1.Analysis of the Therapeutic Differences Among Different Treatment Regimens of Lung-Boosting Moxibustion for Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Jiaxin XU ; Zile JI ; Peng ZHANG ; Jianya YANG ; Yang XIE ; Suyun LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(17):1868-1876
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of lung-boosting moxibustion with different moxibustion doses in the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodsA total of 240 stable COPD patients with lung qi deficiency, lung-spleen qi deficiency, or lung-kidney qi deficiency syndrome were enrolled, all receiving standardized western medical treatment and lung-boosting moxibustion. According to the thickness of the moxa wool, the thickness of the ginger paste, and the treatment duration, patients were randomly divided into eight groups, which were Group A (3.0 cm thickness moxa, 2.5 cm ginger mud, 60 min treatment time), Group B (3.0 cm thickness moxa, 2.5 cm ginger mud, 90 min treatment time), Group C (2.0 cm thickness moxa, 2.5 cm ginger mud, 60 min treatment time), Group D (2.0 cm thickness moxa, 2.5 cm ginger mud, 90 min treatment time), Group E (3.0 cm thickness moxa, 2.0 cm ginger mud, 60 min treatment time), Group F (3.0 cm thickness moxa, 2.0 cm ginger mud, 90 min treatment time), Group G (2.0 cm thickness moxa, 2.0 cm ginger mud, 60 min treatment time), Group H (2.0cm thickness moxa, 2.0cm ginger mud, 90 min treatment time). Treatment was performed once every 15 days for 3 months, with a total of six sessions. The primary outcomes were the scores of the clinical symptoms and signs questionnaire for stable COPD before and after treatment, comprising seven symptom domains (cough, sputum production, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and cyanosis) and the total score. The secondary outcomes included the scores of the modified COPD patient-reported outcome questionnaire (mCOPD-PRO) involving the physical, psychological, and environmental domains and the total score, the scores of the modified Effectiveness Satisfaction Questionnaire for COPD (mESQ-COPD) involving clinical symptoms, work and daily living capacity, environmental adaptability, treatment efficacy, and the total score before and after treatment, the moxibustion sensation scores (heat sensation score and special sensation intensity score) during treatment, and cutaneous temperature (the maximum temperature achieved, the duration of temperature maintained at ≥43 ℃, and the time required to reach 43 ℃). The safety evaluation was carried out after treatment. ResultsDuring the study, 18 patients withdrew, and 222 patients were included in the per-protocol set for analysis, including 27 in Group A, 28 in Group B, 28 in Group C, 29 in Group D, 27 in Group E, 28 in Group F, 27 in Group G, and 28 in Group H. After treatment, the total score on the clinical symptoms and signs questionnaire, as well as the cough and chest tightness symptom scores in Group F were significantly lower than those in other groups (P<0.05). Group F demonstrated statistically lower total mCOPD-PRO score and physical domain score (P<0.05), lower total mESQ-COPD score and the scores for clinical symptoms and treatment efficacy (P < 0.05), as well as higher heat sensation score (P<0.05) than other groups. The maximum temperature was significantly higher in Group E and Group F than in the other groups, while the duration of temperature maintained at ≥43 ℃ was significantly longer in Group F than other groups, and the time required to reach 43 ℃ was significantly shorter in Group E and Group F than in Groups C, D, G, and H (P<0.05). No significant abnormalities were observed in routine blood tests, liver function, renal function, urinalysis, or electrocardiograms before and after treatment in any group. No serious adverse events occurred during the treatment period. ConclusionThere are differences in the efficacy of different moxibustion doses of lung-boosting moxibustion in the treatment of stable COPD. Moxibustion with 3.0 cm thickness moxa, 2.0 cm ginger mud, and 90 min treatment time can obtain relatively superior efficacy while demonstrating a favorable safety profile.
2.Causal relationship between immune cells and allergic rhinitis:a two-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization
Shixiang WEI ; Huiyong YU ; Lei LI ; Lianlian LIU ; Tianyang NIE ; Chuxi XIE ; Zile XIE ; Yinze KE ; Tianyun CHEN ; Chengxiang WANG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(14):39-44
Objective To explore the causal association between immune cells and allergic rhi-nitis using Mendelian randomization(MR)approach.Methods GWAS data for 731 types of im-mune cells and allergic rhinitis were obtained from genome-wide association study(GWAS)databas-es.A two-sample bidirectional MR analysis was conducted,with the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method as the primary analytical approach,and the weighted median method,MR-Egger re-gression,simple mode method,and weighted mode method as supplementary approaches.Sensitivity analyses,including heterogeneity tests,pleiotropy tests,and the leave-one-out method,were per-formed.Bonferroni correction was applied to the preliminary results to enhance their reliability and rigor.Results The two-sample forward MR analysis revealed correlations between 67 immune cell phenotypes and allergic rhinitis.After Bonferroni correction,four immune cell phenotypes were finally identified.Among them,the expression of CD3 on CD39-positive activated CD4 regulatory T cells(OR=0.953,95%CI,0.931 to 0.978,P<0.001,Padj=0.007),the expression of herpesvirus entry mediator(HVEM)on CD45RA-negative CD4+T cells(OR=0.965,95%CI,0.948 to 0.983,P<0.001,Padj=0.008),and the percentage of human leukocyte antigen class DR(HLA-DR)-high-expressing monocytes among leukocytes(OR=0.929,95%CI,0.885 to 0.974,P=0.002,Padj=0.157)were protective factors for allergic rhinitis.In contrast,the percentage of transitional B cells among B cells(OR=1.094,95%CI,1.032 to 1.161,P=0.003,Padj=0.183)was a risk factor for allergic rhinitis.The reverse MR analysis showed no causal relationship between allergic rhinitis and the four immune cell phenotypes.Conclusion The two-sample forward MR analysis confirms a caus-al link between immune cells and allergic rhinitis.MR analysis has the advantages of reducing con-founding factor interference and avoiding reverse causation,providing a theoretical basis for in-depth research on immune mechanisms,sensitive biomarkers,and drug treatment targets of allergic rhinitis.

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