Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Controls Research Articles

NLRP3 inflammasome in expressed prostatic secretions as a potential biomarker of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Pyroptosis has been implicated in the progression of chronic prostatitis (CP)/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). The present study was performed to explore the diagnostic value of the levels of the pyroptosis-related protein nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) of patients with CP. A total of 167 CP patients, including 85 National Institutes of Health (NIH)-IIIA CP patients and 82 NIH-IIIB CP patients, as well as 80 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients and 80 healthy controls, were enrolled. The levels of NLRP3, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 18 (IL-18) in EPS were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Disease severity was assessed using the Bergman CP scale. Differences in EPS NLRP3 inflammasome levels between the groups were analyzed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to investigate the clinical value of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the diagnosis of CP. The numerical rating scale (NRS), the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS-1) were applied to evaluate symptom severity. The cutoff value of NLRP3 expression was calculated using R language. NLRP3 inflammasome levels in EPS were significantly higher in CP patients of NIH-IIIA and NIH-IIIB compared to the BPH patients and controls. NLRP3 levels in EPS were positively associated with Bergman grade. In addition, NRS levels were in a positive relationship with NIH-CPSI and DAN-PSS-1. The ROC curve analysis demonstrated that NLRP3 in EPS may act as a decent indicator for the diagnosis of CP/CPPS. The cutoff value of EPS NLRP3 expression was ≥55.25 ng/mL. NLRP3 levels in EPS were significantly higher in NIH-IIIA and NIH-IIIB patients compared to BPH patients and healthy controls. NLRP3 inflammasome levels in EPS may be valuable as diagnostic indicators, and targeting chemokines may present a promising approach to treatment for those suffering from CPPS.

Fucoidan Ameliorates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) in Rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a major urological health issue for men globally. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, displays diverse bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, and immunoregulatory effects. This 28-day study examined the effects of Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan on testosterone-induced BPH in rats. Forty-eight Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups; G1- vehicle control, G2- testosterone alone BPH control group (3 mg/kg), G3- finasteride (10 mg/kg) + testosterone, G4- fucoidan (40 mg/kg) + testosterone, G5- fucoidan (400 mg/kg) + testosterone, and G6- fucoidan alone (400 mg/kg). The animals were observed for clinical signs, body weight, feed consumption, prostate weight, prostate index, and biochemical markers such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin- 1β (IL-1β), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) in serum. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were evaluated in both serum and prostate. Fucoidan significantly prevented an increase in prostate weight and prostate index induced by testosterone. DHT levels in the prostate of the intervention groups were significantly lower than in the BPH control group (p <0.05); however, no significant difference was observed in serum levels. Similarly, a significant reduction was observed in serum and prostate testosterone levels in the intervention groups compared to the BPH control group (p <0.05). Biochemical analyses showed PSA levels were significantly lower in the fucoidan groups compared to the BPH control group (p<0.05). Although not statistically significant, fucoidan groups showed a trend of reducing IL-1β and TNF-α levels. Fucoidan demonstrated pro-apoptotic potential in its ability to decrease BCL-2 and increase BAX. Histopathological evidence revealed fewer microscopic lesions in the fucoidan groups compared to the BPH control group. The results suggest Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan can reduce testosterone-induced BPH symptoms in SD rats.

Xylopia aethiopica Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Hepatorenal Damage in Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats

Abstract Objectives Xylopia aethiopica (XAE), commonly known as African pepper or Ethiopian pepper, is a plant native to West Africa and known for its aromatic and medicinal properties. It was used to investigate the antioxidative, antihepatotoxic, and antinephrotoxic potentials of XAE in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Wister albino rats. Methods The proximate, and vitamin composition, oxidative stress indicators, and indices of kidney and hepatic functions were performed by standard methods. Results The proximate composition of the XAE leaf showed varied concentrations of Mg, Ca, Na, Zn, Se, and Cl, as well as vitamins A, E, B3, D, C, K, B2, and Bi. The activities of catalase glutathione, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde levels, K, Na, Cl−, urea, uric acid, and creatinine in the kidney were increased in testosterone propionate (Tp)-induced BPH compared with the control groups. Total protein levels significantly decreased in Tp-induced BPH compared with XAE-treated groups increased on XAE treatment. The aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were not significantly different in Tp-induced BPH, XAE, and normal controls. Conclusion The study revealed that XAE can be used in the management of oxidative stress and hepatorenal damage in BPH condition.

Enhancing date seed phenolic bioaccessibility in soft cheese through a dehydrated liposome delivery system and its effect on testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

The consumption of dairy products, including soft cheese, has been associated with numerous health benefits due to their high nutritional value. However, the phenolic compounds bioaccessibility present in soft cheese is limited due to their poor solubility and stability during digestion. So, this study aimed to develop an innovative soft cheese enriched with date seed phenolic compounds (DSP) extracted ultrasonically and incorporated into homogeneous liposomes and study its attenuation effect on testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in rats. Date seed phenolic compounds were extracted using 98 and 50% ethanol along with water as solvents, employing ultrasonication at 10, 20, and 30-min intervals. The primary and secondary DSP-liposomes were prepared and dehydrated. The particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and morphology were measured. Incorporating dehydrated liposomes (1-3% w/w) into soft cheese and their impact on BPH using male Sprague-Dawley rats was assessed. After inducing BPH, rats were fed a cheese diet with dehydrated DSP-liposomes. Over 8 weeks, parameters including nutrition parameters, prostate enlargement analysis, biochemical parameters, hormones level, oxidative stress, and cytokines were analyzed. The results showed that ultrasound-assisted extraction effectively reduced the extraction time and 30 min extraction EtOH 50% was enough to extract high yield of phenolic compounds (558 mg GA/g) and flavonoids (55 mg qu/g) with high antioxidant activity (74%). The biological results indicate that prostate weight and prostate index% were diminished in the treatment groups (1 and 2) compared to the BPH control group. The high antioxidant content present in the DSP-liposomes acted as the catalyst for suppressing the responses of the inflammatory cytokines, inhibiting the anti-inflammatory IL-10 production, and suppressing the elevated levels of lipid peroxidation products compared to the BPH group. The treatment group (2) supplemented with dehydrated secondary DSP-liposomes exhibited the most significant variance (p < 0.05) as opposed to the BPH group. Liposomal encapsulation was proved to be a feasible approach for administering DSP in soft cheese, thereby establishing new functional food category possessing prophylactic properties against the advancement of BPH in rats.

Investigating the Association of rs4962416 and rs6465657 with Prostate Adenocarcinoma in the Iranian Population

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in the developed world. Despite other risk factors like age, diet, environment and the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, recent advances in molecular genetics suggest that genetic inheritance plays an important role in prostate cancer. Objective: We attempted to analyze the association of SNPs rs4962416 and rs6465657 in the development of prostate cancer. A better understanding of the association of SNPs in prostate cancer susceptibility may improve risk prediction, improve precision mapping, and provide new insights into the underlying pathophysiology of prostate cancer. To date, no one has investigated these two SNPs in the Iranian populations, and according to the heterogeneity that exists, SNPs in communities should be examined separately. Methods: This case-control study includes 82 people with prostate adenocarcinoma as cases and 96 people with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as controls. Genotyping of each participant was done by TETRA ARMS-PCR method and for statistical analysis chi-squared, Fisher’s exact logistic regression was used to find the SNPs associated with prostate cancer. Result: The frequency of the polymorphisms rs4962416 and rs6465657 in the prostate adenocarcinoma group was evaluated compared to the BPH control group (p-value &lt; 0.05%) to choose the meaningful SNP. For rs4962416, we didn’t find any meaningful association with prostatic cancer (p=0.402) but for rs6465657 there was a significant difference between genotype frequency (p=0.001). Conclusion: rs6465657 polymorphism which is associated with prostate cancer, can be chosen as a biomarker for this cancer and there should be more investigation on this SNP as these results need to be confirmed in a larger population.

Biochemical evaluation of Ceiba pentandra leaf on the amelioration of testosterone induced-benign prostatic hyperplasia in Wister rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a considerable public health problem prevalent among older men. Despite its eminent prevalence, the etiology of BPH is not well understood. Accumulating evidence indicates that modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular disease may also increase the risk of BPH and potentially contribute to BPH development. This study evaluated the ameliorative effect of Ceiba pentandra leaf on some lipids profile indices and bilirubin concentration of rats induced BPH. Thirty six Wistar rats were divided randomly into six groups (n = 6). All the experimental groups except the normal control were induced benign prostatic hyperplasia using testosterone propionate and estradiol valerate at a dose of 400 µg and 80 µg respectively, for 21 days. After induction, rats in the negative control (BPH Control) group received no treatment. Rats in the standard control group received finasterides (1mg/kg body weight), while rats in the low dose extract, medium dose extract and high dose extract groups received the plant extract according to their body weights in kilogram at 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 1500 mg/kg respectively. Normal Control group received only feed without any special treatment. The animals in all the groups were allowed access to water and feed ad libitum for 28 days. The rats were anaesthetized after treatment period. Blood samples were collected and serum harvested for analyses using standard methods. Result showed that Ceiba pentandra leaf had ameliorative effect on the lipids profile analyzed.

A matched case-control study in Taiwan to evaluate potential risk factors for prostate cancer

The rising incidence rate of prostate cancer (PCa) worldwide has become a public health concern. PCa has a multifactorial etiology, and the link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and PCa has been widely investigated by numerous case–control studies. This age-matched, case–control study included 143 PCa patients and 135 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients, with prostatic specimens testing negative for malignancy, as control. Study participants were recruited from four major hospitals in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, period 2018–2020, looking into HPV infection and other PCa risk factors, including dietary habits, family history, personal lifestyle, and sexual behavior. Multiple logistic regression analysis and forward stepwise selection analysis were conducted to identify potential risk factors for PCa. HPV DNA was found in 10 of the 143 PCa cases (7%) and 2 of the 135 BPH controls (1.5%) (OR = 6.02, 95% CI = 1.03–30.3, p = 0.046). This association was slightly significant, and furthermore, high risk HPV was not found to be associated with PCa. Higher body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.05–1.27, p = 0.003), more total meat consumption (OR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.26–5.94, p = 0.011), exhibited association to PCa. However, PCa family history only presented a statistically significant difference by forward stepwise analysis (OR = 3.91, 95% CI = 1.17–13.12, p = 0.027). While much focus has been on the association between HPV and PCa, the results of this study indicate that more efforts should be directed towards investigating dietary habits, personal lifestyle and family history as factors for PCa. These results could serve as a basis for designing PCa prevention strategies.

Ethanol extract of Ceiba pentandra leaf ameliorates some lipids profile indices of Wistar rat’s induced benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a considerable public health problem prevalent among older men. Despite its eminent prevalence, the etiology of BPH is not well understood. Accumulating evidence indicates that modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular disease may also increase the risk of BPH and potentially contribute to BPH development. This study evaluated the ameliorative effect of Ceiba pentandra leaf on some lipids profile indices of rats induced BPH. Thirty six Wistar rats were divided randomly into six groups (n = 6). All the experimental groups except the normal control were induced benign prostatic hyperplasia using testosterone propionate and estradiol valerate at a dose of 400 µg and 80µg respectively, for 21 days. After induction, rats in the negative control (BPH Control) group received no treatment. Rats in the standard control group received finasterides (1mg/kg body weight), while rats in the low dose extract, medium dose extract and high dose extract groups received the plant extract according to their body weights in kilogram at 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 1500 mg/kg respectively. Normal Control group received only feed without any special treatment. The animals in all the groups were allowed access to water and feed ad libitum for 28 days. The rats were anaesthetized after treatment period. Blood samples were collected and serum harvested for analyses using standard methods. Result showed that Ceiba pentandra leaf had ameliorative effect on the lipids profile analyzed.

Combined Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphys poggeana Extract (CESH) Protect against Oxidative Stress and Enhances Haematological Parameters in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia-induced Rats

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of a combined extract of Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphys poggeana (CESH) on oxidative markers and haematological parameters in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) induced rats. The study adopted five groups containing equal numbers of rats (n = 6), including normal control, BPH control, Finasteride control, BPH-induced rats treated with 200 mg/kg CESH, and BPH-induced rats treated with 600 mg/kg CESH. The rats were induced BPH by the subcutaneous administration of a 5 mg/kg testosterone propionate injection. At the same time, treatment finasteride and CESH to the respective groups were given orally 60 minutes after the BPH induction for 28 uninterrupted days. The induction of BPH with testosterone propionate injection caused a significant reduction in the serum levels of haematological parameters, including haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), and platelet counts of the BPH control compared with normal control. The glutathione (GSH) concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase, and catalase activities decreased significantly in the BPH control relative to the normal control. The BPH control had elevated white blood cell (WBC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations contrary to the high WBC and MDA in the normal control and CESH treated BPH induced rats, respectively. Conversely, the Hb, PCV, platelet count, GPx, SOD, catalase, GST, and GSH increased significantly in the finasteride and CESH-treated BPH-induced rats, respectively, compared to the BPH control. These findings show that CESH attenuates adverse effects of BPH on antioxidant parameters and oxidative markers, which may prevent BPH progression.

Combined Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei Stem Barks Extract Alleviates Hyperlipidaemia and Renal Malfunctions in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia-Induced Rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a urological disease prevalent among the ageing male population, which impairs the quality of life, including hyperlipidaemia and a decline in renal functions. Combining Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei stem bark extract has effectively managed BPH and its associated complications. This study evaluated the effects of a combined Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei stem bark extract (CAASBE) on the lipid profile and renal functions of rats induced benign prostatic hyperplasia with testosterone propionate injection. The study comprised five treatment groups, with groups 1 – 5 being the normal control, BPH control, standard control, BPH+200 mg/kg CAASBE, and BPH+400 mg/kg CAASBE, respectively. BPH was induced in the groups 2 – 4 rats by subcutaneous administration of testosterone propionate injection (5 mg/kg) for 28 days, and treatment with Finasteride and CAASBE were administered orally. The BPH control rats exhibited a significant (p &lt; 0.05) increase in the total serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TAG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), urea, creatinine and significant (p &lt; 0.05) decline in the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) compared to the normal control. Conversely, treatment of the BPH rats with 200 and 400 mg/kg of CAASBE significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reversed the altered total serum cholesterol, TAG, LDL-C, HDL-C, urea and creatinine to normal levels comparable to that of the normal control and standard control respectively. These findings show that CAASBE alleviates hyperlipidaemia and renal malfunctions in the BPH rats suggesting it could be effective in managing BPH complication.

SH-PRO extract alleviates benign prostatic hyperplasia via ROS-mediated activation of PARP/caspase 3 and inhibition of FOXO3a/AR/PSA signaling in vitro and in vivo.

To target benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as a common urinary disease in old men, in the current study, the antiproliferative and apoptotic mechanism of SH-PRO, a mixture of Angelica gigas and Astragalus membranaceus (2:1), was evaluated in BPH-1 cells and rats with testosterone-induced BPH. Herein, SH-PRO significantly reduced the viability of BPH-1 cells and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated RWPE-1 cells. Also, SH-PRO increased the sub-G1 population in BPH-1 cells and consistently attenuated the expression of pro-PARP, pro-caspase 3, Bcl2, FOXO3a, androgen receptor (AR), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in BPH-1 cells and DHT-treated RWPE-1 cells. Of note, SH-PRO generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in BPH-1 cells, while ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) disturbed the ability of SH-PRO to reduce the expression of pro-PARP, FOXO3a, catalase, SOD, and increase sub-G1 population in BPH-1 cells. Furthermore, oral treatment of SH-PRO significantly abrogated the weight of the prostate in testosterone-treated rats compared to BPH control with the reduced expression of AR, PSA, and DHT and lower plasma levels of DTH, bFGF, and EGF with no toxicity. Overall, these findings highlight the antiproliferative and apoptotic potential of SH-PRO via ROS-mediated activation of PARP and caspase 3 and inhibition of FOXO3a/AR/PSA signaling as a potent anti-BPH candidate.

Non-invasive diagnostic potential of microRNA-203 in liquid biopsy of urothelial carcinoma of bladder.

Increased CD44 antigen activity has been reported in recurrent cases of UBC. To date, no reliable biomarker is available with high significance and specificity for non-invasive detection of UBC. This study aimed to identify a CD44-linked microRNAs (miRNAs) (miR-9, miR-34a, miR-203) for non-invasive diagnosis of bladder cancer from other urinary tract malignancies. The expression of CD44-linked miRNAs was examined in serum, urine, and tissue specimens of Indian UBC patients (N = 25). For this purpose, healthy subjects (N = 25) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (N = 10) patients were taken as controls. The relative expression of miRNAs was analyzed in serum, urine, and tissue samples using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The diagnostic potential of these miRNAs was accessed by plotting ROC curve. Increased miR-9 expression was observed in serum of UBC patients than healthy and BPH controls. In UBC patients, miR-34a expression was lower than healthy controls but non-significant as compared to BPH. miR-203 expression was considerably higher in serum of UBC patients but non-significant as compared to BPH controls. miR-203 was found to be considerably higher in urine samples from UBC patients as compared to BPH and healthy controls. The diagnostic potential of these miRNAs was evaluated using the ROC curve. Higher miR-203 levels in the urine of Indian UBC patients demonstrate its non-invasive diagnostic ability out of the three miRNAs studied. Our results characterize the non-invasive diagnostic potential of CD44-linked miR-203 in the urine of Indian UBC patients, which could be utilized in clinical settings in future after validation in larger patient cohort.

Alterations of gut microbiota diversity, composition and metabonomics in testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia rats

BackgroundStudies had shown many diseases affect the stability of human microbiota, but how this relates to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has not been well understood. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the regulation of BPH on gut microbiota composition and metabonomics.MethodsWe analyzed gut samples from rats with BPH and healthy control rats, the gut microbiota composition and metabonomics were detected by 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS).ResultsHigh-throughput sequencing results showed that gut microbiota beta-diversity increased (P < 0.01) in the BPH group vs. control group. Muribaculaceae (P < 0.01), Turicibacteraceae (P < 0.05), Turicibacter (P < 0.01) and Coprococcus (P < 0.01) were significantly decreased in the BPH group, whereas that of Mollicutes (P < 0.05) and Prevotella (P < 0.05) were significantly increased compared with the control group. Despite profound interindividual variability, the levels of several predominant genera were different. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in several bacteria. BPH group vs. control group: Firmicutes (52.30% vs. 57.29%, P > 0.05), Bacteroidetes (46.54% vs. 41.64%, P > 0.05), Clostridia (50.89% vs. 54.66%, P > 0.05), Ruminococcaceae (25.67% vs. 20.56%, P > 0.05). LC–MS/MS of intestinal contents revealed that differential metabolites were mainly involved in cellular processes, environmental information processing, metabolism and organismal systems. The most important pathways were global and overview maps, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, digestive system and endocrine system. Through enrichment analysis, we found that the differential metabolites were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways, steroid hormone biosynthesis, ovarian steroidogenesis, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and bile secretion. Pearson correlation analysis (R = 0.94) showed that there was a strong correlation between Prevotellaceae, Corynebacteriaceae, Turicibacteraceae, Bifidobacteriaceae and differential metabolites.ConclusionOur findings suggested an association between the gut microbiota and BPH, but the causal relationship between the two groups is unclear. Thus, further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential mechanisms and causal relationships between BPH and gut microbiota.

Urinary hsv2-miR-H9 to hsa-miR-3659 ratio is an effective marker for discriminating prostate cancer from benign prostate hyperplasia in patients within the prostate-specific antigen grey zone.

PurposeTumor microRNAs (miRNAs) are released to biofluids directly or indirectly. Although urinary miRNAs are promising non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa), their clinical application is challenging for technical reasons. We examined the efficacy of urinary hsv2-miR-H9 to hsa-miR-3659 ratio as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker of PCa.Materials and MethodsThe expression of urinary miRNAs was quantified by real-time PCR in 116 samples from 53 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 63 patients with PCa. The miRNA expression ratio was calculated using an upregulated miRNA (hsv2-miR-H9) as the numerator and a downregulated miRNA (hsa-miR-3659) as the denominator.ResultsThe urinary miR-H9 to miR-3659 ratio was significantly higher in PCa than in BPH controls (p<0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of the urinary miRNA expression ratio was comparable with that of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve comparison, p=0.287). The area under the curve for urinary miRNA expression ratio was 0.862 and that for PSA was 0.642 in the “PSA gray zone” (3–10 ng/mL) (ROC curve comparison, p=0.034). The use of the urinary miRNA expression ratio would have prevented 70.6% of unnecessary prostate biopsies; however, 28.6% of PCa cases could be missed in patients within the PSA gray zone.ConclusionsThe expression ratio of urinary miR-H9 to miR-3659 could be a relevant non-invasive biomarker for PCa diagnosis, particularly for patients within the PSA gray zone.

Sphenostylis stenocarpa Seed Extract Attenuates Dyslipidemia in Testosterone Propionate-induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent disease among older men caused by abnormal proliferation of the prostatic cells. Findings indicate an association between dyslipidemia and BPH. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of ethanol extract of Sphenostylis stenocarpa seed on the lipid profile of rats with testosterone propionate-induced BPH. A total of 25 male Wistar rats randomized into five groups of five rats each were used. BPH was induced in the rats by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate in olive oil for 28 days. The test rats (after BPH induction) were treated with ethanol extract of the plant seed at doses of 200 and 400 mg kg-1 b.wt. The concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triacylglycerol were evaluated on the sera of the rats. The BPH control rats (model group) showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-C, triacylglycerol, with a significant decrease in HDL-C compared to the normal control. Oral administration of the seed extract to the rats significantly reversed these dyslipidemia indicators when compared to the model group. This study has shown that ethanol extract of S. stenocarpa seed ameliorated dyslipidemia in testosterone propionate-induced BPH in rats. This suggests that the plant seed may be useful in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Expression of hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9 as a field defect marker for detecting prostate cancer.

BackgroundProstate-specific antigen (PSA) is a marker of prostate cancer (PCa), although its efficacy as a diagnostic marker remains controversial. A high false-positive rate leads to repeat biopsy in approximately 70% of patients, which may not be necessary. Epigenetic biomarkers of field cancerization have been investigated widely as promising tools for the diagnosis of patients with suspected tumors. In the current study, we examined the diagnostic value of two microRNA (miRNA) candidates, hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9, using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from patients with PCa or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) (as controls) to determine the usefulness of these markers for detecting the presence of cancer.MethodsExpression of hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9 in 201 FFPE tissues, including 52 primary tumors, 73 surrounding noncancerous tissues, and 90 BPH nontumor controls was examined by real-time PCR.ResultsExpression of hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9 was significantly higher in primary tumors from PCa patients than in BPH controls (P < 0.0001). In patients within the PSA gray zone, the two viral miRNAs could distinguish PCa from controls with appropriate sensitivity and specificity. Expression of the two miRNAs did not differ between primary tumors and noncancerous surrounding tissues.ConclusionsThe viral miRNAs hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9 may be associated with field cancerization of PCa and could be promising supplemental biomarkers to the PSA assay to decrease the rate of unnecessary biopsy, particularly in patients within the PSA gray zone.

The impact of urine microbiota in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms

IntroductionInflammation and infection are causative factors of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Urine is not sterile, and urine microbiota identified by DNA sequencing can play an important role in the development of BPH and can influence the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Materials and methodsWe collected mid-stream voided urine samples from BPH patients and control participants and stored them in a freezer at − 80 °C. All enrolled participants were requested to provide information about their clinical characteristics and complete the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. Each step of the procedure, including the extraction of the genomic DNA from the urine samples; the amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); PCR product quantification, mixing, and purification; DNA library preparation; and sequencing was performed with quality control (QC) measures. Alpha diversity was indicative of the species complexity within individual urine samples, and beta diversity analysis was used to evaluate the differences among the samples in terms of species complexity. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to calculate the relationship between the clinical characteristics of the participants and the microbiota species in the urine samples.ResultsWe enrolled 77 BPH patients and 30 control participants who reported no recent antibiotic usage. Old age, high IPSS and poor quality of life were observed in the participants of the BPH group. No significant differences were observed in the alpha diversity of the samples. In the beta diversity analysis, there was a significant difference between the microbiota in the samples of the BPH and control groups according to ANOSIM statistical analysis. On comparing the groups, the ten bacterial genera present in the samples of the BPH group in descending order of abundance were: Sphingomonas, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Alcaligenes, Prevotella, Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, Escherichia_Shigella, Akkermansia, and Parabacteroides. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that urine samples showing the presence of the bacterial genera Haemophilus, Staphylococcus, Dolosigranulum, Listeria, Phascolarctobacterium, Enhydrobacter, Bacillus, [Ruminococcus]torques, Faecalibacterium, and Finegoldia correlated with a high IPSS, and severe storage and voiding symptoms (P < 0.05).ConclusionOur current study shows that dysbiosis of urine microbiota may be related to the development of BPH and the severity of LUTS. Further research targeting specific microbes to identify their role in the development of diseases is necessary and might provide novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic options.

GC-MS-based metabolomics reveals new biomarkers to assist the differentiation of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Lack of efficient noninvasive biomarkers for differentiating prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a serious concern for men’s health worldwide. In this study, we aimed to improve the diagnostic capability of the existing noninvasive biomarkers for PCa. GC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics was employed to analyze plasma samples for 41 PCa patients and 38 BPH controls. Both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to screen for differential metabolites between PCa and BPH, followed by the selection of potential biomarkers through machine learning. The chosen candidate biomarkers were then verified by targeted analysis and transcriptome data. The results showed that twelve metabolites were significantly dysregulated between PCa and BPH, three metabolites including L-serine, myo-inositol, and decanoic acid could be potential biomarkers for discriminating PCa from BPH. Most importantly, ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the involvement of the three potential biomarkers has increased the area under the curve (AUC) value of cPSA and tPSA from 0.542 and 0.592 to 0.781, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that the involvement of L-serine, myo-inositol, and decanoic acid can largely improve the diagnostic capability of the commonly used noninvasive biomarkers in the clinic for differentiating PCa from BPH.

Association of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Introduction: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) have recently been proposed as easily accessible inflammatory biomarkers and as surrogate markers for metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and malignancies, including prostate cancer. However, scant studies have investigated the association of NLR, PLR, and LMR with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Data from 8,727 middle-aged men who had participated in a health checkup were analyzed. BPH was defined as prostate volume ≥30 mL, International Prostate Symptom Score > 7, and maximal flow rate <15 mL/s. Propensity score matching was considered for 269 men with BPH (cases), and 7,136 men with no BPH (controls), but ultimately, propensity scores were matched at a 2:1 ratio of controls to cases (538 men in the control group and 269 men in the case group). Results: After propensity score matching, age, International Index of Erectile Function-5, testosterone, and number of metabolic syndrome component variables were evenly distributed and did not differ significantly between the groups. After matching, PLR and LMR were not significantly different between the 2 groups. However, NLR was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (median [interquartile range]: 1.4 [1.1; 1.8] vs. 1.5 [1.2; 1.9]; p = 0.024) after matching. Conclusion: High NLR was significantly associated with the presence of BPH. Our results suggest the possible effect of inflammation on BPH development. A prospective study is needed to investigate the potential role of NLR as a candidate biomarker of BPH.

Effects of Combined Ethanol Extract of Anthocleista Vogelii and Alstonia Boonei Stem Barks on Liver Function Indices in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Induced

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of combined ethanol extract of Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei (CEAA) stem barks on the liver function indices of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-induced rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into five groups (n = 6). BPH was induced subcutaneously with 5 mg/kg/day of testosterone propionate in olive oil. Groups 1-3 served as normal, BPH control (untreated) and standard drug control respectively, while Groups 4 and 5 were BPH-induced rats and treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg/day of the CEAA respectively after one hour of the BPH induction. After twenty-eight days of treatments, biochemical and histopathological analyses were conducted using standard analytical procedures.Results: The acute toxicity result of CEAA indicated no mortality or adverse reactions. Significant body weight change was only observed in the first week from the group-administered 200 mg/kg/day of CEAA. Liver damage was evident in the BPH control characterized by significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in relative liver weight and liver enzymes’ (AST, ALT, ALP) activities but a reduction in total protein and globulin levels. Treatment with CEAA attenuated the liver damage by significantly (P&lt;0.05) reducing the elevated relative liver weight and liver enzyme function activities and elevated total protein and globulin levels.Conclusion: The revealed that the combined ethanol extract of Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei (CEAA) stem barks possess hepatoprotective effects that could improve liver integrity and functions in BPH induced rats.&#x0D; Keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia, liver marker indices, Anthocleista vogelii, Alstonia boonei, liver histomorphology