Adult ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; immunology

Adult ; Andrology ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Zengjing Capsule No. 1 (ZJC1) on morphology and motility of sperm in patients with oligospermia (OSM).

METHODSSeventy-two OSM patients were assigned to 2 groups by a randomizing digital table, the treated group and the control group, they were treated respectively by ZJC1 and Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP). The changes of density, motility and morphology of sperm in patients before and after 3-month treatment were examined using computerized WLJY-9000 colour semen analysis system with refined Papanicolaou's stain.

RESULTSThe density, motility and morphology of sperm were improved and sperm deformity rate was significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (P < 0.01), but the effects in the treated group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZJC1 can enhance the density and motility of sperm and reduce the sperm deformity rate in patients with OSM.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical effect and safety of the Chinese medicine Longbishu Capsule combined with mesylate doxazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type.

METHODSThis was a randomized, double-blind, double-simulation control study. We equally assigned 60 men diagnosed with BPH of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type to an experimental and a control group, the former treated with mesylate doxazosin plus Longbishu Capsule and the latter with mesylate doxazosin plus placebo. We compared the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), Chinese symptom score (CSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and prostate volume between the two groups of patients before and after 6 months of medication.

RESULTSAfter treatment, there were 5 cured cases, 13 markedly effective cases, 9 effective cases, 1 ineffective case, and 2 eliminated cases in the experimental group, as compared with 2 cured cases, 8 markedly effective cases, 10 effective cases, 7 ineffective cases, and 3 eliminated cases in the control group. The total effectiveness rate was obviously higher in the former (96.4%) than in the latter (74.1%). IPSS, Qmax, and CSS were improved in both of the groups after medication, even more significantly in the experimental than in the control group (IPSS: 15.22 ± 2.98 vs 18.15 ± 5.88, P <0.05; Qmax: [13.56 ± 2.26] ml/s vs [11.78 ± 2.97] ml/s, P <0.05; CSS: 6.18 ± 2.13 vs 9.52 ± 3.15, P <0.05). Because of the difference in the QOL score between the two groups at the baseline (P = 0.038 <0.05), no more comparison was made in this aspect after treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of Longbishu Capsule with mesylate doxazosin is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Doxazosin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) with the levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the prostate tissue and expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) complicated by prostatitis.

METHODSWe divided 80 BPH patients to be treated by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) into a simple BPH group (n = 30) and a BPH with prostatitis group (n = 50) based on the pathologic features. We statistically analyzed IPSS and the levels of IL-8 and COX-2 in EPS before surgery and the IL-8 and COX-2 levels in the prostate tissue after surgery.

RESULTSIPSS was positively correlated with the IL-8 and COX-2 levels in the prostate tissue and EPS of the BPH patients, moderately in the simple hyperplasia group (r > 0.5) and highly in the other (r > 0.8). The levels of IL-8 and COX-2 in the prostate tissue and EPS were significantly higher in the BPH with prostatitis group than in the simple BPH group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe levels of IL-8 and COX-2 in EPS indirectly reflect those in the prostate tissue. IPSS and the levels of IL-8 and COX-2 in EPS can help determine whether BPH is complicated by histological prostatic inflammation.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on the semen quality and Fas/FasL signaling pathway in male SD rats with infertility.

METHODSModels of infertility were made in 50 male SD rats by intragastric administration of Tripterygium (GTW) for 3 weeks, and another 20 rats were taken as blank controls. Then 40 successfully established rat models were randomly divided into four groups, model control, low-dose QJT, medium-dose QJT, and high-dose QJT, the latter three groups treated intragastrically with QJT at 58 mg, 105 mg, and 233 mg per kg of the body weight per day, respectively. After 4 weeks of medication, the rats were killed for examination of semen quality and determination of the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the blank controls, the model rats showed significant decreases in sperm concentration ([71.99 ± 9.72] vs [10.94 ± 3.58] x 10⁶/ml, P < 0.01), motility ([48.95 ± 4.10] vs [9.31 ± 5.79]%, P < 0.01), and viability ( [82.06 ± 6.16] vs [24.03 ± 6.93]%, P < 0.01). In comparison with the model controls, the rats in the QJT groups exhibited remarkably increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability, more significantly in the high-dose group ([59.66 ± 4.53] x 10⁶/ml, [35.45 ± 5.21] %, and [61.97 ± 9.75]%) and medium-dose group ([40.89 ± 4.90] x 10⁶/ml, [24.41 ± 4.79]%, and [60.06 ± 10.62]%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of FasL was markedly reduced in the low-, medium-, and high-dose QJT groups (0.5215 ± 0.0189, 0.5371 ± 0.0364, and 0.4556 ± 0.0215) as compared with that of the model controls (0.5989 ± 0.0448 ) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, Tripterygium glycosides may induce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduce sperm concentration, motility and viability, resulting in infertility. The Chinese medicine Qiangjing Tablets can improve the reproductive function of male rats by decreasing the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Germ Cells ; Glycosides ; Infertility, Male ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen ; drug effects ; Semen Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Tablets ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tripterygium

OBJECTIVETo study angiogenesis and regulatory factors in the proliferated prostatic tissues of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with BPH induced by testosterone.

METHODSSixteen castrated SD rats, aged 8 weeks and weighing 200 approximately 250 g, were equally randomized into a model group and a control group, and the BPH model was established by subcutaneous injection of testosterone. Immunohistochemistry and MIAS (micro-image analysis system) were used to test the manifestations of MVD (microvessel density), VEGF (vascular endothelium growth factor), flk-1, endostatin, MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2) and TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2) in the prostatic tissues of both the model and the control groups. Multiple linear regression with the stepwise method was adopted to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe manifestations of MVD, VEGF, flk-1, MMP-2, MMP-2/TIMP-2 and VEGF/endostatin in the model group were higher, while that of endostatin was lower than in the control group (P < 0.01), and the manifestation of TIMP-2 showed no statistical difference between the two groups. The regression analysis indicated that MVD was positively correlated to VEGF, VEGF/endostatin and MMP-2/TIMP-2 (r = 0.974, 0.986, 0.982, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated to endostatin (r = - 0.975, P < 0.05) .

CONCLUSIONTestosterone could induce BPH in SD rats by increasing MVD and promoting the multiplication of vascular endothelial cells after regradation of basement membrane.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endostatins ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Prostate ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo clone a novel gene relative to blood glucose regulation.

METHODSRat modes of autonomous regulation of blood glucose was made by intra jugular vein to right atrium injection of high concentration of glucose solution, and the control rats were injected with 0.9%NaCl both before skeletal muscles were separated for gene analysis. The differentially expressed fragments were identified by differential display technology (DDRT-PCR). After slot blot and Northern blot analysis, the artificial positive fragments were excluded and the true EST (expression sequence tag) differentially expressed was obtained. These positive EST were used as probes to screen cDNA library of rat skeletal muscle.

RESULTSA novel full-length cDNA, named as Fang-2 was obtained. GenBank Accession No. was AF399874. Fang-2 was found rat homologue of human troponin T by blast software (NCBI). It shared 78% identical nucleotides, which showed the family proteins were conservative. After high concentration of glucose stimulation of rats, the expression of Fang-2 was down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONSA novel gene relative to blood glucose regulation was cloned from rat skeletal muscle. The gene can regulate blood glucose level by effect certain mechanisms unknown yet with down-regulation expression.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; isolation & purification ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin T ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow (BM) microenrivonment and their effect on myeloma cells survival and bortezomib induced apoptosis.

METHODSBMSCs were derived from BM of untreated myeloma patients (MM-BMSCs) and healthy donors (HD-BMSCs), respectively. The phenotype, proliferation time and cytokine secretion of MM-BMSCs were detected and compared with HD-BMSCs. Then BMSCs were co-cultured with myeloma cell line NCI-H929 and bortezomib in vitro. The NCI-H929 cells proliferation and bortezomib induced cell apoptosis were investigated.

RESULTSMM-BMSCs and HD-BMSCs were isolated successfully. The phenotype of MM-BMSCs was similar to that of HD-BMSCs. Expressions of CD73, CD105, CD44 and CD29 were positive, but those of CD31, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR (< 1%) negative. The proliferation time of MM-BMSCs was longer than that of HD-BMSCs (82 h vs 62 h, P < 0.05). Moreover, over-expressions of IL-6 and VEGF in MM-BMSCs culture supernatant were detected as compared with that in HD-BMSCs [(188.8 ± 9.4) pg/ml vs (115.0 ± 15.1) pg/ml and (1497.2 ± 39.7) pg/ml vs (1329.0 ± 21.1) pg/ml, respectively]. MM- BMSCs supported survival of the myeloma cells NCI-H929 and protected them from bortezomib induced cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSMM-BMSCs is benefit for myeloma cells proliferation and against cell apoptosis induced by bortezomib. Over-expression of IL-6 and VEGF maybe play a critical role in these effects.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bortezomib ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of erectile dysfunction (ED) in rat models with chronic renal failure (CRF).

METHODSChronic renal failure was induced by adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, which were subjected to an excisional 5/6 nephrectomy. The rats in NCRF group and CRF group were divided into three groups randomly. Injected with apomorphine(APO, 80 microg/kg), penile erections of three groups were observed and noted by the 2nd week, 4th week respectively and 6th week from the 14th day of 5/6 nephrectomy and experimental models of ED with CRF were selected; NOS activity was examined and the microstructures of penile were observed under optical microscope with computer configuration image analysis system in selected rat models.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the areas of smooth muscle and NOS activity in the penile cavernous tissue of ED rats with CRF decreased significantly (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) , and collagen fibers slightly increased, and these alterations had close correlations with the duration of CRF. The

CONCLUSIONSPenile erection is seriously affected in rats with CRF. The decreases of areas of blood sinus had no obvious changes. the number of smooth muscles and NOS activity might be the most important factors.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erectile Dysfunction ; enzymology ; pathology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; pathology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; diagnostic imaging ; Nephrectomy ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penis ; diagnostic imaging ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ultrasonography