Clinical efficacy of warming acupuncture combined with western medication for oligoasthenoteratozoospermia of kidney-yang insufficiency and its effects on IL-6 and IL-10 levels in seminal plasma.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250124-k0001
- Author:
Shuo QIU
1
;
Shangjie LIANG
2
;
Chuchu SHEN
3
;
Tengyan JI
4
;
Hao LI
4
;
Hongru ZHANG
5
Author Information
1. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China; Yangzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Yangzhou Hospital of TCM, Yangzhou 225000, Jiangsu Province.
2. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China.
3. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China; Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province.
4. Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Second Chinese Medicine Hospital.
5. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China; Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province; Dan'an Academy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province.
- Publication Type:English Abstract
- Keywords:
combination of acupuncture and medication;
interleukin-10 (IL-10);
interleukin-6 (IL-6);
kidney-yang insufficiency;
levocarnitine;
oligoasthenoteratozoospermia;
randomized controlled trial (RCT);
warming acupuncture
- MeSH:
Humans;
Male;
Interleukin-10/genetics*;
Interleukin-6/genetics*;
Adult;
Semen/metabolism*;
Acupuncture Therapy;
Oligospermia/drug therapy*;
Yang Deficiency/physiopathology*;
Kidney/physiopathology*;
Young Adult;
Asthenozoospermia/drug therapy*;
Combined Modality Therapy;
Treatment Outcome
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2025;45(8):1092-1098
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy of warming acupuncture combined with western medication for oligoasthenoteratozoospermia of kidney-yang insufficiency and its effects on the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in seminal plasma.
METHODS:A total of 60 patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia of kidney-yang insufficiency were randomly divided into a combination group and a medication group, with 30 cases in each group. The medication group was treated with levocarnitine oral solution orally, 10 mL once, 3 times a day. On the basis of the treatment in the medication group, warming acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV20), Guanyuan (CV4) and Mingmen (GV4) in the combination group, once every other day, 3 times a week. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, the TCM syndrome score was observed, the semen routine indexes (the sperm concentration, progressive [PR] sperm motility, PR + non-progressive [NP] sperm motility and sperm malformation rate), the serum sex hormones indexes (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], testosterone [T] and estradiol [E2]), as well as the IL-6 and IL-10 levels in seminal plasma were detected, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment in the two groups.
RESULTS:After treatment, except for the hyposexuality score in the medication group, the each item scores and total scores of TCM syndrome were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), the sperm malformation rates, serum FSH and LH levels, IL-6 levels in the seminal plasma were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), the PR sperm motility, PR + NP sperm motility, serum T levels, IL-10 levels in the seminal plasma were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the two groups; the sperm concentration was increased compared with that before treatment in the combination group (P<0.01). After treatment, compared with the medication group, except for the hyposexuality and frequent nocturia scores, the each item scores and total score of TCM syndrome were lower (P<0.01, P<0.05); the sperm concentration, PR sperm motility and PR + NP sperm motility, serum T level, IL-10 level in the seminal plasma were higher (P<0.01, P<0.05); sperm malformation rate, serum FSH and LH levels, IL-6 level in the seminal plasma were lower (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the combination group. The total effective rate was 83.8% (25/30) in the combination group, which was superior to 60.0% (18/30) in the medication group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION:Warming acupuncture combined with western medication can effectively treat oligoasthenoteratozoospermia of kidney-yang insufficiency, regulate the levels of sex hormones, and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of IL-6 level and the up-regulation of IL-10 level in seminal plasma.
