The 100 most-cited publications on Peyronie's disease: a bibliometric analysis and visualization study.

This study aimed to summarize the characteristics of the top 100 most-cited publications on Peyronie's disease (PD) research and to analyse past and current research hotspots and trends. The SCI-E database of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) provided us with the top 100 most-cited publications in PD research, from which we took the following information: general trend of publication, year of publication, nation/region, institution, journal, author, and keywords. VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) and Excel (version 2016) were used for information analysis. Through a standardized search, we ultimately found 1019 papers in the field of PD research, from which we extracted the 100 articles that had received the highest citations. The articles were published between 1949 and 2016. The United States is a major contributor to PD research (n = 67). The University of California, Los Angeles, was the institution with the largest number of articles (n = 11). These articles were published in 16 journals, with the largest number appearing in the Journal of Urology (n = 47). The author with the most articles was Levine LA (n = 9). Gelbard MK's articles had the highest citation frequency (n = 1158). Erectile dysfunction (n = 19) was the keyword with the highest frequency, indicating that PD-related erectile dysfunction was the leading focus of research in this field. Most of the keywords that have appeared in the past decade are related to the clinical treatment of PD. Therefore, we believe that improving patients' erectile function to the greatest extent in clinical treatment is the frontier and hot spot of future research.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture for the treatment of asthenozoospermia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Infertility has affected millions of couples aged 15 to 44 years worldwide. Recently, some studies suggest that abnormal semen quality is the main cause of male infertility and asthenozoospermia accounts for 19% of the infertility of men. The situation has brought a huge burden to the patient with asthenozoospermia and society. Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine. Electroacupuncture (EA) has gained in popularity. Although a positive effect of manual acupuncture and EA on sperm parameters has been documented in several studies, there still a lack of more solid evidence. We hope to provide a convincing study for EA. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The electronic databases of MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials. org, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wan fang Database, China Biology Medicine Database (CBM), VIP Science Technology Periodical Database, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry will be retrieved. All the randomized controlled trials of rESWT for patients with CP/CPPS will be included. We will evaluate the outcomes including NIH-CPSI, VAS, IPSS, IIEF-5, and conduct this study strictly according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. RESULTS: The present study is a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis without results, and data analysis will be carried out after the protocol. We will share our findings on October 31st, 2021. CONCLUSIONS: EA for asthenospermia is a microtrauma surgery with less pain. EA can effectively improve sperm motility; however, its efficacy has not been assessed scientifically and systematically. To address this limitation, this study will inspect the efficacy and safety of the EA in patients with asthenospermia. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Formal ethical approval is not required in this protocol. We will collect and analyze data based on published studies, and since there are no patients involved in this study, individual privacy will not be under concerns. The results of this review will be disseminated to peer-reviewed journals or submit to related conferences. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020100071.

[Inhibitory effect of Qiangjing Tablets on the Fas/FasL pathway of cell apoptosis in male SD rats with infertility].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on the semen quality and Fas/FasL signaling pathway in male SD rats with infertility. METHODS: Models of infertility were made in 50 male SD rats by intragastric administration of Tripterygium (GTW) for 3 weeks, and another 20 rats were taken as blank controls. Then 40 successfully established rat models were randomly divided into four groups, model control, low-dose QJT, medium-dose QJT, and high-dose QJT, the latter three groups treated intragastrically with QJT at 58 mg, 105 mg, and 233 mg per kg of the body weight per day, respectively. After 4 weeks of medication, the rats were killed for examination of semen quality and determination of the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the blank controls, the model rats showed significant decreases in sperm concentration ([71.99 ± 9.72] vs [10.94 ± 3.58] x 106/ml, P < 0.01), motility ([48.95 ± 4.10] vs [9.31 ± 5.79]%, P < 0.01), and viability ( [82.06 ± 6.16] vs [24.03 ± 6.93]%, P < 0.01). In comparison with the model controls, the rats in the QJT groups exhibited remarkably increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability, more significantly in the high-dose group ([59.66 ± 4.53] x 106/ml, [35.45 ± 5.21] %, and [61.97 ± 9.75]%) and medium-dose group ([40.89 ± 4.90] x 106/ml, [24.41 ± 4.79]%, and [60.06 ± 10.62]%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of FasL was markedly reduced in the low-, medium-, and high-dose QJT groups (0.5215 ± 0.0189, 0.5371 ± 0.0364, and 0.4556 ± 0.0215) as compared with that of the model controls (0.5989 ± 0.0448 ) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: By upregulating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, Tripterygium glycosides may induce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduce sperm concentration, motility and viability, resulting in infertility. The Chinese medicine Qiangjing Tablets can improve the reproductive function of male rats by decreasing the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis.

[Longbishu Capsule combined with mesylate doxazosin: an efficacious therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical effect and safety of the Chinese medicine Longbishu Capsule combined with mesylate doxazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, double-simulation control study. We equally assigned 60 men diagnosed with BPH of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type to an experimental and a control group, the former treated with mesylate doxazosin plus Longbishu Capsule and the latter with mesylate doxazosin plus placebo. We compared the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), Chinese symptom score (CSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and prostate volume between the two groups of patients before and after 6 months of medication. RESULTS: After treatment, there were 5 cured cases, 13 markedly effective cases, 9 effective cases, 1 ineffective case, and 2 eliminated cases in the experimental group, as compared with 2 cured cases, 8 markedly effective cases, 10 effective cases, 7 ineffective cases, and 3 eliminated cases in the control group. The total effectiveness rate was obviously higher in the former (96.4%) than in the latter (74.1%). IPSS, Qmax, and CSS were improved in both of the groups after medication, even more significantly in the experimental than in the control group (IPSS: 15.22 ± 2.98 vs 18.15 ± 5.88, P <0.05; Qmax: [13.56 ± 2.26] ml/s vs [11.78 ± 2.97] ml/s, P <0.05; CSS: 6.18 ± 2.13 vs 9.52 ± 3.15, P <0.05). Because of the difference in the QOL score between the two groups at the baseline (P = 0.038 <0.05), no more comparison was made in this aspect after treatment. CONCLUSION: The combination of Longbishu Capsule with mesylate doxazosin is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes of azoospermia with different causes: 107 cases report.

This retrospective analysis compared the outcomes of fertilization and pregnancy rates of 107 azoospermia patients treating with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Sperms were obtained by testicular biopsy surgery, with which we used in ICSI subsequently. The outcomes were compared by different kinds of causes leading to azoospermia in the 107 cases. 69 cases of obstructive azoospermia and 38 cases non-obstructive, the fertilization rates were 61.94% and 53.47% respectively, and pregnancy rates were 67.65% and 52.63%. 78 cases with normal volume testes and 29 cases with small testes, the fertilization rates were 70.93% and 48.80% respectively, and pregnancy rates were 66.25% and 50.00%. There was significant difference in fertilization rates between obstructive, non-obstructive and normal volume testes, small testes (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in pregnancy rates (P > 0.05). The pregnancy rate was significant difference between female age < 32 and ≥ 32 whatever the cause of azoospermia was (P < 0.05). Our study reveals that obstructive azoospermia and normal volume testes have higher fertilization rates in ICSI, but the pregnancy rates are only related to female age.

[Correlation of IPSS with IL-8 and COX-2 levels in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) with the levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the prostate tissue and expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) complicated by prostatitis. METHODS: We divided 80 BPH patients to be treated by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) into a simple BPH group (n = 30) and a BPH with prostatitis group (n = 50) based on the pathologic features. We statistically analyzed IPSS and the levels of IL-8 and COX-2 in EPS before surgery and the IL-8 and COX-2 levels in the prostate tissue after surgery. RESULTS: IPSS was positively correlated with the IL-8 and COX-2 levels in the prostate tissue and EPS of the BPH patients, moderately in the simple hyperplasia group (r > 0.5) and highly in the other (r > 0.8). The levels of IL-8 and COX-2 in the prostate tissue and EPS were significantly higher in the BPH with prostatitis group than in the simple BPH group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The levels of IL-8 and COX-2 in EPS indirectly reflect those in the prostate tissue. IPSS and the levels of IL-8 and COX-2 in EPS can help determine whether BPH is complicated by histological prostatic inflammation.