[Potential action mechanism of Yishen Tongluo Prescription on male infertility: An analysis based on network pharmacology].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the main active components and potential molecular mechanism of Yishen Tongluo Prescription (YTP) in the treatment of male infertility based on network pharmacological technology. METHODS: We searched and sorted the main active components of YTP and their individual potential targets in the databases of Systematic Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Bioinformatics Analysis Tool of the Molecular Mechanism of TCM, and screened the targets related to male infertility diseases in the databases of Genecards, DisGeNET and OMIM. We made a Venn diagram by intersecting the predicted targets of YTP and those of male infertility diseases, constructed visualized networks for the association of the intersection targets and protein-protein interaction (PPI) using the Cytoscape software and STRING platform respectively, and conducted gene ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analyses using the DAVID database and R language "Cluster Profiler" software package respectively. RESULTS: A total of 99 active components, 250 targets of YTP, 4 397 targets of male infertility and 127 common targets were identified. GO analysis revealed that the biological processes of the common targets mainly included transcriptional regulation of RNA polymerase promoter Ⅱ, regulation of gene expressions, regulation of apoptosis, responses to estrogen, and cell responses to hypoxia. KEGG analysis showed significant enrichment of the common targets in the estrogen signaling pathway, cell apoptosis pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, and TNF signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Through network pharmacology, we identified the main active components of YTP and its multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism in the treatment of male infertility, which has paved the ground for animal and cell experiments in verifying the action mechanism of YTP on male infertility.

Repair mechanism of Yishen Tongluo formula on mouse sperm DNA fragmentation caused by polystyrene microplastics.

CONTEXT: Plastics can break down into millions of microplastic (MPs, < 5 mm) particles in the soil and ocean. These MPs can then affect the function of the reproductive system. There is currently no effective solution to this problem aside from traditional Chinese medicine. We have previously used Yishen Tongluo formula (YSTL) to treat sperm DNA damage caused by some toxic substances. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism underlying the repair of mouse sperm DNA fragmentation caused by polystyrene microplastics by YSTL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An animal model of polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP)-induced sperm DNA damage was replicated by gavage of SPF ICR (CD1) mice PS-MPs at 1 mg/d and treated with YSTL at 11.89, 23.78 and 47.56 g/kg, respectively, for 60 days. The Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of each group was detected and compared. The target genes of YSTL identified by transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were validated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. RESULTS: The DFI of the PS group (20.66%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.23%). The medium and high doses of the YSTL group (12.8% and 11.31%) exhibited a significant repairing effect. The most enriched pathway was PI3K/Akt. TBL1X, SPARC, hnRNP0, Map7D1, Eps8 and Mrpl27 were screened and SPARC was validated. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The precise mechanism by which YSTL inhibits PD-MPs DNA damage may be associated with the PI3K/Akt pathway and SPARC. It provides a new direction for using traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and repair reproductive system injury caused by MPs.

[To evaluate the efficacy of Yishen Tongluo decoction combined with low-dose tadalafil in the treatment of diabetic erectile dysfunction with kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of the combined treatment of Yishen Tongluo formula and low-dose tadalafil in diabetic erectile dysfunction. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with diabetic erectile dysfunction were randomly divided into two groups. The control group given tadalafil treatment, observation group in the control group given Yishen Tongluo Formula on the basis of treatment. The treatment period was 8 weeks. Erectile function were observed before and after treatment in the two groups patients-5 international questionnaire (IIEF - 5) score, erection quality scale (EQS) score, erectile hardness (EHS) score, TCM syndrome integral, content of serum homocysteine (HCY), endothelial function index ï¼»serum levels of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2)ï¼½ and endothelin (ET) content, a The changes of nitrogen oxide (NO), glucose and lipid metabolism indexes ï¼»triglyceride (TC), total cholesterol (TG)ï¼½ and oxidative stress related factors ï¼»total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)ï¼½ were evaluated, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated. RESULTS: In terms of overall efficacy rate, the observation group (79.4%) outperformed that of the control (48.7%, P< 0.01).After treatment, the IIEF-5 score, EQS score, EHS score, and serum levels of PGI2, NO, T-AOC and GSH-Px were higher than those before treatment in the two groups (P< 0.05). The TCM syndrome score and serum HCY, ET-1, TC and TG were lower than those before treatment (P< 0.05), and the comparison group's consequence was comparatively worse than the group under observation (P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Yishen Tongluo Formula can dramatically enhance the erectile dysfunction andimprovement of glucose-lipid metabolism when adopted in together with low-dose tadalafil.

[Dumai moxibustion combined with low-dose tadalafil for erectile dysfunction: Evaluation of therapeutic effect].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of dumai (governor meridian) moxibustion combined with low-dose tadalafil in the treatment of ED with decline of vital gate fire. METHODS: We enrolled in this study 130 ED patients with decline of vital gate fire who met the inclusion criteria and equally randomized them into a control and an experimental group, the former treated with low-dose tadalafil tablets at 5 mg once a day while the latter by dumai moxibustion once a week in addition, all for 4 weeks. Of the total number of subjects, 62 in the control group and 63 in the experimental group completed the experiment. We recorded the scores on IIEF-5, Erection Quality Scale (EQS), Erection Hardness Scale (EHS), TCM symptoms and Treatment Satisfaction Scale (TSS) as well as the penile hemodynamic parameters peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index (RI) before and after treatment and compared them between the two groups. RESULTS: The total response rate was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control (87.30% vs 66.13%, P < 0.05). IIEF-5, EQS, EHS and TSS scores, PSV and RI were markedly increased while TCM symptoms and EDV remarkably decreased in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the experimental than in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dumai moxibustion combined with low-dose tadalafil can improve erectile function, increase penile blood flow velocity and alleviate clinical symptoms in ED patients with decline of vital gate fire, with definite clinical effect and safety.

[The causal relationship between gut microbiota and male reproductive and sexual health].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to use the MR method to explore the causal relationship between 211 gut microbiota and male reproductive and sexual health. METHODS: The MiBioGen alliance published genome-wide association study (GWAS) related genetic variation data was used as instrumental variables (IVs) for gut microbiota, and the Finngen biobank GWAS related genetic variation data was used as IVs for male infertility, abnormal sperm, sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, and testicular dysfunction. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was used as the MR analysis method, the results were evaluated according to the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of the effect measures, and data sensitivity analysis was performed. RESULTS: The results showed that 6 types of gut microbiota were related to male infertility, 12 types were related to abnormal sperm, 5 types were related to sexual dysfunction, 4 types were related to erectile dysfunction, and 4 types were related to testicular dysfunction. And there was no abnormality in the data sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION: The intestinal microbiota is closely related to male reproductive and sexual health.

Transcriptome and genome sequencing investigating the molecular characteristics of patients with varicocele infertility.

The prevalence of varicoceles in male infertility is increasing; however, the exact mechanism is unknown, and no direct studies of varicose spermatic veins have been conducted. Three patients with varicocele infertility were included to explore the possible factors that cause varicocele infertility, and varicose and nearby normal veins were harvested by varicocelectomy. RNA sequencing was performed on six vascular samples, followed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses of the screened differential expressed genes which were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The genomes of the patients were analysed using next-generation sequencing to screen for genetic factors behind varicocele infertility. 1171 genes were upregulated and 2772 were downregulated in varicose spermatic veins compared with those in normal veins. These genes were significantly enriched in the alcohol consumption pathway. HIST1H4C, HIST1H4F, HIST1H4K, TM9SF1, and TMEFF1 were significantly differentially expressed. The genomic results identified patients with mutations in CFTR, NANOS1, SRCAP, GATA4, GCM2, TUBB1, ALDH7A1, ANTXR1, and MAP3K1. In conclusion, our results indicated that Alcohol consumption may be a cause of varicoceles. Mutations in certain genes, such as CFTR, may be a cause of male infertility due to varicoceles.

Transcriptomics and proteomics analysis to explore the mechanism of Yishen Tongluo formula repairing sperm DNA damage in rats.

The sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) is an objective indicator of male fertility. Currently, effective treatments for high sperm DFI are limited and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has certain advantages in this aspect. Yishen Tongluo formula (YSTL), a TCM formula, has been found to reduce DFI in patients. To better understand the mechanisms underlying its activity, we used transcriptomics and proteomics to analyse the potential target gene YSTL repairing tripterygium glycosides (TGs)-mediated sperm DNA damage in rats, followed by validation analyses using RT-qPCR and western blotting, which showed that relative to the control group, DFI was markedly elevated in the TGs group, but markedly lower in the YSTL group relative to the TGs group. KEGG pathway analysis of 119 differentially expressed genes and 158 DEPs identified using trend analysis revealed that they were enriched for apoptosis and base excision repair at the transcriptomic level and for microRNAs in cancer and complement and coagulation cascades at the proteomic level. Ttr and Pnpla2 were identified as potential target genes for YSTL. Our data show that YSTL can protect rat sperm DNA from TGs-induced damage, which may be related to apoptosis, DNA repair and other pathways, and the possible target genes are Ttr and Pnpla2.

[Effects of Yishen Tongluo Prescription on the PI3K-Akt-MTOR pathway and the protein and mRNA expressions of CatSper-1 and HSPA2 in the testis tissue of oligoasthenospermia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Yishen Tongluo Prescription (YTP) on the testis tissue of the male rats with oligoasthenospermia (OAS) and its action mechanism based on the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. METHODS: We randomly divided 48 SPF male SD rats into 8 groups: normal control, OAS model control, L-carnitine (LC), high-dose YTP, low-dose YTP, Omipalisib inhibitor (OI), OI + high-dose YTP, and OI + low-dose YTP, with 6 rats in each group. We established a model of OAS in the latter 7 groups by intragastric administration of tripterygium wilfordii polyside, followed by intervention with corresponding drugs. After treatment, we obtained semen parameters from the rats, observed pathological changes in the testis tissue by HE staining, and determined the expressions of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins and mRNA by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: Sperm concentration and total sperm motility were significantly improved in the LC and YTP groups compared with those in the OAS model control group (P < 0.001). HE staining showed irregularly arranged spermatogenic cells and narrowed lumina and widened gaps of seminiferous tubules in the OAS model controls, as well as similar pathological changes in the LC, YTP and OI + YTP groups. Significant up-regulation was observed in the protein expressions of p-Akt, CatSper-1 and HSPA2 in the LC group (P < 0.05), those of p-Akt, mTOR, catsper-1 and HSP2 in the low-dose YTP group (P < 0.05) and that of PI3K in the high-dose YTP group (P < 0.05) compared with those in the model controls. There were no statistically significant differences in the expressions of PI3K, mTOR and catsper-1 between the OI and model control groups (P > 0.05), nor in those of PI3K, p-Akt, mTOR, CatSper-1 and HSPA2 between the OI + YTP and the former two groups (P > 0.05). The mRNA expressions of PI3K, mTOR, CatSper-1 and HSPA2 were remarkably higher in the LC and YTP groups than in the model control (P< 0.05), with those of catsper-1 and PI3K even more significantly up-regulated in the high-dose than in the low-dose YTP group (P< 0.001; P< 0.05). Statistically significant differences were not observed in the mRNA expressions of PI3K, mTOR, CatSper-1 and HSPA2 between the model control and OI groups (P > 0.05), nor in those of PI3K, mTOR, catsper-1 and HSPA2 between the model control and OI + YTP groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Yishen Tongluo Prescription can improve sperm quality and pathological changes of the testis tissue in rats with Tripterygium glycoside-induced OAS, which might be attributed to its ability of up-regulating the expressions of the PI3K Akt mTOR pathway-related proteins and mRNA in the testis tissue.

[Psychological nursing for genital herpes patients receiving acyclovir plus thymosin and its effect on the incidence of adverse reactions].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of psychological nursing in patients with genital herpes receiving acyclovir combined with thymosin and its effect on the incidence of adverse reactions. METHODS: A total of 160 patients with genital herpes treated with acyclovir plus thymosin in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2018 were randomly allocated to receive conventional nursing (the control group, n = 80) and psychological nursing (the trial group, n = 80). Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the anxiety and depression of the patients, and comparisons were made between the two groups of patients in their SAS and SDS scores, the incidence of adverse reactions and their satisfaction with nursing intervention. RESULTS: After nursing intervention, the patients of the trial group, compared with the controls, showed significantly lower SAS scores (39.05 ± 2.97 vs 45.71 ± 3.36, P < 0.01), SDS scores (41.74 ± 2.86 vs 47.28 ± 3.95, P < 0.01), and incidence of adverse reactions (22.50% vs 47.50%, P < 0.05), but a markedly higher rate of satisfaction with nursing intervention (95.00% vs 77.5%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological nursing can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions in genital herpes patients receiving acyclovir combined with thymosin and meanwhile improve the mental status of the patients by alleviating their anxiety and depression.

[Clinical efficacy of magnetic resonance electromagnetic therapy combined with Qianlie Beixi Capsules in the treatment of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of the magnetic resonance electromagnetic therapy (MREM) combined with Qianlie Beixi Capsules (QBC) in the treatment of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). METHODS: Using a prospective, two-center, randomized, open, positive drug-loading, parallel-controlled clinical design, we randomly divided 124 patients with CP/CPPS into a control and an observation group of equal number, the former treated with QBC and the latter with QBC combined with MREM for a course of 14 days. Then, we compared the NIH-CPSI scores before and after treatment, the total effectiveness rate and safety between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: After treatment, the patients in both the observation and control groups showed significantly improved total and specific item scores on NIH-CPSI (P < 0.05), and those of the observation group achieved even more significant improvement than the controls either in the total NIH-CPSI score (16.65 ± 7.90 vs 21.95 ± 5.70, P < 0.05) or in the pain symptom score (7.34 ± 3.26 vs 9.50 ± 2.47, P < 0.05), urination symptom score (3.53 ± 2.56 vs 4.50 ± 2.35, P < 0.05) and quality of life score (5.94 ± 2.89 vs 8.03 ± 2.60, P < 0.05). The total effectiveness rate was remarkably higher in the observation than in the control group (83.87% vs 53.23%, P < 0.05). No adverse events or reactions were observed in either group of the patients during the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance electromagnetic therapy combined with Qianlie Beixi Capsules can significantly relieve the clinical symptoms of CP/CPPS patients with high effectiveness and safety.

[Yishen Tongluo Recipe combined with minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of varicocele-associated asthenospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Yishen Tongluo Recipe (YTR) combined with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the treatment of varicocele-associated asthenospermia (of the kidney-deficiency and collateral-obstruction type). METHODS: We randomly divided 116 patients with varicocele-associated asthenospermia and up to the inclusion criteria into three groups and treated them by YTR combined with MIS (low spermatic vein ligation at the external inguinal ring orifice under the microscope) (the YTR+MIS group, n = 39), YTR alone (the YTR group, n = 38), or MIS alone (the MIS group, n = 39). At 12 weeks after treatment, we compared the total effectiveness rate, the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS), sperm straight line velocity (VSL), sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and symptoms among the three groups of patients. RESULTS: After treatment, the total effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the YTR+MIS than in the YTR and the MIS group (89.74% vs 63.16% and 64.10%, P < 0.05), and so were the percentage of PMS (31.67 ± 3.93 vs 24.48 ± 3.15 and 25.57 ± 3.37, P < 0.05) and VSL (ï¼»30.19 ± 5.32ï¼½ vs ï¼»27.19 ± 5.48ï¼½ and ï¼»27.55 ± 5.24ï¼½ µm/s, P < 0.05), but the DFI was remarkably lower in the former than in the latter two groups (11.25 ± 8.27 vs 15.87 ± 5.45 and 15.26 ± 4.36, P < 0.05). The symptoms were improved more significantly in the YTR+MIS than in the YTR and MIS groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Yishen Tongluo Recipe combined with minimally invasive surgery, as an effective and safe strategy, can significantly improve sperm quality and sperm DNA integrity in patients with varicocele-associated asthenospermia.

[Protective effect of Yishen Tongluo Recipe against benzo(a)pyrene-induced sperm DNA methylation changes in male rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effect of Yishen Tongluo Recipe (YTR) against aberrant sperm DNA methylation in male rats exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). METHODS: Thirty male SD rats of the SPF grade were randomly divided into three groups of equal number: solvent control, BaP exposure and YTR intervention. The animals of the solvent control group were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5% DMSO while those of the other two groups with BaP at 0.1 mg/kg/d, all for 60 days, and at 31 days of BaP exposure, those of the YTR group were treated intragastrically with YTR for 30 days. Then, the left epididymides were harvested from all the rats and sperm suspensions collected and centrifuged for extraction of sperm DNA. The methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq) technique was used to detect the whole-genome DNA methylation in different groups. RESULTS: Exposure to BaP induced the up-regulation of 828 genes encoding mRNA in the sperm DNA, while YTR intervention produced a significant protective effect on the transforming growth factor ß3 (TGF-ß3), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1), and down-regulated the expressions of 3 227 genes. BaP exposure also caused the up-regulation of 783 genes encoding lncRNA in the sperm DNA, and YTR treatment exhibited an evident protective effect on 62 of the up-regulated genes, induced the down-regulation of 3 378 genes, and showed a protective effect on 56 of the down-regulated genes. CONCLUSIONS: YTR has a protective effect against aberrant sperm DNA methylation in male rats exposed to BaP, which may be associated with lncRNA.

[Mental health of prostatitis patients in China: A statistical analysis of literature].

OBJECTIVE: To know the basic status of researches on the mental health of prostatitis patients in China by statistical analysis of the literature published in the past two decades and provide some reference for such studies. METHODS: Using the bibliometrics method, we performed statistical analyses on the publication years, journals, and authors of the articles published in the core journals concerning the mental health of prostatitis patients in China as well as on the topics of the identified studies using their titles, key words and abstracts. RESULTS: Totally, 226 related studies were identified, of which 31 (by 29 authors) were published in the Chinese core journals. As for the topics of the included studies, 102 (45.13%) focused on the role and significance of psychotherapy in the treatment of prostatitis, 52 (23.01%) on the correlation of psychological factors with prostatitis, and 23 (10.18%) on the correlation of psychopathic factors with prostatitis complicated by sexual dysfunction. Most of the articles on the mental health of prostatitis patients were published in National Journal of Andrology. CONCLUSIONS: Studies on the mental health of prostatitis patients in China are carried out in varied institutions and different directions but, however, need to be furthered and deepened. For this condition, a comprehensive therapeutic mode of "prevention-communication-treatment" is coming into being, and the methodology for related researches is gradually turning from linear to stereoscopic.

The association of multimorbidity and disability in a community-based sample of elderly aged 80 or older in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: Both multimorbidity and activities of daily living (ADL) disability and instrument activities of daily living (IADL) disability are common among elderly individuals. ADL/IADL disability may reduce individuals' capacities for independent living and quality of life. This study aimed to examine the association between multimorbidity and ADL/IADL disability. METHODS: A multi-stage cluster sample of 2058 residents aged 80 or older was investigated in Shanghai, China. Multimorbidity was defined as the simultaneous presence of two or more chronic diseases with ten common chronic conditions under consideration. Subjects who responded that they "need partial or full assistance" to any ADL/IADL items were defined as having ADL/IADL disability. We examined the association of multimorbidity with ADL/IADL disability, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics by using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of respondents, 23.23 % had ADL disability, 37.90 % had IADL disability, and 49.17 % had multimorbidity. After adjusted socio-demographic characteristics, a graded association was showed between ADL disability and the quantity of chronic conditions: odds ratio (OR) for 1 condition, 1.53(95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.04-2.24); OR for 2 conditions, 2.06(95 % CI, 1.43-2.96); OR for 3 conditions, 3.23(95 % CI, 2.14-4.86); OR for 4 or more conditions, 5.61(95 % CI, 3.26-9.66). Similar associations were also observed between the quantity of chronic conditions and IADL disability. CONCLUSIONS: The quantity of chronic conditions had relatively strong association with both ADL and IADL disability. Initiating prevention of additional chronic conditions and interventions on clusters of diseases may decrease the potential risk of ADL/IADL disability. Additionally, more attention should been given to the older low-income women living with relatives/non-relatives with multimorbidity.

Does disability predict attempted suicide in the elderly? A community-based study of elderly residents in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVES: Disability, which has been proved to be associated with suicide and suicidal ideation, has received little attention in relation to suicidal attempts among the elderly. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of disability on attempted suicide within this demographic. METHOD: A multi-stage cluster sample of 8399 residents aged 60 or more was investigated from 15 communities in Shanghai, China. Disability was measured using the Lawton instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of attempted suicide in the elderly was 0.75%. Specific IADL disabilities, including shopping (OR = 3.01, 95% CI = 1.56-5.81), preparing meals (OR = 4.12, 95% CI = 2.12-8.00), housekeeping (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.01-6.06), doing laundry (OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.09-7.35), using transport (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.36-6.99) and medical care (OR = 4.41, 95% CI = 2.10-9.17), were significantly and independently associated with attempted suicide in the elderly. The presence of at least one such disability was associated with an almost threefold increase in the attempted suicide rate, and the presence of five or more IADL disabilities was associated with an approximate fivefold increase in the attempted suicide rate. CONCLUSION: Specific IADL disabilities, such as preparing meals or dealing with medical care, may be significant predictive factors for risk of suicidal attempts among the elderly. Therefore, elderly people with certain disabilities should be considered for suicide prevention interventions and should be supported in IADL as much as possible.

[Traditional Chinese medicine to prevent environmental pollutant-induced epigenetic changes of sperm DNA].

In recent years, the incidences of male infertility and recurrent abortion are increasing. The causes of the conditions are varied and complex, but the affected stability of the genetic material in the sperm is an important etiological factor. Environmental pollutants may invade the body through respiration, diet and other channels, resulting in infertility and abortion or even affecting the reproductive system development of the offspring by changing the epigenetics of sperm DNA. In this paper, we propose the idea of using traditional Chinese medicine to prevent environmental pollutant-induced epigenetic changes of sperm DNA, hoping to provide a new insight into the protection against genetic material damage, male infertility, and recurrent abortion caused by environmental pollutants.

[Common TCM syndrome pattern of chronic pelvic pain syndrome relates to plasma substance p and beta endorphin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of the common Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome pattern of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) with the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma, and provide reference data for the clinical diagnosis, differentiation and treatment of CPPS by TCM. METHODS: We observed 98 cases of CPPS, which were classified into a lower-part damp-heat invasion group (group A, n = 32), a blood stasis-induced collateral obstruction group (group B, n = 34), and a damp-heat stagnation group (group C, n = 32) according to the TCM syndrome differentiation. Another 35 normal healthy young men were enrolled as controls. We measured the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma by immunoradiometry and ELISA, and analyzed their relationship with the TCM syndrome pattern. RESULTS: The contents of plasma substance p were significantly higher in groups A ([1135.76 +/- 166.45] pg/ml), B ([1 337.84 +/- 170.81] pg/ml), and C ([1 210.01 +/- 162.27] pg/ml) than in the control ([574.99 +/- 113.09] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01), while the contents of plasma beta endorphin in groups A ([212.70 +/- 29.49] pg/ml), B ([157.99 +/- 24.01] pg/ml), and C ([180.81 +/- 20.20] pg/ml) were remarkably lower than that in the control ([274.73 +/- 27.64] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In the plasma of CPPS patients, the content of substance p is significantly elevated and that of beta endorphin markedly reduced, which suggests that they may be involved in the inflammatory reaction of CPPS. The levels of plasma substance p and beta endorphin can be used as valuable reference for the TCM classification of chronic prostatitis.

Heat-sensitive moxibustion combined with Xiangwu powder for erectile dysfunction with kidney deficiency and blood stasis: a randomized controlled trial. / çƒ­æ•ç¸è”åˆé¦™èœˆæ•£æ²»ç–—è‚¾è™šè¡€ç˜€åž‹å‹ƒèµ·åŠŸèƒ½éšœç¢ï¼šéšæœºå¯¹ç §è¯•éªŒ.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion combined with Xiangwu powder in treating erectile dysfunction with kidney deficiency and blood stasis. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with erectile dysfunction of kidney deficiency and blood stasis were randomly divided into a comprehensive group (40 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a Chinese herb group (40 cases, 2 cases dropped out). In the Chinese herb group, Xiangwu powder was applied orally, one dose per day. On the basis of the Chinese herb group, heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied after detecting the heat-sensitive points in the areas of Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in the comprehensive group, once a day, 5 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5) score, erectile hardness score (EHS), nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) indexes (nocturnal penile erection frequency, total duration of penile erection, duration of penile head hardness ≥60%, duration of penile root hardness ≥60%, percentage change in penile head circumference, percentage change in penile root circumference), TCM syndrome score, and penile vascular function indexes (peak systolic velocity [PSV], end diastolic velocity [EDV], and resistance index [RI] of penile cavernosal artery) were compared in the patients of the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the IIEF-5 scores, EHS, PSV, RI, and NPTR indexes were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), while the TCM syndrome scores and EDV were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01) in the two groups.The IIEF-5 score, EHS, PSV, RI, and NPTR indexes in the comprehensive group were ascended compared with those in the Chinese herb group (P<0.01), while the TCM syndrome score and EDV in the comprehensive group were lower than those in the traditional Chinese herb group (P<0.01). The total effective rate of the comprehensive group was 94.9% (37/39), which was higher than 78.9% (30/38, P<0.05) of the Chinese herb group. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of heat-sensitive moxibustion and Xiangwu powder can effectively treat erectile dysfunction of kidney deficiency and blood stasis, improve patients' erectile function, enhance their erection hardness, and improve their penile vascular function and clinical symptoms.

Observation of the efficacy of elongated needle therapy in treating patients with â ¢B prostatitis of stagnant dampness-heat syndrome. / 芒针治疗湿热瘀阻证⠢Båž‹å‰åˆ—è ºç‚Žæ‚£è€ çš„ç–—æ•ˆè§‚å¯Ÿ.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the clinical efficacy in patients with ⅢB prostatitis of stagnant dampness-heat syndrome treated with elongated needle therapy. METHODS: A total of 90 patients with ⅢB prostatitis of stagnant dampness-heat syndrome were selected and randomly divided into a treatment group(45 cases, 2 dropped out) and a control group(45 cases, 1 dropped out) using a random number table method. The control group was treated with oral administration of Qianlie Shutong Capsule, 3 capsules per dose, 3 times a day for a total of 4 weeks. The treatment group received elongated needle therapy at Qihai(CV6), Zhongji(CV3), bilateral Zhibian(BL54) and Shuidao(ST28), with one treatment per day for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) score were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was compared after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with that before treatment, the control group showed significant decrease in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, testicular pain, urinary frequency, unending remnants of urine, scrotal wetness, yellowish urine, urinary symptoms, and quality of life scores after treatment(P<0.05)；the treatment group showed significant decrease in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, and perineal pain, groin pain, pelvic pain, testicular pain, scrotal wetness, yellowish urine scores, NIH-CPSI total score, pain symptoms, urinary symptoms, and quality of life scores after treatment(P<0.05). After treatment, the treatment group showed significantly lower traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, and perineal pain, groin pain, pelvic pain, testicular pain scores, NIH-CPSI total score, pain symptoms, and quality of life scores than those of the control group(P<0.05). The effective rate in the treatment group (63.64%, 28/43) was significantly higher than that in the control group (88.37%, 38/44, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elongated needle therapy can significantly improve the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, NIH-CPSI total score, and pain symptom scores in patients with ⅢB prostatitis of stagnant dampness-heat syndrome. It can significantly improve the cure rate in these patients and is particularly effective in relieving pain.

Transcriptomic and proteomic features of a mouse model of sperm DNA damage induced by benzo(a)pyrene.

This study replicated a mouse model of sperm DNA damage induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), and the transcriptomic and proteomic features of the model were examined to clarify the pathways related to BaP-induced damage to sperm DNA. Male mice in the BaP group were subjected to BaP at a dosage of 100 mg/kg/d or an equivalent quantity of saline solution in the control group for 60 days. Subsequently, the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in sperm was assessed using a sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). RNA-seq and data-independent acquisition (DIA) were used to identify the mRNA and protein expression patterns in the testis. The sperm DFI significantly increased in the BaP group. Compared to the control group, the BaP group exhibited differential expression of 240 genes (referred to as DEGs) and 616 proteins (referred to as DEPs). These molecules included Aldh1a1, Cyb5r3, Fads1, Oxsm, Rcn3, and Prss45. Pathways in cancer, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, metabolic pathways, and the MAPK signaling pathway were the primary areas where these genes showed enrichment. BaP can damage the DNA of sperm and affect metabolism, the PI3K-Akt pathway, and pathways associated with cancer signaling.