Exploration of neuroimmune and brain network mechanisms of Jin’s three-needle therapy in promoting ischemic stroke recovery: a randomized controlled trial protocol
- 1The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
- 2The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
- 3Guangdong Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine
Abstract
Background: Functional impairment during the recovery phase of ischemic stroke (IS) substantially diminishes patients’ long-term quality of life. Although rehabilitation therapy promotes functional recovery, some patients still face persistent functional limitations, underscoring the need for effective adjuvant interventions. Acupuncture is widely used in stroke rehabilitation, and Jin’s three-needle therapy has shown potential benefits for post-stroke motor dysfunction. However, high-quality randomized controlled trial evidence regarding its clinical efficacy and neuroimmunomodulatory mechanisms remains limited.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Jin’s three-needle therapy for functional impairment during the recovery phase of ischemic stroke, and to explore potential associations between brain functional network changes and peripheral immune alterations using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and immune marker assessments.
Methods: This randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial will enroll 70 patients with ischemic stroke in the recovery phase from The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Jin’s three-needle therapy or non-penetrating sham acupuncture, while both groups receive the same standardized conventional rehabilitation and guideline-based basic treatment. The intervention will be administered for 3 weeks (5 treatment days per week). Treatment providers will not be blinded, whereas patients, outcome assessors, and data analysts will remain blinded. The primary outcome is the change in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Secondary outcomes include the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Exploratory outcomes include peripheral immune-related markers, including regulatory T cell proportion, CD39 expression on Tregs, plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels, and rs-fMRI-based functional connectivity changes. Associations among changes in clinical outcomes, brain functional connectivity, and peripheral biomarkers will be explored. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 1 and 3 months after discharge.
Discussion: This study integrates clinical assessments, peripheral biomarker measurements, and brain functional imaging to investigate the multidimensional effects of Jin’s three-needle therapy on functional impairment during the recovery phase of ischemic stroke. The findings may provide objective evidence for evaluating this therapy and characterize treatment-associated changes in peripheral immune-related biomarkers and brain functional connectivity, as well as their associations with clinical recovery.
Clinical trial registration: https://itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn/mgt/search , identifier ITMCTR2026001598.
Related
- Reducing sedentary behavior and promoting physical activity in medical students: protocol of the PROMESS-Physical Activity randomized controlled clinical trial
- Effects of Nurse-Led Promoting Advance Care Planning (NLP-ACP) on intention to engage in advance care planning and death anxiety among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Thailand: A randomized controlled trial.
- Efficacy and neural mechanisms of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for chronic insomnia: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
- Impact of the Family‐Centered Empowerment Model on Health‐Promoting Lifestyle and Psychological Well‐Being in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
- Cognitive remediation in schizophrenia: efficacy and role of neuroplasticity in “top-down” and “bottom-up” mechanisms—a randomized, double-blind, treatment-as-usual-controlled study protocol
BibTeX
@article{zhong2026exploration,
title = {{Exploration of neuroimmune and brain network mechanisms of Jin’s three-needle therapy in promoting ischemic stroke recovery: a randomized controlled trial protocol}},
author = {Qiqi Zhong and Wenzhe Xu and Yanying Chen and Zhiyong Liang and Xiaoyan Xu and Jing Liu and Luolin Zhou and Yingci Hou and Jun He},
journal = {Frontiers in Neurology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fneur.2026.1964349},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1964349/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploration of neuroimmune and brain network mechanisms of Jin’s three-needle therapy in promoting ischemic stroke recovery: a randomized controlled trial protocol
AU - Qiqi Zhong
AU - Wenzhe Xu
AU - Yanying Chen
AU - Zhiyong Liang
AU - Xiaoyan Xu
AU - Jing Liu
AU - Luolin Zhou
AU - Yingci Hou
AU - Jun He
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Frontiers in Neurology
DO - 10.3389/fneur.2026.1964349
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1964349/full
AB - Background: Functional impairment during the recovery phase of ischemic stroke (IS) substantially diminishes patients’ long-term quality of life. Although rehabilitation therapy promotes functional recovery, some patients still face persistent functional limitations, underscoring the need for effective adjuvant interventions. Acupuncture is widely used in stroke rehabilitation, and Jin’s three-needle therapy has shown potential benefits for post-stroke motor dysfunction. However, high-quality randomized controlled trial evidence regarding its clinical efficacy and neuroimmunomodulatory mechanisms remains limited. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Jin’s three-needle therapy for functional impairment during the recovery phase of ischemic stroke, and to explore potential associations between brain functional network changes and peripheral immune alterations using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and immune marker assessments. Methods: This randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial will enroll 70 patients with ischemic stroke in the recovery phase from The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Jin’s three-needle therapy or non-penetrating sham acupuncture, while both groups receive the same standardized conventional rehabilitation and guideline-based basic treatment. The intervention will be administered for 3 weeks (5 treatment days per week). Treatment providers will not be blinded, whereas patients, outcome assessors, and data analysts will remain blinded. The primary outcome is the change in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Secondary outcomes include the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Exploratory outcomes include peripheral immune-related markers, including regulatory T cell proportion, CD39 expression on Tregs, plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels, and rs-fMRI-based functional connectivity changes. Associations among changes in clinical outcomes, brain functional connectivity, and peripheral biomarkers will be explored. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 1 and 3 months after discharge. Discussion: This study integrates clinical assessments, peripheral biomarker measurements, and brain functional imaging to investigate the multidimensional effects of Jin’s three-needle therapy on functional impairment during the recovery phase of ischemic stroke. The findings may provide objective evidence for evaluating this therapy and characterize treatment-associated changes in peripheral immune-related biomarkers and brain functional connectivity, as well as their associations with clinical recovery. Clinical trial registration: https://itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn/mgt/search , identifier ITMCTR2026001598.
SN - 1664-2295
ER -