Moxibustion treatment increases the survival rate of lung infection of patients bed-ridden due to osteoporotic fracture of the spine via regulation of the inflammatory responses

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the potential role of moxibustion (MOX) in the treatment of lung infection in patients bed-ridden due to osteoporotic fracture of the spine. 96 senile patients with pulmonary infection who were bed-ridden due to osteoporotic fracture of the spine were grouped into a MOX (-) group and a MOX (+) group. An animal model was established as a SHAM group, a PRIMED group, a MOX 15' group and a MOX 30' group. For the patients' study, we found that the survival rate was higher for patients who received MOX. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6 and IL-18 were down-regulated while IL-10 was up-regulated by MOX. MOX time-dependently increased the survival while reducing the bacteria left in infected mice. Moxibustion significantly alleviated the inflammatory responses, thus leading to a better survival rate of patients bed-ridden due to osteoporotic fracture of the spine.