Effect of DU meridian acupuncture and temporal three-needle on vascular protection mechanisms in patients with acute cerebral infarction: a randomized controlled evaluator-blinded clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether electroacupuncture targeting the DU meridian combined with Temporal Triple Needling (Sanjian) improves cerebrovascular endothelial function and reduces NIHSS scores in acute ischemic stroke patients.
Results Summary
The study evaluates the clinical efficacy of DU meridian acupuncture combined with Temporal Triple Needling, focusing on modulatory effects on monocyte subpopulations and angiogenesis-mediated vascular protection. Results are pending as the study is prospective, but the design suggests potential benefits in stroke rehabilitation.
Population
66 patients with acute ischemic stroke, randomly assigned to control and acupuncture groups.
Effective Dosage
10 days of intervention (frequency not specified).
Duration
10 days
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DU meridian acupuncture combined with Temporal Triple Needling (Sanjian) therapy | increase | cerebrovascular endothelial function | acute ischemic stroke patients | - | improves | #1 |
DU meridian acupuncture combined with Temporal Triple Needling (Sanjian) therapy | decrease | NIHSS score | acute ischemic stroke patients | - | reducing | #2 |
DU meridian acupuncture combined with Temporal Triple Needling (Sanjian) therapy | decrease | further disease progression | acute ischemic stroke patients | - | preventing | #3 |
BACKGROUND: The incidence of acute ischemic stroke has been rising steadily in China and globally, with its high mortality and disability rates significantly affecting quality of life. As an important adjunct therapy, acupuncture has been widely implemented in stroke management. Emerging studies have investigated the effects of DU meridian and Chong Mai acupuncture on ischemic hemiparesis; however, the vascular protective mechanisms of electroacupuncture therapy targeting these meridians require further elucidation in stroke rehabilitation research. OBJECTIVE: This prospective cohort study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy and limitations of DU meridian acupuncture combined with Temporal Triple Needling (Sanjian) therapy in stroke rehabilitation. The intervention's therapeutic potential is evaluated through its modulatory effects on CD14+/CD14- monocyte subpopulations within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), with particular focus on angiogenesis-mediated vascular protection mechanisms. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with acute ischemic stroke will be randomly assigned 1:1 to control (conventional basal therapy, n = 33) and acupuncture (conventional standard stroke care + acupuncture, n = 33) groups for 10 days of intervention. The primary outcome is NIHSS score. The secondary outcomes: BMI and mRS scores, the level of TNF-A and IL-1B in serum, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Endocan ES, CD14+ and CD14- levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. DISCUSSION: The aim of this study is to investigate whether electroacupuncture targeting the DU meridian combined with Temporal Triple Needling (Sanjian) improves cerebrovascular endothelial function in acute ischemic stroke patients, thereby reducing the NIHSS score and preventing further disease progression. This study also aims to contribute positively to the development of relevant clinical treatment protocols and to facilitate further research into the underlying mechanisms of these effects. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry ITMCTR2024000508.