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Objective: To observe the anti-inflammatory effect, as well as the effect on the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (LC3B) and Beclin-1 of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in rats with experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT). Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group and a modeling group. The EAT rat model was prepared by a combination of antigen immunization plus iodine agent induction. After the model was prepared, rats in the modeling group were randomly and equally divided into a model group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group. In the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, moxibustion was alternately applied to two groups of points [Dazhui (GV14)-Mingmen (GV4) and Tiantu (CV22)-Guanyuan (CV4)], and the treatment continued for 30 d. Rats in the normal and model groups were only fixed identically without intervention. Histopathological manifestations of thyroid glands were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining; the concentrations of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of autophagy-related factors LC3B and Beclin-1 in thyroid tissue. Results: There were massive follicular destruction, lymphocytic infiltration, and interstitial fibrous tissue hyperplasia of the thyroid glands in the model group. Some follicles of the thyroid glands were destroyed with few lymphocyte infiltrations and fibrous tissue hyperplasia in the moxibustion group. Compared with the normal group, the concentrations of serum TPOAb, TGAb, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were increased in the model rats (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression levels of LC3B and Beclin-1 in thyroid tissue were reduced in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the concentrations of serum TPOAb, TGAb, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were reduced in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression levels of LC3B and Beclin-1 in thyroid tissue were increased in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of LC3B and Beclin-1 in thyroid tissue was negatively correlated with the serum levels of TPOAb and TGAb.Conclusion: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion reduces the inflammatory response in the thyroid glands of EAT rats and lowers the levels of serum TPOAb and TGAb. This may be related to the regulation of mRNA and protein expression of the autophagy-associated factors LC3B and Beclin-1 in rat thyroid tissue.
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Objective: To observe the effect of herb-partition moxibustion on colonic inflammation in UC rats, and participate in the regulation of immune regulation via NF-κB pathway and STAT3 phosphorylation. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into normal group, the ulcerative colitis group (UC) group and herb-partition moxibustion group, with 8 rats in each group. The rat model of UC was induced by 4％ DSS. After successful modeling, the rats were treated with moxibustion on bilateral Tianshu acupoints (ST25) . Each acupoint was used with 2 Zhuang moxa, 1 time a day, for 7 times. The effect of the herb-partition moxibustion on UC rats was observed by comparing the histopathological and protein concentrations of serum proinflammatory cytokine. Western Blot was used to detect NF-κB pathway and STAT3 activity in colon tissue. Results: Colonic histopathology in the UC group showed that the mucosal epithelium with ulcer formation and obvious inflammatory response. The herb-partition moxibustion could repair colonic epithelial damage and reduce the inflammatory response of colon tissue in UC rats. Compared with the normal group, the serum IL-1β and IL-6 protein concentrations were significantly increased in the UC group (P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01), and the STAT3 phosphorylation level and protein expression levels of pIκB-α and NF-κB p65 were significantly increased. The protein expression level of IκB-α was significantly decreased. Compared with the UC group, the serum protein concentrations of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly lower in the herb-partition moxibustion group (P ＜ 0.05), and protein expression level of NF-κB p65 was decreased in the colon tissue. The phosphorylation level of pIκB-α was decreased, while the protein expression level of IκB-α was increased. Conclusion: Herb-partition moxibustion reduced colonic inflammatory response in UC rats by DSS-induced, the underlying mechanism may related to decrease release of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 via dual inhibition of NF-κB and STAT3 activation.
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Objective: To observe the clinical effect and syndrome scores improvements of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion (HPM) and ginger-partitioned moxibustion (GPM) in treating ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods:A total of 65 eligible cases were randomly divided into a HPM group (n=32) and a GPM group (n=33) according to their visiting order. Bilateral Tianshu (ST 25) and Dachangshu (BL 25) were selected for the HPM or the GPM treatment once daily, 12 d as a treatment course with a 3-day interval, 6 courses in all. The clinical effect, syndrome scale and Mayo scale were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results:Of the 65 cases enrolled, 2 cases dropped out in the HPM group and 3 cases dropped out in the GPM group, 30 cases of each group finished the treatment courses. The total effective rate is 93.3% in HPM group and 86.7% in the GPM group, there was no statistically significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P>0.05); there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in score evaluation of lasting time of abdominal pain and frequency of diarrhea, HPM is prior to GPM (P=0.032,P=0.044). There are no statistical significant differences between the two groups in scores evaluation of general symptom, three main symptoms, quality of life (QOL), frequency and severity of abdominal pain, times, and pattern of diarrhea (allP>0.05). There was a statistical significant difference in the improvement of Mayo score between the two groups, and HPM was superior to GPM (P=0.048). Conclusion:HPM and GPM are both promising ways to treat UC, and the total effect is quite similar. HPM is superior to GPM in the improvement of lasting time of abdominal pain and frequency of diarrhea, and also the Mayo score.
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Objective:To evaluate and compare electroacupunctures (EA) with different parameters and moxibustion at different temperatures influencing the activation of mast cells (MC) in Tianshu (ST 25) regions of visceral hyperalgesia model rats. Methods:Rats (except for model group) respectively accepted 1 mA or 3 mA EA or moxibustion at 43 or 4 to℃℃stimulate Tianshu (ST 25) points after randomization of the fifty visceral hyperalgesia model rats, and then were compared with that in model and normal groups. Number, degranulation numbers, degranulation rates in Tianshu (ST 25) regions MC of rats in each group were observed using toluidine blue staining. Abdominal withdrawl reflex (AWR) score was used to evaluate the rat visceral hyperalgesia reactions. Results:Compared with the normal group and the model group, MC numbers (P0.05); AWR scores in 1 mA EA group under the stimulation of 0 mmHg or 80 mmHg were significantly higher than that in the normal group (P<0.01); AWR score in 3 mA EA group under the stimulation of 0 mmHg was significantly higher than that in the normal group (P<0.01), and AWR scores in 3 mA EA group under the stimulation of 20 mmHg or 80 mmHg were also higher than that in the normal group (P<0.05). AWR scores were higher in 1 mA EA group under the stimulation of 40 mmHg or 80 mmHg than that in 4℃ moxibustion group (P<0.05); AWR score was higher in 3 mA EA group under the stimulation of 40 mmHg than that in 4℃ moxibustion group (P<0.05). Conclusion:There are differences among EA of different parameters and moxibustion of different temperatures in activating on Tianshu (ST 25) regions MC of visceral hyperalgesia model rats, as well as in improving the visceral hyperalgesia reaction. The effect of 4℃ moxibustion is the most significant.
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Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion on learning and memory abilities, corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in subacute aging rats. Methods:Twenty four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 8 rats in each group. Rats in the model group and the moxibustion group were subcutaneously injected with 25% D-galactose [125 mg/(kg·bw)] for 40 d continuous; rats in the normal group were injected with saline at the same position for 40 d continuous. Rats in the moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) at the same time of modeling; rats in the normal group and the model group were only identically grabbed without moxibustion for 40 d. The learning and memory abilities of rats were observed using the Morris water maze at the end of the experiment. Abdominal aorta blood and thymus were collected after water maze experiment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum corticosterone level, and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of thymus GR. Results:Compared with the normal group, rats in the model group showed that a significantly longer escape latency time (P<0.01) on the third and the fourth days; number of times crossing the platform in 70 s significantly reduced (P<0.01); activity times in the fourth quadrant significantly decreased (P<0.05); serum corticosterone levels increased (P<0.01); thymus GR expression decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, rats in the moxibustion group showed that the escape latency times were significantly shorter on the third, the fourth and the fifth days (P<0.01,P<0.05); number of times crossing the platform in 70 s significantly increased (P<0.05); activity times in the fourth quadrant significantly increased (P<0.05); serum corticosterone levels decreased (P<0.05); thymus GR expression increased (P<0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion could improve the learning and memory abilities of subacute aging rats, down-regulate serum corticosterone levels, and increase thymus GR content.
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Objective: To categorize and summarize the clinical and mechanism studies of the past 30 years on the treatment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) with moxibustion, moxibustion plus medication, and acupuncture plus medication, etc., and to analyze the current problems. Methods: The clinical and laboratory studies related to the treatment of HT with acupuncture-moxibustion therapies published before June 2015 were retrieved from MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang) and Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP). Results:Moxibustion, moxibustion plus medication, and acupuncture plus medication can produce certain therapeutic effects in treating HT. Conclusion:The research on the treatment of HT with acupuncture-moxibustion therapies is rather limited in the amount and content. In the future, standardization should be fortified, specific moxibustion research needs deepening, and the action mechanism of moxibustion should be emphasized.
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Objective:To investigate the influence of moxibustion products on mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) and mRNA expression of Bax/Bcl-2 in alveolar typeⅡ epithelial A549 cells, and to further explore influence of moxibustion products on the oxidative damage of A549 cells. Methods:Smoke and particles generated by moxibustion were collected using the filter box for gas sampling. The moxa smoke extract (MSE) was diluted sequentially to the final concentrations of 0.05 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL, 0.3 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL using the cell culture medium, and A549 cells were then intervened by the above MSE solution. Cell MTP was detected by JC-1 staining. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression of A549 cells. Results: Compared with cells in the normal control group, MTP was significantly decreased in cells of 0.3 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL MSE intervention groups (P0.05); compared with cells in 0.05 mg/mL MSE intervention group, MTP was decreased significantly in cells of 0.1 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL, 0.3 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL MSE intervention groups (P<0.05 ); compared with cells in 0.1 mg/mL MSE intervention group, MTP was decreased significantly in cells of 0.4 mg/mL MSE intervention group (P<0.01). Bax mRNA expression of cells in each concentration of MSE intervention group all showed no significant difference compared to that in the normal control group; Bcl-2 mRNA expression of cells was reduced with the increase of MSE intervention concentration. Wherein, Bcl-2 mRNA expressions of cells in 0.4 mg/mL and 0.3 mg/mL MSE intervention groups were significantly reduced compared with that of cells in the normal control group (P<0.05); Bcl-2 mRNA expression of cells in 0.4 mg/mL MSE intervention group was significantly reduced compared to that in 0.05 mg/mL MSE intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Certain higher concentration of moxa smoke could reduce MTP and mRNA expression of the anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-2 in alveolar typeⅡ epithelial A549 cells. Oxidative damage may be the important mechanism of apoptosis caused by the high concentration of moxa smoke solution, and further studies are necessary on the specific mechanisms.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects and safety of clinical common symptoms of active Crohn's disease at the mild and moderate stages treated with acupuncture and moxibustion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and two patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 51 cases in each one. Herb-partition moxibustion and acupuncture were used in the observation group. Herbal cakes with(),(),(),(),(),() and() as the main ingredients were used on Tianshu (ST 25), Qihai (CV 6) and Zhongwan (CV 12); acupuncture was used at Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Gongsun (SP 4) and Taichong (LR 3). Bran-partition moxibustion and shallow acupuncture were applied in the control group. Wheat bran-partition moxibustion in the shape of cake was implemented on the same acupoints as the observation group; shallow acupuncture was used 1~2 cm next to the acupoints. Treatment was given three times a week for 12 weeks, 36 times totally. Clinical effects of eight symptoms were evaluated by TCM symptom score, and the symptoms included abdominal pain (degree, frequency, time), diarrhoea (number, shape and frequency), fatigue, anorexia, borborygmus andflatus, fear of cold, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, tenesmus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 12-week treatment, the eight symptoms were improved apparently (all<0.05), with the scores of abdominal pain (degree, frequency, time), diarrhoea (shape and frequency), fatigue and anorexia in the observation group decreasing more obviously (all<0.01). There was no statistical significance about the other symptom scores between the two groups (all>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Herb-partition moxibustion combined with acupuncture achieve safety and efficacy for mild and moderate Crohn's disease, and can improve the clinical common symptoms. Furthermore, their effects on abdominal pain (degree, frequency, time), diarrhoea (shape and frequency), fatigue and anorexia are better than those of bran-partition moxibustion and shallow acupuncture.</p>
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BACKGROUND:The interaction and mutual influence of intestinal flora in the host intestine with mucosal immune barrier play an important role in the homeostasis regulation within the intestine. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of intestinal flora in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome and the mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome from the aspects of intestinal flora imbalance and mucosal immune activation. METHODS:With the key words of “irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal flora, intestinal immune, moxibustion” in Chinese and in English, respectively, a computer-based search was performed for articles published in CNKI, VIP and PubMed databases from October 2001 to October 2014. After the initial screening, the reserved articles were further detailed, summarized and concluded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Totaly 37 articles were colected, including 15 in Chinese and 22 in English. The analysis results showed that, the imbalance of intestinal flora and mucosal immune can play an important role in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome, and the former one can affect the body’s feeling of rectal distension threshold and visceral sensitivity. Moxibustion excels at improvement of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, particularly abdominal pain with high visceral sensitivity, by regulating the body’s physiological balance from multi-link and multi-target aspects.
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BACKGROUND:Warm acup-moxibustion is an effective treatment in Chinese traditional medicine, which combines acupuncture with moxibustion. With an immediate analgesia or/and long-term effect, warm acup-moxibustion has been used clinicaly for acute and chronic pain. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the progress in the studies about clinical application of warm acup-moxibustion as analgesic therapy for acute and chronic pain and to discuss the influential factors. METHODS: CNKI, VIP and Wanfang databases were searched for relevant articles published between January 1995 and July 2015 using the keywords of “warm needling; warm acup-moxibustion; pain; analgesic” in Chinese. According to the exclusion and inclusion criteria, 51 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with ordinary acupuncture, medicine and other treatment methods, warm acup-moxibustion can play an analgesic role in multiple systems, which is better than ordinary acupuncture and Western medicine. Warm acup-moxibustion combined with drugs and acupuncture techniques can increase the analgesic effect and improve joint function activity. Warm acup-moxibustion with the overal regulatory role plays an effective analgesic pain role in the multiple systems and shortens the duration of treatment, which is an effective method for treating pain and worthy of further promotion and application.
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BACKGROUND:Moxibustion products produced in moxibustion, such as moxa smoke, are one of hotspots in moxibustion research. Metabonomics can be used to more comprehensively and systematicaly study the effects of moxibustion products on the body. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efect of diferent concentrations of moxibustion products on urine metabonomics of rats. METHODS:Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, low-dose moxibustion products group, middle-dose moxibustion products group, high-dose moxibustion products group, high-dose moxibustion products recovery group. In the latter four groups, rats from each group were exposed to the mixture of moxibustion products and pure gas at ratios of 0.4:2.0, 0.8:2.0, 1.6:2.0, 1.6:2.0, respectively, 4 hours daily, 5 days weekly, totaly for 60 days. After 60-day high-dose moxibustion products stimulation, rats in the high-dose moxibustion products recovery group were raised in normal air for 21 days. Rats in the normal control group were raised in normal air for 60 days without any moxibustion products. Then we analyzed the changes of urine metabonomics in al group rats. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Totaly 108 metabolites were identified in the urine of rats using gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and 64 metabolites were verified by standard library. There were some positive correlations between changes of typical metabolites and moxibustion product concentrations. The metabolites in the urine were most different between the high-dose moxibustion products group and normal control group. Twenty-two differential metabolites, such as glucuronic acid and vitamin C were mainly involved in 15 sugar and amino acid metabolic pathways, such as ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. These findings indicated that energy metabolism, detoxification and anoxidation increased in rats stimulated by moxibustion products.
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BACKGROUND:Chronic visceral pain is one of major complaints of irritable bowel syndrome which seriously affects patient’s quality of life. Recent researches have shown that moxibustion therapy has positive effects on aleviating chronic visceral pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients. OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical utility of moxibustion in coping with chronic visceral pain of irritable bowel syndrome patients, and shed light on the theoretical basis of moxibustion analgesia, thereby to give insights into the further research and application on moxibustion. METHODS: With the key words of “moxibustion, irritable bowel syndrome, visceral pain, abdominal pain” in Chinese and in English, respectively, a computer-based search was performed in CNKI, VIP, Wanfang and PubMed databases for articles published from January 1990 to October 2014. After the initial screening, the remained articles went through further selection and categorization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The result shows promising results of moxibustion on relieving chronic visceral pain for both two subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome patients, diarrhea type and constipation type. Moxibustion may exert an analgesic effect on chronic visceral pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients through regulation of visceral hypersensitivity, gastrointestinal motility disorders, brain-gut axis and neuroendocrine system disorders, immune dysfunction and low-grade inflammation in the gut, psychological abnormalities, and alteration of intestinal flora. However, to fuly understand the analgesia effect of moxibustion and elucidate its mechanism, more standardized randomized controled trials employing advanced scientific techniques and equipments wil stil be needed in the future.