ABSTRACT
Hyperandrogenism is one of the major clinical characteristics of PCOS,which can be assessed either by biochemical determination of hyperan⁃drogenism or clinical manifestations of hyperan⁃drogenism to make diagnosis.Hyperandrogenism leads to ovulatory dysfunction and menstrual disorder by affecting follicular development,and causes hirsutism and acne as well;it is closely associated with the de⁃velopment of endometrial cancers,diabetes and car⁃diovascular diseases from the long-term perspective.Therefore,it is imperative to fully understand charac⁃teristics and management of PCOS-related hyperan⁃drogenism,which is an important part of the compre⁃hensive therapy for PCOS.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate therapeutic efficacy of Goserelin acetate sustained-release implants combined with bicalutamide in the treatment of elderly (≥70 years old) prostate cancer patients, and its effects on cognitive function and short-term survival rate. METHODS: A total of 56 prostate cancer patients treated in our hospital from Nov. 2014 to Nov. 2016 were divided into observation group and control group according to random number table, with 28 cases in each group. Observation group was given maximal androgen blokage (MAB) treatment which was Goserelin acetate sustained-release implant (subcutaneous injection of abdominal wall, 3. 6 mg/ times, once) combined with Bicalutamide tablet (orally, 50 mg/times, qd). Control group received surgical castration, and then was given docetaxel (intravenous dripping on 1st day) combined with Prednisone acetate tablets (lst-21st day, orally, 5 mg/time, bid) after surgery for adjuvant therapy. Treatment course of 2 groups lasted for 3 weeks, and all patients were followed up for 12 months. Clinical efficacy, Montreal cognitive function assessment table (MoCA) score, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and 12-month survival rate were observed in 2 groups. RESULTS: The total response rate of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group, with statistical significance (P<0. 05). Before treatment, there was no statistical significance in MoCA score and serum PSA levels between 2 groups (P>0. 05). After treatment, MoCA scores of 2 groups were decreased significantly, and the observation group was higher than the control group, with statistical significance (P<0. 05). 6 and 12 months after treatment, serum PSA levels of 2 groups were decreased significantly, and the observation group was significantly lower than the control group, with statistical significance (P<0. 05); 12-month survival rate of observation group (92. 86％) was significantly higher than that of control group (64. 29％), with statistical significance (P< 0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: Nonsteroidal anti-androgen drugs show significant therapeutic efficacy for elderly prostate cancer, reduce cognitive function damage, improve serum PSA levels, therapeutic efficacy and short-term survival rate.
ABSTRACT
To evaluate hormesis induced by Yttrium (Y) nitrate in male rats, Y was offered to F0 mother rats and F1 offspring at concentrations of 0, 20, 80, and 320 ppm daily from gestational day (GD) 0 through postnatal day 70 (PND 70). The F1 offspring were evaluated with respect to motor function, learning and memory, and histopathology. Administration of Y improved motor function in a dose dependent manner. In the 20 ppm group, body weight and spatial learning and memory were increased, while the latter was decreased in the 320 ppm group. Additionally, in the 20 ppm and 80 ppm, but not the 320 ppm groups, Y reduced the anogenital distance, which indicated an anti-androgen effect. These results suggest that Y follows a hormetic concentration-related trend with an inverted U-shape.
ABSTRACT
To investigate the effects of anti-androgen drugs and melengestrol acetate (MGA) on development of regrowth antlers in 6 year old sika deer, twenty healthysika deerwith similar body weight and antler weightwere randomly divided into five groups by using single factor test design: flutamide (=4), bicalutamide (=4), progesterone acetate (CPA, =4), melengestrol acetate (MGA, =4), control(=4). All deer were fed with same diets and were housed outside together in an opened fence of 15 m×30 m with free access to water and feed. Treatment groups were injected subcutaneously sustained-release agents of the four drugs respectively when two-branched antlers were harvested. The control group had no special treatment. In the experiment period of 60 d, blood sampleswere collected for 4 times for each deer. The concentration of testosterone in plasma was tested and analyzed to compare the changes between different groups. Development of regrowth antlers was observed. At the end of the experiment, regrowth antlers were weighted and analyzed. The resultsshowed that the weights of regrowth antlers in treatment groups were significantly greater than those from control group and the weight gain (as compared with the control group) was 100.50%, 64.46%, 87.16% and 117.46% respectively in flutamide group, bicalutamide group, progesterone acetate group and melengestrol acetate group. For plasma testosterone concentration, it was not significantly different in the early stage (in the first 35 d), but at the end of the experimen, it was significantly higher than that of earlier stage (<0.01) in various groups. Testosterone concentration of flutamide treated group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (<0.01), while the level inbicalutamide and MGA treated groups was significantly higher than that in other groups (<0.01). The results showed that both anti-androgen drugs and MGA treatment promoted the development of regrowth antlers and increased the weight of regrowth antlers, where the effect was most significant by MGA treatment. From the morphological observation of the antlers, it was found that anti-androgen and MGA treatments prolonged the growth period of regrowth antlers through delaying the ossification of antlers. However, plasma testosterone concentration was not affected by the treatments.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to assess the effects of androgen receptor antagonists on the physical working capacity and activity of some of the key muscle enzymes for the energy supply in rats. Young adult male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. One group received 15 mg kg-1 of flutamide daily for 6 days a week and the other group served as control for 8 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of the experiment, all rats were subjected to submaximal running endurance (SRE), maximum time to exhaustion (MTE), and maximal sprinting speed (MSS) tests. At the end of the trial, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) test was performed and the levels of testosterone, erythrocytes, hemoglobin as well as enzyme activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and NAD.H2-cytochrome-c reductase (NAD.H2) of the gastrocnemius muscle were measured. Serum testosterone of the flutamide-treated rats was higher than that of the controls, which verifies the effectiveness of the dose chosen. MTE and SRE of the anti-androgen-treated group were lower compared with the initial values. Flutamide treatment decreased the activity of SDH and NAD.H2 compared with the controls. We found no effect of the anti-androgen treatment on MSS, VO2max, running economy, LDH activity, and hematological variables. Our findings indicate that the maintenance of the submaximal and maximal running endurance as well as the activity of some of the key enzymes associated with muscle oxidative capacity is connected with androgen effects mediated by androgen receptors.
ABSTRACT
Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is the lethal form of prostate cancer with developed resistance to androgen deprivation therapy. However, anti-androgen therapy remains an important treatment option because androgen receptor activation is a major driver of the advanced phase of CRPC. Drug resistance is frequently manifested despite the development of various novel anti-an-drogens with significant clinical efficacy. This review introduces several drugs prevalently used to treat CRPC. The mechanisms of ac-tion and pathways to resistance of these drugs are also discussed.
ABSTRACT
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a common cause of hair loss in women characterized by diffuse reduction in hair density over the crown and frontal scalp with retention of the frontal hairline. Its prevalence increases with advancing age and is associated with significant psychological morbidity. The pathophysiology of FPHL is still not completely understood and seems to be multifactorial. Although androgens have been implicated, the involvement of androgen-independent mechanisms is evident from frequent lack of clinical or biochemical markers of hyperandrogenism in affected women. The role of genetic polymorphisms involving the androgen and estrogen receptors is being increasingly recognized in its causation and predicting treatment response to anti-androgens. There are different clinical patterns and classifications of FPHL, knowledge of which facilitates patient management and research. Chronic telogen effluvium remains as the most important differential diagnosis. Thorough history, clinical examination, and evaluation are essential to confirm diagnosis. Patients with clinical signs of androgen excess require assessment of biochemical parameters and imaging studies. It is prudent to screen the patients for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors. The treatment comprises medical and/or surgical modalities. Medical treatment should be initiated early as it effectively arrests hair loss progression rather than stimulating regrowth. Minoxidil continues to be the first line therapy whereas anti-androgens form the second line of treatment. The progressive nature of FPHL mandates long-term treatment for sustained effect. Medical therapy may be supplemented with cosmetic concealment in those desirous of greater hair density. Surgery may be worthwhile in some carefully selected patients.