“‘…endothelial function of the penis in arteriosclerotic pigs’ is perhaps to a layperson as quizzically funny and irrelevant as Anna Nicole Smith’s autopsy citation of an ‘unremarkable’ anus. Unfortunately (or otherwise) the penile endothelium is a sensitive model for assessing the disfunction that contributes so much to arterial disease… Indeed, penile endothelium is a great model when you think about it. It is well vascularised with large vessels, and its function is entirely dependent on the health of those vessels. In fact, with impotence being one of the common complications of arteriosclerosis (and smoking) it makes an excellent and highly relevant model for human disease.”

Good Lord. I had to re-read this piece several times. Interesting. Shocking. And, OK, somewhat humorous. I agree with the premise here, but where the hell was the mind of the author when he was writing this?

Freud once offered, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”… but I don’t believe this metaphorical adage can be appropriately applied to this particular researcher. However, he probably does require therapy.