Studies of biological feedback (BF) for the treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) are occasionally reported have exhibited some related problems. This article presents an evaluation of the published literature on the BF treatment of CP at home and abroad in the aspects of instrument, method, application, effect, function, and mechanism. UROSTYMTM and MyoTrac are often employed and their operating paths are basically the same. NIH prostate symptom scores, urinary function, pain, sexual function, immune function, prostate fluid, and other indicators are generally used for the analysis of the effects of BF alone or in combination with other therapies on CP and its related symptoms. Either BF alone or BF combined with other therapies can promote urination, reduce pain, improve the quality of life, attenuate inflammation, improve sexual function, adjust immunity, and lessen physical and chemical stimulation. However, the relevant literature is of low quantity and quality, the reported studies are not standardized, and exploration of the action mechanisms is neglected.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Nourishing yin clearing heat ([Chinese characters: see text]) Chinese herbal medicine on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in growth retardation induced by Decamethasone and observe its mechanisms.

METHODSThirty one-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, dexamethasone-treated group and Nourishing yin clearing heat ([Chinese characters: see text]) Chinese herbal medicine-treated group. The rabbits in dexamethasone group and Nourishing yin clearing heat ([Chinese characters: see text]) Chinese herbal medicine-treated group received dexamethasone (5 mg/kg x d). The rabbits were sacrificed at the 6th and 12th week after administration, and then rabbit tibia articular was removed. (1) Using TUNEL stain to detect apoptotic index. (2) Using immunohistochemical stain to detect the positive index of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the epiphyseal cartilage of growth. (3) Using fluorescent quantitative PCR to detect the expression intensity of VEGF mRNA in each group.

RESULTSAt the 6th and 12th week after administration, there were significant difference in apoptotic index and cell proliferation index between dexamethasone group and normal group (P<0.01, dexamethasone group more than normal group). Immunohistochemical stain and fluorescent quantitative PCR indicated that the expression of VEGF and VEGF mRNA in dexamethasone group was significantly decreased as compared with that in normal group (P<0.01), and also obviously lower than Chinese herbal medicine-treated group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONVEGF has 2. an important role during the growth retardation induced by Dexamethasone. Nourishing yin clearing heat ([Chinese characters: see text]) Chinese herbal medicine can reduce the growth retardation induced by Dexamethasone through increasing the VEGF expression in growth plate chondrocytes and then increase angiogenesis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Growth Plate ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compared outcomes of robotic mitral valve repair with those of standard sternotomy, and right anterolateral thoracotomy.

METHODFrom August 2010 to July 2011, 70 patients with degenerative mitral valve disease and posterior leaflet prolapsed scheduled for elective isolated mitral valve repair were prospectively nonrandomized to undergo mitral valve operation by standard sternotomy (n = 30), right anterolateral thoracotomy (n = 30), or a robotic approach (n = 10). There were 49 male and 21 female patients, aging from 16 to 70 years with a mean of 53.4 years. Outcomes of the three groups were compared.

RESULTSMitral valve repair was achieved in all patients except 1 patient in the standard group. There were no in-hospital deaths. The median operation time [(300 ± 41) min, (184 ± 20) min and (169 ± 22) min, F = 112.5, P < 0.01], cardiopulmonary bypass time [(139 ± 26) min, (82 ± 20) min and (69 ± 23) min, F = 36.8, P < 0.01], aortic cross-clamping time [(93 ± 23) min, (47 ± 10) min and (38 ± 8) min, F = 75.0, P < 0.01] were longer for robotic than standard sternotomy and right anterolateral thoracotomy. The robotic group had shortest time of mechanical ventilation time [(4.9 ± 2.1) h, (5.3 ± 4.5) h and (14.1 ± 10.2) h, F = 13.2, P < 0.01], ICU time [(15.1 ± 2.1) h, (16.4 ± 5.4) h and (28.7 ± 16.1) h, F = 11.6, P < 0.01], postoperative hospital stay time [(4.6 ± 1.0) d, (5.7 ± 1.7) d and (8.8 ± 5.1) d, F = 8.0, P < 0.01] with the lowest of drainage [(192 ± 200) ml, (215 ± 163) ml and (405 ± 239) ml, F = 7.1, P < 0.01] and ratio of the patients needed blood transfusion (0, 20.0% and 66.7%, χ(2) = 22.7, P < 0.01). Patients were followed up 6 to 17 months, with 100% completed. No patients died during follow-ups, and no moderate or more mitral regurgitation was observed. The robotic group had the shortest time of return to normal activities compared with the other two groups [(2.4 ± 0.7) weeks, (4.2 ± 1.2) weeks and (8.2 ± 1.8) weeks, F = 83.0, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONThis study shows mitral valve repair via the right anterolateral thoracotomy and a robotic approach is safe and feasible, with good cosmetic results and rapid postoperative recovery, and is worthy of clinical selective application.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Mitral Valve Prolapse ; surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Robotics ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective: To establish a better near infrared quantitative model for quality control of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma of components (moisture,total ash,liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid) in liquorice,in order to realize rapid detection.Method: The contents of moisture,total ash,liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid were determined in 97 samples based on the methods set forth in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Meanwhile,the near infrared spectrum was scanned using near infrared spectroscope.R software was used to screen out the spectral pretreatment and build the quantitative models.Result: The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of moisture and liquiritin was the first order derivative.For moisture,the correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.930 0 and 0.929 9,and the root mean square errors were 0.243 2 and 0.203 8,respectively.For liquiritin,the correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.930 3 and 0.907 6,and the root mean square errors were 0.093 9 and 0.128 9,respectively.The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of total ash was MSC.The correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.926 5 and 0.917 7,and the root mean square errors were 0.109 6 and 0.103 7,respectively.The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of glycyrrhizic acid was SNV.The correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.918 1 and 0.915 7,and the root mean square errors were 0.274 8 and 0.236 0,respectively.Conclusion: In this study,a better near infrared quantitative models for quality control of components of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were established,with a high accuracy,which laid a foundation for rapid detection of the components in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.

Aim To explore the effect of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on cell proliferation and collagen expression in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) of rats induced with angiotensin II (Ang II) and its mechanism. Methods CFs were pretreated with short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) siRNA1186 for 12 h and then co-treated with Ang TJ and AS-IV for 36 h. The expressions of SCAD, α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III in CFs were detected by Western blot. mRNA expression levels of SCAD, a-SMA, collagen I and collagen III in CFs were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The SCAD enzymatic activity, the content of ATP, hydroxyproline and free fatty acid were measured by detection kits. Results The expression of α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III were up-regulated (all P < 0. 01) in CFs induced by Ang II compared with the control cells, and the expression and enzymatic activity of SCAD significantly decreased (P < 0. 01, P< 0. 05). The content of ATP decreased (P < 0.01), and the content of hydroxyproline and free fatty acids increased (all P < 0.01). Compared with Ang II group, SCAD expression and enzymatic activity, and ATP content were significantly increased (all P < 0.01) in Ang II + AS-TV group, but the content of hydroxyproline and free fatty acids, and the expression of α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III significantly decreased (all P < 0.01). However, compared with the Ang II + NC group, there was no significant difference in all indices in the Ang II + SiRNA1186 + AS-TV group. The protective effect of AS-TV on Ang II -induced cell proliferation and collagen expression in CFs was eliminated by the interference of SCAD SiRNA1186. Conclusions AS-IV may inhibit Ang II-induced cell proliferation and collagen expression in CFs by activating SCAD.