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Arterial hypertension is considered a risk factor for erectile dysfunction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in hypertensive compared with normotensive individuals of similar demographic characteristics in Greece. Furthermore, the effect of age, hypertension severity, hypertension duration, and antihypertension medication on erectile function of these subjects was investigated. The study population consisted of 634 consecutive young and middle-aged men (31-65 years) that visited our outpatient clinic. From them, 358 patients had arterial hypertension and 276 were normotensive. Erectile dysfunction was evaluated with the International Index for Erectile Function questionnaire. Erectile dysfunction was found in 35.2% of patients with essential hypertension compared with 14.1% of normotensive subjects (x 2 5 35.92, P , .001). Patients with essential hypertension had more severe erectile dysfunction than their normotensive counterparts (x 2 5 17.1, P , .001). Hypertension duration, hypertension severity, antihypertension medication, and age were positively correlated with erectile dysfunction. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction is higher in patients with essential hypertension compared with normotensive subjects of similar demographic characteristics. Erectile dysfunction is related to age in both groups, whereas duration and severity of hypertension as well as antihypertension drugs affect erectile function of hypertensive patients. Erectile dysfunction affects patient quality of life, underlining the need for vigorous research of this condition and appropriate management.

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Nebivolol seems to have a beneficial effect on ED (possibly due to increased nitric oxide availability); however, further prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of nebivolol.

DNA sequences encoding the C2 to V3 region of envelope glycoprotein gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were amplified by PCR from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 24 of 25 HIV-1-seropositive patients from Cyprus. By using a heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA), all amplified products were studied genetically and compared with 16 previously characterized HIV-1 strains belonging to subtypes A through F. HMA results revealed that HIV-1 gp120 sequences from 15 of our patients were of subtype B of HIV-1, whereas one isolate was of subtype C. However, gp120 sequences from eight patients had no obvious similarities to the known subtypes as defined by HMA. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of molecular clones confirmed the HMA results and placed the eight undefined HIV-1 isolates into three distinct genetic clusters. On the basis of branch topology and lengths of the phylogenetic tree, we conclude that one group consisting of three clones from two patients represents a new HIV-1 env subtype, which we have termed subtype I. The remaining two sequence clusters, consisting of five sequences from four patients and two sequences from two other patients, are distally related to subtypes A and F. These data demonstrate the extensive heterogeneity of HIV-1 in Cyprus, including the presence of a new subtype.

Purpose Component orientations and positions in total hip arthroplasty (THA) are important parameters in restoring hip function. However, measurements using plain radiographs and 2D computed tomography (CT) slices are affected by patient position during imaging. This study used 3D CT to determine whether contemporary THA restores native hip geometry. Methods Fourteen patients with unilateral THA underwent CT scan for 3D hip reconstruction. Hip models of the nonoperated side were mirrored with the implanted side to quantify the differences in hip geometry between sides. Results The study demonstrated that combined hip anteversion (sum of acetabular and femoral anteversion) and vertical hip offset significantly increased by 25.3°±29.3°( range, −25.7°to 55.9°, p=0.003) and 4.1±4.7 mm (range, −7.1 to 9.8 mm, p=0.009) in THAs. Conclusions These data suggest that hip anatomy is not fully restored following THA compared with the contralateral native hip.

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