Effectiveness of Electro-Press Needle for Menopause-associated Hot Flashes

NCT ID: NCT04995107

Last Updated: 2021-12-23

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

122 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-12-20

Study Completion Date

2023-06-30

Brief Summary

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The investigators plan to conduct the randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of electro-press needle (EPN), a novel acupuncture needle combining shallow and gentle insertion with transdermal electrical stimulation, on menopause-associated hot flash in comparison with waiting-list group among women during menopausal transition and postmenopausal periods.

Detailed Description

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As the most common type of menopause-associated symptoms, hot flashes affect up to 85% of women aging between 40 and 65 years . In China, women suffer from hot flushes as long as 4 to 5 years on average, some of whom may bear the symptoms for 12 years.Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is generally recommended to relieve menopause-associated hot flashes.However, long-term usage of HRT may increase the incidence of endometrial, breast and ovarian cancer, thrombosis and strokes.Results of previous studies indicated that acupuncture might help to relieve the symptoms.There is insufficient evidence supporting its effectiveness for relieving the hot flash symptom.

Conditions

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Hot Flashes Acupuncture Therapy Perimenopausal Disorder Postmenopausal Symptoms

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors
The statisticians and outcome assessors will be blinded to the allocation.

Study Groups

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Electro-Press Needle group

Body acupoints of Yintang (GV29), Dazhui (GV14), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Zigong (EX-CA1), and bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6) and auricular acupoints of Heart (CO15), Chuiqian (LO4) and Shenmen (TF4) will be selected for treatment. Auricular acupoints on right and left ear will be stimulated alternatively, one side on each time.The treatment will last 40mins for each session, 3 sessions a week (ideally every other day) for a succession of 6 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Electro Press needle

Intervention Type DEVICE

Body acupoints will be stimulated by the press needles 0.25mm in diameter and 2mm in length and ear acupoints will be stimulated by the press needles 0.25mm in diameter and 0.9mm in length (all from ZhenXing Brand, Hangzhou Yuanli Medical Appliance Factory, China). After sterilization of the local skin, the needle will be pressed to the acupoints and the tape will be sticked to the skin. Then, the electric device (φ44×15.8mm Type ZXHPAMDZB-02C) together with the electrode patch will be sticked to the surface of skin (on top of the sticky tapes of the press needle) in the area of CV4 and bilateral EX-CA1, and bilateral SP6 respectively. The electric device will be switch to the mode of "dense intermittent wave", and the current intensity will be increased gradually till the muscles around jumps slightly.All the needles on the body acupoints will be removed after each session, while those on the auricular acupoints can be kept for as long as 6 hours (removed before going to bed).

Waiting-list group

Participants in the waiting-list group will receive no intervention for 6 weeks and be followed up till weeks 30.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Electro Press needle

Body acupoints will be stimulated by the press needles 0.25mm in diameter and 2mm in length and ear acupoints will be stimulated by the press needles 0.25mm in diameter and 0.9mm in length (all from ZhenXing Brand, Hangzhou Yuanli Medical Appliance Factory, China). After sterilization of the local skin, the needle will be pressed to the acupoints and the tape will be sticked to the skin. Then, the electric device (φ44×15.8mm Type ZXHPAMDZB-02C) together with the electrode patch will be sticked to the surface of skin (on top of the sticky tapes of the press needle) in the area of CV4 and bilateral EX-CA1, and bilateral SP6 respectively. The electric device will be switch to the mode of "dense intermittent wave", and the current intensity will be increased gradually till the muscles around jumps slightly.All the needles on the body acupoints will be removed after each session, while those on the auricular acupoints can be kept for as long as 6 hours (removed before going to bed).

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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EPN

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged between 40-60 years old;
2. Scoring 14 points or more in at least one day during the one-week baseline assessment, or having an average of ≥ 7 moderate or severe heating per 24 hours recorded in HF Dairy ;
3. Fulfilling either condition mentioned below:

1. The last menstrual period was more than 12 months ago (including 12 months);
2. In the late menopausal transition, and has amenorrhea for more than 60 days;
3. FSH≥25IU, and has vasomotor symptoms of HF, sweating, insomnia, migraine, or restlessness, etc.
4. Volunteer to participate in this study and sign the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Usage of HRT via transdermal administration in the previous one month, or via oral or intrauterine administration in the previous two months; usage of phytoestrogens therapy, transvaginal estrogen administration, or estrogen or progesterone injections in the previous three months;
2. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy;
3. Amenorrhea secondary to premature ovarian failure, ovarian cyst or tumor, thyroid disease, hyperprolactinemia, or Cushing's syndrome, etc.;
4. Accepted acupuncture or drugs to treat the symptoms of HF within the previous 3 months;
5. Received radiotherapy or chemotherapy before;
6. Coagulation dysfunction, or taking warfarin, heparin and other anticoagulant drugs at present;
7. Suffering from skin diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis, etc.;
8. Severe hepatic and renal insufficiency;
9. Uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes or thyroid disease;
10. Diabetic neuropathy and mental illness (including depression);
11. Being pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to be pregnant during the trial;
12. Regular usage of sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs;
13. Smoking for more than 5 years (at least twenty cigarettes a day on average) , or with the problem of alcohol abuse;
14. Installation of pacemakers;
15. Poor compliance.
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Yu Shudan

principal investigator,resident doctor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Department of Acupuncture, Guang'anmen Hospital

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Shudan Yu, master

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 15011460149

Email: [email protected]

Xin He, bachelor

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 15910448046

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Shudan Yu

Role: primary

References

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Yu S, He X, Shi H, Chen Y, Liu Z. Effectiveness of electro-press needle for menopause-associated hot flashes: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Feb 11;101(6):e28597. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000028597.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35147087 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2021-047-KY-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id