Role and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on pain relief through NOX-ROS-NLRP3 pathway in CCI rats models.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on pain relief in sciatica rats and to explore the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effect. METHODS: SPF grade 4-6-week-old Kunming rats were randomly divided into 5 groups including a blank group, sham-operated group, model group, acupuncture, and moxibustion (AnM) group, and positive group. A total of 10 rats were included in each group. The model group, the AnM group, and the positive group were prepared by ligating the left sciatic nerve. AnM group was used for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy intervention, and the positive group was rendered to quick-acting sciatica pills once a day for 7 days (3 courses of treatment). The blank group, sham-operated group, and model group were not treated. The changes in thermal and mechanical pain thresholds were observed before and after the operation, and the morphological changes of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in the lumbosacral region of the rats in each group were observed by HE staining after the courses of treatment finished. The contents of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α were measured by ELISA and the expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3 genes were detected by RT-qPCR while the protein expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4 and NLRP3 were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: The AnM and positive group showed a significant increase in thermal and mechanical pain thresholds after treatment, while there was no significant change in the model group. As compared to the control group, the contents of IL- 1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, as well as the relative expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3 genes were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). As compared to the model group, the contents of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, as well as the relative expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3 genes significantly decreased in the AnM and positive groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The pathological changes of inflammatory infiltration of tissue cells in the dorsal horn of the lumbosacral spinal cord were slowed in the AnM group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy have a positive effect on pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects in CCI sciatica rats, which may point to the regulation of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3 expressions, and inhibition of ROS.

Effects of Acupuncture Combination with Medicated Thread Moxibustion ofZhuangNationality Medicine on Neurotransmitters in Rats with Sleep Deprivation / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This study was aimed to observe the effects of acupuncture combination with medicated thread moxibustion ofZhuang nationality medicine on neurotransmitters in rats with sleep deprivation. A total of 80 SPF grade healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, treatment group and diazepam group with 20 rats in each group. The establishment of insomnia model was through sleep deprivation in the model group, treatment group and diazepam group. Based on the treatment of the model group, the treatment group was treated by acupuncture combination with medicated thread moxibustion ofZhuang nationality medicine, once a day for continuous 14 days. Intragastric administration of diazepam according to 3 mg·kg-1 body weight was given in the diazepam group. While intragastric administration of the same volume normal saline was given to the control group once a day for continuous 14 days. And then, the levels of orexin, NE, 5-HT, CRH and ACTH were detected. The expressions of orexin mRNA and c-Fos were observed. The results showed that compared with the control group, the levels of orexin, ACTH, 5-HT, NE and CRH increased or obviously increased in the model group with significant difference (P < 0.05, orP< 0.01). The expressions of orexin mRNA and c-Fos in the model group were increased or obviously increased with significant difference (P < 0.05, orP< 0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of orexin, ACTH, 5-HT, NE and CRH reduced or obviously reduced with significant difference in the treatment group (P < 0.05, orP < 0.01). The expressions of orexin mRNA and c-Fos were reduced or obviously reduced with significant difference in the treatment group (P <0.05, orP < 0.01). It was concluded that acupuncture combination with medicated thread moxibustion ofZhuang nationality medicine took an effect on the treatment of insomnia by mediating neurotransmitters associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) through orexin, which was probably related with its therapeutic mechanism.

Observations on the Efficacy of Medicated Thread Moxibustion plus Needle Picking Therapy for Sciatica / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To compare the efficacies of medicated thread moxibustion plus needle picking therapy versus medication for sciatica.Method Seventy sciatica patients were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 35 cases and a control group of 35 cases. The treatment group received medicated thread moxibustion on Zusanli (ST36), three cones once daily and needle picking at Yanglingquan (GB34) and Huantiao (GB30), once daily. The control group took quick-acting sciatica pills, two pills twice daily. One course of treatment consisted of 10 days in both groups. The therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups of patients after two consecutive courses of treatment.Result Posttreatment pain score decreased more markedly in the treatment group (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 88.6% in the treatment group and 57.1% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Medicated thread moxibustion plus needle picking therapy for sciatica is more effective in relieving pain and raising the total efficacy rate.