Linh Phu Khang Tue Tinh inhibited prostate proliferation in rats induced benign prostatic hyperplasia by testosterone propionate.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the hyperproliferation of the stromal and the epithelial cells within the prostatic transition zone. In recent years, phytotherapy have been studied with the concern for increasing quality of life, improving lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) as well as reducing prostate volume and the frequency of adverse events was similar to that of placebo. Linh Phu Khang Tue Tinh (LPKTT) capsules are formulated from 4 herbs widely used in traditional Vietnamese medicine - Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H.Chen - Tam that (radix), Crinum asiaticum L. - Náng hoa trang or giant crinum lily, Polygonum cuspidatum Willd. ex Spreng. (= Reynoutria japonica Houtt) - Cot cu khí or Japanese knotweed (radix), Oldenlandia herbacea (L.) Roxb. (formerly known as Hedyotis diffusa Spreng.) - Bach hoa xà thie^t thao or slender oldenlandia (herb). The preparation has been used in traditional Vietnamese medicine to treat nocturia, weak urine stream, urinary tract infection. According to modern studies, these herbs have anti-inflammation, antitumor, and antioxidant activities. AIMS OF THE STUDY: Evaluating the effects of LPKTT capsules on the development of BPH using a rat model of BPH induced by testosterone propionate (TP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 male Wistar rats, 10-12 weeks of age, weight 200-250 g were separated into six groups: (G1) a normal control group that was taken orally phosphate-buffered saline (p.o.; PBS.) with corn oil (subcutaneous injection- Sc); (G2) a BPH model group that received PBS (p.o) with TP (Sc); (G3) a positive control group that received dutasteride (25 µg/kg BW/24 h, p.o.) with TP (Sc); (G4) a positive control group that received alfuzosin HCl (1.8 mg/kg BW/24 h, p.o.) with TP (s.c.) and (G5 and G6) LPKTT groups that received LPKTT at 289.8 or 869.4 mg/kg(p.o.) respectively, with TP (s.c.). BPH model was induced by Sc of TP, 3 mg/kg for 4 weeks. After that, rats were received NaCl/Dutasteride/Alfuzosin/LPKTT for the next 28 days. On the 56th day, assessed the results were through the indicators: micturition frequency, voided volume, total voided volume, the prostate and body weights, the ratio of prostate weight to body weight, prostate histology. RESULTS: LPKTT reduced micturition frequency and increased the voided volume when compared to the control group (p < 0.01). The results were equivalent to those of the alfuzosin ones (G4). LPKTT lowered prostate weight and the ratio of prostate weight to body weight when compared to the control group (p < 0.01). These reductions were the same in the dutasteride ones. Histomorphology in G5 and G6 also showed that LPKTT inhibited TP induced prostatic hyperplasia. The results were similar to that in the dutasteride group. Microscopic images of prostate in G5 and G6 were almost similar to that of G1. CONCLUSION: LPKTT capsules work to inhibit prostate proliferation in rats induced BPH by TP.

[Chronic hepatitis C--clinical and autonomic characteristics].

The article presents the results of a survey of 62 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 103 patients with liver cirrhosis of viral etiology. Besides clinical parameters studied autonomic features by analysis of heart rate variability at rest and active orthostasis. Indicators of frequency and spectral analysis of heart rate in study patients with chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis of viral etiology confirmed increase in sympathetic activity and weakening of parasympathetic activity in all respects, with the sympathetic influence of enhanced active orthostasis. Indices of regulatory systems of the autonomic nervous system (stress index and the index of autonomic regulation) also indicated a statistically significant predominance sympathicotonia at rest and active orthostasis, indicating serious violations of adaptation in the examinees.

[Clinical and morphological characteristics of portal gastropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis].

AIM: to study the clinical and morphological manifestations of portal gastropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-nine patients with Child-Pugh Classes B and C CL and 150 patients with gastritis and peptic ulcer disease without LC were examined. All the patients underwent fibrogastroscopy and morphological study of the gastric mucosa (GM). Morphological and serological studies detected Helicobacter pylori in all the patients. RESULTS: The endoscopic signs of portal gastropathy were found in 46.7-50.9% of the patients with LC; dilated capillaries and microbleedings in the GM were recorded in 73.9-83.7%. Ulcerative and erosive defects of the gastroduodenal area were identified in 31.9% of the patients with CL and these were accompanied by nemorrhages in 50% of cases. In patients with ulcers and erosions, the diameter of capillaries in different gastric portions was 23-56% larger than that in patients without these abnormalities. There was a significant direct correlation between the presence of H. pylori IgG and the morphological signs of portal gastropathy in the antrum. CONCLUSION: An association was found between the signs of portal gastropathy and the presence of ulcerative and erosive defects in the gastroduodenal area in patients with LC.