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

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Nasal Mucosa ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Radioimmunoassay ; Radioisotopes ; Radionuclide Imaging

Objective To assess the long efficacy and safety of Lamotrigine(LTG) monotherapy and add-on therapy different types of epileptic seizures in children.Methods According to the classification of the 1981 and 1989 International Union of Antiepileptic for epileptic seizure,a total of 124 cases with epilepsy were included in the study and divided into non-refractory group with 93 cases and refractory group with 31 cases.LTG treatment only or add-on were used.Original drug dosage was not changed and LTG was added slowly and carefully untill the terrible side effect appeared.The average monthly seizure frequency with baseline in the last 3 months was compared and the side effect was observed.Results Total efficiency was 72.6%,control rate was 51.6%.Total efficiency and control rate of the non-refractory group was 81.0% and 61.3%,which was significantly higher than those of refractory group(48.4%,22.6%).Total efficiency and control rate of the combination group with LTG and valproate sodium(VPA) was 78.4% and 54.5%,which was significantly higher than those of the group of LTG only(61.0%,44.0%).Clinical results was different significantly between the course of the observation period within and over 5 years(P

Objective:To differentiate human embryonic stem cells ( hESCs ) into keratinocytes ( K-hESCs) and analyse the expression characteristics of biomarkers of K-hESCs.Methods: The hESCs of line H9 were seeded on matrigel in mTeSR1 medium.The hESCs were directly differentiated into kerati-nocytes in epithelial differentiation medium with bone morphogenetic protein 4, retinoic acid and N2 sup-plement.The karyotype of K-hESCs was analyzed, comparing the gene expression differences of K-hESCs with human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs), human immortalized oral epithelial cells (HIOECs) and HaCaT by Real-time PCR.Molecular characteristics of the cell differentiation were observed throughout the process by immunocytochemical techniques.Results:H9-hESCs were successfully differentiated into the cells that exhibited characteristics of keratinocytes in epithelial differentiation medium.The karyotype of K-hESCs was 46, XX; and the keratinocyte gene p63 expression in K-hESCs was significantly lower than that in HaCaT ( P<0.05) , but there was no significant difference of p63 expression in K-hESCs, comparing with that in HGECs and HIOECs ( P >0.05 ) .Conclusion: H9-hESCs could be directly differentiated into K-hESCs.The gene expression of K-hESCs was similar to that of epithelial cells in the early stage of monolayer cells differentiation with high proliferative activity.

The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a serious impact on global public health and the economy. SARS-CoV-2 infiltrates host cells via its surface spike protein, which binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 on the host cell membrane. As a result, small molecules targeting spike protein have emerged as a hotspot in anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug research. Activity screening is an important step in seeking small molecule drugs. Therefore, this article aims to review the biological activity evaluation methods of small molecule inhibitors targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, with the goal of laying the foundation for the discovery of new anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.

Objective To analyze the features of poststroke depression (PSD) between men and women after acute ischemic stroke in China. Methods A total of 1917 ischemic stroke patients were enrolled from the Prospective Cohort Study on Incidence and Outcome of Patients with Poststroke Depression in China. The incidence of PSD and the features were compared between male and female patients. The factors related with PSD of every gender were extracted with Logistic regression analysis. Results The incidence of PSD was higher in women than in men (32.9% vs. 26.6%, P<0.01). There was no difference in the stroke score between women and men (P>0.05). The score of Hamilton Depression Scale was higher in the women than in the men, and the features were similar. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the history of heart disease, history of mental disorders and stroke score related with PSD in women, while the age, history of mental disorders, smoking and stroke score in men. Conclusion The incidence and related factors of PSD 2 weeks after ischemic stroke are different between men and women.

Objective　To explore the molecular epidemiological characteristics of local Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Chongqing, China using genotyping methods and establish a suitable genotyping system tuberculosis genotyping in the region. Methods A total of 268 isolates collected from the sputum of tuberculosis patients at two national drug resistance monitoring sites in Chongqing from 2019 to 2021. The DNA of these isolates was extracted, and genotyping of the isolates was performed using VTNR 24 locus typing method. Epidemiological investigations were conducted on clustered isolates, and the clustering rates of isolates from the two surveillance sites were compared to analyze their transmission differences. Results In the two regions, the Hunter-Gaston discriminatory index (HGI) in Fengjie County ranged from 0 to 0.85, with 10 loci having an HGI above 0.6, 11 loci with an HGI between 0.3 and 0.6, and 3 loci with an HGI below 0.3; the highest resolution site was MIRU31, while the lowest resolution site was MIRU24. The HGI index in Fengdu County ranged from 0 to 0.81, with 12 loci having an HGI above 0.6, 9 loci with an HGI between 0.3 and 0.6, and 3 loci with an HGI below 0.3; the highest resolution site was MIRU26, while the lowest resolution site was MIRU23. In the clustering analysis, among the 140 isolates from Fengdu County, 10 samples clustered into 4 clusters, with the largest cluster consisting of 4 samples, resulting in a clustering rate of 4.1%. Among the 128 isolates in Fengjie County, 10 samples clustered into 5 clusters, with a clustering rate of 4.2%. Conclusion In Fengdu County and Fengjie County of Chongqing, the main population of the disease show independent genotypes, indicating a low recent transmission rate. The incidence of patients is mainly endogenous recurrence, that is, latent infection develops into active tuberculosis. While conducting standardized management of tuberculosis patients, prevention and control agencies should also increase the screening of latent infection at two monitoring points and carry out preventive treatment of latent infection, which is the key to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in the two places.

OBJECTIVETo investigate phosphorus limitation and its effect on the removal efficiency of organic matters in drinking water biological treatment.

METHODSBacterial growth potential (BGP) method and a pair of parallel pilot-scale biofilters were used for the two objectives, respectively.

RESULTSThe addition of phosphorus could substantially increase the BGPs of the water samples and the effect was stronger than that of the addition of carbon. When nothing was added into the influents, both CODMn removals of the parallel biofilters (BF1 and BF2) were about 15%. When phosphate was added into its influent, BF1 performed a CODMn removal, 6.02 percentage points higher than the control filter (BF2) and its effluent had a higher biological stability. When the addition dose was < 20 micrograms.L-1, no phosphorus pollution would occur and there was a good linear relationship between the microbial utilization of phosphorus and the removal efficiency of organic matters.

CONCLUSIONSPhosphorus was a limiting nutrient and its limitation was stronger than that of carbon. The addition of phosphate was a practical way to improve the removal efficiency of organic matters in drinking water biological treatment.

Bacteria ; growth & development ; Bioreactors ; Filtration ; Kinetics ; Organic Chemicals ; chemistry ; Phosphorus ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; Water Purification ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of bridging fixation with locking plate for the Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to September 2014,18 cases of Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture were treated by open reduction and bridging fixation with locking plate through proximal and distal approach including 16 males and 2 females with an average age of 41 years old ranging from 22 to 67 years old. Among them, 12 cases caused by traffic accident, 5 cases by falling, 1 case by heavy aboving. All cases were fresh and closed fractures. Time between injury and operation was from 4 to 9 days with an average of 6.2 days. Of them, 11 cases were fixed with reverse LISS and the other 7 cases were fixed with anatomical locking plates of proximal femur.

RESULTSThe mean time of operation was 110 min (ranged from 90 to 155 min). The mean blood loss during operation was 425 ml (ranged from 350 to 650 ml) and 16 cases got blood transfusion which was meanly 300 ml. The mean hospital time was 14 days (ranged from 12 to 18 days). The mean duration of followed up was 11.8 months (ranged from 8 to 22 months). The mean time of bone union was 6.6 months (ranged from 5 to 8 months). There was not any complication such as infection, implant failure, hip varus, external rotation deformity of low limb or fat embolism. The Sanders hip scores were 53.22 ± 6.48, the result was excellent in 12 cases and good in 6 cases at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONUnder the principle of biological osteosynthesis, treatment of Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture with bridging locking plate fixation has such advantages as high mechanism, less interference of blood supply, stable fixation and little complication. It is a safe and idea way for the treatment of the Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo establish a reliable model for drug screening and therapy by culturing rat femoral head and inducing cartilage degeneration quickly in vitro.

METHODSThe femoral heads from the same SD rats of two-month old were divided into control group and experimental group respectively. They were cultured with DMEM medium plus 10% fetal bovine serum or DMEM medium plus 10% fetal bovine serum plus 50 ng/ml IL-1β for three days. Femoral heads were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, decalcified, dehydrated, embedded in paraffin and cut into slices. Specimens were stained with Toluidine blue and Safranine O-Fast Green FCF. The protein expression levels of type II collagen, MMP13, Sox9 and ADAMTS5 were analyzed by immunofluorescence.

RESULTSBoth the Toluidine blue and Safranine O staining were pale in the margin of femoral heads which were stimulated with IL-1β for three days compared to that in control group. The Fast Green FCF staining was positive at the edge of the femoral head in experimental group, which indicated that cartilage became degenerated. The expression levels of both type H collagen and Sox9 were decreased significantly while the expression levels of MMP13 and ADAMTS5 were increased in experimental group.

CONCLUSIONThe model of cartilage degeneration is established by culturing and inducing the degeneration of the femoral heads quickly in vitro.

Animals ; Cartilage Diseases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Femur Head ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism