Clinical trials

This study adopts a multicenter, pragmatic, umbrella randomized controlled trial design integrated with the shared decision-making (SDM) model. Patients are stratified into four subgroups based on their core psychosomatic symptom phenotypes (single symptom vs. multiple comorbid symptoms). Participants are randomly assigned to the intervention group or control group at a 2:1 allocation ratio. For the intervention group, personalized interventions (including manual acupuncture, auricular point pressing, and combined manual acupuncture plus auricular point pressing) are selected via shared decision-making between clinicians and patients, while the control group receives routine nursing care. The study evaluates the improvement efficacy of single symptoms and the synergistic relief effect of multiple co-occurring symptoms across all psychosomatic phenotype subgroups under the shared decision-making framework. This design addresses the limitation of conventional randomized controlled trials that only focus on individual symptoms, and better fits real-world clinical scenarios characterized by multimorbid coexistence.

The main goal of this study is to determine whether acupuncture at the Heel Pain Point, a distal acupuncture point located on the palm, is an effective and safe treatment for heel pain syndrome. This randomized controlled trial compares Heel Pain Point acupuncture with manual therapy and sham acupuncture to evaluate both clinical efficacy and functional recovery. Specifically, the researchers aim to: Measure Pain Relief: Evaluate whether Heel Pain Point acupuncture provides greater pain reduction than manual therapy and sham acupuncture using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Assess Walking Function: Determine whether the intervention improves gait performance and foot function through three-dimensional gait analysis and the Maryland Foot Score. Evaluate Immediate and Long-term Effects: Examine both the immediate analgesic effect after each treatment session and the sustained clinical benefits after completion of treatment and during follow-up. Ensure Safety: Monitor adverse events and treatment-related complications throughout the study to confirm the safety of the intervention. Target Population The study is recruiting participants who meet the following criteria: Age: Adults between 40 and 70 years. Diagnosis: Individuals diagnosed with heel pain syndrome (primarily plantar fasciitis) according to established diagnostic criteria. Disease Duration: Symptoms lasting less than two months, with no previous related treatment. Typical Symptoms: Participants experiencing characteristic medial plantar heel pain, especially during the first steps after rest, localized tenderness at the plantar fascia insertion, limited ankle dorsiflexion, and abnormal foot posture. Exclusions: Individuals with heel trauma, gout, osteomyelitis, inflammatory disorders, severe neurological deficits, contraindications to acupuncture, pregnancy, or serious systemic diseases (such as severe cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled diabetes). Primary Research Endpoint The primary endpoint is designed to determine whether Heel Pain Point acupuncture provides superior clinical benefit compared with manual therapy and sham acupuncture. Pain Response Rate: The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of participants achieving at least a 50% reduction in VAS pain score from baseline after one complete treatment course. Pain Intensity: Changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores will also be assessed to quantify pain reduction. Objective Functional Recovery: Three-dimensional gait analysis will be used to evaluate improvements in gait speed, single-leg stability, foot progression angle, initial contact angle, push-off angle, and ground clearance. Evaluation Timing: Primary outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment sessions (5 and 10 minutes), throughout the treatment period, after completion of the seven-session treatment course, and at 2-month and 6-month follow-up visits. These assessments are designed to capture both immediate analgesic effects and sustained clinical outcomes.

This study evaluates a non-invasive electrical stimulation therapy applied to specific acupoints on the fingers (called Jing-Well points) to improve thinking and memory problems after stroke. Purpose: Many stroke survivors develop cognitive difficulties (problems with memory, attention, and decision-making). Current treatments are limited. This study tests whether gentle electrical stimulation to hand acupoints can improve these symptoms. Who can participate: Adults aged \[35-80\] who have had an ischemic stroke and now have mild to moderate cognitive impairment. What happens: Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either (1) active electrical stimulation to hand Jing-Well points, (2) sham (fake) stimulation. Treatment will last 4 weeks, 6 sessions per week, each 30 minutes, with a stimulation frequency of 10 Hz and intensity adjusted to each participant's tolerance. Cognitive tests and brain imaging will be done before and after treatment. Potential benefits: Participants may experience improved cognitive function. The study will also help researchers understand how this therapy works in the brain. Risks: The electrical stimulation may cause mild tingling or skin irritation at the electrode sites. Brain imaging is non-invasive and safe. All procedures will be performed by trained professionals.

This study intends to design and conduct a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled, superiority trial to evaluate the symptom-relieving effects of Shouhui Tongbian Capsule on opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in cancer patients, including defecation frequency, stool consistency, symptom scores, quality of life and other indicators, and to systematically observe its safety in clinical application. Through analysis of intestinal flora, the mechanism of Shouhui Tongbian Capsule in regulating intestinal function will be revealed. By screening the optimal population for Shouhui Tongbian Capsule in the treatment of OIC, evidence will be provided for optimizing individualized medication. The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of responders at week 2 of treatment, defined as an increase of ≥1 in the average weekly number of spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) compared with baseline and at least one SBM during that week. Secondary endpoints include weekly number of SBMs, weekly number of complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), Bristol Stool Form Scale score, straining score, Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) score, and Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) score. Safety endpoints mainly include the incidence of adverse events and changes in vital signs, electrocardiography, routine blood and urine tests, as well as liver and renal function before and after treatment. Meanwhile, based on clinical study data, the characteristics of the optimal population for Shouhui Tongbian Capsule in treating OIC will be identified to further enrich the application scenarios of this capsule for OIC.

This study aims to design and conduct a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled, sham-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture for postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome (PGS) after digestive tract tumor surgery and systematically assess its clinical safety. By measuring gastrointestinal hormones, inflammatory factors, proteomics and metabolomics, we intend to explore the mechanism underlying the improvement of postoperative gastrointestinal motility by electroacupuncture. We will identify the optimal population for electroacupuncture in PGS by analyzing baseline characteristics and efficacy correlations, to provide evidence for individualized clinical intervention. The primary endpoint is the Daily Diary of Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI-DD) score at Day 14 of treatment. Finally, based on clinical data, this study will define the eligible population and optimal protocol of electroacupuncture for PGS, and further standardize and promote its clinical application in postoperative complications of cancer.

The purpose of this pragmatic, multicenter, randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture and auricular acupressure for improving joint pain related to endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients. A total of 200 participants will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups: the Electroacupuncture Group (n=80), the Auricular Acupressure Group (n=80), or the Waitlist Control Group (n=40), using a central stratified block randomization method. The primary objective is to compare changes in Worst Pain Item score among the three groups from baseline to the end of the treatment period, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF). Secondary objectives include assessing pain interference, overall health status through the PROMIS scale, and quality of life specifically related to endocrine therapy using the FACT-ES. Additionally, the study will evaluate analgesic medication use (QAQ), patient expectations (Acupuncture Expectancy Scale), treatment adherence, and the occurrence of adverse events. By comparing these interventions, this study aims to generate high-quality evidence for the management of treatment-related arthralgia in breast cancer survivors.

Employing a nested design, a partially randomized preference study (Study II) is embedded within a prospective, multicenter cohort study (Study I). The cohort study, with acupuncture as the exposure factor, explores the clinical efficacy and health economic value of different integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment protocols. The nested partially randomized preference study of different acupuncture protocols generates high-level evidence through randomized cohorts while supplementing real-world decision-making with preference cohort data.

This clinical trial aims to assess whether electroacupuncture (EA) can alleviate the psychoneurological symptom cluster (including pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression and subjective cognitive decline) in breast cancer survivors, and to evaluate the safety of this therapy. Researchers will conduct a randomized controlled trial of electroacupuncture (EA) as compared to sham electroacupuncture (SA) in breast cancer survivors with the psychoneurological symptom cluster who are currently being treated with endocrine therapy. Participants will receive 16 treatments over 8 weeks. The EA group will receive true acupuncture with continuous wave stimulation (2Hz, intensity as tolerated) administered for 30 minutes per session. The SA group will receive sham acupuncture using blunt (non-penetrating) needles that contact the skin without penetration, along with a 30-second transient device activation instead of the 30-minute continuous stimulation. Treatment outcomes for pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression and subjective cognitive function will be assessed. The primary outcome is response rate of the psychoneurological symptom cluster after 8 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes include changes from baseline in the scores of each of the six psychoneurological symptoms.

The goal of this retrospective cohort study is to determine if Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) can lower the risk of post-stroke pneumonia. With an active comparator, new-user design, we selected new users of Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) as the reference group to compare against new users of ACEIs/ARBs.

Guided by traditional meridian and acupoint theory, conducting standardized, large-sample, multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the clinical efficacy of pattern differentiation and meridian-based acupoint selection for biliary colic across multiple levels can provide high-quality research evidence for developing evidence-based guidelines or optimal treatment protocols. This holds significant importance for enhancing the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating biliary colic and promoting its widespread clinical application. Therefore, this study will conduct a multicenter, large-sample randomized controlled trial comparing the clinical effects of acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB34) versus drug therapy for acute cholecystitis biliary colic. It aims to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for acute cholecystitis biliary colic.