| Call it a curse repackaged as a blessing. Dapoxetine, a drug chemically similar to anti-depressants like Zoloft and Paxil, is now being hailed as the new treatment for premature ejaculation in men. It follows a study conducted by Jon L. Pryor, chairman of urological surgery at the University of Minnesota, US, and presented at the 100th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association. While Viagra treats erectile dysfunction, Dapoxetine promises to help those who suffer from the distress of sex being over before it begins. The study involved over 2,600 men who were given Dapoxetine-beign developed by Ortho McNeil, an affiliate of Johnson & Johnson-a few hours before the intercourse. Before being given the drug, the men averaged 54-55 seconds between penetration and ejaculation. Later, even those who took placebos showed an increase of up to 1.75 minutes per sexual act, but those who were actually given a small dose of Dapoxetine increased the interval to 2.78 minutes, while those given a larger dose recorded 3.32 minutes. "That is a meaningful improvement and the results are compelling," says Pryor. The drug has fewer side-effects because it clears out of the system quickly, he adds. Pryor isn't just creating hype. He had also asked the men to rate their control over ejaculation as well as sexual satisfaction of both the partners. Over 50 per cent men reported better control and most agreed with their partners about increased sexual satisfaction. Almost 47 per cent in the high-dose group reported that sex was "good to very good" after the medication. No wonder many anti-depressants are called mood uplifters.
 NOW, CHEW ON THIS
The World No Tobacco Day this year underlined a scary statistic. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), a pre-malignant condition characterised by progressive chronic fibroitic disease of the oral cavity and pharynx, is an emerging epidemic among Indians below 35 years. It has been linked to chewing of gutka and paan masala. A Ministry of Health and Family Welfare report says that up to 7.6 per cent of OSMF lesions lead to cancer. Perhaps, paan masala ads should also carry a chew-at-your-own risk warning.
 SWEET DISCOVERY
Foods with low glycaemic index are good for the heart and the waistline The Glycaemic Index (GI) diet is fast turning into a worthy competitor for the popular Atkins diet. Earlier perceived as the craze of celebrities like singer Kylie Minogue and model Naomi Campbell, it is now being praised by doctors as good for the heart and the waistline. In a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers found that people who ate foods with low GI like apples, oranges, pasta, beans, lentils and wholemeal bread as part of their normal diet had lower blood sugar levels. Foods with low GI (0-100 index ranks foods based on the effect they have on blood sugar levels) slowly release sugar into the blood, providing a steady supply of energy and longer appetite satisfaction. On the other hand, foods with a high GI value like potatoes, white bread and foods containing lots of sugar cause a rapid, shortlived rise in blood sugar leaving the body tired and hungry very quickly. If the pattern is repeated often, weight gain is inevitable. Says researcher Gary Frost, head of nutrition and dietetics at London's NHS Trust: "Replacing just one item per meal has a beneficial effect on blood sugar." Diet measures are successful if they are realistic and manageable, he adds. The GI diet certainly sounds like one. Next |
