Hui Medicine Moxibustion Promotes the Absorption of Lumbar Disc Herniation and the Recovery of Motor Function in Rats through Fas/FasL Signaling Pathway.

Objectives: To study the resorption of the herniated lumbar disc (RHLD) and its mechanism in the SD rats of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation treated with Hui medicine moxibustion (HMM). Methods: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, normal group, lumbar disc herniation (LDH) group, HMM group, and antagonist (HMM+Met12) group, with 10 rats in each group. The rat model of LDH was prepared with the method of lumbar epidural emplacement of the caudal intervertebral disc. In the HMM group and HMM+Met12 groups, 4 weeks after modeling, HMM therapy was performed in the lumbar spine for 3 months with 1 time per day and 20 min each time, the samples were collected 8 weeks after the treatment. The histological degeneration was observed through HE staining, and the neovascularization of intervertebral disc tissues was detected by the expression of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The apoptosis of nucleus pulpous cells was detected by TUNEL assay, and the activity of caspase-3, -8, and -9 and extracellular matrix enzymes was detected by western blotting. Results: HMM treatment significantly improved the behavioral ability of rats with LDH surgery. The morphological structure was obviously destroyed in the LDH group, but disc structure was significantly repaired in the HMM group, and mild structure alterations were observed in the HMM+Met12 group. Higher levels of CD34 and VEGF were detected in the HMM group indicating that neovascularization is formed. The expression level of FasL was significantly increased in the HMM group. The protein expression levels of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-8, and cleaved-caspase-9 in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues were also elevated when treated with HMM, and the TUNEL staining showed the same results. The protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases- (MMP-) 1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-4 were markedly promoted in the HMM group. Met12, a small peptide antagonist of FasL, significantly reduced the effects of HMM. Conclusion: HMM can promote the formation of neovascularization of lumbar intervertebral disc, support the apoptosis of NP cells through Fas/FasL signaling, and regulate the degradation of extracellular matrix enzyme, which then accelerates the absorption of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation and the recovery of motor function in rats.

Effect of stimulating acupoint Guanyuan (CV 4) on lower back pain by burning moxa heat for different time lengths: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of different heat-stimulating time lengths on lower back pain. METHODS: Forty participants were randomly assigned to four groups of various heating time lengths. The short heating time length group (SL), moderate heating time length group (ML), and long heating time length group (LL) respectively received 15, 30, and 60 min of moxibustion therapy stimulating the acupoint Guanyuan (CV 4). The conventional acupuncture group (CA) received needle acupuncture treatment as a control group. The participants were treated continuously over a 2-week treatment period for a total of 10 sessions, with five sessions given per week. Participants were assessed weekly by blinded assessors,using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ). RESULTS: The VAS and RMQ scores reduced in all four groups during treatment. There were significant differences in VAS scores (P < 0.01) and RMQ scores (P < 0.01) between before treatment and after 2 weeks of treatment in the LL group. After treatment, the LL group reported significantly lower VAS scores compared with the CA group, ML group, and SL group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The long and moderate lengths of heat-stimulating time of 30 and 60 min may be more effective for relieving lower back pain than that of short stimulating time lengths.

Effect of acupuncture anesthesia on acne vulgaris of pricking-bloodletting cupping: a single-blind randomized clinical trail.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on acne vulgaris of pricking-bloodletting cupping at Dazhui (GV 14) under acupuncture anesthesia, and establish whether providing anesthesia to the treatment area by manipulating Hegu (LI 4) and Quchi (LI 11) might have an additional therapeutic benefit. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients were recruited and randomized into a control group and an intervention group with a single-blind (observer-blind) method. The control group was treated by pricking-bloodletting cupping at Dazhui (GV 14)-and the studied group by pricking-bloodletting cupping at Dazhui (GV 14) under acupuncture anesthesia at Hegu (LI 4) and Quchi (LI 11). Both groups were treated twice weekly for 6 weeks. The analgesic and therapeutic effects of acupuncture were evaluated on a visual analog scale (VAS) and global acne grading system (GAGS), respectively. RESULTS: There were differences in the VAS scores of pain on pricking and in the pricked area, and the duration of pain between the groups. After 12 treatments, there was a significant reduction in GAGS scores from baseline in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture anesthesia at Hegu (LI 4) and Quchi (LI 11) is an effective means of alleviating the pain of pricking-bloodletting cupping and reducing the duration of pain in the treatment area. Pricking-bloodletting cupping at Dazhui (GV 14) improves the skin lesions of patients with moderate acne vulgaris, but acupuncture anesthesia does not appear to have an additional therapeutic effect.