Application of mixture analysis methods in association between metals mixture exposure and DNA oxidative damage / 中华预防医学杂志

Objectives: To study the association between metals mixture exposure and DNA oxidative damage using mixture analysis methods, and to explore the most significant exposure factors that cause DNA oxidative damage. Methods: Workers from steel enterprises were recruited in Shandong Province. Urinary metals were measured by using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. The level of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was determined by using the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), elastic net regression and quantile g-computation regression were used to analyze the association between urinary metals and urinary 8-OHdG. Results: A total of 768 subjects aged (36.15±7.40) years old were included in the study. BKMR, elastic net regression and quantile g-computation all revealed an overall positive association between the mixture concentration and increased urinary 8-OHdG. The quantile g-computation results showed that with a 25% increase in metal mixtures, the urinary 8-OHdG level increased by 77.60%. The elastic net regression showed that with a 25% increase in exposure risk score, the urinary 8-OHdG level increased by 26%. The BKMR summarized the contribution of individual exposures to the response, and selenium, zinc, and nickel were significant contributors to the urinary 8-OHdG elevation. Conclusion: Exposure to mixed metals causes elevated levels of DNA oxidative damage, and selenium, zinc, and nickel are significant exposure factors.

Observation on effects of moxibustion at abdominal acupoints for slow transit constipation due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

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.

Clinical Observation of Moxibustion at He-Sea and Front-Mu Points for Chronic Atrophic Gastritis / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion at He-Sea plus Front-Mu points in treating chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) due to deficient cold in spleen-stomach, and its effect on serum pepsinogen (PG) and gastrin. Method Sixty-three eligible patients with CAG due to deficient cold in spleen-stomach were divided into a control group (31 cases) and a treatment group (32 cases) by using random number table. The control group was intervened by Wei Fu Chun tablets, while the treatment group received moxibustion at He-Sea plus Front-Mu points, 12 weeks as a treatment course. Clinical efficacy, symptoms score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), serum PGⅠ, PG Ⅱ and gastrin levels were evaluated. Result The total effective rate was 93.8% in the treatment group, significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05); the TCM symptoms scores dropped significantly in both groups after the treatment and in the follow-up study (P<0.01), and the treatment group was markedly superior to the control group (P<0.01); the levels of PG Ⅰ, PG Ⅰ/Ⅱ ratio (PGR) and gastrin-17 (G-17) increased significantly in the treatment group after the intervention (P<0.01), and PG Ⅱ dropped significantly (P<0.05); after the treatment, thelevels of PG I, PGR and G-17 increased significantly in the control group (P<0.05); after the intervention, the treatment group was significantly better than the control group in comparing the levels of PG Ⅰ, PGR and G-17 (P<0.01), and there was a significant difference in comparing the level of PG Ⅱ between the two groups after the intervention (P<0.05). The follow-up showed that the HP positive rate was 3.1% in the treatment group, significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion at He-Sea plus Front-Mu points can significantly improve CAG symptoms, enhance HT clearance and lower the relapse; its action mechanism is possibly through up-regulating PGⅠ, PGR and G-17 and down-regulating PG Ⅱ.