Study on the Mechanism of Yifei Moxibustion Improving Immune Function in COPD Based on Plasma Exosome miRNAs

Summary

This study adopted a randomized controlled design, enrolling 90 patients and 30 healthy volunteers. The patients were randomly divided into the Yifei Moxibustion group, the conventional Western medicine treatment group, and the TCM syndrome differentiation treatment group, and were treated for 3 months. Peripheral venous blood was collected from both the healthy volunteers and the patients to observe indicators such as T cell subsets and immunoglobulins, to evaluate the effect of Yifei Moxibustion on improving immune function. The regulation of target genes by exosomes and potential action targets and molecular mechanisms were preliminarily verified through techniques such as nanoparticle tracking technology and flow cytometry.

Conditions

• Stable COPD Patients

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Yifei moxibustion

The conventional Western medicine treatment is based on the 2023 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the 2021 Chinese Thoracic Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, or a combination therapy are administered.The Yifei moxibustion is applied from the Dazhui to Yaoshu acupoints along the Governor Vessel. Ginger juice is spread over the treatment area, followed by sprinkling moxa powder and covering with mulberry bark paper. A 2.5 cm thick layer of ginger paste and a 3 cm thick layer of moxa wool are then placed on the mulberry bark paper. The moxa wool is ignited and allowed to burn out naturally, being replaced every 30 minutes. After 90 minutes, the ginger paste is removed. The treatment is performed once every 15 days, with 6 sessions constituting one course of treatment, totaling 3 months.

DRUG

Conventional Western medicine treatment

The conventional Western medicine treatment is based on the 2023 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the 2021 Chinese Thoracic Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, or a combination therapy are administered.

DRUG

TCM syndrome differentiation treatment

The conventional Western medicine treatment followes the same protocol as described above. The diagnosis of TCM pattern-based therapy is made in accordance with the TCM Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease issued by the Pulmonary Disease Committee of the Internal Medicine Branch, China Association of Chinese Medicine and the treatment is based on the 2019 Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease issued by the China Association of Chinese Medicine.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Yang Xie, Doctor · the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-05-11

Primary Completion

2025-09-30

Completion

2025-09-30

Countries

• China

Study Locations