[Effect of moxibustion on cardiac function and expression of autophagy-related proteins of cardiomyocytes in chronic heart failure rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on cardiac function and expression of myocardial tumor suppressor protein p53, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphorylated(p)-mTOR (excessive autophagy-associated proteins of cardiomyocytes) in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of CHF. METHODS: SD rats were divided into blank control (n＝11), model(n＝8), autophagy activator (n＝8), autophagy inhibitor (n＝9) and moxibustion(n＝9) groups. The CHF model was established by i．p. injection of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride (DOX, 1 mg/mL, 1-4 mg/kg) every other day. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Feishu" (BL13) and "Xinshu" (BL15) for 20 min, 5 times a week for 3 weeks. Rats of the autophagy activator group received gavage of Rapamycin (RAPA, 2 mg/kg) and those of the autophagy inhibitor group received i．p. injection of Methyladenine (3-MA, 15 mg/kg) 5 times a week for 3 weeks after successful modeling. The heart weight and body weight were measured to calculate heart mass index (HW/BW＝heart weight ÷ body weight). Cardiac output (CO) and heart rate (HR) were measured by using a cardiac function meter. Serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) content was assayed by using ELISA, and the expression of myocardial p53, p-mTOR and mTOR proteins was examined by Western blot. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the blank control group, the HR, HW/BW, NT-pro BNP content and p53 expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the CO and ratio of p-mTOR/mTOR were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01). (2) Compared with the model group, the HR, HW/BW and NT-pro BNP content of the autophagy inhibitor and moxibustion groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and CO and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio were significantly increased in both autophagy inhibitor and moxibustion groups (P<0.01). (3) Compared with the autophagy activator group, the levels of HR, HW/BW, NT-pro BNP and p53 in the autophagy inhibitor and moxibustion groups were significantly lower (P<0.01), and those of CO and p-mTOR/mTOR levels were significantly higher (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion, similar to the autophagy inhibitor, has a protective action on myocardium in CHF rats, which is possible by preventing over expression of myocardial autophagy-associated proteins during CHF.

[Analysis of the academic features of the moxibustion of Xin'an physicians].

Xin'an acupuncture and moxibustion physicians have a lot of talented people. Their academic theories promote the development of moxibustion theory. WANG Guo-rui used acupuncture and moxibustion together in clinic, and emphasized reinforcing and reducing method. Moxibustion was performed with unique matching acupoint according to different cases. WANG Ji proposed the theory "moxibustion can cure sores, and has reinforcing and reducing method""scars block the movement of qi and do not use moxibustion when there is no disease". XU Chun-fu elaborated on the theory of moxibustion, which involved a wide range of ideas and advocated the idea of combining acupuncture with drugs. WU Qian put forward the theory "moxibustion is mostly used at acupoints on the back, and can cure multiple syndromes" "focus on the use of miraculous acupoints for the treatment of emergency diseases" "moxibustion must be treated with enough moxibustion to cure the disease". WU Yi-ding thonght that only by carefully identifying the types of diseases and using corresponding acupoints could have a very good curative effect; moxibustion had indications and contraindications, so be careful when used it; moxibustion was divided into yin and yang, also divided into reinforcing and reducing methods; sores were suitable for moxibustion and heat syndrome could also be used by moxibustion. He also believed that moxibustion was as important as acupuncture with the complementary relationship. Hence, the valuable significance of moxibustion in clinical practice is explored through the collection of the academic thoughts of WANG Guo-rui, WANG Ji, XU Chun-fu, WU Qian and WU Yi-ding.