Neptalie Mcpherssoun
Moravsk 2093/2
Karlovy Vary 360 01
Czech Republic
While saw palmetto extract is the far better known herbal medication to reduce the size of an enlarged prostate, pygeum may in many cases be superior for the treatment of the condition. Benign prostatic hyperplasia or benign prostatic hypertrophy is a non-cancerous tissue growth of the prostate. Among the early symptoms of the condition are prolonged dribbling after urination, as well as a decrease in the strength of the urinary stream. The enlarged prostate will also interfere with ejaculatory power.
Practically all men experience an enlargement of the prostate as they age. Early symptoms usually set in after the age of 40. As the enlargement of the prostate gets worse, the most disturbing symptom is a persistent difficulty to pass water. This can become very uncomfortable and painful.
A standard treatment for an enlarged prostate over the past decades has been to remove surgically a substantial part of the prostate. That gets rid of the urination problem but unfortunately, nerves passing along the prostate often get cut as well. This will almost certainly mean a rather abrupt end to a man's sex life. That vital organ's function will, after the operation, primarily be that of a channel through which urine flows with little obstruction.
Not an appealing perspective for a large number of men.
Next on the scene arrived Proscar, an oral medication with the generic name finasteride. Proscar has been proven to often shrink an enlarged prostate. It does so by interrupting some hormonal processes that are at the root of benign prostate hyperblasia, the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.
The conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone is effected by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. Proscar inhibits 5-alpha reductase and thereby the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, thus interrupting the chain that leads to cell growth in the prostate. But even though nerves are not cut as they often are in the case of surgery, all is not well at the sex front for those on Proscar. Studies have proven what many men experienced when on Proscar: erections are hard to achieve and maintain.
There are three herbal preparations that have classically been used to facilitate urinary flow in older men: saw palmetto, nettle root, and pygeum africanum. Since the beginning of the nineties, when in the US, restrictions on the promotion and sales of herbal medications were lifted, saw palmetto and, to a lesser extent, the other two herbals have been touted as a cheaper and healthier alternative to Proscar that work just as well. And, most of all, the three herbal preparations are claimed NOT to interfere with sexual function (One US company marketing saw palmetto even promoted saw palmetto as the "sex pill of the nineties".)
The best studied among the three herbals is saw palmetto. There is no doubt that saw palmetto works. It does so in pretty much the same manner as Proscar: by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. Unfortunately, saw palmetto is comparable to Proscar in another aspect. Personal experience suggests that saw palmetto also interferes with the erectile function. There will just be less sensation in the male organ, comparable to what happens to the sensation of one's legs if one sits for a long time.
Pygeum africanum and nettle root are less studied. While both will also result in making passing urine easier for men with enlarged prostates, most probably by effecting a reduction of the size of the gland, the mechanism by which this happens is not precisely known.
The endocrine system works via receptor sites. In principle, one can interfere with hormonal processes in two manners: either by interfering with the hormones themselves, or by interfering with receptor sites. Phytoestrogens, for example, often have effects on women, which usually would be attributed to testosterone, the quintessential anti-estrogen. This is thought to happen because phytoestrogens are weaker than a woman's body's own estrogens. When phytoestrogens bind to estrogen receptor sites, they inhibit a woman's body's own stronger estrogens from binding to these sites, thus tilting the estrogen testosterone balance in favor of testosterone. In women, even a slight tilt towards testosterone will usually result in an increased sexual appetite.
It has been speculated that pygeum africanum and other herbals used in the treatment of an enlarged prostate work by interfering with the binding sites for dihydrotestosterone. We are not aware of scientific studies that would have dealt with the effect of pygeum africanum on erectile functions.
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Breast reduction
Or reduction mammoplasty is an outpatient surgical procedure[1] which involves the reduction in the size of breasts by excising fat, skin, and glandular tissue; it may also involve a procedure to counteract drooping of the breasts. As with breast augmentation, this procedure is performed most often on women, but may also be performed on men afflicted by gynecomastia. The surgery, which the Food and Drug Administration has called "good medicine", is quickly gaining popularity. In 2005, over 113,000 women had breast reductions, an increase of 11 percent from 2004.
Candidates
Breast reduction surgery is oriented toward women with large, pendulous breasts, especially gigantomastia, since the weight of their breasts may cause chronic pain of the head, neck, back, and shoulders, plus circulation and breathing problems. The weight may also cause discomfort as a result of brassiere straps abrading or irritating the skin.[2] For these reasons, the surgery is usually covered by insurance. Even if physical discomfort is not a problem, some women feel awkward with the enormity of their breasts in proportion to the rest of their relatively smaller bodies. Except in unusual cases, this procedure is performed on individuals with fully-developed breasts, and it is not typically recommended for women who desire to breastfeed.
Males with common condition of gynecomastia may feel embarrassed and upset with their condition, usually developed during adolescence. They may get the surgery for restored confidence.
A few celebrities are known for known for receiving breast reductions, such as Drew Barrymore, Queen Latifah, and Sharon Osbourne.
Procedure
Doctors almost always perform breast reductions while the patient is under general anesthesia. During pre-operative visits, the doctor and patient may decide on new, usually higher, positions for the areolas and nipples.
For males, excess tissue may simply be removed through a tiny incision in each breast. This leaves minimal scarring.
Patients may take a few weeks for initial recovery, however it may take from six months to a year for the body to completely adjust to the new breast size. Some women may experience discomfort during their initial menstruation following the surgery due to the breasts swelling.
Techniques
The two most popular techniques in North America are the inferior pedicle and vertical scar techniques. Both of which are more likely to leave both nipple sensitivity and capability to lactate for the patient as compared to other techniques of the past. It is now being studied and debated as to which of the two techniques results in a better quality of life for the patient in the long run. Liposuction has been used along with the other breast reduction procedures for quite some time, but the newer liposuction only technique is now gaining popularity.
All of the breast reduction techniques include a breast lift besides the liposuction only method.
A comparison of post-surgery incision lines from the two most popular techniques
Inferior pedicle technique
The inferior pedicle technique, sometimes also known as a keyhole or Weiss pattern reduction, involves an anchor-shaped incision which circles the areola. The incision extends downward, following the natural curve of the breast. Excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin is removed. Next, the nipple and areola are moved into their new higher position. A drawback of this technique is sometimes "square" looking breasts, but this is a common option for women with the largest, droopiest breasts.
Vertical scar technique
Liposuction only technique The liposuction only technique is used for women with breasts that are not quite as large as with the other procedures. For the best outcomes, women who choose this procedure have perkier breasts without a drooping nipple, as the skin itself never moves, but, rather, fat is simply removed from inside of the breast. The result is not as drastic as the other techniques, but it involves a much quicker healing time, less pain, and less money. This is the technique typically used for men.
Free nipple graft technique
The free nipple graft technique, a less common procedure, is now typically used only in the most extreme cases of drooping. In this procedure, the areola and nipple are completely removed for relocation and replaced as a skin graft higher on the breast. In these cases, sensation from the areola area will be lost and it is most likely to impair lactation as compared to the two most popular procedures, although some women have been known to successfully produce some amounts of milk.
Results
Reduction mammoplasty affords the recipient smaller, lighter, and firmer breasts. The surgeon may also reduce the size of and change the shape of the areola or nipples. Both men and women typically have restored confidence, as well. It is often mentioned that patients who have received breast reductions are the happiest and most satisfied of all plastic surgery recipients.
Risks
Possible issues include difficulty breast feeding, scarring, asymmetry, delayed wound healing, altered nipple sensation, fluid retention in the breast, altered erogenous function, and late changes in shape and recurrent ptosis (drooping.)
It may impair the likelihood of breastfeeding success due to the surgical disruption to the lactiferous duct system. However, a number of studies have demonstrated a similar ability to breast feed when breast reduction patients are compared to control groups.
Scarring from this procedure may be extensive and permanent. Initially, the scars are lumpy and red, but they gradually subside into their final smaller sizes as thin lines, slightly discolored. Though permanent, the surgeon can make the scars inconspicuous to the point that even low-cut tops may be worn without visible scars.
Cancer-prevention
Although not advocated as a cancer risk reducing procedure, a woman's risk of subsequently developing breast cancer will be reduced proportionately to the amount of breast tissue left.[citation needed]
The surgery can also make mammograms easier, since it may be difficult to get a decent mammogram reading with a great deal of excess breast tissue. Therefore, with less tissue, it can be easier for a doctors to get and interpret the results of a mammogram.
However, it is still typically recommended that patients receive new baseline mammograms 6 to 8 months after breast reduction to accommodate expected radiographic changes and give a new basis to which future imaging studies can be compared.
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A critical review of the pharmacology of the plant extract of Pygeum africanum in the treatment of LUTS.
Edgar AD, Levin R, Constantinou CE, Denis L.
Fournier Pharma, Daix, France.
Despite an unremitting increase in the number of patients presenting symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), the viable treatment options remain relatively limited when compared to other disorders of aging. This has spurred an interest in so-called alternative medicines, many of which continue to be used in spite of the more recent emergence of rationally targeted therapies. Nonetheless, in the case of plant extracts, the vast majority of these have not been subjected to the same rigorous pre-clinical pharmacological testing and large-scale clinical trials now required by health authorities. Furthermore, demonstration of their clinical efficacy in BPH has been hindered by trials of limited duration with a high placebo response. Beginning with a preliminary demonstration of in vitro inhibition of growth factor-mediated fibroblast proliferation with Pygeum africanum extract, a detailed series of in vitro and in vivo studies on prostate growth and bladder function were undertaken. These studies, reviewed herein, have permitted the identification of putative molecular targets of Pygeum africanum extract affecting both growth factor-mediated prostate growth as well as specific parameters of bladder function. These results, corroborated in part by short-term clinical efficacy, set the stage for a large-scale clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of Pygeum africanum extract in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms. Copyright (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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Pygeum africanum extract inhibits proliferation of human cultured prostatic fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.
Boulbès D, Soustelle L, Costa P, Haddoum M, Bali JP, Hollande F, Magous R.
INSERM, U 03.37, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil, France.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Pygeum africanum (PA) extract on the proliferation of cultured human prostatic myofibroblasts and fibroblasts; this extract is used for treating urinary disorders associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary cultures of prostatic stromal cells were obtained from histologically confirmed human BPH by enzymatic digestion. Cell proliferation was measured by 5-bromo2'-deoxy-uridine (BrdU) incorporation assays, and cytotoxicity by luminescent quantification of adenylate kinase activity. RESULTS: Cultured cells were labelled by an anti-vimentin antibody, and most of them by an alpha-smooth-muscle-actin antibody, revealing the presence of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. BrdU incorporation tests showed that proliferation of cultured human stromal cells, stimulated by fetal calf serum, by basic fibroblast growth factor and by epidermal growth factor, was dose-dependently inhibited by PA extract (5-100 microg/mL). Except at 100 microg/mL, no acute cytotoxicity of the extract was detected after 24 h of culture. Similarly, the extract dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells, but to a lesser extent; whatever the dose of extract, no acute toxicity was evident on this cell line. CONCLUSION: PA extract inhibits the proliferation of cultured human prostatic myofibroblasts and fibroblasts. We propose that cultured human prostatic cells offer a reliable model for preclinical screening of therapeutic agents, and to study the mechanisms underlying the inhibition of proliferation.
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Astragalus membranaceus
Also known as huang qi, is an herb of the family Fabaceae.
A. propinquus is used in traditional Chinese medicine, asserted to speed healing and treat diabetes.[citation needed] In western herbal medicine, Astragalus is primarily considered a tonic for enhancing metabolism and digestion and is consumed as a tea made from the roots of the plant. It is also traditionally used to strengthen the immune system and in the healing of wounds and injuries.
A. propinquus has been asserted to be a tonic that can improve the functioning of the lungs, adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, increase metabolism, sweating, promote healing and reduce fatigue.
The biotech company Geron Corporation has determined that a molecule from Astragalus propinquus root called TA-65 is a telomerase activator. According to PRNewswire, TA Sciences, has a license from Geron to sell TA-65 and is now selling it as a neutraceutical anti-aging product at their TA Sciences Center in New York City.