Introduction In Korea, although male sexual problems have been relatively well addressed, few surveys have been conducted on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in the general population. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence and identified the risk factors of sexual dysfunction in young Korean women. Aim To evaluate the prevalence and to identify the risk factors of FSD in young Korean women. Methods A total of 47,000 women were initially approached. All received an e-mail requesting that they participate in a Web-based survey. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire requesting detailed medical and sexual histories, which included the questions contained in the Korean version of the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures The prevalence of FSD in young Korean women in the different age groups and risk factors for developing FSD. Results A total of 504 women of average age 28.5 years (18–52 years) were evaluated during this survey. Setting the cutoff score for FSD using a receiver operating characteristic curve of our data as 25.0 points, 43.1% of women under 40 years old reported FSD. FSD was detected as a desire problem in 44.0% of women, an arousal problem in 49.0%, a lubrication problem in 37.0%, an orgasm problem in 32.0%, a satisfaction problem in 37.0%, and a pain problem in 34.6%. Risk factors for FSD as determined by logistic regression analysis were increasing age, a low frequency of sex, depression, a sexually abused history, and voiding dysfunction. Conclusions The prevalence of FSD in Korean young women was common and comparable to those reported worldwide.

Androgens enhance nNOS gene expression in the penile corpus cavernosum of rats, suggesting that they play an important role in maintaining NOS activity. Of the two androgens, DHT was more potent.

Introduction Mirodenafil is a newly developed oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, currently under investigation as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). Aim We investigated the efficacy and safety of on demand mirodenafil therapy at fixed doses (50 and 100 mg) in Korean men with a broad range of ED. Methods A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed-dose study was conducted with 223 subjects who were randomized to placebo or mirodenafil at fixed doses of 50 or 100 mg for 12 weeks on an “as needed” basis. Main Outcome Measures Primary efficacy measures were scores on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Question 3 (Q3) and Question 4 (Q4). Secondary efficacy measures included all domain scores of the IIEF, Sexual Encounter Profile Question 2 (SEP2), Sexual Encounter Profile Question 3 (SEP3), the Global Assessment Question (GAQ), and the Life Satisfaction Checklist (LSC). Safety assessments included laboratory tests, vital signs, physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiogram recordings, and patients’ reporting of adverse events. Results Mirodenafil 50 and 100 mg groups showed a significantly greater increase in IIEF Q3 (P = 0.0001, P < 0.0001, respectively) and Q4 scores (both P < 0.0001) at the end point compared with the placebo group. And mirodenafil in both doses significantly improved the scores of all five domains of the IIEF, SEP2, and SEP3 as well as the percentages of patients responding positively to the GAQ compared with the placebo group. As for LSC scores, the two mirodenafil groups showed significantly greater improvements in items regarding life as a whole, sexual life, and partner relationship than the placebo group. Most treatment-associated adverse events were of mild intensity, resolving spontaneously. Conclusions Mirodenafil, in doses of 50 or 100 mg, significantly improved erectile function and were well tolerated in a representative population of Korean men with broad-spectrum ED of various etiologies and severities.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • The phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 5 inhibitor is a widely used agent that facilitates penile erection. • Udenafil is newly developed as a PDE‐5 inhibitor. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • This is the first study to determine the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of udenafil in healthy subjects. • Udenafil was safe and well tolerated in healthy Korean subjects. • The AUC and Cmax of udenafil increased supraproportionally with increasing dose upon single administration, but there was no significant drug accumulation upon multiple administrations. AIM To evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics (PK) of udenafil, a novel phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. METHODS A double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, dose‐rising, parallel‐group, single‐ and multiple‐dose study was conducted in healthy Korean subjects. The subjects were allocated to single‐dose groups of 25, 50, 100, 200 or 300 mg (eight subjects in each dose group, including two placebos), or to multiple‐dose groups of 100 or 200 mg (once‐daily dosing for 7 days; nine subjects in each dose group, including three placebos). Serial samples of blood and urine were collected after oral administration and the drug concentrations in plasma and urine were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Safety and tolerability were evaluated by monitoring clinical laboratory parameters and adverse events. RESULTS Udenafil reached peak plasma concentrations at 0.8–1.3 h, and then declined mono‐exponentially with a terminal half‐life of 7.3–12.1 h in the single‐dose study. The area under the time–concentration curves (AUC) and maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) increased supraproportionally with increasing dose in the single‐dose study. During multiple dosing, a steady state was reached at 5 days and little accumulation occurred after repeated dosing for 7 days. Udenafil was generally well tolerated in these healthy subjects, and no serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS Udenafil was safe and well tolerated in healthy volunteers. The AUC and Cmax of udenafil increased supraproportionally with increasing dose upon single administration, but there was no significant drug accumulation upon multiple administrations.

Introduction Postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction (ED) is thought to be due primarily to injury to cavernous nerve (CN) during surgery. The molecular mechanisms leading to ED after CN injury are poorly understood. Aim We determined whether transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROCK) signaling pathways were involved in corporal fibrosis after bilateral CN injury in rats. Methods Forty-eight 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into the following four groups: normal control group (C); sham surgery group (S); bilateral CN crush injury group (I); and bilateral CN transection group (T). Within each of the four groups, two subgroups were analyzed as a function of time (1 and 8 weeks postoperatively). Main Outcome Measures Penile tissue was processed for immunoblot (RhoA, ROCK1, phospho-myosin phosphatase target subunit [MYPT1]), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (TGF-β1, sphingosine kinase type 1 [SphK1], and S1P2), immunohistochemistry (alpha smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]), and Masson’s trichrome staining. Results At 1 and 8 weeks postoperatively, the I and T groups had a significantly decreased smooth muscle cell/collagen ratio, the expression of α-SMA and phospho-MYPT1 compared to the C group. Densitometry revealed a significantly higher expression of RhoA and ROCK1 in the T group compared to the C group at 1 and 8 weeks postoperatively. For the I group, the expression of RhoA significantly increased starting from 1 week postoperatively, but the expression of ROCK1 significantly increased as late as 8 weeks following injury. The expression of TGF-β1 and S1P2 mRNA in the I or T group remained significantly increased up to 8 weeks compared to the C group, despite significant reduction at 8 weeks compared to 1 week postoperatively. The expression of SphK1 mRNA in the I and T groups was significantly increased at 1 week but not 8 weeks postoperatively. Conclusions Our data suggest that S1P and RhoA/ROCK1 signaling may be involved in corporal fibrosis associated with loss of smooth muscle through coordination with TGF-β1 after CN injury.

perceptions of bladder condition, urgency and treatment benefit were also assessed. RESULTSIn all, 608 patients were randomized to treatment with tolterodine (240), oxybutynin (246) or placebo (122). More patients prematurely withdrew on oxybutynin (23%) than with tolterodine (10.4%) or placebo (16.4%). After 12 weeks of treatment, the median number of incontinence episodes/ week was reduced significantly more in the tolterodine (79%; P = 0.0027) and oxybutynin groups (76.5%; P = 0.0168) than on placebo (46.4%). There were also significantly greater improvements in the number of voids/24 h and volume voided/void with tolterodine and oxybutynin than with placebo. More patients in the tolterodine and oxybutynin than in the placebo groups reported improvements in perceived bladder condition, ability to hold urine and treatment benefit. Patients treated with oxybutynin reported more adverse events than those treated with tolterodine or placebo. Dry mouth was significantly more common with oxybutynin than with tolterodine (53.7% vs. 33.5%; P < 0.001), and occurred in 9.8% of placebo patients. CONCLUSIONTolterodine ER has similar efficacy but is better tolerated than oxybutynin IR in Japanese and Korean patients with OAB.

No abstract

Male germ cell development includes mitotic and meiotic cell divisions that are followed by dramatic morphological changes resulting in the production of spermatozoa. Genetic evidence has indicated that the DAZ family genes are critical for successful male germ cell development in diverse animals as well as humans. In the present study, we investigated the cellular functions of Dazl in the mouse male germ cells. We identified a specific interaction of Dazl with the dynein light chain, a component of the dynein-dynactin motor complex. The subcellular distribution of Dazl was microtubule-dependent and a selected number of Dazl-bound mRNAs could accumulate in the perinuclear area. Based on these results, we propose that Dazl may play a role in transport of specific mRNAs via dynein motor complex. The Dazl-bound mRNAs may be stored at specific sites and would be available for future developmental processes. Our study revealed the presence of an active mRNA transport system in mouse male germ cells.