The objective of this study was to assess the potential of phentolamine as a treatment of postmenopausal women with female arousal disorder (FSAD). Vaginal photoplethismography and a subjective questionnaire were used. Forty one women were enrolled and four treatments were tested: vaginal solutions 5 mg and 40 mg and an oral tablet each of 40 mg of phentolamine and placebo. Physiological readings were significantly different from placebo in the women using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with 40 mg of phentolamine in vaginal solution (p = 0.0186). Subjective reports also were significantly different from placebo with the vaginal solution 40 mg and the oral tablet of 40 mg of phentolamine among hormone replacement users. No significant differences were found among women not receiving HRT. Results indicate that phentolamine may show promise as treatment for FSAD in estrogenized postmenopausal women.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate long-term safety and efficacy of phentolamine mesylate, an orally active, rapid-acting alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist, for the treatment of men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED). It was an open-label study involving more than 2000 patients. Men received phentolamine mesylate 40 mg or 80 mg (10 tablets=month) as needed for up to 13 months and self-assessed erectile performance using two validated questionnaires. Treatment with phentolamine mesylate was associated with increases in Erectile Function Domain score of the IIEF, successful vaginal penetrations, and in overall satisfaction. Most adverse events were mild or moderate in severity and consistent with the known pharmacodynamic properties of phentolamine. In conclusion, phentolamine mesylate is safe and effective in the longterm treatment of men with mild to moderate ED.

Results are presented of a Phase III international multicentre trial to study the effect of a new low-dose oral contraceptive (OC) containing 20 micrograms ethinylestradiol and 150 micrograms desogestrel (Mercilon) regarding efficacy, cycle control, blood pressure, and acceptability. Altogether 1,684 women from 12 European countries were included in the study. Four pregnancies occurred, 3 of them patient failures, one tablet failure. The overall Pearl Index was 0.20. The frequency of irregular bleeding was comparable to that recorded with other commonly used low-dose OCs. No serious side effects occurred. The incidence of the most frequently reported subjective side effects--headache, nausea and breast tension--was already low after the first cycle of treatment and decreased to below pretreatment levels with continued use. There was a small increase in mean body weight, which was confined essentially to young women. The preparation did not affect the mean systolic or diastolic blood pressure. This new preparation has thus proved to be an effective, safe and well-accepted ultra low-dose oral contraceptive.

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1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 have antagonistic effects on the acellular bone of the tilapia Sarotherodon mossambicus. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits the activity of the lining osteoblasts. Prolonged administration leads to demineralization of the bone matrix. Injection of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces structural signs of greatly enhanced appositional bone growth within three days. No effects were observed on the mineral content of pre-existing bone. Both 1,25- and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 may have distinct, but different physiological functions in fish.