[Content of prostate small extracorporeal protein in the urine as an index in evaluating the therapeutic effect on chronic prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of the prostate small extracorporeal protein (PSEP) level in the urine in evaluating the therapeutic effect on chronic prostatitis (CP). METHODS: Totally 188 CP patients were treated with minocycline and Ningmitai Capsules in our hospital and regularly returned for follow-up examination from November 2017 to November 2018. Based on the results of treatment after 4 and 8 weeks of medication, we divided the patients into a cured, an effective and an ineffective group and compared the contents of PSEP in the urine samples of the three groups of patients before and after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the PSEP content in the urine after 4 weeks of medication was decreased in the cured group (n = 20) (ï¼»3.63 ± 3.81ï¼½ vs ï¼»1.16 ± 0.41ï¼½ ng/ml, P < 0.05), effective group (n = 85) (ï¼»4.13 ± 4.05ï¼½ vs ï¼»2.97 ± 2.89ï¼½ ng/ml, P > 0.05) and ineffective group (n = 83) (ï¼»4.72 ± 2.98ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.74 ± 1.31ï¼½ ng/ml, P > 0.05), and so was that after 8 weeks of treatment in the cured group (n = 48) (ï¼»3.72 ± 3.51ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.89 ± 0.37ï¼½ ng/ml, P < 0.05), effective group (n = 106) (ï¼»4.37 ± 3.93ï¼½ vs ï¼»1.83 ± 0.71ï¼½ ng/ml, P < 0.05) and ineffective group (n = 34) (ï¼»4.61 ± 3.59ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.58 ± 1.15ï¼½ ng/ml, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The PSEP level in the urine can be used as an index for clinical evaluation of the therapeutic effect on chronic prostatitis.

[Efficacy and safety of lycopene in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with lower urinary tract symptoms].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of lycopene in the treatment of BPH with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: Totally, 127 BPH patients with LUTS were treated with oral lycopene tablets at 500 mg bid in the Department of Andrology of Jinling Hospital from January 2018 to January 2019. At 8 and 16 weeks of medication, we compared the IPSS, quality of life (QOL) score, prostate volume, PSA level, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) and the incidence of adverse reactions before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients completed the treatment. Compared with the baseline, significant improvement was observed after 8 weeks of medication in the IPSS (ï¼»18.42 ± 4.59ï¼½ vs ï¼»14.13 ± 4.51ï¼½, P < 0.01) and QOL score (ï¼»4.34 ± 1.37ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.14 ± 1.25ï¼½, P < 0.01), and even more significant at 16 weeks in the IPSS (ï¼»18.42 ± 4.59ï¼½ vs ï¼»10.29 ± 3.61ï¼½, P< 0.01), QOL score (ï¼»4.34 ± 1.37ï¼½ vs ï¼»2.17 ± 1.35ï¼½, P < 0.01), PSA (ï¼»3.87 ± 3.14ï¼½ vs ï¼»2.90 ± 3.07ï¼½ µg/L, P < 0.01), Qmax (ï¼»10.62 ± 2.08ï¼½ vs ï¼»14.15 ± 3.66ï¼½ ml/s, P < 0.01) and PVR (ï¼»35.88 ± 15.33ï¼½ vs ï¼»18.36 ± 13.09ï¼½ ml, P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference in the prostate volume before and after treatment (ï¼»39.85 ± 10.22ï¼½ vs ï¼»38.16 ± 10.12ï¼½ ml, P > 0.05), and no adverse reactions in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene has a good therapeutic effect on BPH with LUTS, which can significantly improve the patients' quality of life without causing adverse reactions.

[Lipoic acid protects spermatogenesis in male rats with ornidazole-induced oligoasthenozoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of lipoic acid (LA) on the spermatogenic function of the male rats with oligoasthenozoospermia induced by ornidazole (ORN). METHODS: Seventy male SD rats were equally randomized into groups A (solvent control: 1 ml 0.5% CMC-Na + 1 ml olive oil), B (low-dose ORN model: 400 mg/kg ORN suspension + 1 ml olive oil), C (low-dose ORN + low-dose LA treatment: 400 mg/kg ORN + 50 mg/kg LA), D (low-dose ORN + high-dose LA treatment: 400 mg/kg ORN + 100 mg/kg LA), E (high-dose ORN model: 800 mg/kg ORN suspension + 1 ml olive oil), F (high-dose ORN + low-dose LA treatment: 800 mg/kg ORN + 50 mg/kg LA), and G (high-dose ORN + high-dose LA treatment: 800 mg/kg ORN + 100 mg/kg LA), and treated respectively for 20 successive days. Then all the rats were sacrificed and the weights of the body, testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle obtained, followed by calculation of the organ index, determination of epididymal sperm concentration and motility, and observation of the histomorphological changes in the testis and epididymis by HE staining. RESULTS: Compared with group A, group E showed significantly decreased body weight (ï¼»117.67 ± 11.53ï¼½ vs ï¼»88.11 ± 12.65ï¼½ g, P < 0.01) and indexes of the testis (ï¼»1.06 ± 0.12ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.65 ± 0.13ï¼½ %, P < 0.01) and epididymis (ï¼»0.21 ± 0.03ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.17 ± 0.01ï¼½ %, P < 0.01). In comparison with group E, group F exhibited remarkable increases in the epididymal index (ï¼»0.17 ± 0.01ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.20 ± 0.02ï¼½ %, P < 0.01), and so did group G in the body weight (ï¼»88.11 ± 12.65ï¼½ vs ï¼»102.70 ± 16.10ï¼½ g, P < 0.05) and the indexes of the testis (ï¼»0.65 ± 0.13ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.95 ± 0.06ï¼½ %, P < 0.01) and epididymis (ï¼»0.17 ± 0.01ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.19 ± 0.02ï¼½ %, P < 0.05), but no obvious difference was observed in the index of seminal vesicle among different groups. Compared with group A, group B manifested significant decreases in sperm motility (ï¼»74.12 ± 8.73ï¼½ vs ï¼»40.25 ± 6.08ï¼½ %, P < 0.01), and so did group E in sperm count (ï¼»38.59 ± 6.40ï¼½ vs ï¼»18.67 ± 4.59ï¼½ ×105/100 mg, P < 0.01) and sperm motility (ï¼»74.12 ± 8.73ï¼½ vs ï¼»27.58 ± 8.43ï¼½ %, P < 0.01). Sperm motility was significantly lower in group B than in C and D (ï¼»40.25 ± 6.08ï¼½ vs ï¼»58.13 ± 7.62ï¼½ and ï¼»76.04 ± 8.44ï¼½%, P < 0.01), and so were sperm count and motility in group E than in F and G (ï¼»18.67 ± 4.59ï¼½ vs ï¼»25.63 ± 9.66ï¼½ and ï¼»29.92 ± 4.15ï¼½ ×105/100 mg, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01; ï¼»27.58 ± 8.43ï¼½ vs ï¼»36.56 ± 11.08ï¼½ and ï¼»45.05 ± 9.59ï¼½ %, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). There were no obvious changes in the histomorphology of the testis and epididymis in groups A, B, C and D. Compared with group A, group E showed necrotic and exfoliated spermatogenic cells with unclear layers and disorderly arrangement in the seminiferous tubules and remarkably reduced sperm count with lots of noncellular components in the epididymal cavity, while groups F and G exhibited increased sperm count in the seminiferous tubules and epididymis lumen, also with exfoliation, unclear layers and disorderly arrangement of spermatogenic cells, but significantly better than in group E. CONCLUSIONS: LA can reduce ORN-induced damage to the spermatogenetic function of rats, improve sperm quality, and protect the reproductive system.

[Impact of Mycoplasma genitalium infection on the semen quality of infertile males].

OBJECTIVE: To explore Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) infection in the urogenital tract of infertile men and its influence on semen quality. METHODS: Semen samples were collected from 352 infertile males in the Center of Reproductive Medicine of Nanjing General Hospital from March to July 2015. MG infection was detected by real-time fluorescence simultaneous amplification and testing and semen analyses were conducted according to the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen (5th Ed) on the semen pH value, semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration, total sperm motility, percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) and immotile sperm (IMS), and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis by t-test and non-parametric test (Wilcoxon test). RESULTS: MG infection was found in 3.4% (12/352) of the infertile patients. Compared with the MG-positive cases, the MG-negative ones showed a significantly higher semen volume (ï¼»2.85 ± 0.14ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.84 ± 0.12ï¼½ ml, P = 0.008) and percentage of PMS (ï¼»15.86±1.72ï¼½ vs ï¼»60.95 ± 5.63ï¼½ %, P = 0.032) but a lower DFI (ï¼»30.73 ±2.24ï¼½ vs ï¼»20.71 ± 1.55ï¼½%, P = 0.014). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in the semen pH value (7.38 ±0.02 vs 7.39 ± 0.01, P = 0.774), sperm concentration (ï¼»52.96 ± 15.78ï¼½ vs ï¼»60.05 ± 4.29ï¼½×106/ml, P = 0.683), sperm count (ï¼»154.15 ± 46.37ï¼½ vs ï¼»221.56 ± 15.43ï¼½×106, P = 0.236), total sperm motility (ï¼»29.04 ± 3.11ï¼½ vs ï¼»33.52 ± 1.51ï¼½ %, P = 0.626), or percentage of IMS (ï¼»23.57 ± 0.99ï¼½ vs ï¼»62.34 ± 1.69ï¼½ %, P = 0.691). CONCLUSIONS: Urogenital MG infection is common in infertile males and potentially affects the semen quality, especially sperm vitality of the patient.

[RNA simultaneous and amplification testing versus the culture method for detecting Ureaplasma urealyticum infection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of real-time RNA simultaneous amplification and testing (SAT) in the detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) in the semen of infertile males and its clinical significance. METHODS: We collected semen samples from 542 infertility patients and 120 normal fertile men as controls in the Andrology Clinic of Nanjing General Hospital from March to September 2015. We detected UU infection in the samples using the culture method and SAT technology, respectively. RESULTS: All the UU positive cases (except 4 false positive cases) detected by the culture method were also shown to be positive in SAT. The UU detection rate of SAT was significantly higher than that of the culture method both in the infertility patients (54.1 vs 19.7%, P<0.05) and in the normal controls (42.5 vs 12.5%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SAT is a rapid and accurate method for detecting UU infection in semen samples, with a higher sensitivity and accuracy than the culture method, and it can also be used to evaluate the therapeutic effects. However, the culture method has its own advantages, such as low requirement of technical equipment, easy operation, and possibility of drug sensitivity test at the same time. Therefore, SAT and the culture method can be used alternatively according to the clinical need.

[Knockdown of Grb7 inhibits growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma, cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis through ERK/FOXM1 pathway].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of growth factor receptor-bound 7 (Grb7) on oral squamous cell carcinoma growth and tumor xenografts. METHODS: Cal27 and hNOK cells were cultivated, real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of Grb7 in hNOK and Cal27. Cal27 was transfected with Grb7 siRNA for 48 h, cell proliferation was assayed using MTT. Flow cytometry was used to determine the cell cycle and apoptosis. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of caspase3, Bax, bcl-2, Cyclin D1, Rb, E2F1, ERK and FOXM1. Grb7 siRNA and negative control were designed and injected subcutaneously into the mice, tumor volume and weight were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.0 software package. RESULTS: Grb7 was highly expressed in Cal27 compared with hNOK. Depletion of Grb7 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, blocked G1/S phase transition, promoted cell apoptosis. Knockdown of Grb7 suppressed the expression of Cyclin D1 and Rb, upregulated E2F1 expression. Moreover, c-caspase 3 and Bax was also reduced after inhibition of Grb7. ERK/FOXM1 signaling pathway was also inhibited by Grb7. In addition, the volume and weight of tumor xenografts were reduced by siGrb7. CONCLUSIONS: Depletion of Grb7 inhibits cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis and reduces tumor xenografts through ERK/FOXM1 pathway.

Clinicopathological significance of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) expression in human malignant glioma.

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), a variety of serine/threonine-protein kinase, has been reported to play important roles in malignant transformation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological significance of PLK1 expression in malignant glioma. A semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay was performed to detect the expression of PLK1 mRNA in 68 cases of glioma tissues and corresponding non-cancerous brain tissues. Additionally, the correlation of PLK1 mRNA expression with clinicopathological factors or prognosis of glioma patients was statistically analyzed. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Small interfering RNA was used to knockdown PLK1 expression in a glioma cell line and analyze the effects of PLK1 inhibition on growth, cell cycle, apoptosis and chemo- or radiosensitivity of glioma cells. Results showed that the expression of PLK1 mRNA was significantly higher in glioma tissues than in corresponding normal brain tissues. The expression of PLK1 mRNA was closely correlated with WHO grade, KPS and tumor recurrence of glioma patients (P=0.022, 0.030 and 0.041, respectively). Meanwhile, the disease-free and overall survival rates of patients with high PLK1 mRNA expression were obviously lower than those of patients with low PLK1 mRNA expression. Multivariate analysis showed that high PLK1 mRNA expression was a poor prognostic factor for glioma patients (P=0.028). The expression of PLK1 mRNA and protein was significantly down-regulated in stably transfected U251-S cells. PLK1 down-regulation could inhibit growth, induce cell arrest in G2/M phase of cell cycle and apoptosis enhancement in glioma cells. Further, PLK1 down-regulation could enhance the sensitivity of glioma cells to cisplatin or irradiation. Thus, the status of PLK1 mRNA expression might be an independent prognostic factor for glioma patients and targeting PLK1 could be a novel strategy for chemo- or radiosensitization of human malignant gliomas.