title: [Clinical observation and study of mechanisms of needle-picking therapy for primary infertility of abnormal sperm].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To search for the best method for increasing clinical therapeutic effect on primary abnormality of sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-eight cases of infertility were randomly divided into a treatment group of 85 cases and a control group of 83 cases. The treatment group were treated with needle-picking at bilateral Shengzhi points, Dicong Shenjing points and L2 Shenjing points as main. The control group were treated with oral administration of Wuzi Yanzong Pills [symbol: see text]. Their therapeutic effects were observed in 3 hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total effective rate of 83.5% and the pregnancy rate of the patient's wife of 78.8% in the treatment group, and corresponding figures were 54.2% and 43.4% in the control group, with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01); and reproductive hormones improved significantly after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01); after treatment, superoxide dismulase (SOD) activity and Zn content in semen were elevated and cadmium level decreased significantly in the treatment group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Needle picking therapy can significantly improve and regulate endocrine function, increase quality of semen and elevate pregnancy rate of the patient's wife for the patient of primary abnormal sperm.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. drchendong@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Shu-ren
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yuan-hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Ming-xue
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yue-juan
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lie-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D013076:Sperm Count