Propecia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Propecia, including details on baldness, hair loss, side-effects, results.

Ezetimibe Reduces Enlarged Prostate in an Animal Model of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Pelton K, Vizio DD, Insabato L, Schaffner CP, Freeman MR, Solomon KR

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

PURPOSE: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common urinary tract disorder that affects aging men. The molecular mechanisms underlying benign prostatic hyperplasia are obscure and the development of animal models to test novel treatment strategies is challenging. We report that the Bio 87.20 hamster strain (Bio Breeders, Watertown, Massachusetts) shows 5alpha-reductase-sensitive prostate enlargement and a decrease in circulating cholesterol reduces prostate size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bio 87.20 hamsters 17 months old with an enlarged prostate were fed a diet containing no or minimal cholesterol and including finasteride (Merck, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey) and/or ezetimibe (Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, New Jersey) for 4 months. The prostate complex was removed, volume and weight were determined, and tissue was examined histologically. RESULTS: Prostate enlargement depended on cholesterol in the diet. Blockade of intestinal cholesterol transport with ezetimibe induced prostate regression to a similar extent as the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride, a compound used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in humans. Histological analysis indicated that finasteride induced widespread prostatic atrophy but normal glandular architecture was preserved in the ezetimibe cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism may be a component of benign prostatic hyperplasia and ezetimibe may be effective as an alternative or adjunct to standard treatment. Our findings also show that the Bio 87.20 hamster is a suitable model for preclinical evaluation of novel benign prostatic hyperplasia therapy.

Published 23 August 2010 in J Urol.
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Articles on Propecia published 17 August 2010:

Differential expression of steroid 5{alpha}-reductase isozymes and association with disease severity and angiogenic genes predict their biological role in prostate cancer.   Endocr Relat Cancer, 17(3): 757-70.

The biological role of steroid 5alpha-reductase isozymes (encoded by the SRD5A1 and SRD5A2 genes) and angiogenic factors that play important roles in the pathogenesis and vascularization of prostate cancer (PC) is poorly understood. The sub-cellular expression of these isozymes and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in PC tissue microarrays (n=62) was examined using immunohistochemistry. The effect of SRD5A inhibition on the angiogenesis pathway genes in PC was also examined in prostate ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Propecia published 11 August 2010:

Potency of a novel saw palmetto ethanol extract, SPET-085, for inhibition of 5alpha-reductase II.   Adv Ther, 27(8): 555-63.

INTRODUCTION: The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent membrane protein 5alpha-reductase irreversibly catalyses the conversion of testosterone to the most potent androgen, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In humans, two 5alpha-reductase isoenyzmes are expressed: type I and type II. Type II is found primarily in prostate tissue. Saw palmetto extract (SPE) has been widely used for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Knowledge and Use of Finasteride for the Prevention of Prostate Cancer.   Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge about and use of chemopreventive agents for prostate cancer by physicians has not been described. The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) showed that finasteride was effective in reducing the incidence of prostate cancer. We examined the influence of the PCPT on finasteride prescribing within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). METHODS: We assessed trends on monthly new and total prescriptions for finasteride filled within the VHA from January 2000 to ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Propecia published 9 August 2010:

Change in International Prostate Symptom Storage Subscore After Long-term Medical Therapy in BPH Patients: Finasteride and Alpha-blocker Combination Therapy in Men With Moderate-to-severe LUTS/BPH in Korea.   Urology.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and the change of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) storage subscore after combination therapy (alpha-blocker and finasteride) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) consistent with moderate-to-severe benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and compared with alpha-blocker-only treatment. METHODS: A total of 1315 patients seen in 5 urology centers in Korea from January 2001 to August 2007, with LUTS secondary to BPH were enrolled. Patients ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Propecia published 6 August 2010:

Types of Hair Loss and Treatment Options, Including the Novel Low-Level Light Therapy and Its Proposed Mechanism.   South Med J.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss in men, and female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form of hair loss in women. Traditional methods of treating hair loss have included minoxidil, finasteride, and surgical transplantation. Currently there is a myriad of new and experimental treatments. In addition, low-level light therapy (LLLT) has recently been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hair loss. There are ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Propecia published 27 July 2010:

Treatment of benign essential blepharospasm with finasteride: a case report.   Clin Neuropharmacol, 33(4): 207-8.

We report the case of a 75-year-old man with a 35-year history of benign essential blepharospasm, which was poorly responsive to botulinum toxin. The patient had also developed Parkinson disease over the past 2 years. After his condition was diagnosed as benign prostatic hypertrophy, he started finasteride (FIN, 5 mg/d) treatment. During the following month, he experienced a significant attenuation of the severity of his dystonic symptoms; this improvement remained stable for the course of the ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Propecia published 14 July 2010:

Finasteride treatment inhibits adult hippocampal neurogenesis in male mice.   Pharmacopsychiatry, 43(5): 174-8.

INTRODUCTION: The 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride is used for the treatment of androgenic alopecia, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Besides inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to the biologically more active 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, it also inhibits the production of neurosteroids. Decreased neurosteroid levels are postulated to be involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders such as depression. As neurosteroids metabolized by 5-alpha-reductase ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Propecia published 23 June 2010:

5 mg/day finasteride treatment for normoandrogenic Asian women with female pattern hair loss.   J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.

Abstract Background Various treatments have been attempted for female pattern hair loss (FPHL), including topical minoxidil, oral antiandrogen and finasteride. But, there is no consensus on the standard treatment options. Clinical efficacy of finasteride in treating FPHL is still in controversy, but there is a tendency to high dose finasteride, which is more effective than lower dose. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of high dose (5 mg/day) oral ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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