Du-moxibustion ameliorates depression-like behavior and neuroinflammation in chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced mice.

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation is involved in the advancement of depression. Du-moxibustion can treat depression. Here, we explored whether Du-moxibustion could alleviate neuroglia-associated neuro-inflammatory process in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were distributed into five groups. Except for the CON group, other four groups underwent CUMS for four consecutive weeks, and Du-moxibustion was given simultaneously after modeling. Behavioral tests were then carried out. Additionally, Western blot was conducted to measure the relative expression levels of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Immunofluorescence was employed to evaluate the positive cells of ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Furthermore, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed using an ELISA assay. RESULTS: We found that CUMS induced depression-like behaviors, such as reduced sucrose preference ratio, decreased locomotor and exploratory activity, decreased the time in open arms and prolonged immobility. Furthermore, versus the CON group, the expression of HMGB1, TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, positive cells of Iba-1, IL-1ß and TNF-α were increased but positive cells of GFAP were decreased in CUMS group. However, the detrimental effects were ameliorated by treatment with CUMS+FLU and CUMS+DM. LIMITATIONS: A shortage of this study is that only CUMS model of depression were used, while other depression model were not included. CONCLUSIONS: Du-moxibustion alleviates depression-like behaviors in CUMS mice mainly by reducing neuroinflammation, which offers novel insights into the potential treatment of depression.

Effect and safety management of different thickness ginger mud moxibustion on ankylosing spondylitis with kidney yang deficiency / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To observe the curative effect and temperature safety management of ginger mud moxibustion of different thickness on ankylosing spondylitis patients with kidney yang deficiency type, and to explore the best curative effect combination and safety combination of ginger mud thickness in Du Meridian moxibustion.Methods:From March 2020 to March 2021, 90 patients with ankylosing spondylitis of kidney yang deficiency type who were treated with Du moxibustion in the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were selected. According to the thickness of ginger paste, they were randomly divided into 2 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group, 3 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group and 4 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group when the diameter and height of moxa wool were the same as 2 cm, 30 cases in each group. They were treated with Fu Yang Du moxibustion once a week for 60 minutes each time. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score were used to evaluate the curative effect of spinal function before and after the intervention for 6 weeks. The time when moxibustion temperature reached 43 ℃ and moxibustion temperature maintained at 43-45 ℃ were analyzed for safety evaluation.Results:After moxibustion, VAS scores of 2 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group, 3 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group and 4 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group were 2.89 ± 0.96, 2.01 ± 0.69, 2.93 ± 1.23, BASDAI scores were 3.51 ± 0.94, 2.69 ± 0.68, 3.13 ± 0.96 and BASFI scores were 1.71 ± 0.99, 0.99 ± 0.36, 1.61 ± 0.50, the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores were 15.97 ± 4.61, 12.08 ± 3.21, 13.79 ± 3.58. The scores of the three groups were statistically significant ( F values were 6.51-19.22, all P<0.05) . After the intervention, there were significant differences in the scores between 2 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group and 3 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group, 2 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group and 4 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group, 3 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group and 4 cm-thick ginger mud thickness group ( t values were -6.61-4.56, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Du moxibustion is an effective method to treat ankylosing spondylitis of kidney yang deficiency type. The best curative effect and safety combination is moxa velvet diameter height 2 cm, ginger mud thickness 3 cm.

Effect of Du-moxibustion on Cognitive Impairment after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To observe the effect of Du-moxibustion on cognitive impairment after stroke. Methods 60 patients with cogni-tive impairment after stroke were randomly divided into control group (n=30) and treatment group (n=30). They were treated with conven-tional medical treatment and rehabilitation training, the treatment group received Du-moxibustion treatment in addition with once a day, 6 days per week for 8 weeks. They were evaluated with modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) before and after treatment. Results The scores of MBI and MoCA increased after treatment (P<0.05) in both groups and the scores were higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Du-moxibustion can further improve the cognitive function and activi-ties of daily living in stroke patients.

Clinical study on Du moxibustion for stable phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To investigate the Du moxibustion therapy in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,COPD)at stable phase.Methods 60 cases of lung COPD patients in stable stage who received treatment from January to December 2010 in Taihe Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine outpatient were randomly divided into two groups in,according to the case of tail number,with 30 patients in each.The control group was taken oral doxofylline tablets,0.2 g/time,2 time/d and ambroxol hydrochloride,30 mg/time,3 time/d.The treatment group was treated with Du moxibustion two times on the basis of the control group.One year follow-up and pulmonary function and BODE index assessment were performed in each group.Results ① the pulmonary function of the treatment group after the treatment (65.58±7.90) ％ was significantly improved than the same group before the treatment (53.20± 7.37) ％ (P＜0.05),and had significant difference compared with the control group after the treatment (57.53 ± 7.22)％ (P＜0.05).The recurrence rate was significantly different in the treatment group (1.79±0.32) and the control group (2.09±0.38) (P＜0.05).② BMI,MMRC,6MWD,BODE index,shortness of breath,wheezing,anorexia was significantly improved after the treatment in the treatment group [after treatment were (21.98 ± 1.32)kg/m2,(2.09±0.37)％,(350.68±88.70),(3.82±2.18) meters,(0.38±0.27),(0.32±0.25)％,(0.35±0.27) respectively; before treatment were (18.21±2.49)kg/m2,(2.50±0.43)％,(324.88±70.92),(4.66±1.40) meters,(1.49±0.62) ％,(1.42±0.56)％,(1.77±0.35),P＜0.01 respecitively].Compared with the control treatment after the treatment [(18.20 ± 1.79) kg/m2,(2.36 ± 0.64) ％,(320.03 ± 68.53),(4.43 ±1.62) meters,(1.22± 0.71),(1.28±0.67)％,(1.73±0.24) respectively] (P＞0.01),the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion Du moxibustion therapy was effective in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in stable phase.