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Cai T, Gallelli L, Cione E, Verze P, Palmieri A, Mirone V, Bonkat G, Wagenlehner FM, Bjerklund Johansen TE. The efficacy and tolerability of pollen extract in combination with hyaluronic acid and vitamins in the management of patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a 26 weeks, randomized, controlled, single-blinded, phase III study. Minerva Urol Nephrol 2022; 74:780-788. [PMID: 33781014 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-6051.21.04141-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) remains a challenging clinical condition to manage. Here, we evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a new treatment option (suppositories) containing pollen extract in combination with hyaluronic acid and vitamins in the management of patients with CP/CPPS. METHODS In this prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blinded, phase-III study we enrolled CP/CPPS patients between March and December 2019. Participants were randomized (1:1) to the following treatment groups: 1) pollen extract suppositories 1 daily for 10 days; or 2) ibuprofen 600 mg 1 tablet in the morning for 10 days. At the enrolment time and at the follow-up evaluations (3, 6 months), all patients completed baseline questionnaires ([National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index [NIH-CPSI] and Quality of Well-Being [QoL]) and underwent urological examination and microbiological evaluation. The primary endpoint was the quality-of-life assessment with Patients' Reported Outcomes (PROs). RESULTS One hundred and eighty-seven patients were screened. Finally, one hundred and twenty-four patients (mean age 34.6±3.9 years) were randomly allocated to the new pollen extract treatment (N.=63) or ibuprofen (N.=61) groups. At the end of follow-up examinations 56/63 group 1 patients (88.8%) showed a significant reduction of the NIH-CPSI total score, compared with 17/61 (27.8%) in group 2 (P<0.0001). Group 1 patients also reported a higher improvement in terms of PROs, when compared with the control group and group 1 patients reported a significant reduction of leucocyte count at the Meares-Stamey Test (-12; -4; P<0.001). Only mild adverse events were reported in the two groups and adverse events were less frequent in the pollen extract suppositories group. CONCLUSIONS The combination of pollen extract with hyaluronic acid and vitamins is more effective than ibuprofen in improving symptoms and Quality of Life in patients affected with CP/CPPS and has less side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Cai
- Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, Trento, Italy - .,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway -
| | - Luca Gallelli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Mater Domini Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Erika Cione
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Paolo Verze
- Scuola Medica Salernitana, Unit of Urology, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D'Aragona, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Palmieri
- Unit of Urology, AOU Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mirone
- Unit of Urology, AOU Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Gernot Bonkat
- Alta Uro AG, Center of Biomechanics and Calorimetry, Merian Iselin Klinik, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Florian M Wagenlehner
- Clinic of Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Truls E Bjerklund Johansen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Urology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
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Presicce F, Barrese F, Cantiani A, Filianoti A, Tuzzolo D, Di Palma P, Lauretti S, Brunori S, Martini M. Boswellia resin extract and propolis derived polyphenols in patients with type III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: An Italian prospective multicenter study. Asian J Urol 2021; 9:139-145. [PMID: 35509480 PMCID: PMC9051345 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajur.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of a treatment regimen based on rectal administration of Boswellia resin extract and propolis derived polyphenols in patients with type IIIa and type IIIb chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Methods Patients with type IIIa and type IIIb CP/CPPS received one rectal suppository a day for 15 days per month for 3 consecutive months. Participants were evaluated with National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), the International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), four-glass test, uroflowmetry, and prostate-specific antigen assessments at baseline and at Week 4, and Week 12. Primary endpoints were improvement in pain domain of NIH-CPSI and improvement of NIH-CPSI total score. Secondary outcomes included improvement of micturition and quality of life (QoL) domains of NIH-CPSI questionnaire. Results A total of 61 males were enrolled. No adverse events were reported. Significant improvements from baseline to Day 30 were reported for NIH-CPSI total score (mean difference: −9.2; p<0.01), NIH-CPSI pain domain (mean difference: −5.5; p<0.01), NIH-CPSI micturition domain, NIH-CPSI QoL domain, and IPSS total score (mean difference: −5.6; p<0.01). No significant changes from baseline in terms of IIEF score or maximum flow rate were observed. At final follow-up (Day 90), further significant improvements in terms of NIH-CPSI total score (mean difference: −12.2; p<0.01), NIH-CPSI pain domain (mean difference: −6.6; p<0.01), NIH-CPSI micturition domain, NIH-CPSI QoL domain, and IPSS total score were reported. Conclusion Rectal administration of Boswellia resin extract and propolis derived polyphenols is well tolerated and delivers a significant symptomatic improvement in most patients with type IIIa and type IIIb CP/CPPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Presicce
- San Filippo Neri Hospital, Department of Urology, Rome, Italy
- Corresponding author.
| | | | | | | | | | - Paolo Di Palma
- Fabrizio Spaziani Hospital, Department of Urology, Frosinone, Italy
| | - Stefano Lauretti
- Santa Caterina della Rosa Clinic, Department of Urology, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marco Martini
- San Filippo Neri Hospital, Department of Urology, Rome, Italy
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Kramberger K, Kenig S, Jenko Pražnikar Z, Kočevar Glavač N, Barlič-Maganja D. A Review and Evaluation of the Data Supporting Internal Use of Helichrysum italicum. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10081738. [PMID: 34451781 PMCID: PMC8399527 DOI: 10.3390/plants10081738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Helichrysum italicum is a Mediterranean plant with various pharmacological activities. Despite extensive reports on the bioactivity of the plant, its clinically studied applications have not yet been reviewed. The aim of our study was to gather information on the internal use of H. italicum and its bioactive constituents to determine its efficacy and safety for human use. We reviewed research articles that have not been previously presented in this context and analyzed relevant clinical studies with H. italicum. Cochranelibrary.com revealed six eligible clinical trials with H. italicum that examined indications for pain management, cough, and mental exhaustion. Although the efficacy of H. italicum has been demonstrated both in in vitro tests and in humans, it is difficult to attribute results from clinical trials to H. italicum alone, as it has usually not been tested as the sole component. On the other hand, clinical trials provide positive information on the safety profile since no adverse effects have been reported. We conclude that H. italicum is safe to use internally, while new clinical studies with H. italicum as a single component are needed to prove its efficacy. Based on the recent trend in H. italicum research, further studies are to be expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Kramberger
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, 6310 Izola, Slovenia; (K.K.); (S.K.); (Z.J.P.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Saša Kenig
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, 6310 Izola, Slovenia; (K.K.); (S.K.); (Z.J.P.)
| | - Zala Jenko Pražnikar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, 6310 Izola, Slovenia; (K.K.); (S.K.); (Z.J.P.)
| | | | - Darja Barlič-Maganja
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, 6310 Izola, Slovenia; (K.K.); (S.K.); (Z.J.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +386-5-662-6467
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