Mild moxibustion at different intervention times on the levels of ET-1 and NO in the uterine tissues of rats with cold-damp coagulation and stagnation type dysmenorrhea

Objective： To observe the differences in analgesic effect of moxibustion at different intervention times on dysmenorrhea rats and explore its effect mechanism.Methods： Forty-five female Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank control group（group A）, model group（group B）, pre-moxibustion group（group C）, instant moxibustion group（group D） and pre-instant moxibustion group（group E）,with 9 rats in each group. Cold-damp coagulation and stagnation type dysmenorrhea models were established. In group C,mild moxibustion on ＂Shenque（神阙 CV 8） ＂ and＂Guanyuan（关元 CV 4）＂ was carried out from the time after modeling on the 8 th day for 3 consecutive days. In group D, mild moxibustion was given as the same methods with group C after injection with oxytocin on the 11 th day. In group E, mild moxibustion was given as the same methods from the time after modeling on the 8 th day to that after injection with oxytocin on the 11 th day for 4 consecutive days. The writhing behavior and the changes in levels of ET-1 and NO in uterine tissues of rats with dysmenorrhea in each group were observed.Results： Comparison of the latent period： compared with（4.38 ± 1.06） min in group B,the latent period of rats in group C（9.67 ± 1.32） min,group D（11.78 ± 1.30） min and group E（15.00 ± 1.22） min obviously prolonged（all p 0.01）. Compared with group C, the latent period of group E obviously prolonged（p 0.01）. Compared with group D, the latent period of group E obviously prolonged（p 0.01）.Comparison of the writhing times： compared with（4.38 ± 1.06） in group B,the writhing times of rats in group C（9.67 ± 1.32）,group D（11.78 ± 1.30） and group E（15.00 ± 1.22） reduced（all p 0.01）. Compared with group C,the writhing times of rats in group D and group E reduced（both p 0.01）. Compared with group D, the writhing times in group E reduced（p 0.05）. Comparison of the total writhing score：compared with（4.38 ± 1.06） in group B,the total writhing score of rats in group C（9.67±1.32）,group D（11.78 ± 1.30） and group E（15.00 ± 1.22） decreased（all p 0.01）. Compared with group C,the total writhing score of rats in group D and group E decreased（both p 0.01）. Compared with group D,the total writhing score of rats in group E decreased（p 0.05）. Comparison of ET-1 level： compared with（4.80 ± 0.47） in group A,the ET-1 level in uterine tissues of rats in group B（7.57±0.69） significantly increased（P 0.01）. Compared with group B, the ET-1 level in uterine tissues of rats in group C（6.20 ±0.50）,group D（5.67 ±0.29） and group E（5.16±0.33） obviously decreased（all p 0.01）. Compared with group C, the ET-1 level in uterine tissues of rats in group D and group E obviously decreased（p 0.05, p 0.01）. Compared with group D, the ET-1 level in uterine tissues of rats in group Eobviously decreased（p 0.05）. Comparison of NO level： compared with（6.63±1.83） in group A, the NO level in uterine tissues of rats in group B（1.62 ±0.58） significantly decreased（p 0.01）. Compared with group B, the NO level in uterine tissues of rats in group C（3.60±0.59）,group D（4.77 ±0.67） and group E（5.99±0.63） obviously increased（all p 0.01）. Compared with group C,the NO level in uterine tissues of rats in group Dand group E obviously increased（p 0.05, p 0.01）. Compared with group D, the NO level in uterine tissues of rats in group E obviously increased（p 0.01）.Conclusion： The analgesic effect of mild moxibustion at different intervention times on cold-damp coagulation and stagnation type dysmenorrhea rats was different, which was the most significant in pre-instant moxibustion group. One of the mechanisms of action may be related with the adjustment of abnormal levels of ET-1 and NO.

Difference in the anti-fatigue effect of moxibustion at different acupoints in one-off exhausted rats

Objective:To explore the difference in the anti-fatigue effect of moxibustion at different acupoints through observing the impacts of moxibustion at"Shènshù(肾俞BL23)","Zúsānlǐ(足三里ST36)","Guānyuán(关元CV4)"and"Shénquè(神阙CV8)"on energy metabolic indexes in the one-off exhausted rats.Methods:A total of 56 SPF male rats were randomized into 7 groups,named a blank group,a model group,a non-acupoint group,a"BL23"group,a"ST36"group,a"CV4"group and a"CV8"group,8 rats in each group.The one-off exhaustion model was established by weight-bearing swimming experiment.Right after the exhaustive swimming of rats in each intervention group,the mild moxibustion was applied at the corresponding acupoints for 15 min immediately.4 h after the exhaustive swimming,the blood was collected from the femoral artery and the quadriceps femoris of the left hindlimb was stripped.The levels of blood lactate(BLD),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),creatine kinase(CK)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN),the expressions of adenosine triphosphatease(ATP),fructose-6-phosphofructokinase(PFK)and malomdialdehyde(MDA)in the quadriceps femoris and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)were detected.Results:Compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group,the levels of serum BLD,LDH,CK and BUN were all lower those in the"BL23"group,the"ST36"group,the"CV4"group and the"CV8"group,indicating a statistical significance(all P<0.05).Compared with the model group and the nonacupoint group,PFK was higher in the"BL23"group,indicating a statistical significance(both P<0.05).Compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group,PFK was higher in the"ST36"group and the"CV4"group,indicating a statistical significance(all P<0.05).Conclusion:It was found in the research that moxibustion at"BL23""ST36""CV4"and"CV8"regulated the energy metabolism in the one-off exhausted rats so as to bring the anti-fatigue effect into play and the effect was different among the acupoints.Moxibustion at"CV8"may work on the prevention of the protein decomposition in the skeletal muscle and moxibustion at"BL23"may be against the oxidation in the skeletal muscle.

Thoughts on the effects of moxa smoke in the epidemic prevention

Through summarizing and analyzing the modern mechanism researches and controversial questions of moxibustion fumigation in the epidemic prevention,the thoughts on tackling the critical points are proposed in the paper,such as the recognition of moxa smoke in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),the mechanism of moxa smoke in air disinfection and the characteristics of clinical application of moxa smoke so as to provide the references to the prevention and control of COVID-19 in TCM.

Effect of Moxibustion on Cardiac Remodeling and Myocardial Function in Rats with Exercise-Induced Fatigue

Objective:To explore the effect of moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)on myocardial structure and function in rats with exercise-induced fatigue.Methods:A 12-week treadmill training program was used to establish a rat model of exercise-induced fatigue.Fifty-six male SD rats removed six rats that did not reach the molding condition,Remaining rats were randomly divided into the following five groups:a normal group(n=10)that did not under go the exercise routine and were not treated,a control group(n=10)that did not under go the exercise routine,but received a mild dose of moxibustion at"Shenque"(CV 8)for 15 min,an untreated group(n=10)that received no treatment after exercise,a CV 8 group(n=10)that received a mild dose of moxibustion at"Shenque"(CV 8)for 15 min after exercise,a non-acupoint(tail)group(n=10)that received a mild dose of moxibustion at"non-acupoint"for 15 min after exercise.At one hour after the end of the 12-week training program,the left ventricular diastolic volume(LVDV),left ventricular systolic volume(LVSV),peak early diastolic mitral blood flow velocity(E),and peak late diastolic mitral blood flow velocity(A)were measured,and the E/A ratio were calculated.The serum myoglobin(Mb),creatine kinase-muscle/brain(CK-MB),and cardiac troponin-I(cTnI)levels were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer.Results:When the values obtained before and after treatment were compared within the same groups,the LVDV,LVSV,E,and A were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the E/A were decreased(P<0.01)in the untreated group and the tail group.Regarding inter-group comparisons,the LVDV,LVSV,E,and A were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the E/A were decreased(P<0.01)in the untreated group and the tail group compared to the normal group and control group.Compared to the untreated group and the tail group,the LVDV,LVSV,E,and A were decreased(P<0.01)and the E/A were increased(P<0.01)in the CV 8 group.Compared to the normal group and the control group,the serum Mb,CK-MB,and cTnI levels were increased(P<0.01)in the untreated group and the tail group,and the serum Mb and CK-MB levels were also increased(P<0.01)in the CV 8 group.Compared to the untreated group and the tail group the serum Mb,CK-MB,and cTnI levels in the CV 8 group were decreased(P<0.01).Conclusions:Moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)can effectively prevent cardiac structural changes caused by exercise-induced fatigue and enhance heart function.This treatment does not have side effects in healthy rats and is a safe and effective technique..