Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of bladder instillation of bzalkonium bromide (BR), pirarubicin (THP), or mitomycin C (MMC) in prevention of postoperative recurrence of superficial bladder transient cell carcinoma (SBTCC). Methods: One hundred and twenty-seven patients with SBTCC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBt) or partial cystectomy were randomly divided into 3 groups. BA group (n = 43) received intravesical instillation of 0.1% BB 300 mL and retained for 15 min for one time. THP group (n = 42) received intravesical instillation of 30 mg THP in 50 mL of 0.9% NaCl solution. MMC group (n = 42) received intravesical instillation of 40 mg MMC in 50 mL of 0.9% NaCl solution. THP and MMC were given to patients once a week for 8 weeks and then once a month for one year. All the patients were followed up and received cystoscopy examination. The recurrence rate and side effects were compared between the three groups. Results: All patients were followed up for 24 months. The tumor recurrent rates were 4.7%, 23.8%, and 26.2% in BB, THP, and MMC groups, respectively. The tumor recurrence rate of BB group was significantly lower than that in THP and MMC groups (P <0.005). The difference was not significant between THP and MMC group (P >0.05). The pathological grade, clinical staging, primary and recurrent tumors, and different instillation drug therapies had significant effects on the recurence rate (P <0.05). There was no statistical significance in the incidence rate of renal damage among the three groups (P >0.05). Conclusion: Postoperative intravesical administration of BB is more effective than THP and MMC with well toleration and low cost. No apparent side effects are observed.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells.

METHODSRWPE-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with simvastatin at 0, 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by MTT assay, and their apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Cx43 were detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSAfter 72 hours of treatment with simvastatin at 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L, the inhibition rates of the RWPE-1 cells were (21.07 ± 6.41)%, (34.87 ± 9.65)%, and (47.18 ± 10.88)%, respectively, significantly higher than (1.21 ± 0.54)% in the control group (P < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptosis rates were (0.066 ± 0.016)%, (0.126 ± 0.023)%, and (0.192 ± 0.025)%, respectively, remarkably higher than (0.015 ± 0.005)% in the control (P < 0.05) and also in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were decreasing while those of Bax and Cx43 increasing with the increased concentration of simvastatin (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 but positively with that of Bax.

CONCLUSIONSimvastatin inhibits the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and induce their apoptosis by acting on the gap junctional intercellular communication.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine whether oral statins can delay the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50-69-year-old males who came for physical examination in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008. We designed the inclusion criteria, followed them up for 5 years, and investigated the relationship of oral statins with the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

RESULTSTotally, 653 men met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study, of whom 283 were treated with oral statins (group 1) while the other 370 with none (group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age and baseline IPSS, Qmax, and prostate volume (PV) (P > 0.05). During the follow-up, 24 cases in group 1 and 35 cases in group 2 were excluded for obvious dys-uria. A gradual increase was observed in IPSS in both groups 1 and 2 year by year from the baseline to the 5th year of follow-up, but significantly lower in the former group (4.27 +/- 1.16, 4.63 +/- 1.05, 5.27 +/- 0.96, 6.41 +/- 1.04, 7.21 +/- 1.21, and 7.93 +/-1.50) than in the latter (4.24 +/- 1.35, 5.26 +/- 1.23, 6.84 +/- 1.20, 8.75 +/- 1.84, 10.82 +/- 3.01, and 12.98 +/- 4.21) (P < 0.01); a gradual decrease was seen in Qmax, though markedly higher in group 1 ([26.56 +/- 2.09], [24.06 +/- 1.94], [21.33 +/- 1.66], [19.24 +/- 1.54], [17.44 +/- 1.53], and [16.27 +/- 1.37] ml/s) than in group 2 ([26.74 +/- 2.40], [23.62 +/- 2.01], [20.63 +/- 1.69], [17.72 +/- 1.48], [14.82 +/- 1.11], and [11.86 +/- 1.24] ml/s) (P < 0.01); and a gradual increase was found in PV, but remarkably smaller in the former group ([19.82 +/- 4.94], [22.60 +/- 4.99], [25.80 +/- 5.20], [27.92 +/- 5.05], [29.11 +/- 5.24], and [29.97 +/- 5.26] ml) than in the latter ([20.21 +/- 4.78], [24.30 +/- 4.98], [28.50 +/- 5.14], [32.84 +/- 4.77], [36.99 +/- 4.78], and [40.90 +/- 4.78] ml) (P < 0.01). Longer medication of statins was associated with better efficacy.

CONCLUSIONOral statins can significantly delay the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

Aged ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Longitudinal Studies ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the relationships between hyperuricaenia,serum uric acid (SUA) level and the chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult residents of Pudong New Area,Shanghai.Methods 3326 residents aged 20-80 years were randomly selected from Pudong New Area,Shanghai through multistage sampling and interviewed between April and July of 2008.Fasting blood sample and morning ovid urine sample were collected for each participant for testing of SUA,serum creatinine,urinary albumin and creatinine.Both urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR)and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were calculated to estimate the renal function.Results The overall prevalence of CKD was 16.0％ (age standardized 13.2％ ).The mean values of estimated GFR in participants with CKD and without CKD were (89.19 ± 27.25) and ( 105.88 ± 98.37) ml· min-1 ·(1.73 m2) -1,respectively.The prevalence rates of CKD in serum uric acid quartiles:first quartile,less than 4.2 mg/dl; second quartile,4.2-5.0 mg/dl; third quartile,5.0-6.0 mg/dl; and fourth quartile,6.0 mg/dl or more were 13.9％,15.0％,15.8％and 19.4％ (P＜0.05) respectively,increasing along with the increase of SUA among both sexes.Compared to the serum uric acid first quartile,the multivariate-adjusted odds for CKD of the second,third and fourth quartiles were 1.19 [95％ confidence interval (CI):0.90-1.58],1.27 (95％ CI:1.02-1.70),1.28 (95％ CI:1.10-1.68),respectively. Conclusion Hyperuricaemia was independently associated with the increased prevalence of CKD among population living in the Pudong New Area,Shanghai.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Pills combined with clomiphene on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 300 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia to a trial (n = 156) and a control group (n = 144) to be treated with Qilin Pills (6 g, tid) combined with clomiphene (50 mg, qd) and clomiphene alone (50 mg, qd), respectively, both for a course of 12 weeks. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, we determined sperm concentration, the percentages of grade a and grade a + b sperm, sperm motility, and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T), followed by evaluation of the clinical efficacy of Qilin Pills with the pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses as the secondaty therapeutic indexes.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, both groups of patients showed remarkably improved semen parameters and hormone levels after treatment (all P < 0.01). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, statistically significant differences were observed between the trial and control groups in sperm concentration ([17.06 ± 2.24] vs [15.07 ± 2.48], [22.10 ± 2.65] vs [18.11 ± 2.97], and [28.13 ± 3.59] vs [21.21 ± 3.60] x 10(6)/mL, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a sperm ([15.03 ± 2.39] vs [13.08 ± 2.51], [21.08 ± 3.16] vs [16.04 ± 3.05], and [28.08 ± 4.70] vs [20.14 ± 4.74]%, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a + b sperm ([30.10 ± 5.07] vs [26.21 ± 3.96], [38.08 ± 5.64] vs [30.07 ± 4.80], and [48.04 ± 6.49] vs [35.28 ± 4.77]%, P < 0.01), sperm motility ([42.04 ± 4.86] vs [40.29 ± 4.19], [52.05 ± 5.58] vs [48.03 ± 4.40], and [65.03 ± 5.13] vs [56.67 ± 4.99]%), the FSH level ([7.75 ± 1.38] vs [7.20 ± 1.17], [10.83 ± 1.23] vs [9.10 ± 1.32], and [14.22 ± 0.84] vs [12.06 ± 1.45] IU/L, P < 0.01), the LH level ([10.05 ± 1.68] vs [9.18 ± 1.54], [13.96 ± 1.68] vs [11.99 ± 1.71], and [19.01 ± 2.42] vs [15.86 ± 2.08] IU/L, P < 0.01) and the T level ([19.19 ± 192] vs [18.34 ± 1.79] [21.06 ± 1.63] vs [20.06 ± 1.56], and [24.63 ± 1.06] vs [22.03 ± 1.49] nmol/L, P < 0.01). The pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses was significantly higher in the trial than in the control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (1.92 vs 0.69, 4.81 vs 3.47, and 11.54 vs 8.33%, P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in drug tolerance between the two groups (P > 0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed.

CONCLUSIONQilin Pills combined with clomiphene can evidently improve the seminal quality and hormone level of oligoasthenospermia patients with no obvious adverse events. However, its long-term efficacy and tolerance deserve further clinical investigation.

Asthenozoospermia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Clomiphene ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fertility Agents ; therapeutic use ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Testosterone ; blood

So far the etiology of chronic prostatitis (PC) and particularly chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) remains to be elucidated. According to recent epidemiologic data, CP is the most common urological disease in men below 50 years and occurs in 2.5%-16.0% of the world population. Since the 1990s, researchers of many countries have carried out deeper, more extensive and larger scaled studies than ever before on the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of the disease, with the sponsorship and coordination of such international institutions as the International Prostatitis Collaborative Network (IPCN), the Chronic Prostatitis Collaborative Research Network of the National Institute of Health (NIH-CPCRN) and so on. As prevalent as multiple sclerosis, CPPS is the most common yet most poorly understood "prostatitis syndrome". This article reviews the progress in the studies of the treatment of CPPS, explores the main problems and ventures the prospects for the development in this field.
Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Pelvic Pain ; therapy ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution characteristics of basic syndromes and its related factors in patients with chronic functional constipation (CFC).

METHODSThe complete data of 538 patients with CFC were collected and initial database was established with Epidata 3. 0. TCM syndrome typing was performed. The distribution characteristics of basic syndromes were analyzed using SPSS 17. 0 Software. The univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed with SPSS 17. 0 Software to determine basic syndrome related factors such as age, engaged professionals, sleep quality, depression, mental stress, interpersonal relations, work fatigue, stimulating beverage, exercise conditions, Western medicine type of constipation, and so on.

RESULTSThe TCM syndrome frequency of CFC patients was sequenced from high to low as qi deficiency syndrome (380 cases, 70.6%), qi stagnation syndrome (337 cases, 62.6%), blood deficiency syndrome (234 cases, 43.5%), yin deficiency syndrome (220 cases, 40.9%), yang deficiency syndrome (197 cases, 36.6%), and others(58 cases, 10. 8%) . Most patients were complicated with complex syndromes, and the most common complex syndromes were qi deficiency complicated qi stagnation syndrome (275 cases, 51.1%) and qi deficiency complicated blood deficiency syndrome (222 cases, 41.3%). Aging, work fatigue, and exercise conditions were main related factors for qi deficiency syndrome (P <0. 01, P <0. 05). Poor emotional (depression and anxiety tendencies), mental stress, interpersonal relations, defecation barriers constipation were main related factors for qi stagnation syndrome (P <0.01). Sleep quality and poor emotional (depression and anxiety tendencies) were main related factors for blood deficiency syndrome (P <0. 01, P < 0.05). Stimulating beverages were main related factor for yin deficiency syndrome (P <0.05). Engaged in mental work and slow transit constipation were main related factors for yang deficiency syndrome (P < 0. 01, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSCFC is featured as complex syndromes. The most common complex syndromes were qi deficiency complicated qi stagnation syndrome and qi deficiency complicated blood deficiency syndrome. Basic syndrome related factors such as age, engaged professionals, sleep quality, poor emotional (depression and anxiety tendencies), mental stress, interpersonal relations, work fatigue, stimulating beverage, exercise conditions, Western medicine type of constipation were associated with the distribution of CFC syndromes.

Anxiety ; complications ; Constipation ; complications ; diagnosis ; psychology ; therapy ; Depression ; complications ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Stress, Psychological ; complications ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis

With the content of gallic acid, loganin, paeoniflorin and paeonol as the indexes, to screen out dissolution determination conditions, establish the dissolution determination method for multi-index components in Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills, calculate and map the accumulative dissolution curve, and then compare the dissolution of products from different pharmaceutical factories through the similarity factor (f2). According to the results, the optimum dissolution determination conditions were the paddle method, with 250 mL 0.1 mol x L(-1) hydrochloric acid as the dissolution medium, and a rotation rate of 100 r x min(-1). The similarity factor values (f2) of the dissolution curves of the four main components of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills from different pharmaceutical factories were mostly less than 50. This demonstrated a significant difference in the dissolution of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills from different pharmaceutical factories, and provided scientific basis for improving the equality evaluation of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Solvents ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between bacterial biofilm and acute otitis media by observing the feature of bacterial biofilm formation in middle-ear mucosa in the rat model of acute otitis media and to study the possibility of application this rat model in bacterial biofilm research.

METHODSA total of 30 healthy, male SD rats were studied, 24 animals served as experimental group were bilaterally injected with 50 µl of Streptococcus pneumoniae suspension (1 × 10(8) CFU/ml) via a transbullar approach into the middle ear cavity after anesthesia and six animals were bilaterally inoculated equivalent saline account for control group. At day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 after inoculation, bilateral middle-ear mucosal specimens were collected from three infected animals and one control animal for scanning electron microscopy (SME). Membranoid substance attached the bilateral middle ear mucosa were collected under the microscope from the other one infected animals, which were prepared for confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) with immunofluorescence in situ labeling technique and light microscopy using Gram staining.

RESULTSAt the early stage of infection (1 day, 3 days), lots of bacterial adhesion, permanent planting in the local regions of the middle ear cavity and microcolonies formation were found, with mixed phagocytic cells, showing a primary bacterial biofilms formation. In the middle term of infection (5 days, 7 days), mature bacterial biofilm scattered on the mucosal surface, formed characteristic three-dimensional structure of "mushroom-shaped" towers. At the late inflammatory period (10 days, 14 days), the bacterial biofilms presented signs of recession. CLSM with FITC-ConA and PI double staining in situ labeling and light microscopy using Gram staining indicated that bacteria and polysaccharide matrix within the biofilms were viable.

CONCLUSIONSThese preliminary findings provide evidence that bacterial biofilms form at the early phase of acute middle ear infection and it may be an important factor in the development of recurrent or persistent otitis media. The rat model of AOM established in this study may be an ideal animal model facilitating the bacterial biofilms research.

Animals ; Biofilms ; growth & development ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ear, Middle ; microbiology ; Male ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; microbiology ; Pneumococcal Infections ; microbiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To determine the status of false-positive report of congenital syphilis (CS),to analyze the possible causes of mis-diagnosis.Methods Basic information on CS in Shanghai in the past five years was collected.We identified infants diagnosed with CS and followed up the sero- logical reactivity of those patients and their mothers.The serological reactivity[rapid plasmin reagin (RPR)and treponema palidum hemagglutination assay(TPPA)]of infants was followed-up for up to 24 months,or until both antibodies turned to negative.The medical history of the mothers was col- lected,and their sera were examined for syphilitic antibodies.Results Total 99 infants diagnosed with CS were recruited. The major diagnostic method was treponemal antibody detection.Only 31.3% of the 99 infants exhibited clinical symptoms or syphilis-like symptoms at delivery.The cumu- lative RPR loss rates of the infants were 44.2%,64.0%,72.7%,83.9% and 87.1% at 1-3,3-6,6- 12,12-18 and 18-24 months after birth,respectively.The cumulative TPPA loss rates were 1.1%, 18.6%,44.6%,66.7% and 74.4% for 1-3,3-6,6-12,12-18 and 18-24 months after birth,respec- tively.TPPA remained positive in all mothers with syphilis.Conclusion The diagnosis of congenital syphilis determined solely by the positive tests of RPR and TPPA is unreliable and can be misdiagno- sis.The diagnosis and management of congenital syphilis should be urgently improved,and that the profes- sional health institutions should perform and closely monitor the quality controls in the diagnosis of CS and standardize the intervention strategy of maternal syphilis.