ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of herb-partition moxibustion at navel on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in rats with premature ovarian failure (POF); To explore its mechanism underlying improvement of POF. Methods POF model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide. Forty-eight Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, moxibustion group and Western medicine group, with 12 rats in each group. Rats of moxibustion group were treated with herb-partition moxibustion at navel (Shenque, CV8), 30 min/d, once every other day; rats of Western medicine group were given intragastric dose of estradiol valerate, once a day, for 14 d. The protein and mRNA expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 in ovarian granulosa cells were detected by immunohistochemal method, Western blot and qRT-PCR, respectively.Results The weights of ovaries in the model group rats were significantly lower than those in the normal group (P<0.05). The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in ovarian tissue of each group were mainly expressed brown coloration and in the cytoplasm of cells. The range of Bax protein in granulosa cells of moxibustion group and Western medicine group was significantly less than that in model group. The range of Bcl-2 in moxibustion group and Western medicine group was significantly larger than that in model group. Compared with the normal group, the expressions of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA in the model group rats significantly decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the expression of Bax protein and mRNA significantly increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The expression level of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA was significantly higher in the moxibustion group and in the western medicine group than that in the model group (P<0.05,P<0.01). The expression level of Bax protein and mRNA in the moxibustion group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionThe herb-partition moxibustion at navel can improve the function of ovaries by up regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and down regulating the expression of Bax in POF rats model.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of need-in-row combined with herb-partition moxibustion,need-in-row and conventional acupuncture for superior gluteal nerve entrapment syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 105 patients were randomly assigned into a combination group,a need-in-row group and an acupuncture group,35 cases in each one. In the combination group and needle-in-row group,needle-in-row therapy was used at the pain tendon region of the pathological waist-hip part,and TDP was combined. Also,herb-partition moxibustion was applied at the same part after needle-in-row in the combined group. In the acupuncture group,conventional acupuncture was implemented at Weizhong(BL 40),Yanglingquan(GB 34),Zhibian(BL 54),Huantiao(GB 30),Sanyinjiao(SP 6) and Jiaji of L-L(EX-B 2),and TDP was applied. All the treatment was given once a day for four weeks. The changes of pain scores were compared after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pain scores decreased obviously after treatment in all the groups(all<0.05). The scores of the combination group and the needle-in-row group declined more apparently than that of the acupuncture group(both<0.05). The score of the combination group reduced more obviously than that of the needle-in-low group(<0.05). The markedly effective rates of the combination group and the needle-in-row group were 88.6%(31/35) and 68.6%(24/35),which were higher than 40.0%(14/35) of the acupuncture group(both<0.05),and the markedly effective rate of the combination group was better than that of the needle-in-row group(<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Need-in-row combined with herb-partition moxibustion show definite effect for superior gluteal nerve entrapment syndrome,and it is better than those of simple needle-in-row therapy and conventional acupuncture.</p>