Exosome-miRNA and Transcriptome Profiling of Dry Eye Syndrome and Sjogren's Syndrome

NCT ID: NCT06475027

Last Updated: 2024-06-26

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

220 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-07-01

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This study combines data from two trials testing acupuncture (ACUDES) and a Chinese herbal tea bag TBDESJS for Dry Eye Syndrome and Sjögren's syndrome. Both treatments improved tear production. Researchers will now analyze participants' blood remaining samples and other data to understand how these therapies work. They will use advanced methods to identify tiny RNA molecules and immune system activity. This integrated approach aims to explain how acupuncture and TBDESJS improve dryness and support their use in managing these conditions.

Detailed Description

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Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and Chinese herbal tea bag TBDESJS in patients with Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) and Sjögren's Syndrome (SJS).

Research Background: The ACUDES study, funded by the National Science Council, focuses on assessing the immediate and long-term therapeutic effects of acupuncture at the Fengchi GB20 and Zanzhu BL2 points, combined with a comprehensive analysis of oral microbiota. The TBDESJS study at Taipei Veterans General Hospital investigates the effectiveness of Chinese herbal tea bags TBDESJS in alleviating dryness symptoms in the mouth and eyes of patients with DES and SJS. Progress in the ACUDES and TBDESJS clinical trials indicates significant improvement in clinical efficacy before and after treatment in SJS and DES participants. After 16 weeks of treatment in the TBDESJS study, Schirmer's test showed a significant increase in tear secretion: 7.51-7.63 mm in the left eye (P\<0.001) and 7.85-8.66 mm in the right eye (P\<0.001). In ACUDES, SJS and DES participants were divided into Fengchi (GB) and Fengchi plus Zanzhu (GBL) groups, with Schirmer's test showing significant increases in tear secretion after 16 weeks of treatment: 6.44-7.51 mm in the left eye (P\<0.001) and 6.44-7.51 mm in the right eye (P\<0.001).

Methods: In the first year, this study will analyze remaining samples from TBDESJS and ACUDES participants, aiming to extend the analysis to 80 DES and 110 SJS participants, and 30 NHC, and then we identified the 40 DES participants and 60 SJS participants who exhibited the most significant therapeutic improvement pre- and post-treatment, alongside 30 healthy control subjects. The study will systematically analyze exosome-miRNA and transcriptome to investigate the possible mechanisms by which Chinese herbal tea bags and acupuncture alleviate dryness symptoms in the mouth and eyes. In the second year, the study will use machine learning (supervised learning with Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Neural Networks, unsupervised learning with K-Means Clustering, Principal Component Analysis, Feature Engineering) and multidimensional statistical methods (descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, multiple regression) to deeply analyze the comprehensive cross-analysis of Whole-genome genotyping, Cytokines, Schirmer's test, Tear breakup time, Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution, OSDI, ESSPRI, PSQI, FIRST, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pulse diagnosis, TCM tongue diagnosis, heart rate variability measurements, exosome-miRNA, and transcriptome from the earlier TBDESJS and ACUDES cases. This integrated, cross-disciplinary approach is expected to elucidate potential immunomodulatory pathways influenced by TBDESJS and acupuncture GB20 or BL2, thereby providing a foundational basis for their clinical application in managing DES and SJS, and advancing towards our ultimate goal of Holistic Health Care.

Expected Results:

1. Analyze exosomes purified from plasma to identify differentially expressed small RNA molecules in SJS, DES, and NHC.
2. Investigate the regulatory roles of small RNA molecules on immune cells.
3. Explore the differential expression of small RNA molecules in exosomes before and after treatment with TBDESJS and acupuncture with GB20 or BL2 in SJS and DES participants.
4. Investigate the potential pharmacological mechanisms of TBDESJS and acupuncture with GB20 or BL2.

Conditions

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Dry Eye Syndrome Sjogren's Syndrome Xerophthalmia

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Group GB20

Group GB20 will received acupuncture at acupoint GB20 twice a week 8 weeks for efficacy evaluation. And we could use the exosome-miRNA, transcriptome, oral microbiota, Schirmer's test, Tear breakup time, 6-GSI, OSDI, TCM pattern, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis, TCM pulse diagnosis, and TCM heart rate variability for this purpose.

Acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

acupuncture GB20 or GB20 plus BL2

Group GB20 plus BL2

Group GB20 plus BL2 will received acupuncture at acupoint GB20 plus BL2 twice a week 8 weeks for efficacy evaluation. And we could use the exosome-miRNA, transcriptome, oral microbiota, Schirmer's test, Tear breakup time, 6-GSI, OSDI, TCM pattern, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis, TCM pulse diagnosis, and TCM heart rate variability for this purpose.

Acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

acupuncture GB20 or GB20 plus BL2

non AIDDES Healthy Controls (NHC)

1. ACUDES: Healthy control group will not received any treatment. And we could use the exosome-miRNA, transcriptome, oral microbiota, TCM pattern, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis, TCM pulse diagnosis, and TCM heart rate variability to find the difference with the comparison between the dry eye syndrome and healthy control.
2. TBDESJS: Non DES SJS Healthy Controls (NHC) will received Chinese herbal tea TBDESJS 8 weeks on Nourishing Yin and Moistening Dryness the ocular dryness evaluation. And we could use the Schirmer's test, Tear breakup time, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), EULAR Sjogren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), cytokine markers, Whole-genome genotyping, TCM pattern, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis, TCM pulse diagnosis, and TCM heart rate variability for this purpose.

Acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

acupuncture GB20 or GB20 plus BL2

Waiting list

Group Waiting list will not received any treatment. at acupoint GB20 plus BL2 twice a week 8 weeks for efficacy evaluation. And we could use the exosome-miRNA, transcriptome, oral microbiota, Schirmer's test, Tear breakup time, 6-GSI, OSDI, TCM pattern, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis, TCM pulse diagnosis, and TCM heart rate variability for this purpose.

Acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

acupuncture GB20 or GB20 plus BL2

Dry eye syndrome (DES)

Dry eye syndrome (DES) will received Chinese herbal tea TBDESJS 8 weeks on Nourishing Yin and Moistening Dryness the ocular dryness evaluation. And we could use the exosome-miRNA, transcriptome, Schirmer's test, Tear breakup time, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), EULAR Sjogren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), cytokine markers, Whole-genome genotyping, TCM pattern, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis, TCM pulse diagnosis, and TCM heart rate variability for this purpose.

TBDESJS

Intervention Type OTHER

Chinese herbal tea TBDESJS

Sjögren's syndrome (SJS)

Sjögren's syndrome (SJS) will received Chinese herbal tea TBDESJS 8 weeks on Nourishing Yin and Moistening Dryness the ocular dryness evaluation. And we could use the exosome-miRNA, transcriptome, Schirmer's test, Tear breakup time, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), EULAR Sjogren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), cytokine markers, Whole-genome genotyping, TCM pattern, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tongue diagnosis, TCM pulse diagnosis, and TCM heart rate variability for this purpose.

TBDESJS

Intervention Type OTHER

Chinese herbal tea TBDESJS

Interventions

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TBDESJS

Chinese herbal tea TBDESJS

Intervention Type OTHER

Acupuncture

acupuncture GB20 or GB20 plus BL2

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Exclusion Criteria

Sjögren's syndrome


non AIDDES Healthy Controls
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Ching-Mao Chang, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan

Locations

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Ching-Mao Chang

Taipei, , Taiwan

Site Status

Countries

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Taiwan

Central Contacts

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Ching-Mao Chang, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

88628757453 ext. 333

References

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Randall Harrell C, Djonov V, Volarevic A, Arsenijevic A, Volarevic V. Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Sourced Exosomes as Potentially Novel Remedies for Severe Dry Eye Disease. J Ophthalmol. 2025 Jan 10;2025:5552374. doi: 10.1155/joph/5552374. eCollection 2025.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39839752 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2023-11-004CC

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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