[Effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells. METHODS: RWPE-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with simvastatin at 0, 10, 20, and 40 µmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by MTT assay, and their apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Cx43 were detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: After 72 hours of treatment with simvastatin at 10, 20, and 40 µmol/L, the inhibition rates of the RWPE-1 cells were (21.07 ± 6.41)%, (34.87 ± 9.65)%, and (47.18 ± 10.88)%, respectively, significantly higher than (1.21 ± 0.54)% in the control group (P < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptosis rates were (0.066 ± 0.016)%, (0.126 ± 0.023)%, and (0.192 ± 0.025)%, respectively, remarkably higher than (0.015 ± 0.005)% in the control (P < 0.05) and also in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were decreasing while those of Bax and Cx43 increasing with the increased concentration of simvastatin (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 but positively with that of Bax. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin inhibits the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and induce their apoptosis by acting on the gap junctional intercellular communication.

[Oral medication of statins retards the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether oral statins can delay the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50-69-year-old males who came for physical examination in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008. We designed the inclusion criteria, followed them up for 5 years, and investigated the relationship of oral statins with the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS. RESULTS: Totally, 653 men met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study, of whom 283 were treated with oral statins (group 1) while the other 370 with none (group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age and baseline IPSS, Qmax, and prostate volume (PV) (P > 0.05). During the follow-up, 24 cases in group 1 and 35 cases in group 2 were excluded for obvious dys-uria. A gradual increase was observed in IPSS in both groups 1 and 2 year by year from the baseline to the 5th year of follow-up, but significantly lower in the former group (4.27 +/- 1.16, 4.63 +/- 1.05, 5.27 +/- 0.96, 6.41 +/- 1.04, 7.21 +/- 1.21, and 7.93 +/-1.50) than in the latter (4.24 +/- 1.35, 5.26 +/- 1.23, 6.84 +/- 1.20, 8.75 +/- 1.84, 10.82 +/- 3.01, and 12.98 +/- 4.21) (P < 0.01); a gradual decrease was seen in Qmax, though markedly higher in group 1 ([26.56 +/- 2.09], [24.06 +/- 1.94], [21.33 +/- 1.66], [19.24 +/- 1.54], [17.44 +/- 1.53], and [16.27 +/- 1.37] ml/s) than in group 2 ([26.74 +/- 2.40], [23.62 +/- 2.01], [20.63 +/- 1.69], [17.72 +/- 1.48], [14.82 +/- 1.11], and [11.86 +/- 1.24] ml/s) (P < 0.01); and a gradual increase was found in PV, but remarkably smaller in the former group ([19.82 +/- 4.94], [22.60 +/- 4.99], [25.80 +/- 5.20], [27.92 +/- 5.05], [29.11 +/- 5.24], and [29.97 +/- 5.26] ml) than in the latter ([20.21 +/- 4.78], [24.30 +/- 4.98], [28.50 +/- 5.14], [32.84 +/- 4.77], [36.99 +/- 4.78], and [40.90 +/- 4.78] ml) (P < 0.01). Longer medication of statins was associated with better efficacy. CONCLUSION: Oral statins can significantly delay the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

[Prophylatic antibiotic use in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis can reduce the risk of postoperative infective complications in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) who have sterile preoperative urine. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Collaboration Reviews, CMCC and CNKI were searched for RCTs comparing antibiotic prophylaxis with placebo (or blank controls) for patients undergoing PCNL with preoperative sterile urine. The search strategy was made according to the Collaborative Review Group search strategy. Data were extracted by 2 reviewers using the designed extraction form. The software RevMan 4.2 was used to review management and data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 9 trails, 1 placebo controlled, 3 non treatment controlled, and 5 active controlled, involving 1018 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Prophylactic antibiotic use in patients at low risk undergoing PCNL significantly decreased fever (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54-0.92, P = 0.009), bacteriuria (RR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.23-0.67, P = 0.0006) and bacteremia incidence (RR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.25-0.73, P = 0.002). Effective antibiotic classes included quinolone which significantly decreased bacteriuria incidence (RR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.12-0.82, P = 0.010) and nitrofurantoin which significantly decreased fever incidence (RR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.24-0.61, P = 0.005). Extended course significantly decreased fever incidence (RR = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.47-0.87, P = 0.004) and bacteriuria incidence (RR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.18-0.71, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic antibiotics can significantly decrease the incidence of postoperative infective complications. A significant decrease in bacteriuria incidence can be achieved with quinolones. Extended course is effective in decreasing fever, and bacteriuria incidence.