GC-MS-Based Serum Metabolomic Investigations on the Ameliorative Effects of Polysaccharide from Turpiniae folium in Hyperlipidemia Rats.

Hyperlipidemia, a typical metabolic disorder syndrome, can cause various cardiovascular diseases. The polysaccharides were found to have enormous potential in the therapy of hyperlipidemia. This study was aimed at evaluating the ameliorative effects of polysaccharide from Turpiniae folium (TFP) in rats with hyperlipidemia. A serum metabolomic method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to explore the detailed mechanism of TFP in rats with hyperlipidemia. The oxidative stress indicators, biochemical indexes, and inflammatory factors in serum and histopathological changes in the liver were also evaluated after 10-week oral administration of TFP in rats with high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia. TFP significantly relieved oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver histopathology and reduced blood lipid levels. Multivariate statistical approaches such as principal component analysis and orthogonal projection to latent structure square-discriminant analysis revealed clear separations of metabolic profiles among the control, HFD, and HFD+TFP groups, indicating a moderating effect of TFP on the metabolic disorders in rats with hyperlipidemia. Seven metabolites in serum, involved in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, were selected as potential biomarkers in rats with hyperlipidemia and regulated by TFP administration. It was concluded that TFP had remarkable potential for treating hyperlipidemia. These findings provided evidence for further understanding of the mechanism of action of TFP on hyperlipidemia.

The prevalence of prostatitis-like symptoms in China.

PURPOSE: We studied the prevalence of prostatitis-like symptoms and identified their associated risk factors in a population based Chinese sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A volunteer group of 15,000 eligible men residing in Beijing, Anhui, Xi'an, Guangzhou and Gansu cities or provinces were invited randomly to take part in the survey to complete a questionnaire that elicited information regarding sociodemographics, Eysenck personality questionnaire, current stress and health ratings, lifestyle, medical history, expressed prostatic secretion evaluation, score of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index and International Index of Erectile Function-5. RESULTS: Information on 12,743 (84.95%) men was collected. Of these men 1,071 (8.4%) reported prostatitis-like symptoms (mean National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index pain score 7.55 +/- 3.22). The percent of chronic prostatitis was 4.5% (571) among the symptoms group according to past urological history and expressed prostatic secretion evaluation. Subjects with prostatitis-like symptoms (mean age 34.56 +/- 13.48 years) had higher mean pain and urinary symptoms scores (7.53 +/- 3.22 and 2.84 +/- 2.72, respectively) compared with subjects without prostatitis-like symptoms (1.18 +/- 2.32 and 0.72 +/- 1.66 for pain and urinary symptoms scores, respectively, mean age 30.7 +/- 10.17) (pain and symptoms scores, p <0.05). The quality of life score was 6.03 +/- 2.88 and 3.83 +/- 2.55 in groups with symptoms or nonsymptoms, respectively (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prostatitis-like symptoms are a multifactorial problem affecting men of all ages (15 to 60 years) and demographics, and the prevalence is high in China. The syndrome is closely related to alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, frequent intercourse, as well as fatigue, pressure and too little sleep. These findings suggest that risk factors for this condition are largely modifiable and highlight potential targets for future prevention.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis in Chinese men.

The aim of this study is to assess the status of treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) in Chinese men. A population-based cross-sectional survey was performed, in which 15 000 men aged between 15 and 60 years were randomly selected to receive a questionnaire designed to assess National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms Index (NIH-CPSI) status, therapeutic efficacy and 28 other items. A total of 12 743 men (84.95%) completed the questionnaire, of whom 1 071 (8.4%) were identified as having prostatitis-like symptoms and 517 (4.5%) were diagnosed with CP according to NIH-CPSI criteria and prostatitis-like symptomatology. Of the CP patients, 372 (65%) underwent long-term routine treatment 12 times per year. Additionally, 217 (72.8%) patients received antibiotic therapy and 215 (79.3%) men showed therapeutic effects. The treatment cost USD 1 151 (8 059 yuan) per person per year on average. Most CP patients received routine treatment, in most cases with antibiotics. Treatment was costly and most CP patients were not satisfied with its effectiveness. Antibacterial treatment might have been effective primarily in patients with bacterial disease.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its relation to chronic prostatitis in Chinese men.

This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and to explore its correlation to chronic prostatitis in China. A cross-sectional investigation from a large cohort study of Chinese men was used in this survey. A questionnaire consisting of general information regarding socio-demographics, chronic disease history, sexual function, the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) was administered to 15 000 Chinese men aged from 15 to 60. The prevalence of ED was determined from the patient's self-evaluation and IIEF-5 score. The eligible individual both was married and had intercourse experience. In total, there were 12 743 respondents, giving a response rate of 84.95%. Among 7372 eligible men, ED prevalence as assessed by self-report and IIEF-5 score was 12.0% and 17.1%, respectively. Among 771 men with prostatitis-like symptoms, ED prevalence as assessed by self-report and IIEF-5 score was 39.3% and 30.1%, respectively. Among 370 men suffering from chronic prostatitis, ED prevalence as assessed by self-report and IIEF-5 score was 40.5% and 35.1%, respectively. The prevalence of self-reported and IIEF-5 score-assessed ED had high correlation with increasing age among all eligible men, men with prostatitis-like symptoms, and men with chronic prostatitis (P(t) < .05, P(s) < .05, P(cp) < .05). ED prevalence as assessed by both self-report and IIEF-5 score was higher in men with prostatitis-like symptoms and with chronic prostatitis than in the general group (P(s) < .05, P(cp) < .05). The prevalence of ED was higher in the prostatitis population than in the general population with either self-reported or IIEF-5 score assessment. The prevalence was higher with self-reported than with IIEF-5 assessment in men with prostatitis. Estimates of ED prevalence among men with prostatitis should not rely on self-reporting alone in that this is likely to overestimate the true prevalence.

Prevalence of premature ejaculation and its correlation with chronic prostatitis in Chinese men.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a common and serious health problem affecting the quality of life of men. We evaluated the prevalence of premature ejaculation (PE) in Chinese men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome and studied its correlation to chronic prostatitis. METHODS: A total of 15,000 men (aged 15-60 years) were randomly recruited to take part in a survey to provide questionnaire-elicited information for sociodemographics, sexual function, National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, and International Index of Erectile Function 5-item questionnaire. The eligible subjects of the present investigation were married with sexual activity. RESULTS: Responses were collected from 12 743 men (84.95%). Of these men, 1071 (8.4%) reported having prostatitis-like symptoms. The incidence of chronic prostatitis was 4.5% (n = 571) for the entire group. Of the 7372 eligible men, the incidence of prostatitis-like symptoms, chronic prostatitis, and PE was 10.5% (n = 771), 5.0% (n = 370), and 15.3% (n = 1127), respectively. The group with PE had worse National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index scores (P < .05) and lower International Index of Erectile Function 5-item questionnaire scores (P < .05) than the patients without PE. Also, the percentage of prostatitis-like symptoms in the PE group was greater than that in the non-PE group (P < .05). The prevalence of PE was 64.1% and 36.9% in the prostatitis-like symptom and chronic prostatitis group, respectively, of the 7372 eligible men. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study showed a high prevalence of PE in patients with chronic prostatitis. An examination of the prostate, physically and microbiologically, should be considered during the assessment of patients with PE.