Isoflavone supplements stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum dihydrotestosterone levels in healthy male volunteers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing healthy men with soy isoflavones on the serum levels of sex hormones implicated in prostate cancer development. A total of 28 Japanese healthy volunteers (18 equol producers and 10 equol non-producers) between 30 and 59 years of age were given soy isoflavones (60 mg daily) supplements for 3 months, and the changes in their sex hormone levels were investigated at the baseline and after administration. The serum and urine concentrations of daidzein, genistein, and the levels of equol in the fasting blood samples and 24-h stored urine samples were also measured. All 28 volunteers completed the 3-month supplementation with isoflavone. No changes in the serum levels of estradiol and total testosterone were detected after 3-month supplementation. The serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin significantly increased, and the serum levels of free testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) decreased significantly after 3-month supplementation. Among the 10 equol non-producers, equol became detectable in the serum of two healthy volunteers after 3-month supplementation. This study revealed that short-term administration of soy isoflavones stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum DHT level in Japanese healthy volunteers. These results suggest the possibility of converting equol non-producers to producers by prolonged and consistent soy isoflavones consumption.

[Electroejaculation and assisted reproductive techniques in the patients with spinal cord injury].

BACKGROUND: Most of the patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have fertility problems by an ejaculation and a poor fertility of the ejaculate. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of electroejaculation (EE) and combined use of EE and assisted reproductive techniques for the patients with SCI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a Seager Model, EE was attempted on 69 patients with SCI. Of the 69 patients 14 (20%) had cervical, 49 (71%) thoracic and 6 (9%) lumbar paraplegia. Mean patient age was 30 years (range 19 to 47 years) and the mean interval from spinal injury to the first EE was 9 years (range 1 to 38 years). Artificial insemination of husband (AIH), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were used to achieve a pregnancy. RESULTS: Antegrade ejaculation was obtained in 60 patients (86.9%). Patients with under-active bladder showed low induction rate (58.3%). Volume of ejaculate was ranged from 0.05 to 5.2 ml (average 1.0 ml) and sperm concentration was ranged from 0 to 546 x 10(6)/ml (average 40.3 x 10(6)/ml), but sperm motility was poor (range 0 to 70%, average 9.4%). Assisted reproductive techniques was attempted on 87 occasions (AIH 80, IVF 2, ICSI 5) on 15 couples. To date, there have been 4 pregnancies (AIH 2, ICSI 2) resulting in 3 healthy live births. CONCLUSION: Combined use of EE and assisted reproductive techniques is excellent management for the patients with SCI who wish to father children.

Electroejaculation in patients with spinal cord injury: first report of a large-scale experience from Japan.

BACKGROUND: Ejaculatory dysfunction is a substantial obstacle for spinal cord-injured men who have a desire to father their own children. Electroejaculation can potentially solve this problem. Recently, Halsted et al. reported outstanding results of the rectal probe electrostimulation (RPE) using newly developed equipment (Seager Model). In this paper, we report the first large-scale clinical trial in Japan of RPE for spinal cord-injured men. METHODS: RPE using the Seager Model was attempted on 328 occasions in 53 patients with an age range of 19-47 years; 1-38 years had elapsed since injury. RESULTS: Antegrade ejaculation was obtained in 46 patients (86.8%). Ninety-three percent of patients with upper motor neuron lesion-type neurogenic bladder produced antegrade ejaculation by RPE, whereas the rate in patients with lower motor neuron lesion type one was 63.6% (P < 0.05). Semen analyses revealed affected sperm motility rate as low as 17.2%. Artificial insemination from these husbands (AIH) was attempted on 54 occasions in 11 wives of the patients. On April 2, 1992, we had the first recorded birth in Japan with the assistance of RPE and AIH. On July 21, 1993, we had another successful birth. CONCLUSIONS: These promising results will encourage Japanese researchers to use electro-ejaculation, although the low success rate in patients with lower motor neuron lesion-type neurogenic bladder and the low motility of the sperm are obstacles to be overcome.

[Clinical evaluation of Cernilton on benign prostatic hypertrophy--a multiple center double-blind study with Paraprost].

A multiple center double blind study was performed to study the effectiveness of Cernilton (CN) on benign prostatic hypertrophy in comparison to Paraprost (PP). Among a total of 192 patients, overall effect was studied on 159 patients, overall safety rate on 178 patients and rate of effectiveness on 159 patients. There were no differences between the two groups in the selected patients, criteria for exclusion and drop out cases or background data of the patients. Impression of patients and overall effect by committee and physician judgment were slightly higher in the CN group compared to the PP group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. For the improvement in subjective symptoms, the rate of moderate improvement or more after 4 weeks by committee judgement was higher in the CN group compared to the PP group. The rate of improvement in protracted miction, which is an effective marker of urinary disturbance, was also higher in the CN group compared to the PP group. An analysis of objective symptoms showed a significant improvement in residual urinary volume, average flow rate, maximum flow rate and prostatic weight in the CN group. A significant improvement in the phased change of residual urinary volume was also seen in the CN group. No side effects or abnormalities in clinical test levels were noted in the CN group. By committee judgement, the rate of more than moderate effectiveness was 49.1% in the CN group compared to 41.2% in the PP group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. By physician's judgment, the rate of more than moderate effectiveness was 49.4% in the CN group compared to 46.3% in the PP group, but there was also no significant difference between the two groups. These results suggested that Cernilton was an effective drug for benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of vesical artery in the treatment of invasive bladder cancer.

Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed in a total of 70 patients with invasive bladder cancer from October 1980 to December 1987. It was performed as a part of multidisciplinary treatment in patients with invasive bladder cancer. Microencapsulated mitomycin C, gelatin sponge and lipiodol (iodized oil) were used as the embolic material. As a result, reduction of tumor size was noted in 56.7%, but there was no embolic materials-related significant difference. Stage reduction was noted in 72.7% of patients where pathological stages were confirmed by operation. Hemostatic effects were noted in 76.5%. The symptoms of side effects included fever, leukocytosis, urinary frequency and pain, but none of them was severe. The results of the present study indicate that embolization of the vesical artery is useful in the treatment of bladder cancer.

[Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity tests of garlic].

Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of fresh juice and alcohol extract from garlic were studied by Ames' test, Rec assay, Micronucleus test and the check of the influence to HEp 2 and chinese hamster embryo (CHE) primary cultured cells. No evidence of mutagenicity of these samples were observed in Ames' test and Rec assay, while there was dose dependent increase of micronucleated cells and polychromatocytes on the bone marrow cells of mice and chinese hamsters treated with garlic juice. There were severe damages, e.g. growth inhibition and morphological changes of both cultured cells due to garlic juice, but no or slightly cytotoxic signs were observed even in high concentration of garlic extract. A higher sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of garlic was seen by the present findings with CHE primary cells than HEp 2 cell line.