The development of oxidative and nitrative stress and the processes of free radical oxidation are associated with many pathological processes. Damage of any origin leads to the activation of free radical processes not only in the place of damage, but also in the whole organism. The aim of the study is to assess the state of lipid peroxidation, content of GSH and GSSG and the activity of NO-synthase and arginase in lymphocytes and peripheral blood serum in men with erectile dysfunction due to combat trauma. The research was conducted on peripheral blood lymphocytes of men injured as a result of combat operations (shrapnel and bullet wounds) in the Russian-Ukrainian war, and who were treated at the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Western Region (Lviv, Ukraine). The research group of men with combat injuries was divided into two age groups: men aged 20–39 years and men aged 40–53 years. The MDA content in the blood serum of patients of both age groups was 1.35 times higher than in the control group. In peripheral blood lymphocytes, the MDA content in patients of the young age group was 1.27, and in patients of the middle age group in 1.39 times higher than in the control group. Simultaneously, no significant changes in the concentration of oxidized glutathione in blood serum and blood lymphocytes were found between men with erectile dysfunction due to combat trauma and healthy men. GSH content in blood serum in patients of both age groups was significantly lower than in the control group. The arginase/NOS ratio in blood serum was 9.75 times lower in the young age group and in 20.45 times lower in the middle age group compared to healthy men. It was established that in the blood serum and blood lymphocytes of men with erectile dysfunction due to combat trauma, processes of lipid peroxidation were intensified and the GSH level was reduced. The GSH/GSSG ratio was reduced only in blood serum. It was found that the oxidative stress is associated with development of nitrative stress. The arginase/NOS ratio was shifted towards increased NOS activity. Activation of iNOS was accompanied by significant inhibition of cNOS. Further study of biochemical mechanisms is important to understand the triggers of erectile dysfunction due to combat
trauma.
Keywords: trauma; erectile dysfunction;MDA content; glutathione;NO-synthase; arginase.
Erectile dysfunction and quality of life of men affected by hostilities in the Russian-Ukrainian war
Erectile dysfunction and the associated quality of life are a pressing social and medical problem for millions of people. The basis of
the work was the results of a survey of 298 men injured as a result of combat operations (shrapnel and bullet wounds) using the questionnaires of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and the SF-36 Health Status Survey (SF-36) questionnaire to characterize the quality of life. The research group was divided into two: men aged 20-39 years (group 1) and men aged 40-53 years (group 2). The control group consisted of 48 clinically healthy men without complaints of sexual dysfunction or cardiac, neurological or endocrinological pathology. It is shown that men aged 20-39 years have a mild form of ED where the total score is 19.57 ± 0.44. Men of the 2nd group aged 40-53 years also have a mild form of ED, but the total score is much lower and is 17.74 ± 0.41. Patients of both age groups affected by hostilities suffer from both mental and physical health components. Indicators such as general health, role functioning due to physical condition, and pain intensity have probably lower values compared to the contol group. Lower indicators of role functioning due to physical condition indicate limitations in everyday life due to unsatisfactory physical condition. The decrease in the physical functioning index has statistically significant differences only in patients of the 2nd observed group. Thus, a mild form of erectile dysfunction is observed in men injured as a result of hostilities. No significant differences in the severity of erectile dysfunction were found betweenmale war victims of two age groups. All IIEF-5 domains were significantly reduced in men affected by combat operations. It has been proven that the physical and mental components of health suffer in victims of hostilities. Against the background of a decrease in all indicators on the scales of the physical component of health, general health and role functioning caused by physical condition lag behind the most. In the psychological domain, the most pronounced changes are recorded in such components as mental health, vital activity and social functioning. Сorrelation analysis revealed the significant correlation between physical functioning and role functioning caused by emotional state (r =+0.64; P < 0.05).
Keywords: men with shrapnel and bullet wounds; erectile dysfunction; quality of life;SF-3