title: Electroacupuncture versus Moxibustion for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized, Parallel-Controlled Trial.
abstract: Objective. To compare the impacts of electroacupuncture (EA) and mild moxibustion (Mox) on patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Method. Eighty-two IBS patients were randomly allocated into EA group (n = 41) and Mox group (n = 41) and received corresponding interventions for four weeks. Before and after the treatment, the Visual Analogue Scale for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (VAS-IBS) was used to evaluate the gastrointestinal symptoms and mental well-being; and the expression of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) in sigmoid mucosal tissue were detected. Results. Both EA and Mox can radically improve the total VAS-IBS score (P < 0.05), and EA was found to be more effective in ameliorating the symptom of constipation, while Mox was found to be more effective in ameliorating the symptom of diarrhoea. The abnormal expressions of 5-HT, 5-HT3R, and 5-HT4R in both groups were significantly improved after the treatments (all P < 0.05), and EA was superior to Mox in regulating the abnormally decreased 5-HT4R expression in IBS patients with constipation (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Electroacupuncture and mild moxibustion were both effective in improving IBS symptoms and modulate abnormal expressions of 5-HT, 5-HT3R, and 5-HT4R in the colonic tissue.
authors: Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua 321000, China.
authors: Yue-Hua
authors: YH
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors: Xiao-Jun
authors: XJ
authors: Yin
authors: Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors: An-Qi
authors: AQ
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua 321000, China.
authors: Xing-Kui
authors: XK
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua 321000, China.
authors: Jin-Hua
authors: JH
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors: Chun-Hui
authors: CH
authors: Bao
authors: Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors: Ji-Meng
authors: JM
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors: Huan-Gan
authors: HG
authors: Wu