Efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a multi-centered open clinical study on 165 BPH patients treated with Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules at a dose of 160 mg qd for 12 weeks. At the baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of medication, we compared the International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), prostate volume, postvoid residual urine volume, urinary flow rate, quality of life scores (QOL), and adverse events between the two groups of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the baseline, both IPSS and QOL were improved after 6 weeks of medication, and at 12 weeks, significant improvement was found in IPSS, QOL, urinary flow rate, and postvoid residual urine. Mild stomachache occurred in 1 case, which necessitated no treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules were safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.</p>

Androgen receptor mutation and progression of prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

Prostate cancer growth is almost wholly dependent on the route of the androgen receptor and most therapies aimed at blocking this signaling axis are useful tools in the management of this disease. Unfortunately such therapies invariably fail, and the cancer progresses to an androgen-independent stage. In such cases, androgen receptor mutation almost always occurs and much evidence suggests the continuous growth of the tumor. One mechanism by which the receptor is thought to remain active is mutation. This paper reviews the molecular mechanism of tumor growing after androgen receptor mutation and some of the promising management principles and systemic chemotherapy options against prostate cancer.

Long-term outcome of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty in patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the outcome of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 1992 to November 2008, 1768 patients underwent PBMV in our hospital.Clinical and echocardiographic follow up data were analyzed in 426 patients from April 1992 to August 1998. Left atrial pressure and the mitral valve gradient (MVG) were measured before and immediately after PBMV in all patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PBMV was successful in 1748 out of 1768 patients (98.86%). Left atrial pressure decreased from (38 +/- 7) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (12 +/- 4) mm Hg (P < 0.001), MVG decreased from (28 +/- 6) mm Hg to (8 +/- 3) mm Hg (P < 0.001) and the area of the mitral valve increased from (0.98 +/- 0.26) cm(2) to (1.97 +/- 0.39) cm(2) (P < 0.001) post PBMV. The main complications included death (n = 2), acute pericardial effusion (n = 1), severe mitral regurgitation (n = 12), cerebral embolism (n = 2) and pulmonary edema (n = 1). Ten years follow up was finished in 426 patients and 288 patients (67.6%) were still in NYHA class Ior II without mitral valve replace operation or repeated PBMV, restenosis was evidenced in 140 patients (33.3%) and 31 patients dead (7.5%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PBMV was an effective therapy option for patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis.</p>

Study on the amount of daily iodine intake of inhabitants living in drinking water with excessive iodine content areas after termination of iodized salt supply / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the amount of daily iodine intake in the diet of the target population in drinking water with areas of excessive iodine after stopping supply of iodized salt, to provide evidence for developing strategies on control and prevention of excessive iodine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>335 objectives were selected by a two-stage sampling method in 4 administrative villages with different iodine contents in drinking water. The amount of drinking water intake and dietary survey for 335 people were done by a door-to-door survey,while the iodine contents in the drinking water of each selected family, local staple food and vegetable were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median level of iodine in drinking water was 431.5 microg/L while the daily amount of iodine intake among the three groups of waters with different iodine contents were all greater than RNI. The daily iodine intake of local people was all greater than UL in the areas where the water iodine contents were more than 300 microg/L. It was of statistical sense that the iodine mean intake per capita per day of the three groups differed at different water iodine levels (P < 0.01). The iodine mean intake per capita per day of the three groups of different water iodine levels increased along with water iodine and showed a uptrend (P < 0.01). 83.2%-98.7% of the daily iodine intake of the three groups was from drinking water and 1.3%-16.8% came from food. The iodine intake had high-positive correlation relation with the content of water iodine (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It was concluded that drinking water was the main source of iodine intake in areas with iodine excessive water by the percentage of over 80%. It was necessary to adopt measures to improve the quality of water to decrease the iodine content other than just stopping supplies of iodized salt in the areas where the water iodine contents were greater than 300 microg/L, in order to prevent and control excessive intake of iodine.</p>

Study on the association between vaginal douching and sexually transmitted diseases among female sex workers in a county of Yunnan province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the epidemic characteristics of vaginal douching, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases(STD) among female sex workers (FSWs) in Yunnan province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>FSWs were recruited to be investigated on their demographic data, drug abuse and sexual behavior, HIV/AIDS knowledge and procreation health status. Venous blood were collected to test for HIV, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and syphilis while urine specimen was for morphine, cervical secretion for Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia trachomatis, and vaginal secretion for Trichomonas.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total number of 833 blood specimen were collected, in which 84 specimen were confirmed to be HIV positive with a prevalence rate of 10.1%. The prevalence rates of syphilis and HSV-2 were 8.2% and 68.4% respectively. 832 vaginal and cervical secretion specimen were collected with the prevalence rates of Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas were 11.5%, 28.2% and 11.9% respectively. In multivariate logistic analysis, the factors associated with vaginal douching were: being Han nationality, locations of sex work at middle/high level, ever heard of HIV/AIDS, emerged hypogastric pain last year, the number of sex work location > or =4.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Vaginal douching was shown a risk factor for HIV and some STD.</p>

Clinicopathological observation On two sensory,neuronopathy cases / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To determine the clinical features,neurophysiological characteristics and cervical magnetic resonance imaging of sensory neumnopathy,and to describe the pathology of skin nerve, sural nerve and spinal dorsal columns.Methods Two patients who died from sensory neuron disease (SND)after infection of digestive tract were discussed including clinical features and ancillary tests which included neurophysiology and pathology of peripheral nerve and spinal dorsal columns.Associated documents are reviewed.Results Early ataxia,widespread sensory symptoms and global loss of deep tendon reflex were the distinctive signs of SND,which was characterized by non-length-dependent abnormalities of sensory nerve action potentials,a hallmark of ganglionopathies.The second patient showed normal cervical magnetic resonance imaging possibly because of short course of disease,while diffuse hyperintensity in the spinal posterior columns of SND was reported.Demyelination of spinal posterior columns and loss of mostly large diameter nerve fibers without regeneration clusters were the main pathological features.Conclusions The distinctive clinical features and neurophysiological characteristics of SND indicate that peripheral sensory nerve fibers are widely damaged.Pathology of spinal posterior columns confirm that central sensory pathway are impaired which allow the localization of the pathologic site to the dorsal root ganglion neurons.Cervical spinal MRI of SND are possibly normal at early phase.