Predictive value of FSH, testicular volume, and histopathological findings for the sperm retrieval rate of microdissection TESE in nonobstructive azoospermia: a meta-analysis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the predictive value of different parameters in the sperm retrieval rate (SRR) of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). All relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO. We chose three parameters to perform the meta-analysis: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testicular volume, and testicular histopathological findings which included three patterns: hypospermatogenesis (HS), maturation arrest (MA), and Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (SCOS). If there was a threshold effect, only the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUSROC) was calculated. Otherwise, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were also calculated. Twenty-one articles were included in our study finally. There was a threshold effect among studies investigating FSH and SCOS. The AUSROCs of FSH, testicular volume, HS, MA, and SCOS were 0.6119, 0.6389, 0.6758, 0.5535, and 0.2763, respectively. The DORs of testicular volume, HS, and MA were 1.98, 16.49, and 1.26, respectively. The sensitivities of them were 0.80, 0.30, and 0.27, while the specificities of them were 0.35, 0.98, and 0.76, respectively. The PLRs of them were 1.49, 10.63, and 1.15, respectively. And NLRs were 0.73, 0.72, and 0.95, respectively. All the investigated factors in our study had limited predictive value. However, the histopathological findings were helpful to some extent. Most patients with HS could get sperm by microdissection TESE.

Influence of photoselective vaporization of prostate on erectile function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the influence of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) on the erectile function of the patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using IIEF-5, we conducted a questionnaire investigation among 210 BPH patients before and after treated by PVP (n = 80) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP, n = 130). We also reviewed the clinical data and compared the pre- and post-operative penile erectile function between the two groups of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Follow-up was completed in 76 cases of PVP and 123 of TURP. The baseline data showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age, prostate volume, IPSS, QOL, Qmax, post void urine residual volume and IIEF-5 scores (P>0.05). Compared with the IEFF-5 score at the baseline (21.88 +/- 2.46), those at 3, 6 and 12 months after PVP were 16.72 +/- 3.17, 19.34 +/- 2.46 and 19.29 +/- 2. 18, respectively, significantly decreased at 3 months (P = 0.042), but with no remarkable difference at 6 and 12 months (P >0.05). Nor were there significant differences in the IIEF-5 score between the PVP and TURP groups at any time points (P>0.05). At 6 months after surgery, the incidence rates of erectile dysfunction were 11.7% and 13.7% in the TURP and PVP groups, respectively (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PVP may reduce erectile function in some cases in the early stage after surgery, but this adverse effect does not last long and is basically similar to that of TURP.</p>

Observation of the changes in ventral prostatic microcirculation in castrated rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Castrated rats exhibit significant shrinkage of the ventral prostate and apoptosis of prostatic cells, which can be attributed to the reduced blood supply to the prostate. But what causes the blood decrease in the prostate remains unknown. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism of the changes in the microcirculation of the ventral prostate of rats following castration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomized 24 male adult rats into 6 groups of equal number, and collected their ventral prostates at 0, 1/2, 1, 2, 3 and 7 d, respectively, after castration. Then we observed the changes of the microvessels under the transmission electron microscope, detected the apoptosis of endothelial cells by TUNEL, and determined the expressions of VEGF, endostatin, angiostatin and angiopoietin-2 by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The castrated rats showed dramatic changes in the microvessels of the ventral prostate, obvious apoptosis of the endothelial cells, down-regulated expression of VEGF, and up-regulated expressions of endostatin and angiostatin, while angiopoietin-2 remained unchanged.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decreased level of VEGF and increased levels of endostatin and angiostatin might underlie the mechanism of the changes in the microcirculation of the ventral prostate of rats following castration.</p>

Effects of testosterone on the proliferation of rat corpus cavernosum cells in vitro / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of testosterone on the proliferation of penile corpus cavernosal cells in male SD rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fibroblasts collected from the corpus cavernosal tissues of male SD rats were cultured by the enzymatic dispersion method and detected for the expression of the androgen receptor (AR) by immunohistochemistry. The effects of testosterone on the SMCs and fibroblasts were observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay in different concentration groups (10(-8) mol/L, 10(-7) mol/L, 10(-6) mol/L, 10(-5) mol/L, 10(-4) mol/L and 10(-3) mol/L) in comparison with the control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The AR expression was found in the penile corpus cavernosal tissues. MTT assay showed that, at the concentration of 10(-5) mol/L, testosterone induced the proliferation of SMCs (68100 +/- 2200) and fibroblasts (70200 +/- 1300), with significant differences from the control ( P < 0.05), while at 10(-4) mol/L, it inhibited their proliferation (55000 +/- 1400 and 59100 +/- 1500, respectively), (P < 0.01). No significant effects were noted in the other concentration groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AR exists in the penile corpus cavernosal tissues of male rats. Testosterone modulates the proliferation of corpus cavernosum tissue cells through AR, and different concentrations of testosterone may be positively or negatively correlated with the proliferation of SMCs and fibroblasts.</p>

A clinical study of prostat combined with an antibiotic for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Prostate in combination with an antibiotic for the treatment of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A double-blind, parallel contrasted, multi-central method was applied in the study. After the Stamey test and expressed prostate secretion (EPS) examination, 160 patients with prostatitis were recruited and randomized into a trial group (80 cases with 1 case missing) and a control group (80 cases). In the trial group, the patients used the levofloxacin and Prostate during the first 4 weeks and Prostate only during the following 4 weeks. In the control group, the patients used the levofloxacin and placebo during the first 4 weeks, and placebo only during the following 4 weeks. Before and 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment, the patients were visited and evaluated by the national institute health-chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), EPS, and asked about the side.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 4-week and 8-week treatment, the pain index dropped by 3.34 +/- 2.45 and 4.06 +/- 3.03 in the trial group, and effects. 2.28 +/- 2.42 and 3.30 +/- 3.29 in the control; the voiding index dropped by 2.22 +/- 1.79 and 2.77 +/- 2.04 in the trial group, and 1.24 +/- 1.67 and 1.83 +/- 2.25 in the control respectively. There was significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment in both the two groups (P < 0.01), while the difference was not significant between 4-week and 8-week post-treatment (P > 0.05). And there was significant difference between the two groups in the pain index and voiding index (P < 0.01), but not in the white blood cell count and lipid in the EPS (P > 0.05). No serious side effects were recorded, and the tolerance to Prostate and placebo showed no significant difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prostate in combination with an antibiotic can effectively relieve the pain and voiding symptoms and improve the life quality of the patients with nonbacterial prostatitis and well deserves to be recommended in clinical practice.</p>

Microcirculation changes in the ventral prostates of rats after castration / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the microcirculation changes in the ventral prostates of rats after castration and the role of microcirculation during the apoptosis of prostatic cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six male adult rats were randomized to 6 groups: one was taken as the control, while the other 5 underwent measurement of the microcirculation in vivo by a D95 physiological signal acquisition system 12 h, 24 h, 72 h, 7 d and 14 d respectively after castration, and then were perfused with Chinese ink to trace the microvessels of the prostates.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The microcirculation of the rats'prostates changed dramatically following castration. The diameter and density of the microvessels, especially in the distant and mediate ducts of the prostates, decreased dramatically, and so did the bloodflow velocity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The microcirculation plays a role during the process of apoptosis of prostatic cells, and might be the mechanism of " apoptosis shift".</p>

Biofeedback therapy for chronic pelvic pain syndrome / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To evaluate the efficacy of biofeedback therapy in patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From November 2001 to April 2002, patients visiting the Urological Outpatient Clinic of this Hospital were evaluated by means of the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and classified by the NIH classification standard. Sixty-two patients of CPPS category III were involved in this study. All patients had been treated by conventional approaches such as antibiotics and alpha-blockers for more than half a year without any improvement. The expressed prostatic secretion results were as follows: WBC 5 to 9/high power field, lipid + approximately +++ and bacterial culture negative. Their NIH-CPSI were 12 approximately 40. All the 62 cases complained of micturitional irritation (frequency, urgency, splitted stream and sense of residual urine), 32 cases, of pain or discomfort at the testicular, penile, scrotal, pelvic or rectal region and 13 cases, of white secretion-dripping. The patients were treated by the Urostym Biofeedback equipment (Laborie Co., Canada) 5 times a week for 2 weeks with a stimulus intensity of 15 mA approximatley 23 mA and duration of 20 minutes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty patients were significantly improved or cured, while no significant improvement in the remaining 2. No apparent side effect was observed. The NIH-CPSI dropped to 6 to 14 with an average reduction of 21 (P<0.01). In the 60 improved cases, pain was relieved after 2 approximately 3 treatment courses and other symptoms disappeared after 4 approximately 5 courses.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Biofeedback therapy is a safe and effective treatment for CPPS. Large randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and to explore the mechanism of action.</p>