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Recruiting NCT06401993

Peripheral-central Correlation Study on the Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus With "Dao qi Tong Luo" Based on the Theory of "Connecting the Two Ears to the Brain"

No phase Interventional Tinnitus

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: The "dao qi tong luo" group, The acupuncture group.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Tinnitus. Basic parameters: 20 years — 55 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
China
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

Overview

By comparing the clinical manifestations, ABR parameters and cerebral cortex blood oxygen levels of chronic tinnitus patients and healthy subjects under two different body states, the peripheral-central correlation of chronic tinnitus patients was explored, and the modern scientific significance of the theory of "two ears connecting the brain" was initially expounded. On this basis, the immediate and cumulative effects and peripheral-central correlation of "dao qi tong luo" intervention in chronic tinnitus were observed, and the effective mechanism of "dao qi tong luo" treatment was explored.

Detailed description

The study will enroll 15 healthy subjects and 72 subjects with chronic tinnitus. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used to examine specific brain regions, and ABR techniques will record auditory brainstem responses in chronic tinnitus patients and healthy subjects. Lateral comparison was made between chronic tinnitus patients and healthy subjects on the parameters of auditory brainstem response and the level of oxygen outside the cerebral cortex, and the data of the two were integrated to conduct correlation analysis and correlation analysis with clinical manifestations, so as to compare the correlation between peripheral and central auditory function in different body states. Subsequently, the chronic tinnitus subjects will undergo a course of acupuncture treatment. At the end of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, the immediate and cumulative effects and peripheral - central correlation of "dao qi tong luo" intervention in chronic tinnitus were observed, and the effective mechanism of "dao qi tong luo" treatment was explored.

Interventions

  • Procedure The "dao qi tong luo" group
    The "dao qi tong luo" group will accept acpuncture. Acupuncture will be performed at acupoints including TE17 (Yifeng), SI19 (Tinggong), GB2 (Tinghui), TE5 (Waiguan), TE3 (Zhongzhu) and etc. Among them, the "dao qi tong luo" group will make patients feel qi.
  • Procedure The acupuncture group
    The acupuncture group will accept acpuncture. Acupuncture will be performed at acupoints including TE17 (Yifeng), SI19 (Tinggong), GB2 (Tinghui), TE5 (Waiguan), TE3 (Zhongzhu) and etc. The acupuncture group will not feel qi.

Primary outcome measures

  • Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) [Time frame: at baseline (pre-treatment),procedure]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
  • Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ) [Time frame: at baseline (pre-treatment), procedure]
  • Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) [Time frame: at baseline (pre-treatment), procedure]
  • Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (Fnirs) [Time frame: at baseline (pre-treatment), procedure]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Inclusion criteria for patients with chronic tinnitus
  • Chronic tinnitus patients, that is, the course of disease ≥6 months;
  • No contraindications of fNIRS scanning;
  • The age of 20 years ≤55 years old, gender is not limited, right-handed;
  • The external ear canal is unobstructed and the eardrum is intact
  • The average hearing threshold of both ears is <35dB;
  • Normal expression and understanding ability. Inclusion criteria for healthy subjects

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  • No tinnitus, no hearing disorders and other ear diseases;
  • Good health condition, no history of mental disease and nervous system disease;
  • No contraindications of fNIRS scanning;
  • The age of 20 years ≤55 years old, gender is not limited, right-handed;
  • The external ear canal is unobstructed, and the tympanic membrane is complete;
  • Normal expression and understanding ability.

Exclusion criteria

  • 1.A history of drug dependence or alcohol addiction; 2.Serious central system diseases or other systemic diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases; 3. Patients with organic diseases such as craniocerebral trauma; 4. Sudden deafness, Meniere's disease, otosclerosis, acoustic neuroma and other inner ear or auditory nerve diseases; 5.External otitis, acute/chronic otitis media and other external ear middle-ear related diseases; 6. Patients with auditory hypersensitivity; 7. Pregnancy, preparation for pregnancy, breastfeeding population; 8. There are metal implants in the body, fNIRS detection contraindicated.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single blind
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

China · 1 center
  • The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University — Hangzhou

Publications

  • Jiang D, Huang XH, Fang K, Zhao MH, Li Y, Hu HT, Fang LQ, Gao H, Zhou J. Peripheral-central correlation study of acupuncture for chronic tinnitus study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Feb 13;12:1543023. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1543023. eCollection 2025. PMID 40018352

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06401993 · ZSLL-KY-2024-038-01

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗