Abstract: Methods and formulations for treating dyspareunia are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a therapeutically effective amount of nitroglycerin is administered to the vagina or vulvar area of the individual undergoing treatment. Preferred formulations are immediate release formulations in which at least 80% of the nitroglycerin in the formulation is released therefrom within 4 hours following administration. The formulations may contain one or more additional active agents, e.g., agents that are also useful to treat dyspareunia and/or potentiate the action of nitroglycerin. Such additional agents include vasoactive agents such as prostaglandins, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, androgens such as testosterone, estrogens such as estradiol, and selective modulators of estrogen and androgen receptors. A kit for a patient to use in the self-administration of the formulation is also provided.

Abstract: A topical pharmaceutical composition is provided for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction, wherein the composition is formulated so as to contain a therapeutically effective amount of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for topical administration. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor is generally selected from Type III, Type IV, Type V, and nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

Abstract: Methods and formulations for treating female sexual dysfunction are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a selected vasoactive agent is administered to the vagina, vulvar area or urethra of the individual undergoing treatment. Suitable vasoactive agents are vasodilators, including naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, endothelial-derived relaxation factors, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonists, smooth muscle relaxants, leukotriene inhibitors, and others. The formulations are also useful for preventing the occurrence of yeast infections, improving vaginal muscle tone and tissue health, enhancing vaginal lubrication, and minimizing excess collagen deposition. A clitoral drug delivery device is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and formulations for treating female sexual dysfunction are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a selected vasoactive agent is administered to the vagina, vulvar area or urethra of the individual undergoing treatment. Suitable vasoactive agents are vasodilators, including naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, endothelial-derived relaxation factors, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonists, smooth muscle relaxants, leukotriene inhibitors, and others. The formulations are also useful for preventing the occurrence of yeast infections, improving vaginal muscle tone and tissue health, enhancing vaginal lubrication, and minimizing excess collagen deposition. A clitoral drug delivery device is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and formulations for minimizing excess collagen are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a selected vasoactive agent is administered to the vagina, vulvar area or urethra of the individual undergoing treatment. Suitable vasoactive agents are vasodilators, including naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, endothelial-derived relaxation factors, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonists, smooth muscle relaxants, leukotriene inhibitors, and others.

Abstract: Methods and formulations for treating female sexual dysfunction are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a selected vasoactive agent is administered to the vagina, vulvar area or urethra of the individual undergoing treatment. Suitable vasoactive agents are vasodilators, including naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, endothelial-derived relaxation factors, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonists, smooth muscle relaxants, leukotriene inhibitors, and others. The formulations are also useful for preventing the occurrence of yeast infections, improving vaginal muscle tone and tissue health, enhancing vaginal lubrication, and minimizing excess collagen deposition. A clitoral drug delivery device is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and formulations for treating female sexual dysfunction are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a selected vasoactive agent is administered to the vagina, vulvar area or urethra of the individual undergoing treatment. Suitable vasoactive agents are vasodilators, including naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, endothelial-derived relaxation factors, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonists smooth muscle relaxants leukotriene inhibitors, and other. The formulations are also useful for preventing the occurrence of yeast infections, improving vaginal muscle tone and tissue health, enhancing vaginal lubrication, and minimizing excess collagen deposition. A clitoral drug delivery device is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and formulations for treating female sexual dysfunction are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a selected vasoactive agent is administered to the vagina, vulvar area or urethra of the individual undergoing treatment. Suitable vasoactive agents are vasodilators, including naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, endothelial-derived relaxation factors, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonists, smooth muscle relaxants, leukotriene inhibitors, and others. The formulations are also useful for preventing the occurrence of yeast infections, improving vaginal muscle tone and tissue health, enhancing vaginal lubrication, and minimizing excess collagen deposition. A clitoral drug delivery device is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and formulations for treating female sexual dysfunction are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a selected vasoactive agent is administered to the vagina, vulvar area or urethra of the individual undergoing treatment. Suitable vasoactive agents are vasodilators, including naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, endothelial-derived relaxation factors, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonists, smooth muscle relaxants, leukotriene inhibitors, and others. The formulations are also useful for preventing the occurrence of yeast infections, improving vaginal muscle tone and tissue health, enhancing vaginal lubrication, and minimizing excess collagen deposition. A clitoral drug delivery device is also provided.

Abstract: A method of treatment for impotency is provided. The method involves the administration of nitric oxide by a nitric oxide-releasing agent capable of providing a penile erection-inducing amount of nitric oxide to the corpus cavernosum of the penis of an impotent male animal. Also provided is a nitric oxide delivery means for use in the method.

Abstract: A method for treating peripheral vascular disease (PVD), related vascular diseases, and vascular impotence associated with such diseases, is provided. The method involves transurethral administration of a pharmaceutical formulation containing a selected vasoactive agent within the context of an effective dosing regimen. Preferred vasoactive agents are vasodilating agents selected from the group consisting of naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, and combinations thereof. The pharmaceutical formulations used in conjunction with the novel method may also contain enzyme inhibitors, transurethral permeation enhancers, carriers, preservatives, surfactants, and the like. Kits and pharmaceutical formulations are provided as well.

Abstract: A method of treatment for impotency is provided. The method involves the administration of nitric oxide by a nitric oxide-releasing agent capable of providing a penile erection-inducing amount of nitric oxide to the corpus cavernosum of the penis of an impotent male animal. Also provided is a nitric oxide delivery means for use in the method.

Abstract: Methods and formulations for treating female sexual dysfunction are provided. A pharmaceutical composition formulated so as to contain a selected vasodilating agent is administered to the vagina or vulvar area of the individual undergoing treatment. Suitable vasodilating agents include naturally occurring prostaglandins, synthetic prostaglandin derivatives, endothelial-derived relaxation factors, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide agonists, smooth muscle relaxants, leukotriene inhibitors, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and inclusion complexes of any of the foregoing, and mixtures thereof. The novel formulations are also useful for preventing the occurrence of yeast infections, improving vaginal muscle tone and tissue health, enhancing vaginal lubrication, and minimizing excess collagen deposition. A clitoral drug delivery device is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for storing beads in a liquid medium and for draining and dispensing said beads essentially in the absence of said liquid medium is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is designed so that the liquid medium in which the beads are stored can be captured in a separate compartment from the bead-containing compartment and the beads can be delivered without the liquid medium when the apparatus in inverted. This apparatus is designed so that the liquid medium will join with the beads for storage in the bead-containing compartment when the apparatus is upright. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a bottle with a removable, threaded inner container which is used to drain the liquid medium from the beads prior to attachment to a separate bead dispenser.

Abstract: An improved immunoassay technique for determining the presence of estriol in human sera comprises adding preselected amounts of a non-ionic detergent and a surface active agent to the assay medium to lessen inaccuracies resulting from variable serum protein concentrations in the sample.

Abstract: An ion exchange method for the separation of hemoglobin A.sub.1 from its Schiff base precursors and from nonglycosylated hemoglobin in a sample of human blood. The known method of lysing the sample, using it to impregnate a weak cation exchange resin, eluting out the glycosylated components with a buffer solution containing from about 0.6 M to about 0.11 M alkali metal ion dissolved therein, and recovering the eluate, is modified by the inclusion of a dihydroxyboryl compound in either the hemolysate, the elution buffer, or both.

Abstract: An ion exchange method and kit for the separation of hemoglobin A.sub.1c from other hemoglobin components in a sample of human blood. The sample is lysed, then used to impregnate a weak cation exchanger. Two buffer solutions are then passed through the column in succession, the first having an alkali metal ion concentration of from about 0.02M to about 0.05M and the second having an alkali metal ion concentration of from about 0.06M to about 0.11M. The second eluate contains substantially all of the hemoglobin A.sub.1c and substantially none of the other hemoglobin components in the original sample. Analysis of the second eluate thus provides a reliable indication of the long-term glucose level in the blood of a patient, and hence the patient's ability to regulate the quantity of glucose ingested. The hemolysate with the Schiff base precursor is introduced directly to the chromatographic column.