Effect of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion on MMP-3, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 in rats with knee osteoarthritis

Objective： To observe the effect of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-3 （MMP-3）, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 （TIMP-1） and transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） in cartilage of knee osteoarthritis （KOA） rats, and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion in the treatment of KOA. Methods： Thirty Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group and an acupuncture-moxibustion group by random digits table, 10 rats in each group. Rats in the model group and the acupuncture-moxibustion group were injected with papain in the right posterior knee joint to prepare the models. The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in rat synovium of each group were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELBA） after 2 weeks of treatment. The level of TGF-β1 was determined by Motic B5 Micro-camera system. Results： The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the cartilage of the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group （all P〈0.01）; the levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than those in the model group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were higher than those in the blank control group, and the differences were statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. The level of TGF-β1 in cartilage tissues of the model group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group （P〈0.01）; the level of TGF-β1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was higher than that in the model group （P〈0.05）, but it was lower than that in the blank control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion can effectively recover the abnormal expressions of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in KOA model rats and somewhat up-regulate TGF-β1, which may be one of its mechanisms of acupuncture plus thunder-fire for KOA.

Observation on therapeutic efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion for hypomenorrhea after induced abortion

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion for hypomenorrhea after induced abortion.Methods:A total of 74 patients with hypomenorrhea after induced abortion were randomized into two groups,with 37 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional hormone sequential therapy,and the observation group was treated with thunder-fire moxibustion.The course of treatment was 3 menstrual cycles.The traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptom scores,menstrual volume,endometrial thickness and the sex hormone levels were observed before and after treatment.The clinical efficacy was compared after treatment.Results:The total effective rate in the observation group and the control group was 91.4%and 73.5%,respectively,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the TCM symptom scores in both groups decreased significantly(all P<0.05),and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The menstrual volume,endometrial thickness and each sex hormone level of the patients in both groups were significantly improved after treatment(all P<0.05),and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Thunder-fire moxibustion can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients with hypomenorrhea after induced abortion;it can increase menstrual volume and endometrial thickness,and regulate the sex hormone levels,producing a better curative effect than the conventional hormone sequential therapy.

中药配合雷火灸治疗寒湿凝滞型慢性盆腔炎40例

目的观察中药配合雷火灸治疗寒湿凝滞型慢性盆腔炎患者的疗效。方法将80例寒湿凝滞型慢性盆腔炎患者随机分为2组,对照组给予雷火灸治疗,治疗组在对照组治疗方案基础上配合消炎汤治疗。4周为1个周期,治疗后比较2组的疗效。结果治疗组患者痊愈率、总有效率分别为42.50%、87.50%,明显高于对照组患者30.00%、72.50%(P<0.05)。结论消炎汤配合雷火灸对寒湿凝滞型慢性盆腔炎患者疗效确切。

异病同治思想在雷火灸治疗妇科疾病中的应用

评价和探讨"异病同治"思想在雷火灸治疗妇科疾病中的应用价值。异病同治思想是中医学的重要概念,历史悠久,临床应用广泛。原发性痛经、慢性盆腔炎、多囊卵巢综合征、不孕症等常见妇科疾病的发病机理及治疗等方面的共性明显,其中医辨证往往与"寒、虚、瘀"有关,异病同证同治采用雷火灸温经散寒、活血化瘀、补益气血外治干预,疗效较为明显。

Clinical Research of Moxibustion Therapy on Gastralgia Due to Deficiency and Cold

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of moxibustion on gastralgia of deficiency cold type. Methods： Sixty patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The 30 patients in the treatment group were treated with Zhao＇s thunder-fire moxibustion while the other 30 patients in the control group were treated with oral medicine. Results： After one course of treatment, the total effective rate of treatment group was notably higher than that of the control group, showing statistical significance （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The total effective rate of thunder-fire moxibustion on gastralgia of deficiency cold type was better than that of the traditional Chinese medicine in relieving epigastralgia.

Comparison of efficacy of treating obese patients with endocrine-metabolic abnormity by electroacupuncture of different types of wave modes

Objective To compare the efficacy of treating obese patients with abnormity of lipids and serum leptin by dilatational wave or continuous wave of electroacupuncture combined with thunder-fire moxibustion in order to provide a clinical basis for selecting wave types of electroacupuncture for different patterns of obesity. Methods Sixty obese patients with abnormal lipids and serum leptin were randomly divided into a dilatational wave group and a continuous wave group via random number table, with 30 cases in each group. They were divided by TCM differentiation into three types： stomachintestine excessive heat, weakness of the spleen-stomach and spleen-kidney yang deficiency, treated by electroacupuncture on Tianshu （天枢 ST 25）, Daheng （大横 SP 15）, Zusanli （足三里ST 36）, Shangjuxu （上巨虚 ST 37）, Fanglong （丰隆 ST 40）, Yinlingquan （阴陵泉 SP 9）, Quchi （曲池 LI 11）, Zhigou （支沟 TE 6） and Hegu （合谷 LI 4） along with thunder-fire moxibustion. The frequency of electro-acupuncture in the dilatational wave group and the continuous wave group was 2 Hz/100 Hz and 2 Hz, respectively. Patients in the two groups were treated once a day, six times a week. The treatment lasted for 4 weeks with 3-month follow-up. Body mass and body fat percentage before and after the treatment, as well as during the follow-up, were compared. The effectiveness rates in the two groups were compared, and the efficacy statistics of patients with different TCM patterns in the dilatational wave group were also analyzed. Lipid levels of the patients in two groups before and after the treatment were measured with an automatic biochemical analyzer, and serum leptin levels were detected with flow cytometry system. Results After the treatment, the patients＇ blood lipids, serum leptin levels, body mass and body fat percentage were effectively reduced in the two groups; three months＇ follow-up witnessed continuous decline of obesity indicators （P〈0.01 or P〈0.05）, and patients in the dilatat-ional wave group improved more significantly than those in continuous wave group （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. The efficacy in the dilatational wave group was superior to that in the continuous wave group （P〈0.01）. The best efficacy could be found among patients with weakness of the spleen and the stomach in the dilatational wave group. Conclusion Efficacy of treating obese patients with abnormity of lipids and serum leptin by electro-acupuncture combined with thunder-fire moxibustion in the dilatational wave group was significantly better than that of the continuous wave group, and efficacy for obese patients with weakness of the spleen and the stomach was superior to that of those with stomach-intestine excessive heat and spleen-kidney yang deficiency.