OBJECTIVETo explore the technique of temperature control on the abdomen in penetrating moxibustion through observing moxibustion time on the abdomen, abdominal skin temperature and effect after moxibustion so as to provide the safe, effective and easily applicable method for penetrating moxibustion.

METHODSThirty-two patients were selected in an observation group, 32 healthy persons in a control group. In the observation group, the penetrating moxibustion was applied to the corresponding acupoint locations according to different symptoms. In the control group, moxibustion was used on the abdomen around the umbilicus. The skin temperature was recorded once every minute. The skin temperature of known heat sensation, the time of known heat sensation, the known reduced temperature, the time of temperature reducing, the skin temperature difference, the duration of penetrating moxibustion and the reaction of moxibustion from participants were recorded.

RESULTSThe differences in the skin temperature of known heat sensation, the time of known heat sensation and the duration of penetrating moxibustion were significant statistically in comparison between the observation group and the control group (all P<0.01). The differences in the known reduced temperature, the time of temperature reducing and the skin tem- perature difference were not significant (all P>0.05). The differences were significant statistically in skin rashes and moxibustion reaction (gastrointestinal peristalsis, chills, ant climbing feeling and hunger, etc.) between the two groups (P<0.01). The differences were not significant statistically in flushing, sweating and blisters (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSION(1) The level of temperature sensitivity in the observation group is lower than that in the control group. During penetrating moxibustion, the sensations such as gastrointestinal peristalsis, chills, ant climbing feeling and hunger appear easily, suggesting the positive self-adjustment in the body. (2) During penetrating moxibustion, the warm feeling is penetrated not just from the epidermis to the abdominal cavity and lumbar region, but also up to thehead and down to the knee. (3) The flushing, sweating and skin rashes are the important indices for the effectiveness of penetrating moxibustion. (4) The temperature control is the core technique of penetrating moxibustion. The penetrating moxibustion in 28 min to 32 min and the temperature controlled in 43 degrees C to 45 degrees C can solve the moxibustion smoky impact to the environment, but also relieve pains of the patients.

Abdomen ; physiology ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Skin Temperature ; Thermosensing ; Young Adult

Due to the subjective and objective constraints of universities in China,PBL Teaching Mode failed to gain its popularity in China's medical education.In its teaching reform,Guangzhou Medical University put forward a new teaching model--Web-based PBL Teaching Mode(hereinafter referred to as WPBL).by integrating the classical concept of PBL education with the real situation of the university and carried it out among students in bilingual classes of Clinical Medicine.The resuIts showed that by effectively overcoming the difficulties during the implementation of classical PBL teaching,Web-based PBL Teaching Mode not only succeeded in achieving the teaching objectives,but also improved the learning efficiency and utilization of teaching resources greatly by means of network technology.

The application and significance of learning method of self-evaluation and mutual-evaluation for practical teaching ofcurriculum were investigated. The practical teaching followed theory teaching in the curriculum plan, which applied grouping pattern to provide demonstration, practice and assessment. According to the technique points of practical teaching, the teachers established evaluation form and listed detailed points of self-evaluation and mutual evaluation. The focus was student assessment, including individual self-evaluation, subject-evaluation intra-group evaluation, external-group evaluation and teacher evaluation. 100 points were taken as maximum score, including 10 points in the self-evaluation from operator, 20 points in the evaluation from receiver, 20 points in the intra-group evaluation, 20 points in external-group evaluation and 30 points in teacher evaluation. Through practical application, it was found learning system of self-evaluation and mutual-evaluation had important significance in promoting mutual learning among students, improving students' learning enthusiasm and initiative, and helping teachers understand and improve their roles.

Objective To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the behaviors, organizational morphology and the expression of protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) in rats with spinal cord injury. Methods Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group, sham group, model group and HBO group, with nine cases in each group. The normal group did not receive any treatment, the sham group received only laminectomy, and the other two groups were established spinal cord injury model with modified Allen's method. Six hours after operation, the model group was treated with regular air, and HBO group received HBO treatment for seven days. The recovery of locomotor function was evaluated by BBB (Basso Beattie and Bresnahan) on the day before operation and six hours, three days, seven days after operation. HE staining was used to observe the change of tissue morphology in injured spinal cord, and the expression of PERK in spinal cord was detected by Western blotting. Results There was no neurological deficit in the normal group and the sham group. The neurological score was lower in the model group than in the sham group three days and seven days after operation (P < 0.05), and was higher in HBO group than in the model group seven days after operation (P < 0.05). There was no obvious structural change in the normal group and the sham group, however, the model group showed swelling cells, condensed cytoplasm, and nucleus pycnosis hyperchromatic, and the HBO group showed slighter swelling cell compared with the model group. The expression of PERK was higher in the model group than in the sham group, and was lower in HBO group than in the model group seven days after operation (P < 0.05). Conclusion HBO could reduce the expression of PERK in the injured spinal cord, and improve the recovery of hind limb locomotor function in spinal cord injury rats.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy differences between acupuncture combined with 40-min penetration moxibustion and 60-min penetration moxibustion at back-points for insomnia of insufficiency of heart and spleen type.

METHODSSixty patients of insomnia with insufficiency of heart and spleen type were randomly assigned into a 40-min group and a 60-min group. The two groups were treated with acupuncture at Jueyinshu (BL 14), Xinshu (BL 15), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20), Shendao (GV 11) and Zhiyang (GV 9). With moxibustion box, the penetration moxibustion was applied at the back until sweating and redness on the back. The moxibustion was given for 40 min in the 40-min group and 60 min in the 60-min group. The treatment was given once a day, five days per week. Each session was consisted of 5 treatments, with an interval of 2 days between session and totally 4 consecutive weeks were provided. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), TCM symptom scale were observed and recorded before and after treatment in the two groups. The even temperature at raising period, effective period, reducing period, as well as minimum high temperature, comfortable temperature, minimum cold temperature and medication status were compared; also the effect was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 96.6% (28/29) in the 60-min group, which was higher than 89.3% (25/28) in the 40-min group (<0.05). Compared before treatment, the total score of PSQI and sleep quality, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorder, daytime dysfunction as well as the total TCM symptom score and its drowsiress in the morning, palpitation, amnesia, appetite were reduced after treatment in the 40-min group (all<0.05). After treatment, the total score and each score of PSQI as well as total score and each score of TCM symptom scale were reduced after treatment in the 60-min group (all<0.05). After treatment, the total score and each score of PSQI as well as total score and each score of TCM symptom scale were significantly different between the two groups (all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture combined with penetration moxibustion can improve the symptomsof insomnia with insufficiency of heart and spleen type, which is more significant in the 60-min group, indicating prolonged time of penetration moxibustion can improve sleep latency.

BACKGROUND: The onset and clinical presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are sex-related. Few studies have investigated the distinctions in clinical characteristics and treatment preferences in male and female SLE patients in the initial cohort. This study aimed to improve the understanding of Chinese SLE patients by characterizing the different sexes of SLE patients in the inception cohort. METHODS: Based on the initial patient cohort established by the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research Group, a total of 8713 patients (795 men and 7918 women) with newly diagnosed SLE were enrolled between April 2009 and March 2021. Of these, 2900 patients (347 men and 2553 women) were eligible for lupus nephritis (LN). A cross-sectional analysis of the baseline demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, organ damage, initial treatment regimens, and renal pathology classification was performed according to sex. RESULTS: In the SLE group, as compared to female patients, male patients had a later age of onset (male vs. female: 37.0 ± 15.8 years vs. 35.1 ± 13.7 years, P  = 0.006) and a higher SLE International Collaborative Clinic/American College of Rheumatology damage index score (male vs. female: 0.47 ± 1.13 vs. 0.34 ± 0.81, P  = 0.015), LN (male vs. female: 43.6% vs. 32.2%, P < 0.001), fever (male vs. female: 18.0% vs. 14.6%, P  = 0.010), thrombocytopenia (male vs. female: 21.4% vs. 18.5%, P  = 0.050), serositis (male vs. female: 14.7% vs. 11.7%, P  = 0.013), renal damage (male vs. female: 11.1% vs. 7.4%, P < 0.001), and treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) (P < 0.001). The frequency of leukopenia (male vs. female: 20.5% vs. 25.4%, P  = 0.002) and arthritis (male vs. female: 22.0% vs. 29.9%, P < 0.001) was less in male patients with SLE. In LN, no differences were observed in disease duration, SLE Disease Activity Index score, renal biopsy pathological typing, or 24-h urine protein quantification among the sexes. In comparisons with female patients with LN, male patients had later onset ages (P  = 0.026), high serum creatinine (P < 0.001), higher end-stage renal failure rates (P  = 0.002), musculoskeletal damage (P  = 0.023), cardiovascular impairment (P  = 0.009), and CYC use (P  = 0.001); while leukopenia (P  = 0.017), arthritis (P  = 0.014), and mycophenolate usage (P  = 0.013) rates were lower. CONCLUSIONS Male SLE patients had more severe organ damage and a higher LN incidence compared with female SLE patients; therefore, they may require more aggressive initial treatment compared to female patients.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Sex Characteristics ; East Asian People ; Severity of Illness Index ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis* ; Lupus Nephritis/pathology* ; Registries ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Leukopenia/drug therapy* ; Arthritis