Reliability and validity of the Tibetan version of the International Prostate Symptom Score.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Tibetan version of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS-Tib) in patients with and without urinary symptoms in a Tibetan population. METHODS: The validity and reliability of IPSS-Tib were studied in 85 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 62 controls without lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Reliability was evaluated using the test-retest method and internal consistency using Cronbach's α, and the construct validity was assessed by the correlation between IPSS-Tib scores and quality of life questions (QoL-Tib). RESULTS: The Cronbach's α coefficient of the IPSS-Tib was 0.80 and of a single IPSS scoring item ranged from 0.77 to 0.86. The IPSS-Tib test-retest reliability was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient, and its average value was 0.79 (P < 0.001). The mean (SEM, 95% CI) area under the ROC curve for the IPSS-Tib was 0.91 (0.87-0.96). The IPSS-Tib had a high correlation with the QoL-Tib (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient 0.84, P < 0.01). The mean IPSS score before transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was 21.9 (6.8), and dropped to 6.38 (1.54) after TURP (P < 0.001), and the average difference was 15.52 (6.23), related to the drop from 4.5 (0.9) to 1.46 (0.48) in the QoL (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The IPSS-Tib has good reliability and validity in the diagnosis and symptom severity assessment of patients with BPH in Tibetan areas. It is an ideal assessment tool that can be used in Tibetan-speaking areas for patients with BPH and as a method for evaluating postoperative curative effect assessment of patients with BPH.

[Transurethral resection of the prostate for BPH in native Tibetans with different prostate volumes: A single-center retrospective analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perioperative parameters and postoperative sexual function and complications in native Tibetans undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for BPH with different prostate volumes. METHODS: From June 2015 to February 2017, 325 native Tibetans with BPH underwent TURP in the People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region. The patients were aged 59－88 years, with a median oxygen saturation level of 84% in the normal status, 24% with hydronephrosis, 40.3% with the history of acute urinary retention, 61.8% with pulmonary hypertension, and 19.1% taking regular medication preoperatively. According to the preoperative prostate volume (PV), the patients were divided into a large PV (LPV) group (PV ≥80 ml, n = 124) and a small PV (SPV) group (<80 ml, n = 201). Perioperative parameters and postoperative sexual function and complications were analyzed and compared between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: The operation time was significantly longer in the LPV than in the SPV group (ï¼»92.36 ± 26.35ï¼½ vs ï¼»56.28 ± 24.61ï¼½ min, P < 0.05) and the intraoperative blood loss was higher in the former than in the latter (ï¼»401.12 ± 50.12ï¼½ vs ï¼»385.15 ± 51.62ï¼½ ml, P < 0.05). Compared with the baseline, at 6 months after operation, the IPSS was significantly decreased in all the patients (22.13 ± 6.23 vs 5.29 ± 1.14 in the LPV group, P < 0.05; 23.04 ± 6.82 vs 5.12 ± 1.28 in the SPV group, P < 0.05), and the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) remarkably improved (ï¼»17.46 ± 5.82ï¼½ vs ï¼»5.91 ± 1.86ï¼½ ml/s in the LPV group, P < 0.05; ï¼»17.99 ± 5.86ï¼½ vs ï¼»6.01 ± 1.92ï¼½ ml/s in the SPV group, P < 0.05). The incidence rate of retrograde ejaculation was markedly higher in the LPV than in the SPV group postoperatively (48.4% vs 20.9%, P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups of patients in the incidence of postoperative complications (13.71% vs 9.45%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TURP is effective and safe for the treatment of BPH native Tibetans with different prostate volumes.

[Bushen Daozhuo Granules for type â ¢ prostatitis: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of Bushen Daozhuo Granules (BDG) in the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial included 478 patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis, 290 in the trial group and 188 as controls, the former treated with BDG at 200 ml bid and the latter with tamsulosin hydrochloride sustainedrelease capsules at 0.2 mg qd, both for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 4 weeks of medication, and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal, we obtained the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIHCPSI) scores and compared the safety and effectiveness rate between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the NIHCPSI score was markedly decreased in the control group after 4 weeks of medication (21.42 ± 4.02 vs 15.67 ± 3.65, P < 0.05) but showed no statistically significant difference from that at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (19.03 ± 3.86) (P>0.05), while the NIHCPSI score in the trial group was remarkably lower than the baseline both after 4 weeks of medication and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (10.92 ± 2.06 and 12.91 ± 2.64 vs 21.58 ± 3.67, P < 0.05). The trial group exhibited both a higher rate of total effectiveness and safety than the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BDG is safe and effective for the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis.

The Stimulative Effect of Yangjing Capsule on Testosterone Synthesis through Nur77 Pathway in Leydig Cells.

Yangjing Capsule (YC), an innovative Chinese medicine based on traditional prescription, promotes testosterone synthesis by upregulating the expression of steroidogenic enzymes. Nur77 as a nuclear receptor is known to regulate the expression of many steroid synthetases. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms by which YC regulates testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were employed to assess the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes and Nur77 after treating MLTC-1 cells with YC. The luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to detect the activity of Nur77 gene promoter. Also, the expressions of steroid synthases were detected after Nur77 gene was knocked down. YC significantly stimulated Nur77 production and upregulated StAR and HSD3B expression, and this agrees with the activity of Nur77 gene promoter that was significantly enhanced by YC. Interestingly, knockdown of Nur77 blocked the above YC's effects and consequently inhibited testosterone synthesis in MLTC-1 cells. YC promotes StAR and HSD3B expression and upregulates testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells, which is mediated by Nur77 pathway.

Yangjing Capsule Ameliorates Spermatogenesis in Male Mice Exposed to Cyclophosphamide.

Yangjing capsule (YC), a traditional Chinese compound herbal preparation, has been proven as an effective drug to improve spermatogenesis in clinical practice. However, its pharmacological mechanisms were not fully clarified. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of YC on spermatogenesis in the mouse model of spermatogenesis dysfunction induced by cyclophosphamide (CP). The administration of YC significantly increased the epididymal index, sperm count, and sperm motility of model mice. Histopathological changes demonstrated that CP caused obvious structural damage to testis, which were reversed by the administration of YC. Results from TUNEL assay showed that treatment with YC dramatically decreased the apoptosis of spermatogenic cell induced by CP. Moreover, YC treatment could inhibit the mRNA and protein expression of Bax to Bcl-2 and also raised expression of AR at both mRNA and protein levels. These data suggest that YC might ameliorate spermatogenesis in male mice exposed to CP through inhibiting the apoptosis of spermatogenic cell and enhancing the actions of testosterone in spermatogenesis.