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Healthy VolunteersNCT05213299

Investigate the Change in Facial Pain Threshold During Auricular Acupuncture in Healthy Volunteers

A study testing AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE in people with Healthy Volunteers, run by Bui Pham Minh Man at 1 site in Vietnam.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Background: The effects and biological mechanisms of auricular acupuncture on the human body have been increasingly observed in clinical and experimental studies, particularly the analgesic effects. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 29 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Healthy Volunteers
What is being tested?
AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
66 participants
Where
1 siteVietnam
Study dates
25 Dec 2021to 15 Sep 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 29 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Men and women between the ages of 18 and 29 who are in good health.
  • BMI ranging from 18.5 to 22.9 kg/m2 (classification of IDI \& WPRO for Asians).
  • Voluntarily consented to participate in the study, read, was thoroughly explained, and signed the consent form to participate in the study.
  • Mental and physical well-being were assessed throughout the study period (on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale of 21 with a stress score of 15 points).
  • Vital signs are within normal ranges:
  • Pulse: 60-100 pulses per minute Systolic blood pressure: 90 to 139 mmHg. Diastolic blood pressure: 60 to 89 mmHg. Temperature: 36.3-37.1 degrees Celsius. At rest, the breathing rate is 16 3 times per minute, and the SpO2 level is 92%.
  • Volunteers have no other chronic medical conditions: Thyroid disease, autonomic neuropathy, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory diseases (asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.) etc) by asking for medical history and medical history.

Who cannot join

  • A feeling of fear or anxiety appeared immediately before the test (rated on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale of 21 with stress scores greater than or equal to 15 points).
  • Use of stimulants such as alcohol, beer, coffee, and tobacco within 24 hours before the study.
  • The auricular skin was examined with lesions (scars, lacerations, scratches, bites).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Vietnam1 site
  • Faculty of Traditional medicine - University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City

    Ho Chi Minh City

Other trials in Vietnam

About this study

Official title: Investigate the Change in Facial Pain Threshold During Auricular Acupuncture in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Study

Background: The effects and biological mechanisms of auricular acupuncture on the human body have been increasingly observed in clinical and experimental studies, particularly the analgesic effects. Auricular acupuncture in the Shenmen, Nervous Subcortex, Jaw and Tooth groups has been shown in the Acupuncture 2 textbook of the Faculty of Traditional Medicine - University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City and clinical studies to be effective in reducing facial pain.

This study aims to examine: (1) the change in facial pain threshold when performing auricular acupuncture in the acupoints of Shenmen (TF4), Nervous Subcortex (AT4), Jaw (LO3) and Tooth (LO1) on the left ear, (2) the change in facial pain threshold when performing auricular acupuncture in the acupoints of Shenmen, Nervous Subcortex, Jaw and Tooth on the right ear and (3) examining the unfavorable effects of the procedure.

Read the detailed description

The effects and biological mechanisms of auricular acupuncture on the human body have been increasingly observed in clinical and experimental studies, particularly the analgesic effects. When the downward neurotransmitter pathway is activated, endogenous opioids (beta endorphins) are released, which inhibit pain perception. Furthermore, according to the gate control theory (spinal segmentation mechanism), auricular acupuncture aids in the activation of pain-suppressive stimuli by myelinated afferent fibers (Aβ), as opposed to stimuli with damage from poorly myelinated (Aδ) or unmyelinated (C) fibers. Besides, according to human physiology, the trigeminal nerve is involved in sensory control of the face, has a branching distribution to the skin of the pinna, and has afferent conduction of mechanical stimuli acting on it. Auricular acupuncture in the Shenmen, Nervous Subcortex, Jaw and Tooth groups has been shown in the Acupuncture 2 textbook of the Faculty of Traditional Medicine - University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City and clinical studies to be effective in reducing facial pain.

This was the first study in Vietnam to investigate the effect of auricular acupuncture on the change in facial pain threshold during auricular acupuncture on acupoints such as Shenmen, Nervous Subcortex, Jaw and Tooth. The findings of the study can be used to supplement scientific evidence regarding the effects of auricular acupuncture in the treatment of clinical facial pain.

The investigators performed a randomized, controlled crossover experiments. A crossover study has two advantages over both a parallel study and a non-crossover longitudinal study. First, the influence of confounding covariates is reduced because each crossover patient serves as their own control. In a randomized non-crossover study it is often the case that different treatment-groups are found to be unbalanced on some covariates. In a controlled, randomized crossover designs, such imbalances are implausible (unless covariates were to change systematically during the study). Second, optimal crossover designs are statistically efficient, and so require fewer subjects than do non-crossover designs (even other repeated measures designs). In our study, the subjects are randomly assigned to two arms of the study which receive different treatments. A crossover trial has a repeated measures design in which each patient is assigned to a sequence of two treatments, one of which is auricular acupuncture, and a placebo test is performed on that volunteer a week later. Wilcoxon sign-rank test, paired T test and Pearson's chi-squared test were used for comparison of means.

Being tested
AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE, PLACEBO
Keywords
Auricular Acupuncture

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • AURICULAR ACUPUNCTUREProcedure or surgery

    Auricular acupuncture is a method for diagnosing and treating physical and psychosomatic dysfunctions by stimulating a specific point in the ear. To conducting this intervention, the investigators use press tack needles to perform auricular acupuncture.

  • PLACEBOOther

    For this intervention, instead of needles, the investigators use four pieces of tape.

Study groups in NCT05213299
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
First auricular acupuncture, then sham acupuncture in left earExperimentalParticipants are experienced two phases of our study. The first phase, participants are received auricular acupuncture at TF4, AT4, LO1, LO3 points in the left ear. The second phase, participants are received sham acupuncture at the same points. The facial pain threshold will be recorded before and after performing auricular acupuncture.
Receives: Procedure: AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE; Other: PLACEBO
First auricular acupuncture, then sham acupuncture in right earExperimentalParticipants are experienced two phases of our study. The first phase, participants are received auricular acupuncture at TF4, AT4, LO1, LO3 points in the right ear. The second phase, participants are received sham acupuncture at the same points. The facial pain threshold will be recorded before and after performing auricular acupuncture.
Receives: Procedure: AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE; Other: PLACEBO

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Evaluate the change of facial pain threshold when using auricular acupuncture and using sham acupuncture in the left ear in healthy volunteers by the multi-capacity digital force gage FDIX of Wagner Inc (Newton Unit of Measurement)

    Evaluate the change of facial pain threshold when using auricular acupuncture and using sham acupuncture in the left ear in healthy volunteers by the multi-capacity digital force gage FDIX of Wagner Inc (Newton Unit of Measurement)

    Measured: During procedure

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Evaluate the change of facial pain threshold when using auricular acupuncture and using sham acupuncture in the right ear in healthy volunteers by the multi-capacity digital force gage FDIX of Wagner Inc (Newton Unit of Measurement)

    Evaluate the change of facial pain threshold when using auricular acupuncture and using sham acupuncture in the right ear in healthy volunteers by the multi-capacity digital force gage FDIX of Wagner Inc (Newton Unit of Measurement)

    Measured: During procedure

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Jan 2022
  2. Study start25 Dec 2021
  3. Primary completion1 Jul 2022
  4. Study completion15 Sep 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Model description
2-arm crossover design, randomized controlled trial.
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
66 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05213299
Sponsor's protocol ID
FWA00023448
Status last verified
Dec 2022
First submitted
21 Dec 2021
Last updated
6 Dec 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Demographic characteristic and outcome data will be shared

Publications

  • Ahn C. B., S. J. Lee, J. C. Lee, J. P. Fossion, A. Sant'Ana. A clinical pilot study comparing traditional acupuncture to combined acupuncture for treating headache, trigeminal neuralgia and retro-auricular pain in facial palsy. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2011;4(1): 29-43. 2011. De Salles-Neto F. T., J. S. de Paula, Jgaj Romero, C. M. Almeida-Leite. Acupuncture for pain, mandibular function and oral health-related quality of life in patients with masticatory myofascial pain: A randomised controlled trial. J Oral Rehabil. 2020;47(10): 1193-1201. Hou P. W., H. C. Hsu, Y. W. Lin, N. Y. Tang, C. Y. Cheng, C. L. Hsieh. The History, Mechanism, and Clinical Application of Auricular Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:495684. Iunes D. H., C. Chaves Éde, C. Moura Cde, B. Côrrea, L. C. Carvalho, A. M. Silva, et al. Role of Auriculotherapy in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders with Anxiety in University Students. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:430143. Oliveri A. C., J. A. Clelland, J. Jackson, C. Knowles. Effects of auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on experimental pain threshold. Phys Ther. 1986 Jan;66(1):12-6. Kaniusas E., S. Kampusch, M. Tittgemeyer, F. Panetsos, R. F. Gines, M. Papa, et al. Current Directions in the Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation I - A Physiological Perspective. Front Neurosci. 2019 Aug 9;13:854.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE in people with Healthy Volunteers, run by Bui Pham Minh Man at 1 site in Vietnam.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Dec 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Vietnam. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Evaluate the change of facial pain threshold when using auricular acupuncture and using sham acupuncture in the left ear in healthy volunteers by the multi-capacity digital force gage FDIX of Wagner Inc (Newton Unit of Measurement) (time frame: During procedure). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05213299, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Dec 2022.

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