A novel fumigation moxibustion device has been designed to enable adjustable and controllable moxa smoke temperature, maintaining a relatively stable fumigation temperature while improving the utilization efficiency of moxa smoke. The device consists of five main components: a temperature control chamber, fumigation outlet, temperature measurement module, moxa smoke filtration chamber, and elastic band. It is compact, refined, and easy to operate. The device allows users to set the desired fumigation temperature according to therapeutic needs and simultaneously filters and eliminates residual moxa smoke after treatment. This design addresses the challenges of traditional fumigation moxibustion therapy, including unstable moxa smoke temperature, difficulty in regulation, low utilization efficiency, and high dependence on manual operation. It contributes to the promotion and application of fumigation moxibustion therapy and supports the establishment of a standardized moxibustion system.
Moxibustion/methods* ; Humans ; Equipment Design ; Fumigation ; Temperature

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the role of hippocampal glutamate system in regulating HPA axis in mediating the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at the heart meridian for improving myocardial injury in rats with acute myocardial ischemia (AMI). METHODS: Male SD rats were randomized into sham-operated group, AMI group, EA group, and L-glutamic acid+EA group (n=9). Rat models of AMI were established by left descending coronary artery ligation, and EA was applied at the "Shenmen-Tongli" segment; the rats in L-glutamic acid+EA group were subjected to microinjection of L-glutamic acid into the bilateral hippocampus prior to AMI modeling and EA treatment. Cardiac functions of the rats were evaluated using echocardiography, and ECG and heart rate variation (HRV) were analyzed using PowerLab and LabChart. Pathological changes in the myocardial tissue was examined using HE staining, and serum levels of myocardial enzymes were detected with ELISA. Myocardial expressions of TH and GAP43 were detected with immunohistochemistry, and colocalization of VGLUT1, VGLUT2 and c-fos were observed using immunofluorescence staining; the expressions of VGLUT1, VGLUT2, NMDAR1 and NMDAR2B were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: The rat models of AMI showed significantly decreased LVEF and LVFS and increased serum levels of myocardial enzymes in positive correlation with the HPA axis. Numerous TH- and GAP43-positive cells were observed in the hippocampus, where the expressions of NE and E, neurons colabeled with VGLUT1, VGLUT2 and c-fos, and expressions of VGLUT1, VGLUT2, NMDAR1, NMDAR2B and Glu increased significantly. All these changes were significantly improved by interventions with EA as compared with those in AMI and L-Glutamate+EA groups. CONCLUSIONS In rats with AMI, EA at the heart meridian can regulate excessive glutamate release in the hippocampus, thereby inhibiting HPA axis hyperactivity and reducing sympathetic nerve activity to protect the myocardial tissue.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Rats ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism* ; Myocardial Ischemia/physiopathology* ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiopathology* ; Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiopathology* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism*

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA)on glutamate(Glu),metabotropic glutamate receptor 2/3(mGluR2/3)and apoptosis related proteins expression in hippocampus in rats with acute myocardial ischemia(AMI);To explore the mechanism of EA against AMI.Methods Totally 50 SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group,model group,EA group and inhibitor group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the sham-operation group,the rats were treated with ligation at the left anterior descending coronary artery to establish AMI model.The rats in the EA group was treated with EA at"Shenmen"and"Tongli",30 minutes each time,once a day for 3 consecutive days.The rats in the inhibitor group were treated with injection of LY341459 via the lateral ventricle 30 min after modeling.HE staining was used to observe myocardial tissue morphology,and ELISA was used to detect Caspase-3 activity in myocardial tissue and Glu content in hippocampal tissue,immunofluorescence staining was used to detect mGluR2/3 expression in hippocampal tissue,TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis in hippocampal tissue cells,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of PI3K,Akt,and Caspase-3 protein in hippocampal tissue.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the myocardial cells of the model group rats showed sparse and swelling with severe infiltration of inflammatory cells;the activity of Caspase-3 in myocardial tissue significantly increased,and the Glu content,positive expression of mGluR2/3,number of apoptotic cells in hippocampal tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expressions of PI3K and Akt proteins in hippocampal tissue were significantly decreased,while the expression of Caspase-3 protein significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,myocardial cell edema and inflammatory cell infiltration were reduced in the EA group and inhibitor group,the activity of Caspase-3 in myocardial tissue was significantly decreased,the Glu content,positive expression of mGluR2/3,and number of apoptotic cells in hippocampal tissue were significantly reduced(P<0.01),the expressions of PI3K and Akt proteins in hippocampal tissue significantly increased,while the expression of Caspase-3 protein significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion EA can improve myocardial injury in AMI rats,and its mechanism may be related to activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,inhibition of hippocampal mGluR2/3 overexpression,reduction of Glu accumulation,inhibition of apoptosis of hippocampal neurons and reduction of neurotoxicity.

A fixation device for experimental rat in moxibustion was developed. Using this device, the points for moxibustion can be fully exposed, and the temperature of moxibustion be relatively constant. This fixation device consists of three parts: fixation seat, fixation clip and moxa-stick holder; characterized as the flexible fixation and easy operation. The device is advantaged at simultaneous operation of moxibustion at many points and supports the point combinations. It makes up for the shortcomings of the existing fixation devices, reduces the workload of moxibustion in experimental rat and improves the work efficiency and experimental safety of experimenters.
Animals ; Rats ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Equipment Design ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) is an acute cardiomyopathy caused by intense mental stimulation or physical stress. Currently, few interventions are effective in reducing mortality, improving prognosis, or preventing recurrence in acute or chronic stages of SC. Therefore, it is particularly important to establish a reliable and effective SC animal model to study the pathogenesis and prevention of SC. In this paper, the preparation methods and evaluation indexes of SC models at home and abroad were reviewed, including the operation details of catecholamine hormone injection method, binding method, binding combined with electroshock method, binding combined with dehydration method, vagus nerve electrical stimulation and other modeling methods, as well as evaluation indexes such as open field test, cardiac ultrasound, electrocardiogram and ELISA, striving to provide useful reference for model selection and establishment of SC research.

Objective:To investigate the current application of colonoscopy at hospitals in China.Methods:From November 2019 to January 2020, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among gastroenterologists and colonoscopists in hospitals of different levels. The contents of questionnaire survey included basic information of colonoscopy at the respondent′s hospital, protocols and patient education of bowel preparation, implementation of colonoscopy quality control, and colonoscopists′ understanding of polypectomy techniques and post-polypectomy follow-up.Results:A total of 236 valid questionnaires were collected, involving 187 hospitals, and 143 (76.5%) had an annual operation capacity of more than 5 000 cases. In terms of bowel preparation, split-dosed polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder (PEG) was the most commonly used (60.4%, 113/187) and the most common volume of PEG was 3 L (67.4%, 126/187). Verbal (90.9%, 170/187) and written (79.7%, 149/187) instructions were given more often than other methods for patient education of bowel preparation. Antifoaming agent was routinely used in 124 (66.3%) hospitals. In terms of quality control, only 11.5% (20/174) hospitals implemented all four measures. In terms of polypectomy techniques, 98.1% (203/207) colonoscopists chose hot snare polypectomy or endoscopic mucosal resection for lesions of diameter>1 cm, while options varied for lesions of diameter<1 cm. The interval of follow-up after polypectomy recommended by colonoscopists was shorter than that by guidelines.Conclusion:Several problems are found in the survey in the application of colonoscopy in China, i. e., patient education of bowel preparation is not diversified; quality control of colonoscopy still needs to be strengthened; polypectomy techniques and follow-up after polypectomy need to be further standardized.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of estimating adenoma detection rate (ADR) based on polyp detection rate (PDR) in colonscopy.Methods:In the present single-center retrospective study, the conversion coefficient was calculated based on the total colonoscopy cases in 2017. ADR of each colonoscopists was estimated based on PDR and conversion coefficient, which was then verified compared with the actual ADR for consistency.Results:A total of 25 112 colonoscopies with 20 experienced colonoscopists were included. The overall conversion coefficient was 0.483. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the actual ADR and the estimated ADR was 0.818 (95% CI: 0.596-0.924, P<0.01). Conclusion:It is feasible to estimate ADR based on PDR, but this method is only an expediency. More attention should be paid to the establishment of a standardized electronic database.

Both risks of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and of BD in patients with T2DM are both significantly higher than the general population, indicating the two disorders may share the common pathogenesis. Patients with BD and co-morbid T2DM behave poorly on managing their own behavior on health, thus increased risks of outcomes on related complications, disability and mortality. The article reviewed the epidemiologic features, health hazards, relations and possible mechanisms between BD and T2DM. Strategies and measures on intervention of BD and T2DM were also involved in the text to improve the awareness and research ability of the researchers.

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) proteins in ankle joints of rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of RA.Methods: Adjuvant arthritis (AA) rat models were induced and used as rat models of RA. Rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group and a saline group. Rats in the normal and model groups were not treated; rats in the moxibustion group accepted treatment by moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenshu (BL 23) after modeling; rats in the saline group were injected with 0.15 mL saline to the bottom of the left hind paw and had no other treatments. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of rats' ankle joints under light microscope. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB in ankle joints of rats.Results: Compared with the normal group, the rats' ankle joints in the model group showed disorganization, joint surface defect, and significantly increased mean optical density (MOD) of TNF-α and NF-κB (allP<0.05). After moxibustion treatment, rats in the moxibustion group showed repaired ankle tissues, smooth joint surface without defects, decreased MOD of TNF-α and NF-κB than those in the model group (allP<0.05). Rats in the saline group had no damage to ankle joints, while TNF-α and NF-κB were significantly different from those in the model group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Moxibustion could down-regulate the expressions of NF-κB and TNF-α protein in ankle joints of RA rats, and produce an anti-inflammatory effect to promote tissue repair.

Objective: To compare amplification refractory mutation system(ARMS) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in the detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to investigate the clinical value of ddPCR. Methods: A total of 79 specimens of NSCLC, including 22 cases of cell block, 18 cases of surgical specimens, 12 cases of biopsy specimens and 27 cases of plasma samples, were analyzed for the mutation status of EGFR gene by ARMS and droplet digital PCR method. Results: In 18 cases of surgical specimens and 12 cases of biopsy specimens, the detection results by the two methods were identical with positive rates of 9/18 and 5/12, respectively. In 22 cases of effusion cell blocks, ARMS detected 19-del and L858R of EGFR gene in two cases, in which droplet digital PCR detected 19-del+ T790M mutations in one case and L858R+ T790M mutation in another. L858R mutation was detected by droplet digital PCR in one case but ARMS assay was negative. The remaining 19 cases were consistent by the two methods. In blood samples, the positive rate was 33.3%(9/27) by ARMS and 37.0%(10/27) by droplet digital PCR. Two cases showed L858R and 19-del+ T790M mutation by droplet digital PCR but ARMS assay detected only 19-del. The remaining 25 cases were consistent by the two methods. Conclusion Droplet digital PCR method is more sensitive and accurate than ARMS for the detection of EGFR mutations in pleural fluid and blood samples, can be used in clinical test.