric acid.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: All articles that appeared to be relevant were read; of 305 articles examined, 87 were selected for discussion.