Genistein exhibits therapeutic potential for PCOS mice via the ER-Nrf2-Foxo1-ROS pathway.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age and the main cause of female infertility, but there is no universal drug for PCOS therapy. As a predominant dietary isoflavone present in soybeans, genistein (GEN) possesses estrogenic and antioxidative properties, but limited information is available regarding its therapeutic potential and underlying molecular mechanism in PCOS. In this study, we found that GEN might restore the estrous cycle of PCOS mice and ameliorate the elevation of circulating T, AMH and LH levels as well as LH/FSH ratios along with reduced cystic follicles, indicating the importance of GEN in PCOS therapy. Meanwhile, GEN improved the ovarian secretion function of PCOS mice and attenuated oxidative damage of the ovary through enhancing its antioxidant capability dependent on ER. Supplementation of GEN improved the defect of the ATP level and mitochondrial membrane potential, indicating the significance of GEN in preventing mitochondrial dysfunction. Further analysis demonstrated that GEN via ER heightened the expression of Nrf2 and Foxo1 whose blockage antagonized the defence of GEN on the secretory and mitochondrial functions of ovarian granulosa cells followed by the limited antioxidant capability and increased intracellular ROS level. Moreover, nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of Nrf2 presented a notable enhancement after exposure to GEN. Addition of the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 hampered the GEN induction of Foxo1. Nrf2 might directly bind to the antioxidant response element of the Foxo1 promoter region. Collectively, GEN might exhibit therapeutic potential for PCOS mice via the ER-Nrf2-Foxo1-ROS pathway.

[on oligozoospermia and asthenospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Yihechun Capsules (YHC) on oligozoospermia and asthenospermia. METHODS: A total of 181 male patients with infertility were randomly divided into a YHC+Levocarnitine (LC) group (n = 93, including 42 cases of oligozoospermia, 20 cases of asthenospermia and 31 cases of oligoasthenospermia) and an LC control group (n = 88, including 39 cases of oligozoospermia, 22 cases of asthenospermia and 27 cases of oligoasthenospermia), the former treated with YHC (ï¼»0.3 g per capsuleï¼½, once 4 capsules, bid, 30 minutes after meal) combined with LC oral liquid (2－3 g/d, tid, at mealtime) and the latter with LC oral liquid only (2－3 g/d, tid, at mealtime). After 3 months of treatment, comparisons were made between the two groups of patients in sperm concentration, the percentages of grade a and grade a+b sperm, and the rate of pregnancy. RESULTS: Of the 181 patients, 5 in the YHC+LC group and 2 in the LC control group failed to complete the course of treatment. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in the baseline sperm concentration and the percentages of grade a and grade a+b sperm (P > 0.05), wich were all markedly increased in both the YHC+LC and the LC control groups (P < 0.05) after 3 months of treatment. And the patients of the YHC+LC group, compared with the controls, showed even more significant increases, as the oligozoospermia patients in sperm concentration (ï¼»21.07 ± 6.98ï¼½ vs ï¼»16.56 ± 1.82ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05) and the percentages of grade a sperm (ï¼»27.53 ± 3.34ï¼½% vs ï¼»26.88 ± 1.35ï¼½%, P < 0.05) and grade a+b sperm (ï¼»53.32 ± 3.16ï¼½% vs ï¼»52.63 ± 2.48ï¼½%, P < 0.05), the asthenospermia patients in sperm concentration (ï¼»26.36 ± 3.37ï¼½ vs ï¼»24.42 ± 2.21ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05) and the percentages of grade a sperm (ï¼»25.28 ± 4.64ï¼½% vs ï¼»21.32 ± 3.28ï¼½%, P < 0.05) and grade a+b sperm (ï¼»49.19 ± 2.87ï¼½% vs ï¼»45.64 ± 1.78ï¼½%, P < 0.05), and the oligoasthenospermia patients in sperm concentration (ï¼»19.38 ± 3.39ï¼½ vs ï¼»18.75 ± 1.35ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05) and the percentages of grade a sperm (ï¼»22.65 ± 4.81ï¼½% vs ï¼»21.31 ± 2.42ï¼½%, P < 0.05) and grade a+b sperm (ï¼»48.74 ± 5.61ï¼½% vs ï¼»44.36 ± 1.32ï¼½%, P < 0.05). The pregnancy rate was dramatically higher in the YHC+LC than in the LC control group (36.4% ï¼»32/88ï¼½ vs 15.1% ï¼»13/86ï¼½, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Yihechun Capsules combined with Levocarnitine oral liquid is evidently effective for the treatment of oligozoospermia and asthenospermia.

[Kidney-tonifying and dampness-expelling Chinese herbal medicine combined with doxazosin for the treatment of chronic epididymitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effects of kidney-tonifying and dampness-expelling Chinese herbal medicine combined with doxazosin in the treatment of chronic epididymitis. METHODS: A total of 64 patients with chronic epididymitis were equally randomized into a treatment and a control group, the former treated with kidney-tonifying and dampness-expelling Chinese herbal decoction combined with doxazosin, and the latter given doxazosin only, both for 4 weeks. The clinical symptoms were measured by Chronic Epididymitis Symptom Index (CESI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) before and after the treatment, and the therapeutic effects were evaluated. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of medication, the total mean scores on CESI, pain, and quality of life (QOL) were significantly decreased in both the treatment and the control groups (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the former than in the latter (P < 0.05), and so were the scores on SAS and SDS (P < 0.05), but with no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Either doxazosin alone or kidney-tonifying and dampness-expelling Chinese herbal decoction combined with doxazosin is obviously effective on chronic epididymitis, but the combined medication produces an even better efficacy.