Curcumin ameliorates cisplatin-induced cystopathy via activating NRF2 pathway.

OBJECTIVES: The present work evaluated preventive effect of curcumin on cisplatin-induced bladder cystopathy. METHODS: Fifteen female rats were divided into (i) Control group administered with physiological saline solution for 5 days; (ii) Cis-P group injected with cisplatin (6 mg/kg); and (iii) Cis-Cur group given cisplatin (6 mg/kg) with curcumin for 5 consecutive days. The function of bladder was measured by means of urodynamic analysis. Furthermore, hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining were performed for morphological analysis. The cell apoptosis was evaluated through terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry. The expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), NF-E2-related factor 2, and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels were measured through Western blotting. RESULTS: Urodynamic assay and histopathological manifestations revealed that curcumin ameliorated the bladder dysfunction induced by cisplatin. The level of cisplatin-induced apoptosis in the bladder decreased following curcumin treatment. Also, the increased protein expression of NGF indicated that the curcumin could offer neuroprotection for bladder against cisplatin. Curcumin also activated NRF2, and elevated the expression of HO-1, but curcumin could not rescue cisplatin-induced apoptosis in the cell lines with knockdown of NRF2. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results of this paper showed that curcumin could ameliorate cisplatin-induced cystopathy and inhibit the apoptosis of bladder cell in cisplatin-treated rats. This may be attributed to curcumin's broad biological functions, particularly antioxidant effect, and to its ability to activate the NRF2 protein.

[Saw palmetto fruit extract improves LUTS in type â ¢A prostatitis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of the saw palmetto fruit extract (SPFE) in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with type ⅢA prostatitis. METHODS: This retrospective study included 54 cases of type ⅢA prostatitis treated in the Outpatient Department of our hospital from January to December 2015. The patients were aged 35.06 ± 5.85 years, with a mean disease course of 3.8 ± 2.1 years, and all received oral medication of SPFE Capsules at the dose of 320 mg qd for 12 weeks. We assessed the therapeutic effects by comparing the NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom indexes (NIH-CPSI), voiding diary, International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), and results of urodynamic examination before and after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, both NIH-CPSI and IPSS were significantly decreased after medication (27.61 ± 3.76 vs 18.6 ± 5.34, P <0.01; 20.44 ± 4.51 vs 10.96±4.62, P <0.01), and urodynamic examination and voiding diary showed dramatic post-medication improvement in the average urinary flow rate (ï¼»8.05±1.42ï¼½ vs ï¼»12.05±2.60ï¼½ ml/s, P <0.01 ), maximum urinary flow rate (ï¼»14.22±1.74ï¼½ vs ï¼»21.32±4.51ï¼½ ml/s, P <0.01), residual urine volume (ï¼»46.15±16.57ï¼½ vs ï¼»14.55±10.21ï¼½ ml, P <0.01), maximum urethral closure pressure (ï¼»76.52±3.53ï¼½ vs ï¼»65.32±4.75ï¼½ cm H2O, P <0.01), mean urinary volume (ï¼»124.63±40.55ï¼½ vs ï¼»285.93±58.68ï¼½ ml, P <0.01), urination frequency (16.96±4.17 vs 8.96±2.50, P <0.01), and nocturia frequency (8.94±3.23 vs 3.15±1.90, P <0.01). No apparent adverse reactions were observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: SPFE Capsules can safely and effectively improve LUTS and thus the quality of life of patients with type ⅢA prostatitis.

Medium-term Clinical Efficacy and Complications of Plasmakinetic Enucleation of the Prostate Versus Transurethral Resection of the Prostate for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare surgical characteristics, clinical efficacy, and complications of plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2015 to May 2018, 370 patients underwent TURP were included into the TURP group. Meanwhile, another 370 patients underwent PKEP (matched by age, prostate volume, and duration of BPH) were included into the PKEP group. Then, the differences of surgical characteristics, clinical efficacy, and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operative time, intraoperative irrigation volume, postoperative irrigation time and irrigation volume, drop in hemoglobin, blood transfusion, postoperative catheterization time, and hospital stay of the PKEP group were significantly less than those of the TURP group (P <.05). No significant differences were observed in the resected tissue weight, visual analogue scale score, and total cost of hospitalization (P >.05); The quality of life score of the PKEP group was significantly lower than that of the TURP group (P <.05). No significant differences of maximum flow rate, postvoid residual urine, Serum prostate-specific antigen, international prostate symptom score and International Index of Erectile Function score were observed (P >.05); The incidences of urinary tract irritation, massive hemorrhage, secondary hemorrhage, bladder spasm, clot retention, and retrograde ejaculation of the PKEP group were significantly lower than those of the TURP group (P <.05). CONCLUSION: PKEP and TURP are comparable regarding cost burden and clinical efficacy in medium-term follow-up. However, PKEP should be given a priority for BPH treatment because of less complication rate and better safety profile.