title: A combined dynamic inhalation device designed for moxa-smoking toxicity testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To design a combined dynamic inhalation device for testing the toxicity induced by moxa smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  The new apparatus (Patent No. 201120101911.5) includes air renewal and recycling systems, a gas generating device, a gas control unit, and a device to measure and control temperature and humidity. Sprague-Dawley rats were tested for acute and sub-chronic toxicity after exposure to moxa-burning smoke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an LC50 of 1.2 x 10(4) mg/m3 in the acute toxicity assays. In sub-chronic toxicity tests the organ coefficients studied showed no significant differences within rats groups of the same gender after treatment with moxa smoke or a month of recovery. However, mean gray degree of lung 70 heat shock protein (HSP70) was significantly elevated in the high dose group in comparison with the low dose group (P < 0.05); mean gray degree, mean optical density, gross area of HSP70 in other organs and caspase-9 parameters showed no significant differences between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that moxa smoke had no overt toxicity in rats. This work provides evidence and reference for the design of dynamic inhalation exposure systems.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Guoshan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009071:Moxibustion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000592:standards*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012906:Smoke