Spleen-kidney supplementing formula alleviates insulin resistance via regulating AKT/glycogen synthase kinase 3β pathway in rats with type 2 diabetic induced by high-fat diet

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism underpinning the action by investigating its effect on glycogen content and AKT(also known as protein kinase B)/glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK-3β) pathway in the liver of rats with type 2 diabetic induced by high-fat diet.METHODS: The rat model of type 2 diabetes was induced by high-fat diet and multiple low-dose streptozotocin injection. Diabetic rats were divided into five groups: the model control group, the Metformin group, spleen-kidney supplementing formula groups of low, medium and high doses. Fasting blood glucose(FBG) levels were measured before treatment and every two weeks during treatment.After the treatment, oral glucose tolerance test was performed, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and C-peptide were measured to assess the formula's effect on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. The protein expression levels of AKT, GSK-3βand their phosphorylated forms in the liver were also measured to study the formula's role in insulin signaling pathway.RESULTS: Spleen-kidney supplementing formula significantly relieved the symptoms of polydipsia,polyuria and weight loss in type 2 diabetic rats, reduced FBG and HbA1c levels, increased glycogen content, and improved insulin sensitivity. The anti-diabetic effects of spleen-kidney supplementing formula are dose dependent. It also increased the total AKT protein level and the GSK-3β phosphorylation in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats.CONCLUSION: Spleen-kidney supplementing formula has hypoglycemic effect and relieves insulin resistance by enhancing AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats.

Observation on Clinical Effects of Tuina plus Hot Compress for Infantile Diarrhea Due to Spleen-kidney Yang Deficiency

Objective： To observe the clinical effects of tuina plus hot compress for nfantile diarrhea clue to spleen-kidney yang deficiency. Methods： One hundred cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 50 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with tuina plus hot compress. The control group was treated with oral administration of Live Combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus powder （Bifico）. The clinical effects were observed after 5-day intervention. Results： The total effective rate was 94.0% in the treatment group and was 66.0% in the control group. The difference in the total effective rate between the two groups was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. The clinical effect was better in the treatment group than that in the control group. Conclusion： Tuina plus hot compress for infantile diarrhea due to spleen-kidney yang deficiency can produce a better clinical effect than oral administration of Bifico.

Moxibustion plus acupuncture improves the efficacy and quality of life of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion combined with acupuncture on the efficacy and quality of life of spleen-kidney-yang-deficiency patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Materials and Methods:A total of 90 patients with PCOS of spleen-kidney yang deficiency type from January 2020 to March 2021 were selected and randomly divided into three groups,30 patients each in the moxibustion group,acupuncture group,and moxibustion combined with acupuncture group(combined group).The changes of body mass index(BMI),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR),fasting insulin(FINS),fasting plasma glucose(FPG),homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),testosterone(T),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)clinical symptom score,efficacy,and quality of life score in the three groups were observed before and 3 months after treatment.Results:After treatment,(1)compared with the moxibustion and acupuncture groups,the combined group was more effective in reducing BMI(F=5.274,P<0.05)and WHR(F=8.246,P<0.05)in PCOS patients;(2)FINS,FPG,and HOMA-IR were reduced in all three groups,and the reduction in these three indicators was more pronounced in combined group(FINS:F=5.637,P<0.05,FPG:F=4.915,P<0.05,HOMA-IR:F=3.817,P<0.05);(3)The FSH,LH,and T levels of patients in the combined group were better than those in the remaining two groups(FSH:F=4,163,P<0.05,LH:F=5.098,P<0.05,T:F=7.038,P<0.05);(4)The TG and TC of patients in the combined group were lower than those in the remaining two groups(TG:F=4.806,P<0.05,TC:F=3.828,P<0.05);(5)The TCM clinical symptom score of the combined group was significantly lower than those of the moxibustion and acupuncture groups(F=4.547,P<0.05);(6)The quality of life of patients in the combined group improved more significantly than the moxibustion and acupuncture groups(F=6.239,P<0.05);(7)The total effective rate of the combined group was higher than that of the moxibustion and acupuncture groups(χ2=6.947,P=0.031).Conclusion:The combination of moxibustion and acupuncture can effectively reduce the BMI and WHR of PCOS patients,improve the endocrine function,sex hormone level,TCM symptoms and quality of life of patients,and has significant efficacy and high safety,which is worthy of wide clinical application.

Observation on effects of moxibustion at abdominal acupoints for slow transit constipation due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney

Objective： To observe the clinical effects of moxibustion at abdominal acupoints for slow transit constipation（STC） due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney. Methods： A total of 52 cases with slow transit constipation in conformity with the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into a control group and an observation group according to their visit order and random digital table, 26 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received routine nursing guide. Besides the same routine nursing guide, patients in the observation group received moxibustion at the abdominal acupoints, once every day. The course of the treatment was 4 weeks in the two groups, and the 3-month follow-up was given after the course was finished, for comparing the clinical symptoms, results of colon transit tests, scores of depression/anxiety scale and nursing satisfaction. Results： The total effective rate was 92.3% in the observation group and 69.2% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups. After the treatment and during the follow-up checks, the scores of Chinese medical symptoms in the two groups were remarkably decreased than those before the treatment（all P〈0.01）; the scores of the observation group were obviously lower than those in the control group（all P〈0.01）. The discharge rates of the markers in the two groups were remarkably increased than those at the same time period before the treatment; moreover, the discharge rates of the markers at various time periods were remarkably better in the observation group than those in the control group（P〈0.01）. SDS and SAS scores were remarkably decreased after the treatment in the two groups（P〈0.01）. In comparison of SDS score between the two groups after the treatment, the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）. In comparison of SAS score between the two groups after the treatment, the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.05）. The nursing satisfaction was 96.2% in the observation group after the treatment, obviously better than that in the control group（73.1%）. The recurrence rate was 8.3% in the observation group, remarkably lower than that in the control group（33.3%）. Conclusion： Moxibustion at the abdominal acupoints plus routine nursing can remarkably improve the colon transit functions and anxious and depressive emotion in patients with STC, and the therapeutic effects are remarkable. Not only the clinical satisfaction is higher, but the recurrence rate is obviously lower than that of routine nursing.