Objective: To explore the potential mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating Crohn disease (CD) by evaluating the changes in histamine and inflammatory factors in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats.Methods: Fifty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group (n=14) and a CD-modeling group (n=44). Rats in the CD-modeling group received enema with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid plus ethanol to establish CD models. The enema was repeated once every 7 d for a total of 4 times. After modeling, four modeled rats and four normal rats were randomly selected for model identification. After the CD model was successfully established, the remaining rats in the CD-modeling group were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a moxibustion group, and a Western medication group, with ten rats in each group. The rats in the acupuncture and moxibustion groups were treated with acupuncture or moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37); the rats in the Western medication group were treated with mesalazine enteric-coated tablets by gavage for continuous 7 d. After the intervention, the colon tissue of rats in each group was collected. After gross observation, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to further observe the pathological changes. The expression of histamine in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, IL-10, and IL-6 in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) was detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colonic wall of rats in the model group showed cobblestone-like changes, local ulcers, and polyps in dark red and thickening and hardening. HE staining showed local loss of mucosal epithelial layer and formation of slit-like ulcers, destruction of mucosal glands, edema, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in lamina propria and submucosa, and occasional formation of sarcoid-like granuloma. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-10 were significantly down- regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the model group. Compared with the model group, the pathomorphological damage of the colon tissue of rats in the acupuncture group, moxibustion group, and Western medication group was significantly improved. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly down- regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the level of IL-10 was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01) in the skin at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the acupuncture group. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-10 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the moxibustion group. The level of histamine was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01), and the levels of IL-18 and IL-10 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the skin tissue of rats in the Western medication group. Compared with the acupuncture group, the level of IL-10 in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the moxibustion group was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). Conclusion: The inflammatory responses in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) may be the external manifestation of CD. Significant differences in the regulation of inflammatory responses in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) between acupuncture and moxibustion exist, which may be caused by the differences in the stimulation characteristics between acupuncture and moxibustion.

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion at Feishu(BL13)on inflammatory responses and intestinal short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)in rats with asthma. Methods:Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group(16 rats)and a modeling group(40 rats).Rats in the modeling group were subjected to establishing asthma models using ovalbumin(OVA).Model evaluation was conducted using 4 rats from each group.The remaining rats that successfully developed asthma were then randomly divided into a model group,an acupuncture group,and a moxibustion group,with 12 rats in each group.Rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture treatments,and those in the moxibustion group received moxibustion treatments,both at Feishu(BL13)for 30 min.Following the treatments,the rats were exposed to atomization excitation with a 1%OVA solution for 20 min daily for 14 consecutive days.At the end of the experiment,inflammatory markers in the rats'peripheral blood were analyzed using a biochemical method.In addition,inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were counted using Wright-Giemsa staining.The lung tissue of rats was examined under a light microscope after staining with hematoxylin-eosin to observe morphological or pathological changes.Furthermore,real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was utilized to measure the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in the lung tissue.Lastly,the concentration of SCFAs in the rat's feces was determined using gas chromatography-hydrogen flame ionization. Results:The levels of eosinophils(Eos),neutrophils(Neu),and lymphocytes(Lym)in the peripheral blood,as well as Eos and Neu in the BALF,and the expression of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-33,and thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP)mRNAs in the lung tissue were all found to be significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);the lung tissue structure displayed severe injuries;the levels of acetic acid,propionic acid,isobutyric acid,butyric acid,and valeric acid in the feces decreased significantly in the model group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the peripheral blood levels of Eos,Neu,and Lym,as well as Eos in the BALF,and the mRNA expression levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in the lung tissue decreased significantly in both the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).This reduction was accompanied by alleviated pathological damage in the lung tissue.Additionally,there were significant increases in the levels of acetic acid,propionic acid,isobutyric acid,and butyric acid in the feces in both the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).In the acupuncture group,the expression levels of Lym in the BALF and IL-13 mRNA in the lung tissue decreased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01).In the moxibustion group,the mRNA expression levels of IL-33 and TSLP in the lung tissue also reduced significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Furthermore,the level of valeric acid in the feces increased notably in the moxibustion group(P<0.01).Compared with the acupuncture group,it was found that the mRNA levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in the lung tissue,as well as the acetic acid level in the feces,were significantly higher in the moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:Both acupuncture and moxibustion were effective in reducing abnormal inflammation and regulating intestinal SCFAs in asthma model rats.Acupuncture demonstrated superiority in inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors,particularly IL-5 and IL-13,while moxibustion exhibited better regulation on intestinal metabolites SCFAs,especially acetic acid.

Objective:To compare the effects of Feishu(BL13)combined with Tianshu(ST25)and Feishu(BL13)alone on pulmonary function and tissue inflammation in asthma model rats. Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a lung treatment group,and a lung-intestine treatment group according to the random number table method,with 12 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,rats in the other three groups were sensitized by ovalbumin followed by atomization stimulation to establish the asthma model.After the model was made successfully,rats in the lung treatment group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Feishu(BL13)for 30 min;rats in the lung-intestine treatment group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Feishu(BL13)and Tianshu(ST25)for 15 min,respectively,for 30 min in total.Acupuncture was performed once a day for 14 d.Rats in the other two groups did not receive any intervention.After intervention,the pulmonary function of each group of rats was measured by a pulmonary function tester.The histopathological changes stained by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the collagen deposition degree stained by Masson in lung tissue,as well as the inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)stained by Wright's-Giemsa staining were observed under a light microscope;the levels of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-25,IL-33,leukotrienes(LT),thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP),and prostaglandin D2(PGD2)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Compared with the normal group,the peak expiratory flow(PEF),the dynamic lung compliance(Cdyn),the forced expiratory flow 25%(FEF25%),the forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC),and the maximum mid-expiratory flow(MMEF)in the model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05);the lung resistance(RL),the collagen deposition,the IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-33,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 levels,and the neutrophil proportion in the BALF were increased significantly(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the FEF25%and FEV1/FVC in the pulmonary function were significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05),while the collagen fiber deposition and the levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05)in the lung treatment group;the PEF,FEF25%,and FEV1/FVC in pulmonary function were significantly increased(P<0.01 or P<0.05),while the RL and the collagen fiber deposition,as well as the neutrophil proportion and the levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-33,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 in the BALF were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05)in the lung-intestine treatment group.Compared with the lung treatment group,the IL-5 level in the rat lung tissue of the lung-intestine treatment group was decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture in the lung treatment and the lung-intestine treatment groups improved pulmonary function,lung inflammation,and inflammatory cells in the BALF in asthma model rats;the lung-intestine treatment was better than lung treatment in improving the IL-5 level.The combination of Feishu(BL13)and Tianshu(ST25)was superior to Feishu(BL13)alone in the treatment of asthma in trend.

ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion at "Feishu （BL13）" and "Tianshu （ST25）" in treatment of bronchial asthma. MethodsA total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group （n=12） and modeling group （n=36）. The bronchial asthma rat model was established by sensitization with ovalbumin （OVA） injection and aerosol provocation. Thirty-two successfully modeled rats were further randomly divided into four groups including model group， Feishu group， Tianshu group， and Feishu-Tianshu group， with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group and the model group were tied and fixed without intervention， while those in the Feishu group received moxibustion at bilateral of "Feishu （BL13）" for 30 minutes； rats in the Tianshu group received moxibustion at bilateral "Tianshu （ST25）" for 30 minutes， and those in the Feishu-Tianshu group received moxibustion at both "Feishu （BL13）" and "Tianshu （ST25）" bilaterally for 15 minutes each. One hour after the intervention， 1% OVA solution was aerosolized for 20 minutes in all groups except the normal group， which was given the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution instead of OVA solution for aerosol stimulation. The above interventions were performed once daily for 14 days. Behavioral observations were performed after modeling and during the interventions. The samples were collected 24h after the last intervention. HE and Masson staining were used to observe pathological morphological changes of lung tissues， and the percentage of collagen fiber deposition area was counted. The levels of leukocyte differentiation antigen11b （CD11b）， leukocyte differentiation antigen 40 （CD40）， leukocyte differentiation antigen 86 （CD86）， and programmed death ligand 2 （PD-L2） in serum， as well as the expression of interleukin-8 （IL-8）， interleukin-11 （IL-11）， interleukin-27 （IL-27） in lung tissue， were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9）， matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 （TIMP-1） and transforming growth factor β （TGF-β） proteins in lung tissue. The content of six short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） including acetic acid， propionic acid， isobutyric acid， butyric acid， valeric acid， and hexanoic acid in feces was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. ResultsCompared to the normal group， the rats in the model group gradually showed mental depression or restlessness， dull hair， slow activity， reduced food intake， unformed stool， accompanied by symptoms of shortness of breath and wheezing. The pathological results showed severe abnormalities in lung tissue structure in the model group， including extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells around the bronchi， thickening of the airway smooth muscle layer， and substantial deposition of collagen fibers. Significant increases were observed in the levels of serum CD11b， CD40， CD86， and PD-L2， levels of IL-8， IL-11， and IL-27 in the lung tissue， as well as protein expression levels of MMP-9， TGF-β， and TIMP-1 in lung tissue， while the fecal levels of acetic acid， propionic acid， isobutyric acid， butyric acid， valeric acid， and n-caproic acid significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the model group， the spirit， hair， activity， drinking and eating condition， shortness of breath， and wheezing symptoms of rats in the Feishu group， Tianshu group， and Feishu-Tianshu group were improved； the stool was basically formed， and the pathological morphology of lung tissue were improved； the levels of serum CD11b， CD40， CD86 and PD-L2， the levels of IL-8 and IL-27 in the lung tissue， the percentage of collagen fiber deposition area， and the TGF-β protein expression notably decreased； content of IL-11 and MMP-9 in the lung tissue and protein expression of T1MP-1 in Feishu group and Feishu-tianshu group significantly decreased； content of six SCFAs in the Feishu-Tianshu group increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the Feishu group， the percentage of collagen fiber deposition area and TIMP-1 protein expression in lung tissue in the Feishu-Tianshu group significantly decreased， while the fecal levels of acetic acid and butyric acid notably increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the Tianshu group， the serum level of CD40 in the Feishu-Tianshu group was significantly reduced， and the percentage of collagen fiber deposition area， the content of IL-11， and the protein expressions of MMP-9， TGF-β and TIMP-1 in the lung tissue notably decreased， while the fecal levels of acetic acid， propionic acid， and butyric acid significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionMoxibustion at "Feishu （BL13）" and "Tianshu （ST25）" exhibits a favorable therapeutic effect on airway remodeling in bronchial asthma rats， and the combined application of "Feishu （BL13）" and "Tianshu （ST25）" acupoints demonstrates a synergistic effect. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of intestinal SCFAs content， influencing the differentiation of immune cells， and reducing airway inflammation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" （PC6） and "Zhongwan" （RN12） in the treatment of functional dyspepsia （FD）. MethodsSPF male SD rats were randomly divided into model group， Neiguan （PC6） group， Zhongwan （RN12） group， and Neiguan-Zhongwan （PC6-RN12） group， with 8 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， the other groups of rats were cogavaged with 0.1% sucrose iodoacetamide solution combined with small platform standing training to establish FD rat models. After successful modeling， the rats in the normal group and model group were tied up for 30 min/d for 7 days； the Neiguan group， Zhongwan group， and Neiguan-Zhongwan group were treated with electroacupuncture intervention at "Neiguan" （PC6）， "Zhongwan" （RN12）， and "Neiguan" - "Zhongwan" （PC6-RN12） acupoints， respectively， using continuous wave， frequency of 2 Hz， current intensity of 1 mA， 30 min/d， and continuous intervention for 7 days. The general condition of rats in each group was observed. After treatment， the body weight and food intake of rats were measured， and the gastric emptying rate was calculated； HE staining was performed on the gastric antrum tissue of rats to observe the histopathologic changes； the expressions of calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） and Ghrelin protein in gastric antrum were detected by Western Blot； the metabolites in gastric antrum tissues were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry （LC-MS）， and differential metabolites were screened by correlation analysis， then Metabo Analyst 5.0 and KEGG databases were used for metabolic pathway analysis. ResultsUnder light microscope， the gastric antrum structure was complete and the glands were abundant. No obvious inflammation and edema were found in gastric mucosa. Compared with the normal group， the body weight， food intake， and gastric emptie rate of rats in model group decreased， the expression of Ghrelin protein decreased and the expression of CGRP protein increased in gastric antrum tissue （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the body weight， food intake， and gastric emptance rate of rats in Neiguan group， Zhongwan group and Neiguan-Zhongwan group all increased， CGRP protein expression decreased in Neiguan group， and Ghrelin protein expression increased and CGRP protein expression decreased in Zhongwan group and Neiguan-Zhongwan group （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. Compared with Neiguan-Zhongwan group， Ghrelin protein expression decreased and CGRP protein expression increased in Neiguan group and Zhongwan group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Metabolomics results showed that compared with normal group， the content of metabolites adenosine diphosphate ribose， adenosine monophosphate and adenosine diphosphate in gastric antrum tissue of model group decreased； compared with model group， the contents of adenosine diphosphate， adenosine diphosphate and citicoline in Neiguan group increased， the contents of nicotine adenine dinucleotide， cytidine diphosphate ethanolamine and citicoline in Zhongwan group increased， and the contents of adenosine diphosphate， cytidine diphosphate and citicoline in Neiguan-Zhongwan group increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the main metabolic pathways of different metabolites in PC6-RN12 group were glycerophospholipid metabolism， taurine and hypotaurine metabolism， purine metabolism， starch and sucrose metabolism. ConclusionElectroacupuncture at “Neiguan” and “Zhongwan” acupoints can effectively regulate gastrointestinal motility and improve FD symptoms in FD rats， and the effect is better than that of "Neiguan" or "Zhongwan" acupoints alone. The mechanism may be related to the influence of related metabolites on energy metabolism， glucose metabolism and nucleotide metabolism， thereby regulating gastrointestinal motility hormones.