Effect of moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) on bone morphology, metabolism and ERα of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the ovariectomized rats / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) on bone morphology, metabolism and ERα of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the ovariectomized rats and explore the underlying mechanism of moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on the regulation of bone metabolism.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 SD rats were randomized into a normal group (20 rats) and an ovariectomy group (40 rats). In the normal group, no any treatment was provided. In the ovariectomy group, the classical ovariectomy was adopted to set up the osteoporosis model. In the 13th week after ovariectomy, 10 rats were collected from each of the normal group and the ovariectomy group for model identification. After model identification, the ovariectomy group was subdivided into a model group, an estradiol group and a moxibustion group, 10 rats in each one. In the normal group and the model group, the gavage was provided with 2 mL 0.9% sodium chloride solution, once a day. In the estradiol group, the gavage was provided with 17β-estradiol 100 μg/(kg•d), once a day. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), 15 min at each acupoint, once a day. The 6 treatments were as one course, with 1 day of interval, 12 courses were required. After 12-week intervention, the dual-energy X-ray was adopted to determine the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content of the whole body in living condition. After sacrificed, HE staining was adopted to observe femur structure, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was to determine the absorbance of estradiol (E) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum and the real-time quantitative PCR method was to determine the mRNA expressions of ERα of MSCs in tibia and femur.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the model group, BMD was increased obviously in the pelvis and spine in the moxibustion group and the estradiol group (0.05). Compared with the model group, the bone trabeculas were stronger and well connected in the moxibustion group, indicated by HE staining. Compared with the model group, the concentrations of E in serum were increased obviously in the estradiol group and the moxibusiton group (both <0.01), and ALP concentrations reduced obviously in the estradiol group and the moxibustion group (both <0.001), the mRNA expressions of ERα in MSCs increased in the estradiol group and the moxibustion group (both <0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) effectively increases BMD and bone strength in the ovariectomized rats and the mechanism may be related to the improvement of serum E concentration, the decrease of serum ALP concentration and the up-regulation of mRNA expression of ERα in MSCs.

Therapeutic effects on primary dysmenorrhea treated with moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and warm needling at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical effects on primary dysmenorrhea treated with moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and warm needling at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6).@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each one. In the control group, the warm needling technique was used at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). In the observation group, besides the same treatment as the control group, moxibustion was added at Shenque (CV 8). The treatment was given for 4 menstrual cycles consecutively. Before and after treatment, the score of the severity and the score of the total frequency in the retrospective scale of dysmenorrhea symptoms as well as the score of the visual analog scale (VAS) were recorded and compared in the patients between the two groups. Additionally, the safety of the two therapeutic methods was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the score of severity and the score of total frequency as well as VAS score of menstrual pain were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The combined treatment of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) with the warm needling technique at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) achieves the better clinical effects on primary dysmenorrhea as compared with the simple application of the warm needling technique at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). This therapy is safety in clinical practice.

Effects of electroacupuncture on expression of CD36 in peritoneal macrophages of rabbits with atherosclerosis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expressions of CD36 gene and protein in peritoneal macrophages of atherosclerotic rabbits, and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture regulation of atherosclerosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 26 male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group (7 rabbits) and a model group (19 rabbits). The rabbits in the blank group were fed with common feedstuff, and those in the model group were applied with high fat diet and arteria carotis communis bullon injury. One rabbit was sacrificed after 8 weeks to observe the morphological changes of carotid atherosclerotic plaques by HE staining to verify model establishment separately in the blank group and model group. The model rabbits were randomized into a control group, an EA group and a western medication group, 6 rabbits in each one. Common feedstuff was used in the blank group and high fat feed in the other groups. No intervention except grabbing and fixation as the EA group was in the blank group and control group. Rabbits in the EA group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Guanyuan" (CV 4), and EA with sparse-dense wave was connected at bilateral "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 20 min, 4 Hz/20 Hz and 1 mA. 20 mL suspension of 1mg/kg/d atorvastatin calcium tablets were prescribed by intragastric administration in the western medication group for 4 courses, 6 d as one course with 1 d between two courses, once a day. The expression of CD36 protein in peritoneal macrophages was detected by Western blot. Reverse transcription (RT) of RNA and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of cDNA were used to detect the expression of CD36 mRNA in peritoneal macrophages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the blank group, the vascular wall thickness was uniform and the endothelium was intact. There was no accumulation of foam cells and atherosclerotic plaques. In the model group, the intima of the artery obviously thickened; the intima was damaged; the atherosclerotic plaque and inflammatory cell infiltration were found in the intima, and the foam cells were seen. After treatment, the expressions of CD36 protein and CD36 mRNA in the control group, EA group and western medication group were higher than those in the blank group (all<0.01). Those in the EA group and western medication group were lower than the expressions in the control group (all<0.01). There was no statistical significance for the expressions of CD36 protein and CD36 mRNA between the EA group and the western medication group (both>0.05). .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA can reduce the expressions of CD36 protein and CD36 mRNA in peritoneal macrophages of atherosclerotic rabbits, which may be one of the mechanisms of EA treatment of atherosclerosis.</p>

Effects of mild moxibustion on the uterine microcirculation in patients of primary dysmenorrhea / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of mild moxibustion on the uterine microcirculation in patients of primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and explore the potential mechanism of mild moxibustion in the treatment of PD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 30 patients were randomized into a treatment group and a waiting list group, 15 cases in each one. Additionally, 15 healthy people were collected in the healthy group. In the treatment group, the mild moxibustion was used at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The treatment was given once a day since 5 to 7 days before menstruation until menses, 20 min each time. The treatment lasted for 3 menstrual cycles. No any intervention was provided in the waiting list group and the healthy group. The three-dimensional Doppler ultrasound test was adopted to observe the changes of the relevant indexes of uterine arterial blood, such as the systolic velocity (Vs), the diastolic velocity (Vd), the mean velocity (Vm), peak systolic velocity/end diastolic velocity (S/D), pulsatility index (PI) and the resistance index (RI) before treatment and at the end of 3-menstrual-cycle treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before treatment, as compared with the healthy group, Vs, Vd and Vm reduced in the treatment group and the waiting list group, S/D, PI and RI increased in the treatment group (all <0.05). The differences were not significant in S/D, PI and RI between the waiting list group and the healthy group (all >0.05). After treatment for 3 menstrual cycles, Vs, Vd and Vm increased in the treatment group (all <0.05), S/D, PI and RI reduced (all <0.05). The difference was not significant in every index before and after trial in the waiting list group and the healthy group (all >0.05). After treatment, Vs, Vd and Vm in the treatment group were higher than those in the waiting list group (all <0.05) and the difference was not significant as compared with those in the healthy group (all >0.05). S/D, PI and RI in the treatment group were lower than those in the waiting list group and the healthy group (all <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mild moxibustion remarkably improves the uterine microcirculation in PD patients, which is achieved possibly by increasing blood velocity and reducing vascular resistance.</p>

Clinical observation on premature ovarian failure by warming acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (CV 4) combined with ginger moxibustion at points / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect difference between warm acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (CV 4) combined with ginger moxibustion at points and western medication for premature ovarian failure (POF).@*METHODS@#Fifty patients with POF were randomly assigned into an acupuncture-moxibustion group and a western medication group, 25 cases in each group. Warm acupuncture (30 min a time) at Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (CV 4) combined with ginger moxibustion (1.5 h a time) at points were used in the acupuncture-moxibustion group, once a day, 5 times a week. Three courses were given, one month as a course. Climen tablet was prescribed orally from the 5th day of menstruation in the western medication group, one tablet a time, once a day. The medication was given for 3 months, 7 days between the two 21-day medication. Before and after treatment, electrochemiluminescence was used to measure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH); euzymelinked immunosorbent assay was applied to test estradiol (E); transvaginal color doppler sonography and abdomen ultrasound were applied to determine peak systolic velocity (PSV) of ovarian blood flow, resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), ovarian volume and the number of sinus follicles (AFC). The clinical effect was compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, FSH and FSH/LH were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Warm acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (CV 4) combined with ginger moxibustion at points are effective for POF patients, especially in improving FSH/LH, PSV and AFC.

Discussion of biological effects of moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and its influence factors / 中国针灸

Moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) can produce biological effects, mainly including local effects, targeting organ effects, systemic effects. The biological effects of moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) are related to stimulation parameters and health or pathological nature of the objects, and the effects show acupoint specificity. Its research of local effects should be attached importance to and the acupoint specificity needs to be ascertained, as well as the relationships between the biological effects and stimulation parameters, and between the effects and health or pathological nature of the objects.