Therapeutic efficacy observation on moxibustion with moxa of different storage years for moderate-to-severe primary knee osteoarthritis / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: By observing the differences in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores in moxibustion treatment for moderate-to-severe primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with moxa of different storage years (3-year moxa and 1-year moxa from Qichun, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, China) through a randomized clinical trial, to objectively evaluate the differences in therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion with moxa of different storage years. Methods: A total of 63 patients with moderate-to-severe KOA who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into moxibustion group 1 and moxibustion group 2 by central randomization method, with 32 cases in moxibustion group 1 and 31 cases in moxibustion group 2. Moxibustion group 1 was treated with moxa stored for 3 years, and moxibustion group 2 was treated with moxa stored for 1 year. Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) and Heding (EX-LE 2) were selected in both groups, and the treatment lasted 20 min per time, 3 times a week. The immediate efficacy was compared after 6 times of treatment, and long-term efficacy was compared at follow-up 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: During the treatment, there were 2 dropouts in moxibustion group 1, and 1 dropout in moxibustion group 2. The total effective rate in the two groups was 83.3％ and 60.0％, respectively. Followed up at 4 weeks after the end of treatment, the total effective rate in the two groups was 80.0％ and 66.7％, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the two groups (both P>0.05). After treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment, the WOMAC and VAS scores in both groups decreased significantly compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01); the scores of stiffness item of WOMAC in moxibustion group 1 were lower than those in moxibustion group 2 (both P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the scores of pain item and dysfunction item of WOMAC, and VAS scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion with moxa of different storage years (stored for 3 years and 1 year) both can improve the pain, stiffness and motor function in patients with moderate-to-severe KOA. While moxa stored for 3 years has a better therapeutic efficacy in improving stiffness of the knee joint than that stored for 1 year.

Effect of aconite cake-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Mingmen (GV 4) on thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects on thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis treated with aconite cake-separated moxibustion and option the better therapeutic program.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-five cases were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (42 cases) and a western medication group (43 cases). The moxibustion group was treated by aconite cake-separated moxibustion therapy with acupoints of two groups [(1) Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4); (2) Dazhui (GV 14), Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4)] alternatively and oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. The western medication group was oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. Indices of thyroid function before and after treatment and clinical effect were compared between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical total effective rate and effective rate of thyroid function were 25.0% (10/40), 87.5% (35/40) in moxibustion group respectively, 7.53% (3/40) and 57.5% (23/40) in western medication group, with significant differences between two groups (both P < 0.05). Content of serum free thyroxine index (FT4) increased significantly in the moxibustion group after treatment (P < 0.01); content of serum supersensitive thyrotropin (S-TSH) in the moxibustion group was lower than that of western medication group, and contents of serum FT4 and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were higher than those of western medication group, but with no significant differences (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Aconite cake-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Mingmen (GV 4) combined with oral administration of Euthyrox can improve clinical symptoms and thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is better than simple oral administration of Euthyrox.</p>

Therapeutic effect and side effect of treatment on hyperthyroid exophthalmos with the combination of acupuncture and medication / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effect and side effect of the treatments on hyperthyroid exophthalmos with the combination of acupuncture and medication and with medication only.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-two cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture and medication group (27 cases) and a medication group (25 cases). Acupuncture in combination of oral taking of Thiamazole and Euthyrox were adopted for the acupuncture and medication group. And acupoints such as Jingming (BL 1), Chengqi (ST 1) and Sizhukong (TE 23) etc. were selected. Western medication for oral taking was applied as the only treatment for the medication group. Objective eye syndrome marks, side effects and accidents were compared between two groups before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The improvement of the objective marks of eye syndrome in the acupuncture and medication group was better than that in the medication group (P < 0.01). There were 4 cases with hypoleucocytosis, 3 cases with rash and 3 cases with aggravated symptom of exophthalmos in the medication group during the treatment, while no case with side effects was observed in the acupuncture and medication group. However, 8 cases were found with hemorrhage and 8 with hematoma in the acupuncture and medication group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment with the combination of acupuncture and medication may not only enhance the therapeutic effect, but also reduce the side effects.</p>

Experimental study on influence of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells in rats of ulcerative colitis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in adjusting apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells of the rat of ulcerative colitis (UC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>UC rats were randomly divided into four groups including normal control group (NC), model control group (MC), herbs-partitioned moxibustion group (HPM) and electroacupuncture group (EA). The HPM and EA groups were respectively treated with herbs-partitioned moxibustion and electroacupuncture at "Qihai" (CV 6) and bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25). Then the colon of the rat was taken and the changes of the tissue structure and the cell apoptosis were observed by electron microscope and flow cytometer respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The colon tissue showed histopathological changes, and apoptosis of epithelial cells increased in the model mice of UC as compared with the normal rat. Electroacupuncture and drug-separated moxibustion could significantly decrease the abnormal apoptosis of epithelial cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The adjustment of the abnormal apoptosis of epithelial cells is one of the mechanisms of drug-separated moxibustion and electroacupuncture treating UC.</p>

Replacement of artificial tracheal prosthesis by two-stage procedure with memory-alloy mesh / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To design an artificial trachea which can totally heal with the native trachea.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using memory-alloy mesh as the skeleton to construct an artificial trachea by two-stage operation. After 2-year animal experiment we successfully performed the operation in a patient with recurrent carcinoid of the trachea, radically resected the tumor and primarily reconstructed the trachea.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The inner side of this "sandwich" artificial tracheal prosthesis was coated with skin and outside the memory-alloy mesh was muscle and vessel pedicle with good blood supply. The upper and lower anastomosis completely healed with recipient's trachea with a full recovery of trachea. Six-month follow-up showed that the patients resumed their normal life.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The artificial trachea completely healed with the native trachea and became a part of the human trachea. The inner side of artificial trachea is coated with intact native skin tissue with ample blood supply, totally alive without rejection. Therefore, the pedicled artificial tracheal prosthesis is an real artificial trachea.</p>