Effect of moxibustion on survival status and nutritional metabolic factor in tumor-bearing rats with gastric cancer

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of moxibustion on the survival status and nutritional metabolic factors of tumor-bearing rats with gastric cancer and explore the inhibitory effect of moxibustion on the tumor-bearing rats. MethodsA total of 40 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a sham-operated group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 10 rats in each group. Gastric cancer models were established in the model group and the moxibustion group. The rats of all the groups underwent the same constraining procedure for 20 min every day. Additionally, moxibustion was applied at acupoints for 20 min in the rats of the moxibustion group. There were two groups of acupoints. One group included “Zúsānlĭ (足三里ST 36)” “Zhōngwăn (中脘CV12) ” and “Guānyuán (关元CV4) ”. The other group included bilateral “Pĭshū(脾俞BL 20) ” and “Wèishū(胃俞BL 21) ”. Moxibustion was applied for 20 min every day at the acupoints of the two groups alternatively and lasted for 14 days. The survival status of rats was observed and the score of survival status and body weight of rats were recorded every day. At the end of intervention, the orbital blood was collected and the rats were sacrificed for sample collection. The viscera-free body weight was recorded. Using biochemical analyzer, the blood glucose (GLU), albumin (ALB), total protein (TP) and triglyceride (TG) in serum were detected. Results(1) Regarding the score of the survival status, after modeling, the scores in the model group and the moxibustion group were all higher than those of the sham-operation group (both P < 0.05). After intervention, the score in the moxibustion group was lower than that of the model group (P < 0.05). (2) After modeling, the body weight in the moxibustion group and the model group was lower than those of the blank group, indicating a statistical significance (both P < 0.05). The body weight in the moxibustion group was higher than that of the model group after intervention, indicating the statistical significance (P < 0.05). (3) Regarding the viscera-free body weight, it was lower in the model group compared with the sham-operation group, indicating the statistical significance (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the viscera-free body weight was higher in the moxibustion group, indicating the statistical significance (P < 0.04). (4) Regarding the nutritional metabolic factors, compared with the sham-operation group, the levels of GLU and ALB in the model group were lower and TP was higher, presenting the statistical significance (all P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of GLU and ALB were higher in the moxibustion group and TP was lower, presenting the statistical significance (all P < 0.05). ConclusionMoxibustion improves the survival status of tumor-bearing rats with gastric cancer, increases the body weight, the viscera-free body weight and the levels of GLU and ALB in serum and reduces TP of the tumor-bearing rats with gastric cancer and inhibits the growth of gastric cancer.