Objective: To explore the mechanism of herb-partitioned moxibustion for ulcerative colitis(UC) through observing the colonic mucosal histopathological changes and the expression of nuclear factor kappaB(NF-kB) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ(PPARγ) mRNA of UC rats. Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group and a model group. UC model was established by general immunological plus local irritation method. After model identification, rats in the model group were randomly divided into a model group, a herb-partitioned moxibustion(HPM) group and a Western medicine(Salicylazosulfapyridine, SASP) group. Rats in the HPM group received treatment at bilateral Tianshu(ST 25) and Dachangshu(BL 25), two cones for each point, once a day for 7 d. SASP group rats were gavaged with SASP. The pathological scores were evaluated according to hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining of colonic tissues. We used light microscopy to observe degree of colonic mucosal damage and the quantitative polymerase chain reaction(QPCR) to detect the expression of NF-κBp65 and PPARγ in colorectal mucosa. Results: Compared with the normal group, histopathological scores were significantly higher in the model group(P<0.05); compared with the model group, the scores were decreased significantly in the HPM group and the SASP group. Compared with the normal group, NF-κBp65 mRNA expression was increased with statistical significance in the model group(P<0.05); compared with the model group, NF-κBp65 mRNA expressions were decreased significantly in the HPM group and the SASP group. Compared with the normal group, PPARγ mRNA expression was increased significantly in the model group(P<0.05); compared with the model group, PPARγ mRNA expressions were decreased significantly in the HPM group and the SASP group. Conclusion: HPM could improve the mucosa damage of UC rats, which is possibly through down-regulating NF-κBp65 to achieve anti-inflammatory effect. Whether decreasing the PPARγ mRNA is possibly involved in preven
Objective：To observe the clinical effect and syndrome scores improvements of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion（HPM） and ginger-partitioned moxibustion（GPM） in treating ulcerative colitis（UC）.Methods：A total of 65 eligible cases were randomly divided into a HPM group（n=32） and a GPM group（n=33） according to their visiting order.Bilateral Tianshu（ST 25） and Dachangshu（BL 25） were selected for the HPM or the GPM treatment once daily,12 d as a treatment course with a 3-day interval,6 courses in all.The clinical effect,syndrome scale and Mayo scale were evaluated and compared between the two groups.Results：Of the 65 cases enrolled,2 cases dropped out in the HPM group and 3 cases dropped out in the GPM group,30 cases of each group finished the treatment courses.The total effective rate is 93.3% in HPM group and 86.7% in the GPM group,there was no statistically significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups（P〉0.05）;there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in score evaluation of lasting time of abdominal pain and frequency of diarrhea,HPM is prior to GPM（P=0.032,P=0.044）.There are no statistical significant differences between the two groups in scores evaluation of general symptom,three main symptoms,quality of life（QOL）,frequency and severity of abdominal pain,times,and pattern of diarrhea（all P〉0.05）.There was a statistical significant difference in the improvement of Mayo score between the two groups,and HPM was superior to GPM（P=0.048）.Conclusion：HPM and GPM are both promising ways to treat UC,and the total effect is quite similar.HPM is superior to GPM in the improvement of lasting time of abdominal pain and frequency of diarrhea,and also the Mayo score.
