Psychotherapy combined with drug therapy in patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the efficacy of psychotherapy combined with drug therapy in patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. METHODS: A total of 156 patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome were randomly divided into two groups: the control group of 78 patients receiving routine medication; and the intervention group of 78 patients receiving psychological intervention therapy combined with routine medications. Treatment courses were for 3 months. The end-points were the response rate of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, International Index of Erectile Function-5, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale and expressed prostatic secretion-white blood cells. RESULTS: After 3 months, the average scores of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index decreased to 10.1 ± 5.0 in the control group compared with 14.1 ± 4.9 in the intervention group; thus, significant differences were observed between the two groups in the study (P < 0.001). The average scores of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 were improved in the two groups, but compared with the control group, a more marked improvement was detected in the psychological intervention group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). There was significant difference between the two groups in terms of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores (P < 0.001). Expressed prostatic secretion-white blood cell counts significantly decreased to 4.4 ± 3.5 in the control group compared with 9.8 ± 3.4 in the intervention group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological intervention therapy can effectively improve the psychological status and sexual function in patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome than the routine medication.

TESTIN suppresses tumor growth and invasion via manipulating cell cycle progression in endometrial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The TESTIN gene was demonstrated to be a tumor suppressor in prostate and breast cancer through inhibiting tumor growth and invasion. Herein, we aimed to investigate the detailed functions of TESTIN in the highly sexual hormone (estrogen)-dependent malignancy, endometrial carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: TESTIN mRNA and protein expression were measured by qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Upregulation of TESTIN was achieved by transfecting the pcDNA3.1-TESTIN plasmids into AN3CA cells. Knockdown of TESTIN was achieved by transfecting the shRNA-TESTIN into Ishikawa cells. MTT assay, colony formation assay, and Transwell assay were used to investigate the effects of TESTIN on cellular proliferation and invasion. The apoptotic status and cell cycle were analyzed using flow cytometry. MMP2 secretion was determined by ELISA assay. The xenograft assay was used to investigate the functions of TESTIN in nude mice. RESULTS: Compared to the non-malignant adjacent endometrium, 54% of tumor samples presented downregulation of TESTIN (P<0.001). Loss of TESTIN protein was correlated with advanced tumor stage (P=0.047), high grade (P=0.034), and lymphatic vascular space invasion (P=0.036). In vitro, overexpression of TESTIN suppressed cell proliferation, induced dramatic G1 arrest, and inhibited tumor invasion through blocking the secretion of MMP2. Loss of TESTIN accelerated cellular proliferation, promoted cell cycle progression, and enhanced tumor invasion by increasing the secretion of MMP2. Consistently, TESTIN could significantly delay the growth of xenografts in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: TESTIN was commonly downregulated in human endometrial carcinoma and was associated with poor prognostic markers. Moreover, TESTIN significantly inhibited tumor growth and invasion via arresting cell cycle in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Therefore, we propose that TESTIN might be a prognostic marker and therapeutic target for endometrial carcinoma.

A randomized controlled trial of levofloxacin, terazosin, and combination therapy in patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of levofloxacin, terazosin, and their combination in patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). METHODS: A total of 115 patients with category III CP/CPPS receiving 6-week therapy were randomly divided into the levofloxacin group (n = 38), terazosin group (n = 38), and combination group (n = 39). The primary endpoint was the response rate (i.e., the change from baseline) in the total and domain scores of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Secondary endpoints were expressed as prostatic secretion-white blood cell (EPS-WBC) and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). RESULTS: After 6 weeks, the response rate of NIH-CPSI scores was 45.1, 22.4, and 50.0 % in the levofloxacin group, terazosin group, and combination group, respectively. Furthermore, no significant difference in NIH-CPSI scores was observed between IIIA and IIIB patients in each arm. Levofloxacin alone or levofloxacin plus terazosin could significantly reduce EPS-WBC counts compared with terazosin alone. Finally, no significant difference was found between the three arms in terms of IIEF-5 scores. CONCLUSION: A 6-week short-term treatment of levofloxacin or levofloxacin plus terazosin was more effective than terazosin alone in patients with category III CP/CPPS. Furthermore, levofloxacin treatment was not different from levofloxacin plus terazosin treatment in terms of treatment effect.