Saw palmetto fruit extract (SPE), as a herbal product, is widely used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Recent studies show that SPE also has some therapeutic effects on chronic prostatitis, prostate cancer, sexual dysfunction, and so on. This article presents an overview on the application of SPE in the treatment of BPH, prostate cancer, and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, with a discussion on its action mechanisms.
Chronic Disease ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Pelvic Pain ; drug therapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Diseases ; drug therapy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of testosterone undecanoate (TU) in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) by meta-analysis.

METHODSWe searched Pubmed (until April 1, 2014), Embase (until March 28, 2014), Cochrane Library (until April 17, 2014), CBM (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), CNKI (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), Wanfang Database (from January 1, 2000 to February 2, 2014), and VIP Database (from January 1, 2000 to Febru ary 2, 2014) for randomized controlled trials of TU for the treatment of LOH. We evaluated the quality of the identified literature and performed meta-analysis on the included studies using the Rveman5. 2 software.

RESULTSTotally, 14 studies were included after screening, which involved 1 686 cases. Compared with the placebo and blank control groups, TU treatment significantly increased the levels of serum total testosterone (SMD = 6.22, 95% CI 3.99 to 8.45, P < 0.05) and serum free testosterone (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.86 to 6. 85, P < 0.05) but decreased the contents of luteinizing hormone (WMD = -2.23, 95% CI -4.03 to -0.42, P < 0.05), sex hormone binding globulin (WMD = 2.00, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.63, P < 0.05). TU also remarkably reduced the scores of Partial Androgen Deficiency of the Aging Males (WMD = -9.49, 95% CI -12.96 to -6.03, P < 0.05) and Aging Males Symptoms rating scale (WMD = -2.76, 95% CI -4.85 to -0.66, P <0.05) but increased the hemoglobin level (SMD = 2.35, 95% CI 0.29 to 4.41, P < 0.05) and packed-cell volume (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.36 to 7.33, P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were shown in aspertate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, prostate-specific antigen, or prostate volume after TU treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTU could significantly increase the serum testosterone level and improve the clinical symptoms of LOH patients without inducing serious adverse reactions. However, due to the limited number and relatively low quality of the included studies, the above conclusion could be cautiously applied to clinical practice.

Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; blood ; drug therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacology

Objective To detect levels of IL - 4 and INF - ? in induced sputum dynamically in children with mycnplasma pneamo-niae pneumonia( MPP), and to analyze the function of Th1 /Th2 cell factor immune response in the genesis and development of MPP, so as to evaluate the clinical value of induced sputum method in MPP research. Methods There were 38 cases who were diagnoses as MPP using 3% high osmotic pressure of saline water to ultrasonic atomizing inhalation for inducing sputum. ELISA was used to detect IL-4 and INF-?. Results The content of IL-4 in acute stage was higher than that in convalescence stage in induced sputum of MPP children. Severe stage was higher than mild stage. However, the comparison between acute and convalescence stage didn't have statistics difference in the content of INF-?, neither did the comparison between severe and mild stage. IL- 4/INF- ? in acute stage was higher than that in convalescence stage. Severe stage was higher than mild stage. In convalescence stage, the comparison of INF - ?, IL - 4, IL - 4/INF - ? between the severe and the mild didn' t have statistic significance. Conclusions IL-4 and INF - ? have participated in the monogenesis of MPP. The disequilibria of Th1 /Fh2 is existed in MPP and Th2 reaction predominates. So induced sputum analysis can be a better way to judge the light or heavy press degree of MPP practically, conveniently and sensitively.

Objective To study the effect of radon exhalation on the external dose model for building material,so as to provide the scientific and precise assessment of external radiation exposure hazard.Methods The mechanism of exhalation of radon from building material was analyzed,mathematical model of correction factor for the effect of radon exhalation was derived and resolved by Matlab program and the relationship between correction factor and diffusion length,surface emanation coefficient and thickness of building material was discussed.The absorbed dose rate induced by several classical building materials was calculated and compared.Results The radon exhalation correction factor was independent of diffusion length and thickness of building material in most cases.Negative correlation was found between radon exhalation correction factor and radon surface emanation coefficient.Radon exhalation correction factor numerically equals to '1-radon surface emanation coefficient'.The relative percentage deviation between absorbed dose rate induced by several classical building materials was in the range of 2.23％-10.02％,for both corrected and uncorrected radon exhalation effects.Conclusions Radon exhalation from building material has a certain effect on external dose model for building material,which should attract attention.It is important to conduct the correction for external dose model by introducing ‘1 -radon surface emanation coefficient’ as the radon exhalation correction factor,in order for the scientific assessment and control of external radiation exposure hazards from building materials.

Aged ; Coal Mining ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Tachycardia ; etiology

Notopterygium incisum is the important medicinal materials of the Tibetan-Qiang medical system in China, also one of the rare and endangered medicinal materials in the Plateau areas in the meantime. Taking the planting of in Sichuan province as an example, research on the N. incisum in Sichuan utilize remote sensing and GIS techniques, bind growth environment factor, including height factor, average annual precipitation, average annual temperature, forest information, were chosen according to habitat conditions. And combine field measurement to verify. The results indicate that N. incisum resources in Sichuan province were mainly distributed in the alpine valley and the northwest of the plateau, which suitability distribution areas of 4145 km2 approximately and accounting for 2% of the total area. Suitability areas accounting for more than 2% of the respective total area in Heishui county, Lixian county, Xiaojin county, Kangding county, ect. According to the field investigation and the related document information record, drawn that the suitability distribution based on RS and GIS were corresponded with the actual distribution areas of N. incisum resources. It's feasible to divide the suitability distribution area of N. incisum using RS and GIS, which will provide a scientific basis for a comprehensive investigation of the distribution as well as its rational exploitation and protection.
Apiaceae ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Geographic Information Systems ; Telemetry

Based on single factor tests,the optimum vacuum belt drying conditions of Qibai Pingfei granule were obtained through Box-Benhnken central combination design and RSM. In this study, drying time, drying temperature and extract density were chosen as independent variables, while transferring rate ginsenoside Rg₁, Re, Rb₁and astragaloside IV were taken as dependent variables. The optimum parameters are as follows: drying time of 112 min, drying temperature of 87 °C and extract density of 1.30 g · mL⁻¹. At the optimum condition, transferring rate ginsenoside Rg₁+ Re, Rb₁and astragaloside IV were 88.01%, 87.31%, 84. 34%. Above all, the optimum processing parameters of vacuum belt drying of Qibai Pingfei granule is reasonable and feasible, which can provide reliable basis for production.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Desiccation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Temperature ; Vacuum

The study aimed to retrospectively evaluate surgical treatment outcomes after delayed parotid gland and duct injuries.Nine patients subjected to parotid gland and duct injuries with 1-to 3-month treatment delay were retrospectively evaluated with special reference of etiology,past medical history,and injury location.Conservative treatment,microsurgical anastomosis,and diversion of salivary flow or ligation were chosen for delayed parotid gland and duct injuries concerning to their site of injury,time of repair and procedures.Assistant treatment as pressure dressing was adopted thereafter.All patients experienced an uneventful recovery at the time of finalizing the study.Two patients received Stensen's duct ligation,5 received microsurgical anastomosis and 2 accepted salivary flow diversion for 5 patients with sialoceles and 4 patients with fistulas,and no re-occurrence was found.Facial paralysis occurred after surgery in 4 patients,and 3 of them recovered after the nerve nutrition treatment.Our study suggested that appropriate surgical treatment is efficient for the re-establishment of the tissue function and facial aesthetic for delayed injury of the parotid and its duct.

To introduce the general thinking, guidelines, work objectives and elaboration process of the general technical requirements adopted by volume Ⅳ of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition, and to summarize and figure out the main characteristics on dosage forms, physico-chemical testing, microbial and biological testing, reference standards and guidelines The newly revised general chapters of pharmacopoeia give full play to the normative and guiding role of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard, track the frontier dynamics of international drug regulatory science and the elaboration of monographs, expand the application of state-of-the-art technologies, and steadily promote the harmonization and unification with the ICH guidelines； further enhance the overall capacity of TCM quality control, actively implement the 3 R principles on animal experiments, and practice the concept of environmental-friendly； replace and/or reduce the use of toxic and hazardous reagents, strengthen the requirements of drug safety control This paper aims to provide a full-view perspective for the comprehensive, correct understanding and accurate implementation of general technical requirements included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition.