1.1. Objective: Qianliexin Capsule (QLX), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis (CNP) in China. Here, metabolic profiling was utilized to clarify the bio-targets of QLX in CNP treatment. Methods:An estradiol-induced prostatitis rat model was used to mimic the hormonal imbalance-induced CNP. The urine and serum were collected to analyze metabolic profiles by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Results:An anti-inflammatory role for QLX was seen in the estradiol-induced prostatitis rats, and the Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) were relieved by QLX. The unique metabolic profiling in CNP was significantly changed by addition of QLX. Thirty-nine metabolites identified in serum and urine, that are involved in multiply pathways, were significantly reversed by QLX in the CNP rats. Among them, glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism and fructose and mannose metabolic pathways were the most significantly influenced by QLX and were closely associated with the anti-inflammatory role of QLX in CNP. Conclusion: The changed metabolic profile after QLX addition may be associated with the pharmacologic function of QLX in CNP.

Objectives: To provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing ureterolithotripsy (URS) with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) or laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (LU) techniques for the management of large proximal ureteral stones (diameter greater than 10 mm). Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify suitable studies until November 2016. We used weighted mean difference to measure operative time and hospital stay, OR to measure stone free rate (SFR), and complication rate. Subgroup analyses were assessed for heterogeneity. Results: Fourteen publications strictly met our eligibility criteria of which 7 were randomized control studies (RCTs) and 7 non-RCTs. Meta-analysis of extractable data showed that LU and PCNL had higher SFR than URS. URS led to a similar hospital stay like that of LU. However, it had a shorter operative time and lower complication rate than LU. When we compared URS with PCNL, we found a shorter hospital stay in the URS group. However, there was no significant difference in terms of the operative time and complication rate between URS and PCNL. Conclusion: URS should be considered standard therapy for treating large proximal ureteral stones.

PurposeMale infertility is a global public health issue recognized by the WHO. Recently, antioxidants are increasingly used to treat idiopathic male infertility. However, the lack of available evidence has led to the inability to rank the effects of antioxidants on the sperm quality parameters and pregnancy rate of infertile men. This network meta-analysis studied the effects of different antioxidants on the sperm quality and pregnancy rate of idiopathic male infertility.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The weighted mean difference (WMD) and odds ratio (OR) were applied for the comparison of continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively, with 95% CIs. The outcomes were sperm motility, sperm concentration, sperm morphology, and pregnancy rate.ResultsA total of 23 RCTs with 1,917 patients and 10 kids of antioxidants were included. l-Carnitine, l-carnitine+l-acetylcarnitine, coenzyme-Q10, ω-3 fatty acid, and selenium were more efficacious than placebo in sperm quality parameters. l-Carnitine was ranked first in sperm motility and sperm morphology (WMD 6.52% [95% CI: 2.55% to 10.05%], WMD 4.96% [0.20% to 9.73%]). ω-3 fatty acid was ranked first in sperm concentration (WMD 9.89 × 106/ml, [95% CI: 7.01 to 12.77 × 106/ml]). In terms of pregnancy rate, there was no significant effect as compared with placebo.Conclusionsl-Carnitine was ranked first in sperm motility and sperm morphology. ω-3 fatty acid was ranked first in sperm concentration. Coenzyme-Q10 had better effective treatment on sperm motility and concentration. Furthermore, high-quality RCTs with adequate sample sizes should be conducted to compare the outcomes of different antioxidants.

BackgroundThere are approximately five Zhengs reported in psoriatic patients. Systematic data collection and proper analysis for the classification of psoriasis have been lacking. This study aims to cluster the Zhengs in psoriatic patients based on the application of a checklist of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms and signs followed by latent class analysis (LCA).MethodsA cross-sectional study of 507 psoriatic patients aged above 10 years was performed in Yunnan Provincial Hospital of TCM and the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medicine University from October 2010 to September 2011 using a TCM symptoms and signs checklist obtained from 16 TCM experts by the Delphi technique. LCA was applied to obtain the best fitted model for clustering of symptoms and signs that can be interpreted as underlying Zhengs of psoriasis.ResultsThe LCA identified three Zhengs: dampness-heat Zheng (35.1%); blood heat Zheng (34.7%); and yin deficiency and blood dryness Zheng (30.2%). The first Zheng was associated with winter, the second with male sex, old age, smoking, and drinking alcohol, and the third with outpatient status, which reflected a mild disease course.ConclusionsIn this study, 507 psoriasis patients were clustered into three Zhengs, which had different associated factors.

Purpose: Although single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP) is considered a safe and feasible approach for radical prostatectomy, the comparative performance of the SP robot with earlier models, including da Vinci Xi or Si, is elusive. This systematic review summarizes the current evidence on SP-RARP and compares its perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes to multiport robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (MP-RARP). Methods: We performed a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library database for randomized control trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs that compare SP-RARP to MP-RARP. The primary outcomes included perioperative, functional, oncologic, and painful outcomes. The odds ratio (OR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) were applied for the comparison of dichotomous and continuous variables with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven studies, including 1239 patients, were enrolled in the meta-analysis. We reported similar results for SP-RARP and MP-RARP in terms of the operative time, blood loss, continence and potency rates, complication rate, positive surgical margin, and biochemical recurrence. However, hospital stay (WMD -17.86 hours, 95% CI -27.80 to -7.92; p = 0.0004), catheterization time (WMD -1.51 days, 95% CI -2.60 to -0.41; p = 0.007), and the rate of opioid use (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.53; p = 0.0002) were less with SP-RARP. In addition, more patients did not require any pain medication during the hospital stay with SP-RARP (OR 14.41, 95% CI 5.22 to 39.76; p < 0.00001). Conclusions: SP-RARP is associated with a shorter hospital stay and catheterization time, and the need for postoperative pain medication is lower compared to MP-RARP, with comparable perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes.