Clinical trials

The main goal of this study is to determine if a specific acupuncture technique-targeting a "heel pain point" located on the hand-is an effective and safe way to treat heel pain. Specifically, the researchers want to: Measure Pain Relief: Evaluate how effectively the treatment reduces pain levels. Check Physical Function: Determine if the treatment helps patients walk and move more comfortably. Ensure Safety: Track any side effects or adverse reactions to confirm the treatment is safe for patients. Target Population The study is looking for participants who meet the following criteria: Age: Adults between 40 and 70 years old. Diagnosis: Individuals diagnosed with heel pain (plantar fasciitis). Duration: People who have had the pain for less than two months and have not recently received other related treatments. Typical Symptoms: Individuals who experience significant pain during their first few steps in the morning or after sitting for a long time. Exclusions: The study excludes people with recent foot injuries, gout, or serious underlying health conditions such as severe diabetes or heart disease. Primary Research Endpoint The "Primary Endpoint" is the specific result the researchers use to decide if the treatment was successful: The 50% Reduction Goal: The study measures the "response rate," which is the percentage of patients whose pain score decreases by at least 50% compared to their starting pain level. Evaluation Timing: This success measure is evaluated after the patient completes one full course of treatment, which consists of 10 sessions given over approximately 20 days.

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.