[Moxibustion therapy in prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): construction and application of non-contact diagnosis and treatment mode].

OBJECTIVE: To establish and promote the non-contact doctor-patient interactive diagnosis and treatment mode based on mobile internet for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with moxibustion therapy, and to observe the feasibility and effectiveness of the model in the pandemic. METHODS: A total of 43 first-line medical staff and 149 suspected and confirmed cases with COVID-19 [18 cases in medical observation period, 17 cases of mild type (cold dampness and stagnation in the lung), 24 cases of ordinary type (cold-dampness accumulated in the lung) and 90 cases in recovery period (qi deficiency of spleen and lung)] were included. A non-contact doctor-patient interactive diagnosis and treatment platform was established for the treatment of COVID-19 with indirect moxibustion plaster based on mobile internet. By the platform, the patients were instructed to use indirect moxibustion plaster in treatment. For the first-line medical staff and patients in the medical observation period, Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6) and Zhongwan (CV 12) were selected. For the mild cases (cold dampness and stagnation in the lung) and the cases of ordinary type (cold-dampness accumulated in the lung), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected. In the recovery period (qi deficiency of spleen and lung), Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Zusanli (ST 36) and Kongzui (LU 6) were used. The treatment was given once daily for 40 min each time. The intervention lasted for 10 days. After intervention, the infection rate and the improvement in the symptoms and psychological status of COVID-19 were observed in clinical first-line medical staff and COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: In 10 days of intervention with indirect moxibustion plaster, there was "zero" infection among medical staff. Of 43 first-line physicians and nurses, 33 cases had some physical symptoms and psychological discomforts, mainly as low back pain, poor sleep and anxiety. After treatment, regarding the improvements in the symptoms and psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 78.8% (26/33) and the curative rate was 36.4% (12/33). Regarding the improvements in psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 58.3% (14/24) and the curative rate was 37.5 (9/24). Of 149 patients, 133 cases had the symptoms and psychological discomforts. After treatment, regarding the improvements in the symptoms and psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 81.2% (108/133) and the curative rate was 34.6% (46/133). Regarding the improvements in psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 76.5% (52/68) and the curative rate was 57.4 % (39/68). CONCLUSION: It is feasible to apply the indirect moxibustion plaster technique based on mobile internet to the treatment COVID-19. This mode not only relieves the symptoms such as cough and fatigue, improves psychological state, but also possibly prevents the first-line medical staff from COVID-19.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on spleen lymphocyte apoptosis-related gene expression in aging rats with yang deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Guanyuan" (GV 4)-"Housanli" (ST 36)-"Baihui" (GV 20,"Shuanggu Yitong" acupoint prescription) on the expression of splenic lymphocyte apoptosis-related genes Fas, Bax, and Bcl-2 in aging rats with yang defiency. METHODS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley aged female rats were randomly and e-ic qually divided into normal control, yang deficiency model (model) and EA groups. The yang deficiency model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (125 mg/kg) and hydrocortisone(1.5 mg/100 g). EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to "Guanyuan"(GV 4), "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Baihui" (GV 20) for 15 min, once daily, 6 times per week for 4 weeks. The expression of pro-apoptotic genes Fas, Bax and anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-2 in the spleen tissues were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal control group, splenic Fas mRNA and Bax mRNA expression levels were upregulated significantly, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression level was down-regulated considerably in the model group (P < 0. 01). After EA intervention, splenic Fas mRNA and Bax mRNA expression levels were down-regulated markedly, while Bcl-2 mRNA expression up-regulated remarkably in the EA group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: EA of acupoint prescription ["Guanyuan" (GV 4), "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Baihui" (GV 20)] can down-regulate spleen Fas mRNA and Bax mRNA expression, and up-regulate Bcl-2 mRNA expression in aging rats with yang deficiency, which may contribute to its effect in improving yang deficiency in clinic.

[Regulating effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture with shuanggu yitong prescription methods on immunosenescence in aging rats with yang deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the improvement effect and the regulating mechanism of electroacupuncture with "Shuanggu Yitong" prescription methods on learning memory and immunosenescence in aging rats with yang deficiency. METHODS: Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats, 5-month-old, were randomly divided into a normal control (NC) group, an aging yang deficiency model (M) group, an electroacupuncture with Shuanggu Yitong prescription methods (EA) group and an electroacupuncture control (EAC) group, 10 rats in each group. The aging model rats with yang deficiency were established by hypodermic injection of D-galactose for 40 days and then intramuscular injection of Hydrocortisone for 7 days in the latter three groups except the NC group The EA group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Baihui" (GV 20), and the EAC group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Zhongji" (CV 3), "Yinlingquan" (SP 9) and "Yintang" (EX-HN 3), six times per week for 4 weeks. The escape latency was examined by Morris water maze from the first day of the 4th week. After completion of electroacupuncture treatment, the rate of spleen lymphocyte apoptosis and the serum content of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) were examined by flow cytometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique respectively, the differences among all the groups above were compared. RESULTS: In comparison with the NC group, the escape latency [(25.4 +/- 3. 6)s vs. (16.23 +/- 2.3)s], the rate of spleen lymphocyte apoptosis [(27.25 +/- 3.3)% vs. (13.2 +/- 3.1)%] and the serum content of TNF-alpha [(15.54 +/- 3.56) pg/mL vs (7.35 +/- 2.89) pg/mL] in the M group those were all significantly increased (all P < 0.01). In the EA group, the escape latency of (17.42 +/- 3.9)s, the rate of spleen lymphocyte apoptosis of (17.2 +/- 3.25)% and the serum content of TNF-alpha of (9.51 +/- 3.53) pg/mL were all significantly lower than those in the M group (all P < 0.01) and the EAC group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture with "Shuanggu Yitong" prescription can significantly improve the spatial learning and memory. The protective mechanism is related with the action of electroacupuncture in lowering the rate of spleen lymphocyte apoptosis and the serum content of TNF-alpha, and the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Baihui" (GV 20) is superior to that of electroacupuncture at "Zhongji" (CV 3), "Yinlingquan" (SP 9) and "Yintang" (EX-HN 3).

[Determination of galanthamine in bulb of Lycoris radiata by RP-HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for determination of galanthamine in Lycoris radiata. METHOD: HPLC separation was carried on a column of ODS (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm), with the mobile phase of phosphate buffer (pH = 3-4)-methanol (93:7) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), and the detection wavelength was set at 289 nm. RESULT: Galanthamine revealed linearity within the range of 3-30 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9997), the detection limit was 0.3 ng. The average recovery was 99.5% (RSD = 0.5%). CONCLUSION: The method is easy to operate and the results of the determination are accurate, it can be used to evaluate the quality of L. radiata.