Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and annual prostate growth rates in Chinese patients of different age decades with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data obtained from 1,052 Chinese men with BPH. Overnight fasting venous blood specimens were collected and serum levels of prostate-specific antigen, fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglyceride were recorded. We divided age into four groups: 50 ≤ age ≤ 60, 60 < age ≤ 70, 70 < age ≤ 80 and 80 < age ≤ 90. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to test the linearity of the relationships between each of the MetS components and prostate volume and annual prostate growth rates generally and in different age decades. Results: The median total prostate volume (69.01 ml) and median annual prostate growth rate (1.92 ml/year) were significantly higher in the MetS group compared with the non-MetS group (57.26 ml and 1.23 ml/year). Significant positive correlations were also found in total prostate volume and different age decades, while negative correlations were seen in annual prostate growth rate and different age decades. Conclusions: MetS is associated with an increased risk of total volume and annual prostate growth rate in BPH patients of different age decades.

Background Hypertension is one of the most common comorbid conditions of epilepsy. Hypertension and epilepsy may be related to each other. Qigong Bigu practice induces a similar effect as fasting in the first week. As ketogenesis is induced during ketogenic diet therapy, we hypothesize that ketogenesis is detectable and related body weight loss would occur during the first week of Qigong Bigu practice. Methods During the prospective observational study, 34 healthy adult participants attended the Qigong Bigu practice for one week. The blood pressure, body weight, calorie consumption, blood glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate level were measured. Results The body weight and body mass index decreased by 2.39 ± 1.34 kg (95%CI 1.92–2.85) and 0.94 ± 0.57 (95%CI 0.73–1.15), respectively, after five days of practice (P < 0.001). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 17.86 ± 14.17 mmHg (95%CI 12.36–23.35) and 9.75 ± 7.45 mmHg (95%CI 6.86–12.64), respectively (P < 0.001). The average five-day calorie consumption was 1197.47 ± 569.97 kcal (95%CI 998.60–1396.35). Meanwhile, no symptomatic hypoglycemia or other significant side effects were observed. The blood beta-hydroxybutyrate level increased to a nutritional level of 1.15 ± 1.12 mmol/L (95%CI 0.76–1.62). The calorie consumption negatively correlated to the beta-hydroxybutyrate level in the blood. The loss of body weight and the decrease of body mass index were positively correlated to the blood beta-hydroxybutyrate level. Conclusions Qigong Bigu can decrease the blood pressure, the body weight and the body mass index in healthy adult participants. The fasting stage of Qigong Bigu is accompanied by ketogenesis. Clinical trial of Qigong Bigu in hypertension and epilepsy patients might be worthwhile. The blood beta-hydroxybutyrate might be used as a biomarker to evaluate the effect of Qigong Bigu practice during fasting. Trial registration ChiCTR1800016923.