OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion on the quality of life in the elderly patients with malignant tumor based on palliative treatment. METHODS: A total of 100 elderly patients with malignant tumor were randomly divided into an observation group (50 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a control group (50 cases, 4 cases dropped out). The conventional palliative treatment was performed in the control group. On the basis of conventional palliative treatment, heat-sensitive moxibustion was added at Shenque (CV8) and Zhongwan (CV12) in the observation group, once a day, 5 times a week, one course of treatment was composed of 2 weeks, and 2 consecutive courses of treatment were given. In the observation group, 15 patients voluntarily continued heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment, which was collected in the sub-observation group No.1, these patients were treated 3 times a week and for 6 months consecutively. Using the propensity score matching method, 15 patients who only completed 2 courses of treatment were assigned into the sub-observation group No.2. Before and after treatment, the scores of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and the anorexia/cachexia subscale-12 (A/CS-12), as well as the immune indexes (the contents of serum immune globulin [Ig]G, IgA, IgM and complements C3 and C4) were observed in the patients of the observation group and the control group. The monthly survivals were recorded in the two sub-observation groups after 6 months of treatment completion. The coordination was analyzed on the score of deqi scale of heat-sensitive moxibustion at the probing stage before treatment and the change in the score of EORTC QLQ-C30 before and after treatment in the patients of the observation group. RESULTS: After treatment, except the score related to the financial difficulties, the score of every items in EORTC QLQ-C30 was greater than that before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05); the scores for overall health, nausea/vomiting, pain, short breath, constipation and diarrhea of the scale were higher than those before treatment in the control group (P<0.05). The score for each item of the scale in the observation group was higher when compared with that in the control group, except the score for financial difficulties (P<0.05). After treatment, KPS score increased in the observation group when compared with that before treatment (P<0.05), and the score was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, A/CS-12 score was elevated in comparison with that before treatment in each group (P<0.05), and the score in the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, in the observation group, the contents of serum IgG, IgA and IgM, and C3 and C4 increased in comparison with those before treatment (P<0.05); and in the control group, the contents of serum IgG, C3 and C4 were declined (P<0.05). After treatment, the contents of serum IgG, IgA and IgM, and C3 and C4 in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After 6 months of treatment completion, the survival rate in the sub-observation group No.1 was higher than that of the sub-observation group No.2 (P<0.05). In the observation group, the positive coordination was presented between the score of deqi scale of heat-sensitive moxibustion and the change in the score of EORTC QLQ-C30 in the observation group (r>0, P<0.001). CONCLUSION On the basis of palliative treatment, heat-sensitive moxibustion can improve the quality of life, appetite and the immunity of the elderly patients with malignant tumor. Consecutive long-term moxibustion is contributed to prolonging the life span. The stronger deqi is felt during moxibustion delivery, the more significant the therapeutic effect is obtained.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Quality of Life ; Neoplasms/psychology* ; Palliative Care ; Aged, 80 and over ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture Points

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion robot for improving the depressive state of methamphetamine addicts during withdrawal period. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with methamphetamine addiction accompanied with depressive state were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases, 4 cases dropped out) and a control group (20 cases, 2 cases dropped out). The control group received routine health education and addiction treatment in compulsory isolation drug rehabilitation center. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, in the observation group, the heat-sensitive moxibustion robot was used to locate sensitive points at the Shenque (CV8) and Danzhong (CV17), and dual-point sparrow-pecking moxibustion was delivered for 60 min per session. The moxibustion therapy was performed 4 times in the 1st week, 3 times in the 2nd and 3rd weeks respectively, and 2 times in the 4th week, for 12 times totally. The scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), self-rating depression scale (SDS), visual analogue scale (VAS) for drug craving, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were observed before treatment, at the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, and 4 weeks after the treatment completion (follow-up) in the two groups. RESULTS: At each time point after treatment, in the observation group, the HAMD, VAS, HAMA and PSQI scores were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.001); at the end of the 4th week of treatment and in follow-up, the SDS and SAS scores were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.001, P<0.01). Compared before treatment, there were no significant differences in the above scores at each time point after treatment in the control group (P>0.05). In the observation group, at each time point after treatment, the HAMD and VAS scores were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.05); at the end of the 4th week of treatment and in follow-up, the SDS and HAMA scores were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.001); at the end of the 4th week of treatment, the PSQI score was lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Heat-sensitive moxibustion robot effectively improves depression, anxiety and sleep quality, and reduces drug craving in methamphetamine addicts during withdrawal period.
Humans ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Methamphetamine/adverse effects* ; Depression/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Robotics ; Young Adult ; Amphetamine-Related Disorders/psychology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/psychology*

Humans ; Critical Illness ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Based on heat-sensitive moxibustion (HSM) theory, a widely applicable scale was developed to reflect the (arrival of ) sensation of HSM. By documentary method and interviewing method, the items of describing sensation of HSM were collected to establish the pool of candidate items. With expert questionnaire, patient questionnaire and core expert discussion, the items were screened and quantified by method of subjective evaluation to develop the initial draft of the scale. A total of 121 patients were pre-surveyed with the initial draft, and the structural validity of the scale was examined by exploratory factor analysis (principal component) and its internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's coefficient. As a result, the items in the scale was reduced from 36 to 9; 110 effective questionnaires were reclaimed for statistical analysis. Finally, the scale (Version 1.0) contained 9 items and 4 dimensions, of which, 3 items highlighted the comfort emotional experience, 3 items highlighted autonomic response, 2 items highlighted heat sensation, and 1 item highlighted non-heat sensation. In conclusion, the sensation scale of HSM containes 9 items, which has fair content and structure validity. It is in line with the current clinical understanding of sensation of HSM and has strong clinical operability and wide adaptability.
Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Sensation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thermosensing

Objective To divide computed tomography (CT) values into different ranges and investigate the influence of CT value division on dose calculation, and to propose a method to combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with assigned CT values.Methods Ten CT images each were collected from patients with head and neck, chest, and pelvic tumors.Random sampling was performed for the CT values of main tissues or organs at the three parts, and then the mean CT value of each tissue or organ was calculated to divide the CT values into different ranges.A virtual phantom was built in the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system, and for the prescribed dose of 100 cGy, the machine output was recorded at different CT values.The influence of different CT value ranges on dose calculation was analyzed.The treatment plans of intensity-modulated radiotherapy were selected from 5 cervical cancer patients, and new CT values were assigned to the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk to obtain new CT images.The plans were transferred to the new CT images and compared with the results on the original CT images in terms of dosimetric parameters.Results After dividing the CT values into different ranges and verifying the results in dose calculation, the CT values corresponding to different human tissues or organs were-100 to 100 HU.The influence of CT value variation on dose calculation was within 3%.In the same treatment plan, there were small differences in dosimetric parameters between new CT images and original CT images.Dmax, Dmean, D98%, D95%, D5%, and D2% of PTV were all below 3%, and Dmax and Dmean of the bladder, rectum, small intestine, femoral head, and bone marrow were below 2%.Conclusions The influence of CT value division on dose calculation in the treatment planning for pelvic tumors is acceptable, so it can be used in combination with MRI.

Objective:To observe the thermesthesia thresholds of the heat-sensitive acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to provide scientific evidence for acupoint selection based on acupoint sensitization. Methods:Forty-six patients with KOA of swelling type were recruited. By using the quantitative thermesthesia testing, the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance at Xuehai (SP 10), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) were detected. The subjects were then divided into heat-sensitive groups and non-heat-sensitive groups according to whether there was a phenomenon of heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation at each acupoint, to compare the thermesthesia thresholds between the two groups. Results: The thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance were respectively (38.21±2.03)℃ , (44.4,±1.8,)℃ and (48.,9±0.,4)℃ in the heat-sensitive group of Xuehai (SP 10), versus (3,.,,±1.93)℃ , (42.91±2.0,)℃ and (4,.9,±1.14)℃ in the non-heat-sensitive group of Xuehai (SP 10); the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance were respectively (3,.4,±1.,,)℃ , (44.,,±1.,3) , and (4,.48±0.4,) in the heat℃℃-sensitive group of Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), versus (3,.92±1.,9)℃ , (42.,2±1.94)℃ and (4,.,3±0.41)℃ in the non-heat-sensitive group of Neixiyan (EX-LE 4); the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance were respectively (3,.30±2.23)℃ , (44.39±1.92)℃ and (4,.,,±0.,8)℃ in the heat-sensitive group of Yinlingquan (SP 9), versus (3,.0,±1.8,)℃ , (42.,3±1.88)℃ and (4,.91±0.,2)℃ in the non-heat-sensitive group of Yinlingquan (SP 9). The statistical analyses showed that the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance of each heat-sensitive group (all the three acupoints) were significantly higher than those of each corresponding non-heat-sensitive group (P<0.01). Conclusion:There were differences in the thermesthesia thresholds between heat-sensitized and non-heat-sensitized acupoints in patients with KOA of swelling type; and the thermal sensation threshold, thermal pain threshold, and threshold of thermal pain tolerance of the heat-sensitized points were significantly higher than those of the non-heat-sensitized ones.

The sensation of heat-sensitive moxibustion (HSM) refers to the heat feeling at distal and deep part of the body when a patient is treated with moxibustion under unhealthy status, which may even transmits to the disease sites, instead of heat feeling at local and superficial part of the body. Professorhas systema-tically studied the HSM sensation and its clinical laws through clinical practice; he points out different HSM sensations contain different physiological and pathological information of the human body, which could reflex the severity of diseases, so the collection of HSM information should be emphasized; the type and intensity of HSM sensation could guide the clinical acupoint selection and precise localization. The appearance and disappearance of HSM sensation could be applied to establish individual amount of moxibustion, and disappearance of HSM sensation is an appropriate signal for sufficient moxibustion time, which break through the concept of fixed time at each acupoint, and provide measurement standard to make full use of moxibustion. The criteria of indications for moxibustion is proposed, indicating the disease in which HSM sensations appear is the optimal indication. The deep and comprehensive understanding on the generation and change of HSM sensation could improve the standardization of HSM standard technique and its efficacy.

OBJECTIVETo identify the value of lymphography in the location and treatment decision of chyle leakage.

METHODSThe clinic data of 177 patients suffered from chyle leakage admitted in 6 medical centers in Shanghai from February 1998 to December 2014 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 94 male and 83 female patients aging from 9 to 84 years with a mean of 49 years, including 128 cases of chyluria, 34 cases of primary chylothorax and 15 cases of other chyle leakage. All patients had failed to conservative treatment more than 2 weeks. Pedal lymphography was performed in every patient to investigate the site and range of chyle leakage. Effect of surgical or conservative management was compared according to the different results of lymphography.

RESULTSNo serious complication was noticed. For all 177 patients, lymphography showed localized lymphatic diseases in 148 cases (83.6%), including 125 cases of lymphatic renal pelvic leaks, 14 cases of unilateral identified leak within thorax and 9 cases of chyle leakage in neck, heart, abdomen or scrotum. Among these patients, surgical treatment cured 129 and improved 3 patients but failed in 2 patients, while the remaining 14 cases had their leaks decreased after lymphography and cured by conservative management. For those 15 patients having disseminated lymphatic diseases or 14 with no abnormality under lymphography, surgery only cured 2 and improved 1 patient but failed in 8 patients (with 3 death), whereas continuous conservative treatment cured 11 patients, improved 5 patients but only failed in 2 patients (with one death). For localized leakage, surgical treatment showed better efficacy (98.5% vs. 3/11), whereas conservative treatment had significantly higher successful rate than surgical interventions in patients with disseminated lymphatic diseases or no abnormality under lymphography (16/18 vs. 3/11).

CONCLUSIONSLymphography could identify the location and range of complicate chyle leakage failed to primary conservative management. Patients with disseminated lymphatic diseases or no abnormality under lymphography would be better managed by continuous non-operative treatment partly due to therapeutic effect of lymphography, while surgical intervention could be a good option for patients having localized lymphatic etiology.

Abdominal Cavity ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Chyle ; Chylothorax ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Young Adult

The characteristics and clinical application of the arrival of qi in suspended moxibustion was discussed in this paper. Through literature research and clinical practice, three aspects, including characteristics of arrival of qi in suspended moxibustion, the clinical basis regarding arrival of qi in suspended moxibustion improving therapeutic effects and how to acquire arrival of qi in suspended moxibustion, were discussed to clarify the essential role of arrival of qi in suspended moxibustion as well as its importance to the development of moxibustion medicine. The suspended moxibustion at acupoints could produce arrival of qi similar to acupuncture, which was characterized as non-local or non-superficial heat sensation such as penetrating heat, expanding heat, transmitting heat, even non-hot sensation such as aching, numbing, distending, painful, heavy, cold sensation in the applied region. It is heat-sensitive sensation phenomenon that can improve therapeutic effect in suspended moxibustion.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Qi ; Thermosensing

OBJECTIVETo analyze and evaluate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion for symptoms of large intestine cancer.

METHODSSixty patients with large intestine cancer were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen was used in the two groups,and heat-sensitive moxibustion was added in the observation group. The acupoints were Zusanli(ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) Xuehai (SP 10) and Geshu (BL 17), etc. The treatment was applied once a day,five-day treatment as one course. Four courses were required. The reaction rates of uncomfortable symptoms by the Chinese version of the M. D. Anderson symptom inventory (MDASI-C) scale and clinical effects were analyzed and evaluated in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the MDASI-C reaction rate of uncomfortable symptoms in the observation group was 50.4% which was lower than 53.3% in the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of symptom improvement in the observation group was 83.3% (25/30), which was higher than 60.0% (18/30) in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeat-sensitive moxibustion can improve symptoms of chemotherapy for large intestine cancer.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; drug effects ; Leucovorin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome