Effects of warm moxibustion on CD40-CD40L axis in rabbits with atherosclerosis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore effects and action mechanism of warm moxibustion on regulation of blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-one male Japanese big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rabbits), a model group (10 rabbits), a moxibustion group (10 rabbits) and a medication group (11 rabbits). Normal diet was applied in the blank group while high-cholesterol diet combined with injection of bovine serum albumin were applied in the rest groups to establish rabbit model of atherosclerosis. After establishment, the model group was not intervened and warm moxibustion was applied in the moxibustion group at "Zusan-li" (ST 36) and "Shenque" (CV 8), 10 min per acupoint per day for continuous 4 weeks. The medication group was treated with intragastric administration of lovastatin capsule (3.6 mg/kg) for continuous 4 weeks. The level of blood lipids, such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and content of CD40 ligand (CD40L), soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and expression of nuclear factor NF-kappaB were tested after 4 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, the moxibustion group and medication group could effectively reduce the contents of TC and low density lipoprotein (all P < 0.05), lower the level of sCD40L [(8.310 +/- 1.221) ng/mL in the model group, (7.097 +/- 0.846) ng/mL in the moxibustion group and (7.354 +/- 0.631) ng/mL in the medication group], reduce expression of CD40L [(0.235 +/- 0.179) mm2 in the model group, (0.072 +/- 0.079) mm2 in the moxibustion group and (0.039 +/- 0.015) mm2 in the medication group] and NF-kappaB [(0.145 +/- 0.052)mm2 in the model group, (0.052 +/- 0.012) mm2 in the moxibustion group and (0.036 +/- 0.013) mm2 in the medication group], indicating the significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the moxibustion group and medication group (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The warm moxibustion has great effect on regulation of blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis, in which lowering expression of CD40-CD40L could be one of possible mechanisms to take effect of anti-atherosclerosis.</p>

Effects of mild moxibustion on imbalance of Th1/Th2 in rabbits with atherosclerosis and its regulating rules / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effects of mild moxibustion and lovastatin on immunologic function in rabbits with chronic hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis (AS) to initially explain regulating rules of mild moxibustion on immunologic function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Among thirty-two Japanese male big-ear rabbits, 8 rabbits were randomly selec ted as a blank group, the rest 24 rabbits were fed with method of endothelial injury and high-fat diet to establish AS model. The blank group was raised with normal diet and free water. After ten weeks of model establishment, the rest 24 rabbits were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medicine group, eight rabbits in each one. Moxibustion was applied at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 10 min per acupoint per day in the moxibustion group, while intragastric administration of 3.6 mg/kg lovastatin capsule was applied in the medicine group. After treatment, serum was acquired. Spectrophotometry method was adapted to measure cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and evaluated atherosclerosis index (AI), while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The serum TC and HDL-C in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group, moxibustion group and medicine group (all P < 0.01). The mean value of AI was 1.683 +/- 0.486 in the moxibustion group, which was obviously lower than 20.301 +/- 4.022 in the model group (P < 0.01). (2) The ratio of Th1/Th2 was 0.569 +/- 0.143 in the moxibustion group and 0.445 +/- 0.079 in the medicine group, which were significantly lower than 0.917 +/- 0.255 in the model group (both P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between the moxibustion group and the medicine group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The moxibustion for AS could reduce atherosclerosis index, influence drift and bias of helper T cell and regulate balance between humoral immunity and cellular immunity. As a result, status of relative balance of immunity is acquired, which could slow down the development of atherosclerosis and process of thrombus burst.</p>

Deep acupuncture at Baliao points (eight sacral foramina) by Professor WANG Ling-Ling and its clinical application / 中国针灸

With deep acupuncture at Baliao points (eight sacral foramina) as the core, Professor WANG Ling-ling has treated diseases of urinary, digestive and reproductive systems with superior therapeutic effect. The key for efficacy of Baliao points is deep acupuncture. Only deeply insert into acupoints with long needles and directly stimulate at sacral nerves, could Baliao points play a superior role in treatment effect. Searching acupoints is the basis of deep acupuncture, and superficial anatomy should be combined to summarize the methods of searching Baliao points. The premise of deep acupuncture is needling manipulation. The angles of needles must be adjusted according to morphological features of posterior sacral foramina, or it is hard to practice deep acupuncture into Baliao points. The description of location and manipulation on Baliao points in ancient and modern literature was vague, which restricts clinical application of Baliao points. A lot of research on location, manipulation and clinical application of Baliao points has performed by Professor WANG Ling-ling, and its manipulation and clinical cases are introduced to make a positive effect on its application and popularization.

Analysis of WANG Ji's moxibustion therapy opinion / 中国针灸

WANG Ji's opinion on moxibustion therapy in Questions and answers of acupuncture and moxibustion (Zhenjiu Wendui) was explored and analyzed. With his two contraindications of moxibustion as breakthrough points, the arrangement and discussion was performed. The results showed that based on summary of moxibustion treatment theory before Ming dynasty, WANG Ji could provide characteristic idea, which is of great reference value and guide significance to the inheritance and development of moxibustion.