Astragaloside IV Protects Detrusor from Partial Bladder Outlet Obstruction-Induced Oxidative Stress by Activating Mitophagy through AMPK-ULK1 Pathway.

Aims: Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and the consequent low contractility of detrusor are the leading causes of voiding dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the pharmacological activity of astragaloside IV (AS-IV), an antioxidant biomolecule that possess beneficial effect in many organs, on detrusor contractility and bladder wall remodeling process. Methods: Partial BOO (pBOO) was created by urethral occlusion in female rats, followed by oral gavage of different dose of AS-IV or vehicle. Cystometric evaluation and contractility test were performed. Bladder wall sections were used in morphology staining, and bladder tissue lysate was used for ELISA assay. Primary smooth muscle cells (SMCs) derived from detrusor were used for mechanism studies. Results: Seven weeks after pBOO, the bladder compensatory enlarged, and the contractility in response to electrical or chemical stimuli was reduced, while AS-IV treatment reversed this effect dose-dependently. AS-IV also showed beneficial effect on reversing the bladder wall remodeling process, as well as reducing ROS level. In mechanism study, AS-IV activated mitophagy and alleviated oxidative stress via an AMPK-dependent pathway. Conclusion: Out data suggested that AS-IV enhanced the contractility of detrusor and protected the bladder from obstruction induced damage, via enhancing the mitophagy and restoring mitochondria function trough an AMPK-dependent way.

[Effects of Kudzu Root plus Cinnamon Granules on prostatic hyperplasia in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Kudzu Root plus Cinnamon Granules (KR+C) on prostatic hyperplasia (PH) in mice. METHODS: Sixty 4-week-old Kunming male mice were randomly divided into six groups: blank control, PH model, high-, medium- and low-dose KR+C, and finasteride control. All the mice except those in the blank control group were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate (5 mg / ï¼»kg·dï¼½) at 7 days after surgical castration. The animals of different groups were treated intragastrically with different doses of KR+C, finasteride, and normal saline respectively for 3 weeks and then sacrificed for weighing of the prostate, calculation of the prostatic index, observation of the morphological changes in the prostate after HE staining, determination of the expressions of FGF2, Ki67 and TGF-ß1 by immunohistochemistry, detection of 5α-reductase activity by ELISA, and measurement of the apoptosis index of the prostatic cells by TUNEL. RESULTS: Compared with the model controls, the mice of the other groups showed significantly reduced prostatic volume (P <0.05), prostatic index (P <0.05), expressions of FGF2, Ki67 and TGF-ß1, and activity of 5 α-reductase (P <0.05), but remarkably increased apoptosis index of the prostatic cells (P <0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the above parameters between the finasteride control and the three KR+C groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: KR+C can reduce the prostatic volume of PH mice by decreasing the activity of 5α- reductase, inhibiting the expressions of FGF2, Ki67 and TGF-ß1, and promoting the apoptosis of prostatic cells.

[Cryosurgical ablation for aged patients with severe benign prostate hyperplasia: a report of 21 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of cryosurgical ablation for aged patients with severe benign prostate hyperplasia. METHODS: Twenty-one 72-91-year-old patients with severe benign prostate hyperplasia accompanied with cardiopulmonary dysfunction were treated by the ENDOCARE cryo-care surgery system with cryo-probes guided by type B ultrasound. Observations were made of the post-operation prostate biopsy and ultrasonogram as well as the changes of the urinary flow rate (UFR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). RESULTS: Degeneration and necrosis of the prostate tissues were found after the operation, with the signs of being completely melted. The mean UFRs before and after the operation were (3.8 +/- 2.1) ml/s and (17.0 +/- 5.8) ml/s, respectively (P < 0.01). Compared with the pre-operation level of PSA ([3.7 +/- 2.1] microg/L), the 1-week post-operation level was significantly higher ([22.6 +/- 13.1] microg/L) (P < 0.01), while the 4-week post-operation level significantly lower ([1.7 +/- 1.4] microg/L) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cryosurgical ablation, with satisfactory short-term curative effect, is a desirable option for the treatment of aged patients with severe benign prostate hyperplasia.