Objective To explore the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in elderly men of different ages.Methods Totally 100 elderly outpatients with BPH in our hospital from January 2012 to June 2012 were recruited in this study.All patients were divided into 2 groups according to age:60-75 years(n =52) and 76-93 years (n=48).Fasting plasma glucose,fasting insulin (FINS) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) were assayed.Insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated by using the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) software.The body height,body weight,waist circumference were measured and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated.Prostate volume (PV) was measured by abdominal ultrasound.Clinical data were compared between the two groups.Based on HOMA2-IR,patients were divided into insulin resistant group (IR＞ 1.7) and non insulin resistant group (IR＜ 1.7).Serum PSA,PV and waist circumference were compared between the two groups.Results The waist circumference and PV were significantly larger in insulin resistant group than in non-insulin resistant group [(96.6± 7.2) cm vs.(93.1±8.9) cm,(50.0±9.0) ml vs.(46.1±7.8) ml,respectively,P＜0.01,0.05].However,the PSA level was lower in insulin resistant group than in non-insulin resistant group [(1.44±1.08) μg/L vs.(2.1 ±2.0)μg/L,P＜0.05],and no correlation was found between HOMA-IR and PV.There was no correlation between serum PSA levels and PV in patients aged 76-93 years.In patients aged 60-75 years,PSA level was positively correlated with PV (r =0.52,P＜0.05) and negatively correlated with HOMA-IR (r=0.38,P＜0.05).Conclusions Serum PSA level is positively correlated with PV and negatively correlated with HOMA IR in BPH patients under 75 years old.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a technical process for the separation and purification of total flavones from Licorice. METHODS: The static absorption capacity of macroreticular adsorptive resins D101、Hz-806、AB-83 for total flavones from licorice were compared. The macroreticular adsorptive resin columns on the Licorice extractives were eluted respectively with different concentrations of ethanol, then the content, the weight of residue and purity coefficient of flavones from Licorice in the eluant were detected. RESULTS: The optimal technological conditions were found in AB-8 as follows: flow rate=3ml/min, sample concentration=1.5 mg/ml, pH=5 and 80% ethanol was used as eluting agent. CONCLUSIONS: AB-8 macroreticular adsorptive resin can effectively separate and purify total flavones from licorice, the purity coefficient thus obtained being over 50%, which meets the requirement of the study of effective components of herbal medicine.

Background: At the therapeutic doses, diclofenac sodium (DFS) has few toxic side effects on mammals. On the other hand, DFS exhibits potent toxicity against birds and the mechanisms remain ambiguous. Objectives: This paper was designed to probe the toxicity of DFS exposure on the hepatic proteome of broiler chickens. Methods: Twenty 30-day-old broiler chickens were randomized evenly into two groups (n = 10).DFS was administered orally at 10 mg/kg body weight in group A, while the chickens in group B were perfused with saline as a control. Histopathological observations, serum biochemical examinations, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to assess the liver injury induced by DFS. Proteomics analysis of the liver samples was conducted using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology. Results: Ultimately, 201 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were obtained, of which 47 were up regulated, and 154 were down regulated. The Gene Ontology classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were conducted to screen target DEPs associated with DFS hepatotoxicity. The regulatory relationships between DEPs and signaling pathways were embodied via a protein-protein interaction network. The results showed that the DEPs enriched in multiple pathways, which might be related to the hepatotoxicity of DFS, were “protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum,” “retinol metabolism,” and “glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism.” Conclusions The hepatotoxicity of DFS on broiler chickens might be achieved by inducing the apoptosis of hepatocytes and affecting the metabolism of retinol and purine. The present study could provide molecular insights into the hepatotoxicity of DFS on broiler chickens.