Efficacy and safety investigation of Kuntai capsule for the add-back therapy of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist administration to endometriosis patients: a randomized, double-blind, blank- and tibolone-controlled study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>As a Chinese Traditional Medicine product, Kuntai capsule could improve the peri-menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. But it is still not clear whether Kuntai capsule has a good effect on alleviating peri-menopausal symptoms induced by gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Kuntai capsule, on peri-menopausal symptoms in endometriosis (EMS) patients, with postoperative GnRH-a treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety EMS ovarian cyst women with postoperative GnRH-a administration were enrolled in the study, and were randomly divided into Kuntai group, Tibolone group, or blank Control group. The therapeutic strategy in Kuntai group was 4 Kuntai capsules tid,po for 12 weeks after the first GnRH-a injection, while Tibolone 2.5 mg qd, po for 12 weeks in Tibolone group. There was no drug addition in Control group. Climacteric complaints were evaluated by Kupperman menopausal index (KMI) and hot flash/sweating score. Liver and renal functions, lipid profile, serum sex hormone levels and endometrial thickness were measured, and the frequency of adverse events in Kuntai and Tibolone groups was recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Before GnRH-a therapy, the baseline parameter results were comparable in the three groups (P > 0.05). (2) After GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating scores in all the three groups increased significantly (P < 0.05). At the 4 th week after GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating score results were as follows: Control group > Kuntai group > Tibolone group (P < 0.05); at the 8 th and 12 th week after GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating score in Control group were significantly higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05), and no significant difference was identified between Kuntai and Tibolone group (P > 0.05). (3) No statistical change took place in the liver and renal functions and lipid profile in all the three groups after the treatment (P > 0.05). (4) The posttherapeutic serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) level and endometrial thickness decreased significantly in all the three groups (P < 0.05). After therapy, serum E2 level in Tibolone group was obviously higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05), while FSH and LH levels were obviously lower (P < 0.05). (5) The incidence of vaginal bleeding, breast distending pain in Tibolne group was obviously higher than Kuntai group (P < 0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Kuntai capsule is effective on the peri-menopausal symptoms induced by postoperative GnRH-a administration to EMS patients, although its clinical effect might be a few weeks later than Tibolone. Kuntai capsule might be a little safer than Tibolone tablet.</p>

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on erectile dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a meta-analysis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, China Academic Journal Full-Text Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Resource Database and Chinese Journal Full-Text Database for clinical trials on the effect of CPAP on ED in OSAS patients. We identified the trials according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated their quality, and then extracted valid data for meta-analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We included 4 articles, 3 in English and 1 in Chinese, involving 77 cases of OSAS with ED. Meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant heterogeneity among different studies (P = 0.80; I2 = 0%), and therefore the fixed effect model was used for the analysis, which showed a significant increase in the IIEF-5 score after CPAP treatment (WMD = 4.19, 95% [3.01, 5.36], P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The existing evidence from clinical trials shows that the CPAP therapy can significantly improve ED in OSAS patients. However, its efficacy has to be verified by randomized controlled clinical trials of higher quality and larger sample size.</p>

Transurethral holmium laser enucleation for prostate adenoma greater than 100 g / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of transurethral holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for prostate adenoma greater than 100 g.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty BPH patients with the prostate larger than 100 g were randomized to two treatment groups of HoLEP (n = 32) and open prostatectomy (n = 28). Comparisons were made between the two groups in operating time, blood loss, bladder irrigating time, catheterization time and hospital stay, as well as in the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual volume (PVR) before and 3 months after the surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the open prostatectomy group, the operating time was significantly longer (P < 0.01) but the blood loss, mean bladder irrigating time, catheterization time and hospital stay were significantly less in the HoLEP group (P < 0.01). Three-month follow-up revealed that HoLEP and open prostatectomy resulted in a similarly significant improvement in IPSS, QOL, Qmax and PVR (P < 0.01 ), with no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HoLEP and open prostatectomy are equally effective procedures for removal of large prostate adenomas, but the former is a better surgical option for prostate adenomas larger than 100 g for its greater safety, less pain and faster recovery.</p>

Design and rapid evaluation of a TaqMan assay for the detection of influenza A viruses / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To design and rapidly evaluate a TaqMan assay for detecting influenza A viruses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The probe and the primers of the assay were designed with the software packages of DNA Star and Primer Premier 5.0. Their specificity and conservation were verified through Blast in GenBank and electronic hybridization. The assay's sensitivity was compared with the standard RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The designed primers and probe were confirmed to be very specific and conserved. The assay was 3-27 folds more sensitive than the standard RT-PCR. The RT and PCR steps could be simplified into one step.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The TaqMan Real-time PCR assay is specific, sensitive and easy to perform.</p>