[Polymorphisms of DNA methyltransferases and the risk of prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the polymorphisms of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and the risk and pathologic characteristics of prostate cancer (PCa) in Chinese men. METHODS: This case-control study included 155 PCa patients and 155 healthy male controls. Using Sequenom MassARRAY, we detected the genotypes of the DNMT1 polymorphisms rs16999593 and rs2228611 and the DNMT3B polymorphism rs2424908, followed by analysis of their association with the risk and pathologic characteristics of prostate cancer by logistic regression. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the frequency of the rs16999593 genotypes (P = 0.041) and that of the rs2424908 genotypes (P = 0.025) between the case and control groups. The frequencies of the genotypes rs16999593CT (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.99, P = 0.043) and rs16999593CT/CC (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.39-0.92, P = 0.017) were obviously higher in the control than in the case group, and so were those of rs2424908CT (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.58-0.91, P = 0.007) and rs2424908CT/CC (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.94, P = 0.023). The frequencies of rs16999593CT/CC (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.28-0.85, P = 0.008) and rs2424908CT/CC (OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.28-0.85, P = 0.009) were evidently lower in the cases with Gleason score < 7 than in the controls. However, none of the three polymorphisms ex hibited any significant differences in the frequencies of their genotypes between the patients with Gleason score > 7 and the healthy con trols (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The rs16999593CT/CC genotype of DNMT1 and the rs2424908CT/CC genotype of DNMT3B are as sociated with decreased risk of prostate cancer and lower Gleason score in C.

[Yimusake Tablet: safe and efficacious for premature ejaculation].

OBJECTIVE: To objectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yimusake Tablet in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) through a multi-centered large-sample trial. METHODS: We conducted a multi-centered, open, fixed-dose, and self-compared clinical trial among 300 patients with diagnosed PE. The trial lasted 12 weeks, including 4 weeks without any medication and 8 weeks of treatment with Yimusake Tablet, 2 pills (1 g) per night. We observed the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) before and after treatment, evaluated the safety of medication, and performed a questionnaire investigation on the patients' satisfaction. RESULTS: Of the 300 PE patients, 288 accomplished the clinical trial. The patients ranged in age from 22 to 60 years, averaging at 31.6 years. The mean IELT of the patient was 62.5 seconds at baseline, 168.9 seconds after 4 weeks of treatment with Yimusake Tablet, and 222.2 seconds after 8 weeks of medication. Among the 157 patients with normal erectile function (IIEF >21), the mean IELT was 71.4 seconds before treatment, 147.4 seconds after 4 weeks of medication, and 172.5 seconds after 8 weeks of medication. The patients' satisfaction was significantly increased after treatment. Those complicated by mild to moderate erectile dysfunction achieved different degrees of improvement in the IIEF-5 score, with a mean increase of 3.8. Only a few patients experienced mild adverse events, including constipation, dry mouth, nose bleeding, abdominal pain, and lumbosacral pain, which were all relieved without drug withdrawal. CONCLUSION: Yimusake Tablet is a safe and effective medicine for the treatment of PE.

[Qianlie Beixi Capsules for unliquefiable semen: a multi-center clinical study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and possible action mechanism of Qianlie Beixi Capsules in the treatment of unliquefiable semen. METHODS: A total of 190 patients with unliquefiable semen were treated with Qianlie Beixi Capsules for 1 or 2 courses (3 weeks per a course). The seminal changes were observed and recorded. RESULTS: Of the 190 patients in the 1-course treatment arm, 99 were cured and 91 failed to respond after the first course. And the effectiveness rate was 52.1%. Of the 122 patients in the 2-course treatment arm, 81 were cured and 41 failed to respond after the second course. And the effectiveness rate was 66.4%. The efficacy of 2-course regimen was obviously better than that of 1-course regiment. In the meantime, sperm density improved in the 2-course treatment arm. Sperm motility improved slightly in the effective subjects of 1-course treatment arm. All the above results had statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Qianlie Beixi Capsules is both safe and effective for unliquefiable semen and may shorten the time of seminal liquefaction.

[Safety and efficacy of QianlieanSuppository for chronic prostatitis of damp-heat and blood-stasis syndrome: a randomized, single-blind, parallel controlled, multi-centered phase III clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Qianliean Suppository in the treatment of chronic prostatitis of damp-heat and blood-stasis syndrome. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, single-blind, parallel-controlled, multi-centered clinical trial among 467 subjects, who were assigned to a trial group (n = 349) and a control group (n = 118), the former treated with Qianliean Suppository anally one pill per night for 28 days and the latter given Yejuhua Suppository in the same way. The efficacy was evaluated by the TCM syndrome, NIH-CPSI, main clinical symptoms and WBC count in EPS. RESULTS: After the treatment, the total rates of recovery, excellence and effectiveness for the TCM syndrome were 4.4%, 58.0% and 90.7% respectively in the trial group, significantly higher than 0.9%, 33.1% and 70.4% in the control group (P < 0.025). Remarkable decreases were observed in the NIH-CPSI total score and the scores on pain and discomfort, voiding symptoms and quality of life in the former group compared with the latter (P < 0.025). The trial group also showed a marked alleviation of such main chronic prostatitis symptoms as urgent micturition and perineal pain and discomfort (P < 0.05), as well as an obvious improvement (55.2%) of the WBC count in EPS as compared with 32.4% in the control group (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred in either of the two groups (0.56% [2/349 ] vs 0.83% [1/118]). CONCLUSIONS: Qianliean Suppository is safe and effective for the treatment of chronic prostatitis of damp-heat and blood-stasis syndrome.

[A case-control study on the relations between insulin resistance and essential hypertension in YI NATIONALITY living in Liangshan, Sichuang Province].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether insulin resistance (IR) was associated with essential hypertension (EH) in YI nationality living in Liangshan, Sichuang Province. METHODS: A case-control study consisting of 113 YI hypertensives as cases and 156 YI normotensives as controls were conducted to investigate the level of fasting glucose (FG) and fasting insulin (FINS), and insulin resistance index was used as the indicator of IR. RESULTS: It was found that impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and IR were associated with EH significantly among YI migrants, and OR (95% CI) were 3.98 (2.14 approximately 7.42, P < 0.001) and 2.55 (1.35 approximately 4.83, P = 0.004) respectively. Being stratified by sex, both IFG and IR were associated with EH significantly among YI male migrant, and OR were 4.31 (2.01 approximately 9.24, P < 0.001) and 3.14 (1.45 approximately 6.82, P = 0.003) respectively; but only IFG was associated with EH significantly among YI female migrant and OR was 3.46 (1.17 approximately 10.22, P = 0.022). Among YI farmers, both IFG and IR were not associated with EH significantly. The non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that IR was associated significantly with EH among YI migrants. This was not as same as observed in YI farmers. CONCLUSION: It is likely that IR is the risk factor of EH among YI migrants in our study. However, the association between IR and EH among YI farmers needs some further studies.

Association of the DISC1 and NRG1 genetic polymorphisms with schizophrenia in a Chinese population.

Polymorphisms in Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) and Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) might be associated with schizophrenia; however, the conclusions of relevant studies were inconsistent across different ethnic populations. This population-based case-control study was carried out to determine whether polymorphisms in these two genes could be associated with schizophrenia in the Chinese population. A case-control study of 248 schizophrenia patients and 236 controls was performed with the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. The results revealed that the DISC1 rs821616 heterozygous (AT vs. AA: adjusted OR, 1.98, 95%CI: 1.30-3.02) and co-dominant (AT/TT vs. AA: adjusted OR=1.94; 95%CI: 1.29-2.92) patterns were associated with increased risk for developing schizophrenia in all participants and subgroups (stratified by sex and age at onset), respectively. Moreover, in the male subgroup, the DISC1 rs821597 genotype GA or GA/AA exhibited increased risk of schizophrenia. For NRG1 polymorphisms, in the early onset subgroup (≤25years), the rs3924999 G/G genotype was susceptible to schizophrenia. The interaction of DISC1 rs821616 T allele with the NRG1 rs3924999 A allele or that of DISC1 rs821597 A allele with NRG1 rs3924999 A allele had synergic effects on the development of schizophrenia. This study concluded that carriers of the DISC1 rs821616 T allele have increased risk for developing schizophrenia, and that the DISC1 rs821597 A allele was susceptible to schizophrenia for the male, and that there are marked interactions between the DISC1 rs821616 T and/or rs821597 A alleles and the NRG1 rs3924999 A allele for the development of schizophrenia.