[Clinical observation of Xiaoluowan (II) in treating epididymitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Xiaoluowan (II) on epididymitis. METHODS: 61 patients with epididymitis were divided into two groups, acute group (23 cases) and non-acute group (38 cases) . Both groups of patients were treated with Xiaoluowan (II) 6g twice a day orally, while acute group patients were given antibiotics intravenously. The treatment period is 4 weeks. The acute group evaluates the therapeutic efficacy comprehensively based on changes in clinical symptoms and signs, while recording changes in visual pain score (VAS). Chronic epididymitis symptom index (CESI) was used to evaluate the clinical symptoms before and after treatment in the non-acute group, and the curative efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the VAS scores in the acute group decreased from 7.08 ± 1.09 to 2.10 ± 1.37 (P<0.05). Total efficiency is 82.60% . In the non-acute group, the scores of pain before and after treatment were 7.08 ± 1.09 and 2.10 ± 1.37, the scores of quality of life were 7.28 ± 1.14 and 1.87 ± 1.56, the total scores were 14.37 ± 1.78 and 3.97±2.73, respectively. The difference was significant(P<0.05). Total efficiency is 84.21% . CONCLUSION: Xiaoluowan (II) is an effective method to treat epididymitis and an effective supplement to modern medicine.

[Jujing Gouju Granules promote reproductive function in rats with spermatozoa].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the intervention effect of Jujing Gouju Granules (JGG) on teratozoospermia (TZ) in rats and explore its action mechanism. METHODS: Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups of an equal number: normal control, TZ model control, high-dose JGG and low-dose JGG. The TZ model was established in the latter three groups of rats by intragastric administration of methyl methanesulfonate at 4 mg/100 g body weight/day for 7 consecutive days. After successful modeling, the animals in the high- and low-dose JGG groups were treated with JGG at 0.288 and 0.072g/100 g body weight/d, respectively, while the normal controls with the same dose of normal saline, all for 48 days. At two days after medication, all the rats were sacrificed and the right epididymides harvested for sperm counting, sperm motility analysis, observation the sperm morphology, and determination of contents of fructose, zinc, α-glucosidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the epididymal suspension, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the seminal plasma, and that of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the sperm. RESULTS: Both sperm concentration and motility were significantly increased and the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm decreased in the JGG groups compared with the model controls, even more significantly in the high- than in the low-dose JGG group (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in the contents of fructose and zinc in the epididymal suspension among the four groups, but that of α-glucosidase was remarkably lower in the TZ model than in the normal controls (ï¼»50.31 ± 2.12ï¼½ vs ï¼»67.23 ± 3.54ï¼½ U/L, P < 0.05), but higher in the high- and low-dose JGG groups (ï¼»79.36 ± 2.35ï¼½ and ï¼»56.25 ± 3.44ï¼½ U/L) than in the model control group (P < 0.05). The level of ROS was markedly higher and that of SOD lower in the TZ model than in the normal controls, while the former was lower and the latter was higher in the JGG groups than in the TZ model controls (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the in the high- than in the low-dose JGG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the TZ model controls, the rats in the JGG groups showed dramatically decreased levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the seminal plasma, even more significantly in the high- than in the low-dose JGG group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Jujing Gouju Granules can improve sperm morphology in teratozoospermia rats, possibly by regulating oxidative stress and inflammation-related factors.

[Quercetin induces the apoptosis of human PC-3 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of quercetin on the apoptosis of human PC-3 cells. METHODS: Human PC-3 cells were cultured in vitro and then treated with quercetin at the concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 micromol/L. The inhibition rate of quercetin on the PC-3 cells was detected by MTT, the apoptosis of the cells determined by flow cytometry, and the changes of the cellular ultramicrostructure observed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Quercetin markedly inhibited the proliferation of PC-3 cells in vitro in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Its inhibition rates were (3.01 +/- 1.32)%, (4.84 +/- 1.73)%, (20.35 +/- 1.30)%, (16.78 +/- 1.89)% and (27.25 +/- 4.01)% at 24 hours, and (10.18 +/- 1.16)%, (6.22 +/- 0.04)%, (24.29 +/- 4.19)%, (22.4 +/- 4.26)% and (41.42 +/- 5.43)% at 48 hours in the 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 micromol/L groups, respectively, with statistical significance at the concentration of > 150 micromol/L (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis of PC-3 cells was increased with the elevated concentration and prolonged time of Quercetin treatment, (19.10 +/- 0.28)% and (26.55 +/- 0.78)% at 24 hours, and (27.65 +/- 1.06)% and (38.30 +/- 5.96)% at 48 hours in the 150 and 200 micromol/L groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Typical changes in the morphology of the cells were observed under the transmission electron microscope. CONCLUSION: Quercetin can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of human PC-3 cells, but its action mechanism remains to be further investigated.

[A proteomic study of the serum proteins in BPH and HGPIN patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE) and mass spectrometry in the studies of the serum proteins expressed in patients with BPH and those with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm (HGPIN). METHODS: We extracted serum proteins from BPH and HGPIN patients by 2DGE and cut the differentially expressed interesting protein spots from the gel. Then we digested the proteins, obtained the peptide mass fingerprint by mass spectrometry and identified the proteins through database retrieval. RESULTS: We successfully achieved the 2DGE maps of the serum proteins from the BPH and HGPIN patients, obtained 1 421-1 532 protein spots from the 2D map of HGPIN and 1 466-1 778 from that of BPH. Based on peptide mass fingerprinting, 9 of the protein spots were identified. Serum amyloid A was found to be expressed in the HGPIN group, but weakly or not at all in the BPH. CONCLUSION: Proteomics can be applied to the study of the serum proteins in BPH and HGPIN patients. It can afford experimental evidence for the early diagnosis and development HGPIN, promote the search of functional and specific proteins of prostate diseases and shed new light on the network mechanisms of the problems.

[TUBVP and HOLEP: desirable surgical options for large benign prostatic hyperplasia ( >80 ml)].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of the two surgical alternatives, transurethral bipolar vaporization resection of the prostate (TUBVP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP), in the treatment of large benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: Retrospective analyses were made of 56 cases of large BPH ( >80 ml), 34 treated by TUBVP with the Bipolar Vaporization System (ACMI Medical Ltd, U.K.) at 160 W in cutting and 80 W in coagulation mode, and 22 by HOLEP with the Holmium Laser System (LUMNIS Ltd, US) at 100W. The safety and efficacy of the two approaches were assessed based on the operative and follow-up data. RESULTS: Blood loss was significantly less in the HOLEP than in the TUBVP group ( P < 0.01), but the time of postoperative bladder irrigation and catheter indwelling was obviously shorter in the latter. IPSS, Qmax and Residual unine were markedly improved at 1 and 3 months after the surgery, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Both TUBVP and HOLEP are safe and effective surgical options for the treatment of large BPH. Particularly the former, easier to be popularly applied, is promising to be a new "gold standard" in the surgical treatment of BPH.