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To observe the efficacy and safety of Guihuang Formula (GHF) in treating patients with type III prostatitis and Chinese medicine syndrome of dampness-heat and blood stasis.Sixty-six patients diagnosed with type III prostatitis with dampness-heat and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment group (GHF) and the control group (tamsulosin) using a random number table, with 33 cases each group. The treatment group received GHF twice a day, and the control group received tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily before bedtime. Patients in both groups received treatment for 6 weeks and was followed up for 2 weeks. The outcomes included the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score, Chinese Medicine Symptoms Score (CMSS), expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) and adverse events (AEs).After treatment, the NIH-CPSI total score and domain scores of pain discomfort, urination and quality of life decreased significantly from the baseline in both groups (P0.05). The CMSS score decreased in both groups (P0.05). The WBC count decreased and lecithin body count increased in both groups (P0.05). GHF showed a more obvious advantage in reducing the pain discomfort and quality of life domain scores of NIH-CPSI, reducing the CMSS score, increasing the improvement rate of the WBC and lecithin body counts, compared with the control group (P0.05). There were no significant differences in decreasing urination domain score of NIH-CPSI between two groups (P0.05). In addition, no serious AEs were observed.GHF is effective in treating type III prostatitis patients with dampness-heat and blood stasis syndrome without serious AEs. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900026966).

Objective This study evaluated the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Methods We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for RCTs (original articles) on CP/CPPS published from database establishment to 2021. The RCT quality assessment was performed using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement and the improved Jadad scale. Results In total, 77 RCTs were included. According to the evaluation, 26 (33.77%) papers presented the description of the specific random methods, only 6 (7.79%) papers described the allocation concealment methods, and 26 (33.77%) articles referred to the “blind method”. Of the RCTs, 34 (44.16%) papers recorded the number of patients who withdrew from the study, and 67 (87.01%) papers reported adverse reactions. However, few reports mentioned the sample size calculation, clinical trial registration, or information about the relevant research programs and funding. In addition, 19 (24.68%) reports had Jadad scale scores of ≥ 4 points, and 58 (75.32%) reports had Jadad scale scores of ≤ 3 points. Conclusion To date, the quality of RCT reports on CP/CPPS needs to be further improved, and the results of the RCTs should be accepted and utilized cautiously. It is suggested that researchers should follow the CONSORT statement and the improved Jadad scale to standardize the design and implementation of RCTs to improve the quality of RCTs and provide reliable evidence for the treatment of CP/CPPS.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common urological disease, and research on CP/CPPS has increased over the past 50 years. However, few studies have statistically analyzed these publications. In this work, we conducted the knowledge domain and highlighted current research hotspots and emerging trends in CP/CPPS from 1970 to 2020 based on VOSviewer and CiteSpace.Relevant original articles were obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) database between 1970 and 2020. VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used to perform the analysis and visualization of scientific productivity and emerging trends.Our results show that the articles related to CP/CPPS have dramatically increased every year from 1 publication in 1970 to 111 publications in 2020. The USA dominated the field in all countries, and Queen's University (Canada) has more extensive cooperating relationships with other institutions. J. Curtis Nickel may have a significant influence on CP/CPPS research with more publications and cocitations. The Journal of Urology is the foremost productive journal and has the most citations of all the journals. A total of 11 major clusters were explored based on the reference cocitation analysis (RCA). Definition, incidence rate or clinical characteristics, etiology or pathogenesis, epidemiological studies (cross-sectional study and cohort study), clinical studies (inflammation, pain, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), α-blockers, antibiotic) and relationships with other diseases [benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer, sexual dysfunction] are the knowledge bases for CP/CPPS research. The treatment mode also changed gradually from anti-inflammatory therapy to symptom improvement, and NIH-CPSI was taken as the evaluation criterion.This scientometric study comprehensively reviewed publications related to CP/CPPS during the past 50 years using quantitative and qualitative methods, and the information provides some references for scholars to conduct further research on CP/CPPS.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Chinese medicine, Qiaoshao formula combined with dapoxetine was used for the treatment of premature ejaculation in a real-life setting. Nine hundred and five males diagnosed with premature ejaculation were reviewed in this retrospective cohort study. We divided the patients into two groups: dapoxetine alone and Qiaoshao formula combined with dapoxetine according to actual interventions provided to patients in clinics. The perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time and the premature ejaculation profile measures markedly improved in both groups. However, in men with severe premature ejaculation (baseline perceived intravaginal ejaculation latency time

To explore the protective effect of the Chinese medicinal prescription Linggui Fang (LGF) on the reproductive system of the ornidazole-induced asthenospermia (AS) rat and its possible action mechanisms.Forty male SD rats weighing 200－230 g were equally randomized into four groups, blank control, AS model control, LGF treatment and L-carnitine (LC) intervention. The AS models were made in the latter three groups by intragastrical administration of ornidazole at 400 mg/kg. Meanwhile, the rats in the LGF group were treated intragastrically with LGF at 17.5 g/kg, those in the LC group with LC at 100 mg/kg, and the control animals with 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na), all once a day for 4 successive weeks. Then, all the rats were sacrificed for examination of the semen parameters, determination of the LC content and OCTN2 mRNA expression in the epididymis and observation of the histopathological changes in the testis.Compared with the AS model controls, the rats in the other groups showed significantly higher percentages of progressively motile sperm and total motile sperm (P0.01) as well as a higher LC content in the epididymis (P0.01), but no statistically significant difference in sperm concentration (P0.05). The expression of OCTN2 mRNA was remarkably upregulated in the LGF and LC groups in comparison with that in the AS model control (P0.05). Compared with the rats in the blank control group, the AS model controls exhibited markedly increased morphologically abnormal seminiferous tubules, irregularly arranged, with narrowed lumens and reduced numbers of sperm and sperm cells, as well as significantly increased hollow seminiferous tubules with deficient and disorderly arranged spermatogenic cells and partial epithelial degeneration and vacuolization. Those in the LGF and LC groups, however, manifested almost normal testicular histomorphology, with basically regular arrangement of different layers of seminiferous tubules.①Ornidazole induces AS in rats by reducing the LC content in the epididymis, while LGF can improve the sperm motility and testicular morphology of the rats and upregulate the expression of OCTN2 mRNA in the epididymis by increasing the LC concentration.

To evaluate the effect and safety of Qianlieshutong Capsules (QC) in the treatment of BPH.We searched 10 Chinese and English databases up to July 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCT) on treatment of BPH with QC followed by a meta-analysis on the included articles using Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 and Revman5.3 software.A total of 18 RCTs involving 1 802 cases of BPH were included out of the 175 articles identified. The baseline data from the RCTs were all comparable. Compared with the controls, the patients treated with QC showed a significantly higher rate of clinical effectiveness and better improvement in IPSS as well as in the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine (PVR) and prostate volume after 3 months of medication. No serious adverse drug events or reactions were reported.The existing data and methodology indicate the efficacy and safety of Qianlieshutong Capsules in the treatment of BPH, which, however, has to be further verified by more well-designed large-sample multi-center high-quality randomized controlled trials.

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of the Chinese medicine (CM) Qixiong Zhongzi Decoction (, QZD) in the treatment of patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia.A total number of 66 patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia were included and randomly divided into treatment and control groups by SAS-generated code from January 2015 to August 2016, 33 patients in each group. Patients in the treatment group were administered with 150 mL of QZD twice a day, whereas those in the control group were given 1 g of levocarnitine oral liquid twice a day. The two groups received the indicated medication for 12 weeks and were then followed up for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was sperm motility, and the secondary therapeutic indices were sperm volume, density, pregnancy probability, and CM syndrome score. The comparison between groups was carried out at 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively. The safety was determined before and after treatment.(1) Drop-off: 5 cases (7.58%) were lost after treatment (2 from the treatment group and 3 from the control group). (2) Primary outcomes: after 8- and 12-week treatment, the progressive sperms in the two groups were significantly higher than the baseline (all P0.05); however, the treatment group showed greater improvement compared with the control group at 12-week treatment (22.7% ± 9.0% vs. 14.1% ±8.8%, P0.05). The increasement of non-progressive grade sperms at both groups was observed at 8- and 12-week treatment with statistical difference (all P0.05), however, the treatment group showed remarkable improvement compared with the control group at 12-week treatment (38.7% ±14.1% vs. 26.2% ±15.4%, P0.05). (3) Secondary outcomes: no significant statistical differences were found in semen volume and density (4, 8, and 12-week treatment) and pregnancy probability of patients' wives (12-week treatment) between two groups (all P0.05), however, the CM syndrome score of the treatment group significantly declined compared with baseline level at each time points (all P0.05). (4) Safety: no obvious side reactions were found during the treatment in both groups.QZD could improve the progressive and non-progressive grade sperm in the treatment of idiopathic asthenozoospermia. It is safe with no obvious side effects.

To observe the effificacy and safety of Qiaoshao Formula (, QSF) on patients with lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE) of Gan (Liver) depression and Shen (Kidney) defificiency syndrome.A total of 60 LPE patients were randomly divided into treatment (QSF) and control (dapoxetine) groups. The treatment group received QSF twice a day and the control group received dapoxetine 1 to 2 h prior to planned sexual intercourse for 4 weeks. The outcomes included intra-vaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT), premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT), clinical global impression of change (CGIC), scores of Chinese medicine symptoms (CMSS), sex life satisfaction (SLS) and adverse events (AEs).In the treated group, the median IELT was 3 min vs. 1.5 min before and after treatment (P0.05). PEDT in the treated group was reduced to 11.76±1.68 from 15.83±2.30 after treatment (P0.05). Besides, patient's SLS was improved from 1.30±0.05 to 6.30±0.04 (P0.05), and spouse's SLS was increased from 1.30±0.to 6.10±0.06 (P0.05); CMSS was decrease from 14.86±3.02 to 9.62±2.87 (P0.05). In addition, no significant AE was observed in both groups.QSF may be effective and safe on LPE patients with Gan depression and Shen defificiency syndrome.

To make a real-world study on the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) that failed to respond to TCM medication.This study included 1 038 ED patients with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores ≤21 and improvement30% after 4 weeks of TCM medication, differentially diagnosed with kidney-yang or kidney-yin deficiency syndrome. We administered TCM combined with sildenafil (Viagra, Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd) at 100 mg 1 hour before sexual intercourse. After 2 and 4 weeks of medication, we recorded the scores in IIEF-5, erection hardness, Sexual Encounter Profile question 2 (SEP-2: whether vaginal penetration is successful), SEP-3 (whether sexual intercourse is successful), and TCM Syndromes Scale as well as the indexes of routine blood, urine, liver function, and renal function of the patients, and compared them with those obtained before treatment.No serious adverse reactions were observed in any of the patients. Compared with the baseline, the patients achieved significantly increased IIEF-5 scores after 2 and 4 weeks of medication (15.01 ± 2.25 vs 16.96 ± 2.55 and 19.41 ± 2.82, P0.05), penileelectionhardness remarkably improved at 4 weeks (3.36% vs 44.58%, P0.05), and the positive answers to SEP-2 and SEP-3 both markedly increased at 2 (38.11% vs 90.49%, P0.05; 22.01% vs 63.77% , P0.05) and 4 weeks (38.11% vs 96.95% , P0.05; 22.01% vs 89.73%, P0.05).TCM combined with sildenafil is safe and effective in the treatment of ED in Chinese men, which can significantly improve the IIEF-5 score and erection hardness of the patients.目的: 观察真实世界中药联合西地那非治疗中药无效型勃起功能障碍（ED）疗效及安全性。方法: 选取1038例中药治疗无效（服用4周中药，治疗后IIEF-5评分改善率30%且≤21分）的ED患者，重新辨证为肾阳虚证、肾阴虚证，中药同时联合西地那非100 mg性生活前1 h服用，在2、4周后观察患者IIEF-5、勃起硬度分级（EHS）、性生活日志问题2（SEP2）、性生活日志问题3（SEP3）、中医证候评分及血常规、尿常规、肝功能( ALT) 、肾功能( BUN、Cr)等指标，并与治疗前对比。结果: 所有患者未发现严重的不良反应。治疗2、4周后IIEF-5评分［(16.96±2.55)分、(19.41±2.82)分］均有不同程度提高，差异有统计学意义(P0.05)；治疗4周后EHS4比例（44.58%）上升，与治疗前EHS4（3.36%）相比有统计学差异（P0.05）；治疗2、4周后，SEP2肯定回答的比例分别为90.49%,96.95%，与治疗前（38.11%）比较，均有统计学差异（P‚0.05）。治疗2、4周后，SEP3肯定回答的比例分别为63.77%、89.73%，与治疗前（22.01%）比较，均有统计学差异（P‚0.05）。结论: 真实世界研究发现中药联合西地那非治疗ED是安全、有效的，能有效提高ED患者IIEF5评分，提高勃起硬度。.

To assess the efficacy and safety of three different Chinese medical principles in treating patients with male infertility (oligospermia/asthenozoospermia).Totally 128 patients with male infertility were classified into 3 groups, i.e., Shen-essence deficiency syndrome, Pi-Shen deficiency syndrome, Shen-deficiency blood-stasis syndrome. They were assigned to the Chinese medical treatment group (96 cases) and the Western medical treatment group (32 cases) by stratified randomization in the ratio of 3: 1. Those in the Chinese medical treatment group were treated with Chinese drugs for Shen invigorating and blood activating, Shen invigorating and Pi supplementing, Shen-qi benefiting. Those in the Western medical treatment group were treated with Clomifene (at the daily dose of 25 mg per day, once daily). Three months consisted of one therapeutic course. The parameters of semen, the pregnancy rate, and adverse reactions were observed.Totally 24 patients dropped out in the two group, 17 in the Chinese medical treatment group (9 patients of Shen deficiency blood stasis syndrome, 5 of Shen-Pi deficiency syndrome, and 3 of Shen-essence deficiency syndrome) and 7 in the Western medical treatment group. Compared with before treatment, there was no statistical difference in the improvement of semen amount at 3 months after treatment between the two groups (P0.05). There was statistical difference in the improvement of semen density, class A semen, class A +B semen, and 1-h activity ratio (P0.05). The improvement was most obvious in Shen deficiency blood stasis syndrome, followed by Shen-Pi deficiency syndrome and Shen-essence deficiency syndrome. The improvement was the weakest in the Western medical treatment group. There was no statistical difference in the improvement of semen amount, semen density, class A semen, or 1-h activity ratio at 3 months after treatment between the two groups (P0.05). Best effect was obtained in improving class A + B semen quality in patients of Shen deficiency blood stasis syndrome, showing statistical difference when compared with the other two syndrome types and the Western medical treatment group (P0.05, P0.01). No obvious adverse reaction occurred in the two groups during the treatment course.Shen invigorating and blood activating method could improve the semen density and semen activities, and it was superior to other therapeutic methods.