Wearable health monitoring systems for ubiquitous and continuous evaluation of physiological status are facilitating a paradigm shift in the way healthcare will be delivered in the coming years. As the aging demographic in many developed countries increases, rising healthcare costs and strained hospital resources will result. Furthermore, as the pace of aging in the world is faster than in the past, according to the World Health Organization all countries will face challenges while providing health care to its citizens [1]. Home-based monitoring using low-cost wearable technologies that are capable of automatic diagnosis and supervising the physiological status of subjects may alleviate the excessive demand on the healthcare system. These systems require the development of novel sensor and measurement strategies to automate monitoring of the physiological parameters of interest. Such sensors and measurement systems must be lightweight and have low power consumption, as subjects would have to wear them continuously for long periods of time. Our research group has been developing wearable ultrasonic sensor (WUS) technology for monitoring the dynamical properties of soft tissues [2] in several areas of application.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a disorder found in males throughout the world, which negatively affects relationships with partners with advancing age. Hence, in this study, we tested a combined novel treatment of electro-acupuncture (EA) and sildenafil citrate against ED. In addition to EA therapy, the sildenafil citrate, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, is a widely recognized drug that has achieved considerable success in the treatment of ED. However, the combined effect of both the EA and sildenafil has not yet been investigated. Hence, we aimed to examine the effect of EA on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sildenafil in rat plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) after EA and sildenafil administration (10 mg/Kg). Following this, the pharmacodynamics was studied via blood flow pattern using developing Doppler images of the lower body and penis. The pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that sildenafil significantly increases by administration of low-frequency EA. Further, the pharmacodynamic studies using Doppler imaging revealed an elevated blood flow in rat penis compared with lower body during combined treatment of sildenafil and low-frequency EA. These data indicate a synergistic therapeutic effect of EA and sildenafil for the treatment of ED.

Sexual dysfunction is a common problem for men with diabetes. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is known to ameliorate erectile function in aging rats. However, there has not yet been a report to evaluate its effects on diabetic male rat sexual behavior in the literature. In this study, we investigated the effects of EGCG on male sexual behavior in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg of streptozotocin. After streptozotocin injection for one week, animals were then orally treated with 40 mg/kg of EGCG or vehicle. Copulatory behavior and fasting blood glucose levels were recorded before treatment, as well as 7 and 14 days after treatment. Serum LH, testosterone, and PDE5a levels were measured by EIA assay after the last behavioral test. Data showed that diabetic rats who had diminished sexual functions demonstrated significantly increased latencies in mount, intromission, and ejaculation, as well as significant decreases in frequencies of intromission and ejaculation, compared to non-diabetic controls, indicating sexual function recovery. Lower blood glucose levels were also found in diabetic rats after EGCG treatment. Additionally, the lower LH and higher PDE5a levels in diabetic rats than controls were also noted. The findings declared that EGCG had a protective effect on male sexual behavior in diabetic rats.