Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Moxibustion treatment for RA has significant efficacy, with high security and without dependency. It can alleviate the symptoms and make the body gradually return to normal level of immunity at the same time. This article reviewed the study on mechanism of moxibustion for the treatment of RA in recent years from the aspects of innate immunity, humeral immunity, cellular immunity, cytokines and immune organs, discussed the existing problems in relevant study, and provided a basis for clinic and future research.

From the TCM theoretical basis and the evidences of acupoint selection and acupuncture and moxibustion methods regarding acupuncture for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a theoretical discussion is made in this article, also a review regarding the key mechanism of experiment researches on acupuncture for PTSD is made from aspects of neurobiology and brain functional imaging, etc., which could further clarify the effect mechanism of acupuncture on PTSD. It is found that PTSD is a kind of stress syndrome accompanied with a variety of abnormal mental symptom , and acupuncture has superior effect on PTSD. Based on these, the research progress and deficiency on current mechanism study of PTSD are reviewed, hoping to offer ideas for upcoming research and to serve the clinical practice better.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; trends ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; therapy

Obesity often results when regular caloric intake exceeds the energy expenditure. Hypothalamus is the center that regulates feeding and energy balance inside the body, especially the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial nucleus (VMN). Acupuncture-moxibustion has achieved significant progress in treating simple obesity, and the relevant studies have revealed the central action mechanism underlying the treatment. By reviewing the literatures associated with the mechanism studies on acupuncture-moxibustion for simple obesity, this article is going to provide clinical and scientific guidance for the treatment of simple obesity with acupuncture-moxibustion.

'Three-acupoint and Five-needle Method' is a summary of Prof. Shao Jing-ming's clinical experience in the treatment of asthma for years. It is used to alleviate asthma during seizure and to improve the pulmonary functions, strengthen the body constitution and prevent recurrence in the remission stage. This article introduces the theoretic source and basic principle, and concrete operating method, i.e. puncturing bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14) and bilateral Fengmen (BL 12), and adding acupoints based upon pattern identification, in combination of moxibustion and cupping therapy for promoting the clinical application of this method.

Through analyzing the research literature about the mechanism of acupuncture intervention on vision in recent years, this article reviewed the mechanism of acupuncture intervention on vision from the aspects of central processing of visual information, the influnce of information transmission in the retina, the changes in visual microcirculation, optic nerve and neurotransmitter transmission, visual electrophysiology, visual plasticity. This article also proposed the future research idea for this field.

Objective:To observe the efficacy of gentle moxibustion combined with Western medicine in treating rheumatoid arthritis(RA)due to damp heat affecting bones/joints to further certificate the scientific nature of the theory that"heat pattern can be treated by moxibustion therapy". Methods:A total of 78 patients with RA due to damp heat affecting bones/joints were divided into an observation group and a control group using the random number table method,with 39 cases in each group.The control group was treated with regular Western medicine,on the basic of which the observation group was treated with additional gentle moxibustion.Patients in the observation group received gentle moxibustion therapy once a day for 8 weeks with a one-day rest every 2 weeks.The wrist circumference,wrist pain degree,skin color and temperature of the wrist,and range of dorsiflexion motion of the wrist in the two groups of patients were compared before and after treatment under the condition of safety observed. Results:The total effective rate in the observation group was 94.9%,which was higher than the result of 79.5%in the control group(P<0.05).Among the quantitative indicators of syndrome differentiation,the wrist circumference,pain degree,skin temperature,and range of dorsiflexion motion in both groups were significantly improved(P<0.01),and the improvements were more significant in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).The skin color of the wrist joint was improved in both groups after treatment(P<0.05),and there was no statistical significance in comparing the improvement of skin color and the occurrence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with Western medicine treatment alone,the combination of gentle moxibustion and Western medicine treatment has significantly better treatment efficacy and shares high safety,which helps to prove the scientific nature of the theory that"heat pattern can be treated by moxibustion therapy".

Epigenetics refers to the changes in gene expression level and function caused by non-genetic sequence changes.It can provide the time,location and mode of the genetic information for the execution of DNA sequences,including DNA methylation,histone modification,non-coding RNA and chromatin remodeling.Studies had shown that epigenetics plays an important role in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR),and it had been found that epigenetic-related treatment regimens had a certain effect on the treatment of DR through animal experiments and in vitro experiments.It was benefit to regulate the development of diabetes and its complications by depth study of DNA methylation,histone modification,miRNA and metabolic memory.An understanding of changes in gene transcriptional mechanisms at the epigenetic level could help us to further study the prevention and control of diabetes and its complications,and to provide new ideas for treatment.

To analyze the modern clinical literature on post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) treated with acupuncture and moxibustion so as to summarize the acupoints selection law. The related articles from 2005 to 2014 were collected and then the frequencies were statistically analyzed. Finally 16 papers were gathered,while the main acupoints among the 23 acupoints refer to Baihui(GV 20),Sishencong(EX-HN 1),Shenting(GV 24),Fengchi(GB 20),Shenmen(HT 7),Neiguan(PC 6),Taichong(LR 3) and Sanyinjiao(SP 6). It is concluded that the law means taking smoothing liver and governor vessel to regulate the spirit as priority,and assisted by nourishing kidney and supportingto peace the spirit,as well as strengthening spleen and helpingto smooth meridians.

Objective To study the correlation between pterygium area and the clinical manifestation and signs of primary pterygium obtained from OCULUS Keratograph.Methods A prospective case observation study was performed.Thirty-nine (55 eyes) primary pterygium patients were selected from June to September 2016 in Zhongshan People's Hospital.The area of the pterygium invaded cornea and duration of pterygium were recorded.The ocular surface condition was detected by corneal fluorescein staining.The break up time of tear film (BUT) and the gland function score were measured with OCULUS Keratograph.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan People's Hospital (2015 [13]).All operations followed the Helsinki Declaration and all patients signed informed consent forms.Results The areas of pterygium invaded cornea was 2-20 mm2,the mean size was 5 (3,10) mm2;the duration of pterygium was 3-8 years,the mean duration was 5 (4,6)years;the BUT was 2.1-15.0 seconds,the mean BUT was (6.3±3.0) seconds.The mean gland function score was 2 (1,3).The area of pterygium was not significantly correlated with the duration of pteryguim (r =0.197,P =0.148),while it was negatively correlated with BUT (r=-0.711,P＜0.001) and positively correlated with the tarsal gland score (r =0.554,P＜0.001).What's more,82％ (45/55 eyes) of the patients' tear film rupture appeared firstly near pterygium's head.Conclusion OCULUS Keratograph can directly evaluate the ocular surface condition of pterygium patients in a non-contact and non-invasive method.Assessing the ocular surface damage by observing the area of pterygium invaded cornea may provide a prospective treatment for pterygium patients.

Objective To study the correlation between pterygium area and the clinical manifestation and signs of primary pterygium obtained from OCULUS Keratograph. Methods A prospective case observation study was performed. Thirty.nine ( 55 eyes ) primary pterygium patients were selected from June to September 2016 in Zhongshan People's Hospital. The area of the pterygium invaded cornea and duration of pterygium were recorded. The ocular surface condition was detected by corneal fluorescein staining. The break up time of tear film ( BUT) and the gland function score were measured with OCULUS Keratograph. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan People's Hospital ( 2015 [ 13 ] ) . All operations followed the Helsinki Declaration and all patients signed informed consent forms. Results The areas of pterygium invaded cornea was 2-20 mm2,the mean size was 5(3, 10)mm2;the duration of pterygium was 3-8 years,the mean duration was 5(4,6)years;the BUT was 2. 1-15. 0 seconds,the mean BUT was (6. 3±3. 0) seconds. The mean gland function score was 2(1,3). The area of pterygium was not significantly correlated with the duration of pteryguim (r=0.197,P=0.148),while it was negatively correlated with BUT (r=-0. 711, P<0. 001 ) and positively correlated with the tarsal gland score (r=0. 554,P<0. 001). What's more,82％ (45/55 eyes) of the patients' tear film rupture appeared firstly near pterygium's head. Conclusion OCULUS Keratograph can directly evaluate the ocular surface condition of pterygium patients in a non. contact and non.invasive method. Assessing the ocular surface damage by observing the area of pterygium invaded cornea may provide a prospective treatment for pterygium patients.