Efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a multi-centered open clinical study on 165 BPH patients treated with Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules at a dose of 160 mg qd for 12 weeks. At the baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of medication, we compared the International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), prostate volume, postvoid residual urine volume, urinary flow rate, quality of life scores (QOL), and adverse events between the two groups of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the baseline, both IPSS and QOL were improved after 6 weeks of medication, and at 12 weeks, significant improvement was found in IPSS, QOL, urinary flow rate, and postvoid residual urine. Mild stomachache occurred in 1 case, which necessitated no treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules were safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.</p>

Treatment of 58 cases of penile squamous cell carcinoma / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for rational and effective treatments for penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 58 cases of pathologically confirmed PSCC, focusing on the treatment methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Based on Jackson Staging, 25 of the 58 cases fell into stage I, 18 stage II, 11 stage III, and 4 stage IV. Fifty-three of the patients were treated by surgery, of whom 43 underwent limited resection of the tumor or partial amputation of the penis, and the other 10 received total penis amputation plus perineal urethrostomy and clearance of lymphoglandulae iliacae and inguinal lymph nodes, with the lymphoglandulae iliacae positive in 1 case and the inguinal lymph nodes positive in all. Thirty-seven cases received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (thermotherapy plus chemotherapy) and combined postoperative chemotherapy, 12 postoperative chemotherapy only, and 4 merely surgery. Five of the total number underwent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy without surgery. The 2-5 years follow-up of 48 patients found recurrence in 4 cases of partial penis amputation within 2 years, 4 deaths within 2 years, 7 deaths from 2 to 5 years. The 2- and 5-year survival rates were 91.7% and 77.1%, respectively. Ten of the cases were lost in follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Surgery + neoadjuvant hormonal therapy + postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is an effective method for PSCC, but whether it can reduce the recurrence of PSCC and improve the survival of the patients remains to be further studied.</p>

Antitumour effect of total saponins of Rubus parvifolius on malignant melanoma / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the antitumor effect of total saponins of R. parvifolius on malignant melanoma.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The human malignant melanoma A375 cells were regularlly subcultured in vitro, and were divided into five groups contained positive control group (CTX), high concentration (0.01 mg x mL(-1)) and middle concentration (0.001 mg x mL(-1)) and low concentration (0.000 1 mg x mL(-1)) total saponins of R. parvifolius groups and negative control group. By using MTT colorimetric method, the cell viability was measured. B16 melanoma cells were transplanted to mice, which were divided into positive control group, high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)) and middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)) and low dose (25 mg x kg(-1)) total saponins of R. parvifolius groups and negative control group. The inhibition effect of the tumor in vivo, mean survival time and rate of life-elongation of the mice were observed. TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis of B16 malignant melanoma.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Antitumor assay in vitro showed that the absorbency increased in the concentration of 0.01, 0.001 mg x mL(-1) with statistical significance (P < 0.05 vs negative control). Antitumor assay in vivo showed that the tumor inhibitory rate of high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)) and middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)) of total saponins of R. parvifolius were 37.02% and 30.61%, respectively. Loaded tumor mouse survival duration could be prolonged. The apoptosis indexes of B16 tumor cells in three treatment groups were 32.5%, 20.5% and 5.5%, respective and there was statistical significance (P < 0.05 vs negative control).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The total saponins of R. parvifolius has remarkable inhibition of proliferation of malignant melanoma cells in vivo and in vitro and exerts antitumor activities through promoting tumor cell apoptosis.</p>