title: [Impact of huolong moxibustion on TNF-α and pain degree in the patients of discogenic low back pain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the impact of huolong moxibustion on pain degree in the patients of discogenic low back pain and the effect mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five patients were randomized into an observation group (33 cases) and a control group (32 cases). In the observation group, huolong moxibustion was applied along the distribution of the Governor Vessel, once a day. In the control group, the routine traction combined with massage therapy was adopted, once a day. In the two groups, the treatment was given 6 times a week, at interval of 1 day. In 3 weeks of treatment, pain score and serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) level were compared with those before treatment in the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with those before treatment, pain score and TNF-α level were reduced significantly after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.05). The results in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (pain score: 1.95 ± 0.61 vs 2.11 ± 0.61; TNF-α: (1.33 ± 0.30) nmol/L vs (1.55 ± 0.48) nmol/L, (both P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Huolong moxibustion significantly alleviates pain in the patients of discogenic low back pain and its effect mechanism is possibly relevant with TNF-α reducing.
authors.forename: Zhongkai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Suli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weijing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.lastname: Liu Chunjing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009071:Moxibustion; D010147:Pain Measurement; D014143:Traction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha