Inside the Mind of Deserusan

After reviewing most of the available peer reviewed research on icariin I must say I am impressed with both its effect and mechanism of action. First off, I should mention I didn’t come across much research in terms of in-vivo human studies to support vasodilation. However, it does appear icariin can potentially have a positive effect on bone preservation (1, 2). While I am always skeptical of compounds without a lot research in humans I can say it appears that the pharmokinetics displayed in the non-human models (3,4,5) do appear to translate to the human model based on my own use.

So where does this leave us? In my humble opinion it is safe to say that icariin enhances nitric oxide synthase expression in vivo despite the absence of some supporting literature. This is based on the mere fact I’ve noticed increased vascularity while using icariin. It’s not the typical short lived arginine based vasodilation but rather subtle yet longer lasting effect. If you have basic understanding of how nitric oxide is actually formed you have then heard of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NO2 is formed by the enzymatic action of nitric oxide synthase with arginine. In the simplest terms, our good friend icariin enhances NOS expression in humans (6) which can explain the increased vascularity from its use.

Not to make any of you chaps out there with limp dicks feel bad, but I have ZERO problem getting an erection. Just expand a little further, I can pull the trigger whenever I want and there are never any early misfires if you know what I mean. Back to our little lecture though before I get into trouble. Throughout this trial I have noticed some enhanced erections. In short, they are a bit more intense but nothing too dramatic based on my ability to sustain a normal erection anyway. It is safe to say that icariin will certainly give your little soldier a little boost as he stands at attention (6, 7). However, if you have issues with premature ejaculation I really don’t know what to tell you except your girl is lying when she says, “It’s OK honey!”

In closing, icariin does have its place among sports nutrition. However, I strongly urge all of you out there to pay attention to who you are purchasing your icariin based product from. As always, extraction standardization plays a key role in the effectiveness of the compound so don’t settle for less than 20% to keep everyone smiling!

Zhang G, Qin L, Shi Y. Epimedium-derived phytoestrogen flavonoids exert beneficial effect on preventing bone loss in late postmenopausal women: a 24-month randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2007 Jul;22(7):1072-9.

Yin XX, Chen ZQ, Liu ZJ, Ma QJ, Dang GT. Icariin stimulates proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts by increasing production of bone morphogenetic protein 2. Chin Med J (Engl). 2007 Feb 5;120(3):204-10.

Xu HB, Huang ZQ. Vasorelaxant effects of icariin on isolated canine coronary artery.Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 2007 Apr;49(4):207-13.

Jiang Z, Hu B, Wang J, Tang Q, Tan Y, Xiang J, Liu J. Effect of icariin on cyclic GMP levels and on the mRNA expression of cGMP-binding cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE5) in penile cavernosum.J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci. 2006;26(4):460-2.

Zhu DY, Lou YJ.Icariin-mediated expression of cardiac genes and modulation of nitric oxide signaling pathway during differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro.Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2006 Mar;27(3):311-20

Xu HB, Huang ZQ. Icariin enhances endothelial nitric-oxide synthase expression on human endothelial cells in vitro. Vascular Pharmacology. 2007 Jul;47(1):18-24. Epub 2007 Mar 24.

Xin ZC, Kim EK, Lin CS, Liu WJ, Tian L, Yuan YM, Fu J. Effects of icariin on cGMP-specific PDE5 and cAMP-specific PDE4 activities. Asian Journal of Andrology. 2003 Mar;5(1):15-8.

The Workout: 8.9 out of 10

Decline Bench Press: 315lbs x 8, 315lbs x 8, 315lbs x 8 (very tough)

Incline Hammer Strength: 360lbs x 6, 360lbs x 6, 360lbs x 6

Supine Hammer Stength: 360lbs x 6, 360lbs x 6, 360lbs x 6

FreeMotion Flyes: failure, failure, failure

Overhand Cable Extensions: 160lbs x 12, 160lbs x 10

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Underhand Cable Extensions: 100lbs x 10, 100lbs x 10

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Double Overhand Dumbell Extensions: 25lb’ers x 8, 25lb’ers x 8

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Dips: bodyweight x failure x 2

Standing Calf Press: 495lbs x failure x 6

Daily Macronutrients

Discussion

Throughout the duration of this review you have heard me mention throughout that my vascularity has been up a bit. In reality, it hasn’t subsided either which is quite impressive. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not experiencing "vein bursting pumps" or "mind blowing fullness" but rather just a subtle vascular presence above the norm. I’ll admit I’m not the most vascular guy so it is perfectly welcome to have some increases in the effect, especially when I’m taking in virtually no carbohydrates five days a week.

The Workout: 9.3 out of 10

*60 minutes fasted cardio upon waking

Face Pulls: 200lbs x 8, 200lbs x 8, 200lbs x 8

Rear Delt Dumbell Rows: 60lb’ers x 6, 60lb’ers x 6, 60lb’ers x 6

Hammer Strength Military Press: 320lbs x 6, 320lbs x 6, 320lbs x 6

Freeman Lateral Raises (Full range + Half Range): 20lb’ers x 20, 20lb’ers x 20, 20lb’ers 20

Dumbell Curls: 50lb’ers x 8/8, 50lb’ers x 8/8, 50lb’ers x 8/8

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Cable Extensions: 200lbs x 10, 200lbs x 10, 200lbs x 10

Concentration 21’s: 20lbs’ers x 21/21, 20lb’ers x 21/21

Overhead Dumbell Extensions: 110lbs x 8 drop 80lbs x 8 drop 50lbs x 8 x 3

Discussion

Meh…I’m tired. I dropped the Lean Xtreme today looking towards the future and two better gauge the effects of Lean Xtreme 2.0. WTF is "5AT?"

The Workout: 9.9 out of 10

*60 minutes fasted cardio upon waking

**Slow negatives on extensions, curling, and pressing movements.

Leg Press: 360lbs x 12 x 5

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Walking Dumbell Lunges: 40lb’ers x 20 paces x 5

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Leg Curls: 135lbs x 10 x 5

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Leg Extensions 160lbs x 10 x 5

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Squats: 185lbs x 10 x 5

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SLDL: 135lbs x 10 x 5

Swiss Ball Crap: A bunch of stuff..meh

Discussion

The calories are low and I’m not go to beat around the bush, I’m REALLY sore. These giant set workouts are killer and I challenge any of you to try them. Yes, the poundages are a lot lighter and the surface it looks fairly easy. However, after the first set you pretty much realize how tortuous this really is and ****ed you are with each consecutive rep in later sets.

Some of you who are newer to my log/blog are probably wondering where I got the idea for workouts like this. Quite frankly, it came from watching Milos Sarcev on the FitShow. I wanted some shock techniques and this certainly exceeded my expectations. Rich Gaspari himself filmed an episode a few months back running through some similiar leg training. Hopefully it will get aired shortly.

Anyway, I’m low on calories, recovery is a bitch, and my knees are starting to show signs of wear and tear from all the cardio I’m doing on top of my training. However, my strength is still pretty good and I’m holding onto some good mass despite losing 35lbs since I started. The Lean Xtreme and Thyrotabs are proving to be a very solid stack which is usually what I recommend out in the stores I demos at. It is one of the post potent non-stim fat loss stack (legal) you can buy in major brick and mortar retail outlets. I look forward to logging the new Lean Xtreme 2.0 in the coming weeks.

I’m glad this has come up. Too many people are getting in way too much EPA/DHA which is actually detrimental to hypertrophy. While too much inflammation is not ideal nor is too little. Those guys taking in their 10-20 fishoil caps a day are actually limiting their gains because of excessive DHA/EPA content.

I think this would heavily be contingent on what the actual fat source is. I’m eating about an ounce of almonds PWO with eggwhites. The O3 content in almonds is primarily ALA which as mentioned will have a poor conversion and thus not effect inflammation because of digestion primarily of the fibrous nature of almonds. When it does get converted and in circulation I’m sure the inflammation response to eccentric motion would have subsided already so the effect would be limited greatly if it even existed.

On the other hand, if I was drinking fish oil PWO it would effect the inflammation response greatly. As mentioned before, the inflammation response is necessary for muscle growth and immune response:

The Workout: 8.2 out of 10

*60 minutes fasted cardio upon waking

Neutral Grip Pull Ups: BW x 15, BW x 15, BW x 15

Underhand Wide Grip Pulldowns: 200lbs x 10, 200lbs x 10, 200lbs x 10

Dual Arm Cable Rows (dedicated cable for each arm): 150lbs x 12, 150lbs x 12, 150lbs x 12

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Dumbell Pullovers: 80lbs x 10, 80lbs x 10, 80lbs x 10

Rack Pulls: 315lbs x 8, 315lbs x 8, 315lbs x 8

Dumbell Curls: 40lb’ers x 10, 40lb’ers x 10, 40lb’ers x 10

Single Arm Preacher Curls: 35lbs x 8/8, 35lbs x 8/8, 35lbs x 8/8

Decline Sit Ups: BW x 300 (some pauses…heh actually a lot!)

Discussion

This weekend I was in the Milwaukee suburbs conducting a few demos for Gaspari. What was funny is that I ended up buying a whole bunch of supplements. Not to make you guys feel bad, but I do get supplement allowance from Gaspari so I never feel bad when making large purchases. Some of the highlights of this week’s purchases were a 256 count of MuscleTech Gakic, MHP Activite, 2 large orange tubs of Nutrex Vitargo CGL, and some Designer Supplements Glucophase. I’m trying to sort out my next log so I’m thinking I’ll incorporate all of these. Maybe there will be a few surprises too.

After my demo in Wauwatosa I stopped off at Cardinal Fitness. Now I don’t want to sound like a scumbag, but I sort of snuck in. I got there at 7:30pm and waited at the front desk for 15 minutes but no one was around. The gym closed at 9:00pm so I said screw it and walked in. Even worse, I stuck out like a sore thumb but no one approached me for a guest fee.

The workout was sub par to be honest. Whenever I train away from home my workouts aren’t as good. It’s a combination of a foreign environment in which I can’t go all out and just the fact I’m not used to the equipment. This session away from was no different.

I did mention this before, but I have noticed some increased acne on my shoulders and few little guys on my forehead. I do feel strongly that this is an indication of positive hormonal response to ActivaTe’s formulation.

The Workout: 9.4 out of 10

*60 minutes fasted cardio upon waking

Close Grip Incline Bench PRess: 225lbs x 8, 225lbs x 8, 225lbs x 8

Incline Dumbell Press: 120lb’ers x 8, 120lb’ers x 8, 120lb’ers x 8

Wide Grips Hammer Strength Decline Presses: 90lbs x 10, 90lbs x 10, 90lbs x 10

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Close Grip: failure, failure, failure

Pec Dec: 180lbs x 10, 180lbs x 10, 180lbs x 10

Skull Crushers: 90lbs x 12, 90lbs x 12, 90lbs x 12

Underhand Single Arm Extensions (Free Motion): 12/12, 12/12, 12/12

Standing Calf Press: 270lbs x 200 (some rests)
*30 Minutes Cardio PWO

Daily Macronutrients

Discussion

Low calories. Sweet.

I’m proud to announce that 2007  Model Universe and Team Gaspari member Nicole Costa has made the cover of Oxygen  Magazine this month. Please congratulate Nicole on her accomplishment!

http://www.myspace.com/gasparinutrition

Creatine does not cause water retention in the muscle per se but rather increased intramuscular hydration which is healthy. Water retention is usually caused in the interstitial area surrounding your muscle which is resultant from taking too much creatine. In any case, it is proven it has only has a positive impact on cardiac myocytes. There are numerous studies showing supplemental creatine benefiting cardiac muscle.

It’s N=1 and considered a case report. He could have been taking myriad of compounds, drugs, etc. Since he had strial fibrillation there was a disruption of the electrical signalling to his heart. This can be caused by a number of factors but the one which seems an obvious culprit in “young men” is drinking or perhaps his he had hyperthyroidism?

Since he was presribed Metoprolol most likely he had some pre-existing hypertension which didn’t just develop because he took creatine. Now supplemental creatine can raise intramuscular creatine kinase concentration which surely can exhasberate hypertension. Again, this is if it was pre-existing which should have been diagnosed by any qualified medical professional overseeing this guy’s care.

My guess, he liked to drink, had hypertension, and was taking creatine. Not a good combo but I’d have to read the full report and see if he had elevated liver enzymes.

Case reports for the most part lack ANY controls and are usually based off testimony of a patient. In my opinion, most of the time the people suffering acute pathology from “safe” supplements are typically idiots. I’d like to see this chap’s IQ or at least some measure of his common sense.

Using TSH to determine thyroid output is rather shortsighted and a skilled physician will use a TRH test or free T3/T4 testing to be accurate. The reason being is that that range used for TSH levels is too broad and quite frankly TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. TSH can still be within a normal range but you could have actual thyroid issues which could still effect T3/T4 causing hyper/hypothyroidism.

How do we know he didn’t have hypertension before the incident? That was my point. How do we know he wasn’t taking clen, ephedra, or some other beta adrenergic agonist? What’s easier to admit to? Taking an illegal substance or blaming it on an OTC supplement that surely most uniformed docs (this case a clinical pharmacist writing about cardiology?) are likely to blame and submit a N=1 study for publication?

That’s the crux of the matter and I’d love to see these "anecdotal" reports of athletes developing arrhythmia. If there was a shread of proof supporting creatine supplementation negatively effecting even a small population it would have been banned. There was a VERY strong anti-creatine movement among medical professionals in the late 90’s which still lingers today.