Effects of herbal cake separated moxibustion on Tim-4 and ubiquitination of PD-1 in rabbits with immunosuppression / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of herbal cake separated moxibustion on macrophage effector molecule T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-4 (Tim-4) and ubiquitination of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) in rabbits with immunosuppression, and to explore the possible mechanism on herbal cake separated moxibustion in improving immunosuppression.@*METHODS@#Thirty-two big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxa stick moxibustion group and a herbal cake separated moxibustion group, 8 rabbits in each group. Except the normal group, the immunosuppression model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide of60 mg/kg in the other 3 groups. "Shenque" (CV 8), "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Zusanli" (ST 36), etc. were selected in both the moxa stick moxibustion group and the herbal cake separated moxibustion group. Moxa stick moxibustion was applied in the moxa stick moxibustion group, one cone at each acupoint; herbal cake separated moxibustion was applied in the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, 5 cones at each acupoint. The intervention was given once every other day for 10 times in both groups. Leukocyte content in peripheral blood was detected by blood cell analyzer; the positive expression of PD-1 in CD+4 T lymphocytes, CD+8T lymphocytes and CD+68 macrophages in peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry, the serum levels of interleukin 2 (IL-2), CD8, CD68 and Tim-4 were detected by ELISA, and the expression of Tim-4 and F-box only protein 38 (FBXO38) in the liver and spleen tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, in the model group, white blood cell count (WBC) and percentage of neutrophils (NEU%) were decreased while percentage of lymphocyte (LYM%) was increased (P<0.01) in peripheral blood; the positive expression rates of PD-1 in CD+4 T lymphocytes, CD+8T lymphocytes and CD+68 macrophages in peripheral blood were increased (P<0.01); the serum levels of IL-2, CD68 and Tim-4 were increased (P<0.01), the serum level of CD8 was decreased (P<0.01); the average optical density (AOD) of Tim-4 in the liver tissue and FBXO38 in the liver and spleen tissues was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the moxa stick moxibustion group and the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, WBC and NEU% were increased (P<0.01); the positive expression rates of PD-1 in CD+4 T lymphocytes, CD+8T lymphocytes and CD+68 macrophages in peripheral blood were decreased (P<0.01); the serum levels of IL-2, CD68 and Tim-4 were decreased (P<0.01), the serum levels of CD8 were increased (P<0.01); the AOD of Tim-4 and FBXO38 in the liver tissue and FBXO38 in the spleen tissue was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the moxa stick moxibustion group, in the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, the positive expression rate of PD-1 in CD+68 macrophages in peripheral blood was increased (P<0.05); serum level of Tim-4 was increased (P<0.01); AOD of Tim-4 in the liver tissue was decreased (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Herbal cake separated moxibustion can improve immunosuppression by regulating the expression of macrophage effector molecule Tim-4 and the FBXO38 mediated ubiquitination of PD-1, Tim-4 may be one of the specific indexes of immunomodulation involving with herbal cake separated moxibustion.

Efficacy of the herbal cake-separated moxibustion with new-type moxibustion device on urinary retention after spinal cord injury / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical effect of the herbal cake-separated moxibustion with new-type moxibustion device combined with bladder function exercise and simple bladder function exercise on improving urinary retention after spinal cord injury.@*METHODS@#Sixty-eight patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, 34 cases in each group. The bladder function exercise was given in the control group. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, herbal cake-separated moxibustion with new-type moxibustion decice was applied at Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zhongji (CV 3) for 30 min, once a day in the observation group. The two groups were treated for 4 weeks as a course, 2 courses of treatment were needed. Bladder maximum volume, bladder residual urine volume and urinary tract infection before and after treatment were compared, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#The total effective rate in the observation group was 88.2% (30/34), which was better than 64.7% (22/34) in the control group (<0.05). The increase of bladder maximum volume and decrease of bladder residual urine volume in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group (<0.01). At the 4th, 6th and 8th weeks for treatment, the improvement of urinary tract infection in the observation group was better than that in the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#At the same time of bladder function training, herbal cake-separated moxibustion with new-type moxibustion device could improve urinary retention after spinal cord injury.

Effects of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on the repair of vascular endothelial and SDF-1 in rabbits with atherosclerosis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on the repair of damaged vascular endothelium structure and the content of stromal cells derived factor 1 (SDF-1) in rabbits with atherosclerosis.@*METHODS@#A total of 75 rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a direct moxibustion group, an atorvastatin calcium group and a herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group, 15 rabbits in each one. The rabbits in the normal group were fed with normal diet, and the remaining rabbits were fed with high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks to prepare atherosclerotic model. Two groups of acupoints, one was "Juque" (CV 14), "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Fenglong" (ST 40), the other one was "Xinshu" (BL 15), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Pishu" (BL 20), were applied in the direct moxibustion group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group; the two groups of acupoints were selected alternatively every other day. The moxibustion was given for 30 min per treatment, once a day for 4 weeks. The rabbits in the atorvastatin calcium group were treated with atorvastatin calcium tablets (1.96 mg•kg•d) which were crushed into powder and mixed into breakfast. After modeling, the rabbits in the normal group and model group received no treatment, and immobilized at the time when moxibustion was applied in other three groups. The levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were measured by enzymic method; the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by colorimetric method; the morphological structure of aortic wall was observed under optical microscope; the serum level of SDF-1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).@*RESULTS@#After treatment, compared with the normal group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (all <0.01), and the level of HDL-C was decreased (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased (all <0.01), and the level of HDL-C was significantly increased in the direct moxibustion group, atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group (<0.01, <0.05). Compared with the normal group, the morphological structure of aortic wall was significantly damaged in the model group. Compared with the model group, the vascular endothelial structure was improved in the atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group, and the pathological change of aorta endothelial in the direct moxibustion group was relieved. After treatment, compared with the model group, the level of SDF-1 was increased in the direct moxibustion group, atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group (<0.05, <0.01); the level of SDF-1 in the herbal-cake- separated moxibustion group was higher than that in the direct moxibustion group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The herbal- cake-separated moxibustion can promote the expression of SDF-1 in serum and repair the damaged aortic endothelial structure.

Therapeutic observation on acupuncture-moxibustion at different intervals for persistent allergic rhinitis / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture-moxibustion at different intervals on persistent allergic rhinitis. Methods: A total of 90 patients conforming to the inclusion criteria were randomized into three groups named A, B and C by randomized block method. Patients in all three groups received the same treatment of acupuncture and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at the same acupoints, while the treatment frequency was different. Patients in group A received the treatment once a week, group B twice a week and group C three times a week, and all the treatment lasted for 4 weeks. The total nasal symptom score (TNSS), total ocular symptom score (TOSS) and Sino-nasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20) were evaluated before and after treatment. The self-rating score of symptoms was evaluated during treatment and 2 weeks after treatment. Results: The total effective rate was 80.0% in group A, 93.3% in group B, and 100.0% in group C. The total effective rate in group A was statistically different from that in group B and group C (both P＜0.05), but there was no significant inter-group difference in total effective rate between group B and group C (P＞0.05). After treatment, scores of TNSS, TOSS and SNOT-20 in all three groups dropped significantly, and statistically different from those before treatment (all P＜0.05); between-group comparison showed group B and group C decreased more obvious than group A (all P＜0.05). In self-rating score of symptoms, there were no inter-group statistically significant differences in the first 3-week treatment (all P＞0.05); after 4-week treatment, the score in group A was higher than that in group B and group C, and showed statistical significant (both P＜0.05); at 2 weeks after treatment, the score in group A was higher than that in group B and group C based on an everyday record, showing statistical significance (both P＜0.05). At the 11th day after treatment, the score in group B was higher than that in group C (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences between group B and group C at other time points (all P＞0.05). Conclusion: All three protocols are effective for allergic rhinitis. With the increase of treatment frequency, the therapeutic efficacy with a treatment frequency of twice a week and three times a week is superior to that of once a week. Frequency of three times a week has a better long-term effect than once and twice a week, together with the least fluctuation of symptoms.

Effects of Herbal-cake-separated Moxibustion on Blood Lipid Protein Levels and Expression of Toll-like Receptor and Nuclear Factor Genes in Atherosclerotic Plaques in Hyperglycemia Rabbits / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on blood lipid-apoprotein levels and the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR 2), TLR 4 and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) mRNAs in atherosclerotic (AS) vulnerable plaques of hyperglycemia rabbits, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of atherosclerosis. METHODS: Sixty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, model, direct moxibustion, herbal-cake-separated moxibustion and medication groups(n＝12 rabbits in each group). The AS vulnerable plaque model was established by high-fat forage feeding plus balloon-induced abdominal aorta injury and gene transfection of Ad 5-p 53 recombinant vector. Direct moxibustion or herbal-cake-separated moxibustion was applied to "Juque" (CV 14) and bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25), "Fenglong" (ST 40), or bilateral "Xinshu" (BL 15), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Ganshu" (BL 18) for 15－20 min every time. The medication group was treated by feeding Atorvastatin. All the treatments were conducted once daily for 8 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceri-de(TG) contents were detected by enzyme method, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) contents detected by colorimetric determination, and plasma apolipoprotein A(Apo-A) and apolipoprotein B(Apo-B) levels determined by electrophoretic method. The pathological changes of vulnerable plaque and the aortic intima and media thickness were observed under light microscope after H．E. staining. The expression levels of TLR 2, TLR 4 and NF-κB mRNAs in AS plaques were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: After modeling, the levels of plasma TC, TG, LDL and Apo-B in the model group were remarkably increased (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Herbal-cake-separated moxibustion has a positive role in stabilizing AS vulnerable plaque in hyperglycemia rabbits, which may be associated with its effects in regulating blood lipid-apolipoprotein levels and inhibiting the expression of TLR 2, TLR 4 and NF-κB mRNAs in vulnerable plaques.

Effect of Herbal-cake-separated Moxibustion on Blood Lipid Levels and Expression of Hepatic PPARγ and SR-B 1 Proteins and Genes in Hyperlipidemia Atherosclerosis Rabbits / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on blood lipid levels and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and scavenger receptor B 1 (SR-B 1) proteins and genes in liver of hyperlipidemia atherosclerosis rabbits, so as to explore its mechanism underlying anti-atherosclerosis formation. METHODS: Forty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal control, model, moxibustion and Simvastatin groups (n＝10 rabbits in each group). The hyperlipidemia atherosclerosis model was established by high cholesterol diet and propylthiouracil for 12 weeks. Herbal-cake-separated moxibustion was applied to "Juque" (CV 14), and bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25), "Fenglong" (ST 40) (point group 1), and bilateral "Xinshu" (BL 15), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Pishu" (BL 20) (point group 2). The two groups of points were used alternately. Simvastatin (1.96 mg•kg－1•d－1) mixed in the forage was given to rabbits of the Simva-statin group. Both moxibustion and medication treatments were given once daily for continuous 4 weeks. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in plasma were detected by using an automatic biochemistry analyzer. The expression levels of PPARγ and SR-B 1 proteins and genes in the hepatic tissue were determined by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, separately. RESULTS: After modeling, plasma TC, TG and LDL-C levels in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the levels of plasma HDL-C and hepatic PPARγ and SR-B 1 protein and mRNA expression were obviously down-regulated relevant to the normal group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, plasma TC, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and plasma HDL-C and hepatic PPARγ and SR-B 1 protein and mRNA levels were significantly up-regulated in the two treatment groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Herbal-cake-separated moxibustion can regulate blood lipid levels and suppress hyperlipidemia-induced decrease of expression of hepatic PPARγ and SR-B 1 proteins and genes in hyperlipidemia atherosclerosis rabbits, which maybe contribute to its action in anti-atherosclerosis through promoting reversal of cholesterol.

The Effect of on Herbal Cake Separated Moxibustion the Expression of Vascular Cell Adhesion Factor for the Hyperlipemia and Atherosclerosis of Rabbit / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the mechanism of herbal cake separated moxibustion to hyperlipemia (HLP) and atherosclerosis (AS) rabbits on cell and molecular level. Method 75 rabbits were divided into 5 groups randomly:blank group, model group of HLP and AS, direct moxibustion group, herbal cake separated moxibustion group, herb group, 15 rabbits each group. Model rabbits of HLP and AS were built by immunity injury method. The expression of VCAM-1 mRNA and E-sel mRNA were determined with the method of RT-PCR. Results The expression of E-sel mRNA in herbal cake separated moxibustion group, direct moxibustion group and herb group are obviously decreased (P