[Effects of acupoint heat-sensitization moxibustion on the gastrin and motilin in chronic diarrhea patients of Pi-Shen deficiency syndrome].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupoint heat-sensitization moxibustion on chronic diarrhea patients as well as its effects on the levels of gastrointestinal neurotic mediators such as serum gastrin (GAS) and plasma motilin (MTL).

METHODS

Sixty chronic diarrhea patients of Pi-Shen deficiency syndrome were randomly assigned to Group A (30 cases, treated with acupoint heat-sensitization moxibustion, once daily) and Group B (30 cases, treated with Changtai Oral Liquid, 10 mL each time, three times daily). The therapeutic course was 4 weeks. Another 20 healthy volunteers were recruited as the health control group. The levels of serum GAS and plasma MTL were detected using radioimmunoassay before and after treatment. The cured rate, the markedly effective case, the effective case, the ineffective case, and the total effective rate were calculated by the end of the treatment.

RESULTS

Before treatment the serum GAS level was lower and the plasma MTL level higher in the two patient groups than in the health control group with statistical difference (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the symptom integral between the two patient groups and the health control group (P>0.05). After treatment the serum GAS level increased, the plasma MTL level and the symptom integral decreased in the two patient groups, showing statistical difference when compared with the same group before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment the symptom integral was lower in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the GAS and MTL levels between the two patient groups (P>0.05). The total effective rate for clinical symptoms was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B with statistical difference (93.3% vs 73.3%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The therapy of acupoint heat-sensitization moxibustion was effective for chronic diarrhea patients of Pi-Shen deficiency syndrome. It could regulate the levels of serum GAS and plasma MTL and improve the patients' clinical symptoms.