The Role of Acupuncture and Its Related Mechanism in Treating Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for benign prostatic hyperplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODS

Seven databases were searched from the inception of each database to March 31, 2023, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and China Biology Medicine. The modified Jadad scale was used to assess literature quality, and literature inclusion and exclusion were conducted in strict accordance with the criteria of a score of ≥4. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The pooled effect size of the binary data was measured by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and the pooled effect size of the continuous data was presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI. If I² was larger than 50%, a random effects model was adopted, and otherwise, a fixed effects model was used. Additionally, publication bias assessment and sensitivity analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 325 records were retrieved, and finally 9 randomized controlled trial studies were included, involving 1045 patients. Meta-analysis revealed that the EA group had better improvement than the control group in terms of clinical effective rate (odds ratio = 3.92, 95% CI = 2.38 to 6.47, I² = 0%, P < .001), International Prostate Symptom Score (WMD = -4.99, 95% CI = -6.15 to -3.84, I² = 76.9%, P < .001), maximum urinary flow rate (WMD = -4.99, 95% CI = -6.15 to -3.84, I² = 87.4%, P < .001), and post-void residual volume (WMD = -17.12, 95% CI = -29.49 to -4.75, I² = 89.1%, P < .01). There was no statistical significance in prostate volume and adverse events between the EA group and the control group (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

EA is effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with acceptable overall safety.

Efficacy of acupuncture for psychogenic erectile dysfunction: a randomized, sham-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Psychogenic erectile dysfunction (pED) is a common sexual dysfunction often accompanied by psychosomatic factors. Its treatment includes oral medications, psychotherapy, and behavioral therapy. Acupuncture's effect on erectile function in pED patients remains to be investigated. This randomized study evaluated the effects of acupuncture and sham acupuncture in pED patients. Altogether, 66 men with pED were randomized to the acupuncture (n = 33) or sham acupuncture group (n = 33). Both groups have a 6-week treatment with 18 sessions. Primary outcome was the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes were IIEF-5 (weeks 2, 4, and 10), erection hardness score (EHS), sexual encounter profile-2 (SEP-2), SEP-3, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS).

RESULTS

Among the 66 participants, 64 completed the outcome measurements at week 10. Both acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups had improved IIEF-5 and EHS and decreased SAS and SDS post-treatment (p < 0.05). The acupuncture group had significantly better improvement in IIEF-5, EHS, and SEP-3 and significantly reduced SAS and SDS than the sham acupuncture group (p < 0.05). The improvement in SEP-2 post-treatment was not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). There were no serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

The 6-week acupuncture treatment significantly improved the erectile capacity and psychosomatic status of pED patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2200064345 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry) ( https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=174873 ).

Research Trends of Acupuncture Therapy on Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome from 2000 to 2022: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background

Acupuncture is considered an important means of analgesic, which has been widely used in chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) management and treatment in recent years, published a large number of related documents. However, the relevant literature in this field has not been summarized and quantitatively analyzed. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the hotspots and predicting future research trends of acupuncture on pelvic pain syndrome.

Methods

Search for the relevant publications of the web of science database from 2000 to 2022 about the treatment of acupuncture on chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The Citespace software and VosViewer software are used to analyze the visualization of the countries, institutions, authors, keywords and references and references in the literature.

Results

A total of 173 publications were included. The annual number of essays gradually showed an overall growth trend over time. Medicine magazine is the most published journal in this field. J UROLOGY and Acupunct Med are the most cited journals and the most influential magazines; The most active and influential country is China, and the most produced institutions are Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; The most produced authors are Liu Zhishun. The most cited and most influential authors are Nickel JC and Armour M; keywords and cited reference analysis show that the quality of life, mechanism research, alternative medicine and electro-acupuncture will be the scientific hotspot of acupuncture treatment for chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Conclusion

This study shows that acupuncture on CPPS is increasingly valued and recognized. The future research hotspots will focus on the effects and mechanisms. In the future, more high-quality animal basic research will be required to explore the exact mechanism of acupuncture on CPPS. In addition, different parameters of acupuncture such as electric-acupuncture, stimulating frequency, duration and strength are also the focus of future research. More clinical trials are required to verify its safety and effectiveness.