Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41404469›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in neurology2025

Efficacy and safety of combination of frankincense and botulinum toxin in the treatment of blepharospasm: a protocol for a single-centre, open-label, randomized, controlled trial.

Shiyuan Gong, Yuhan Luo, Jiana Zhang, Feiwen Huang, Zhengkun Yang, Yue Zhang, Zilin Ou, Zhicong Yan, Weixi Zhang, Qian Zhou and 1 more

Abstract read
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Article in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Shiyuan Gong *Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Yuhan Luo *Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Jiana Zhang *Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Feiwen HuangDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Zhengkun YangDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Yue ZhangDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Zilin OuDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Zhicong YanDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Weixi ZhangDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
Qian ZhouDepartment of Medical Statistics, Clinical Trials Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Gang LiuDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Blepharospasm (BSP) is a functionally disabling disease with a marked impact on the quality of life of patients. Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections have been recommended as first-line therapy for BSP. However, the clinical benefits of BoNT are temporary with only about 8-10 weeks duration of benefit in most patients with BSP. Per previous case reports, regular use of topical frankincense essential oil (FEO) can achieve significant symptom relief and can decrease the frequency of BoNT injections. This trial will explore whether BoNT combined with regular application of FEO can improve clinical outcomes in patients with BSP. Methods and analysis: This protocol describes an open-label, randomized controlled trial to be undertaken to evaluate daily topical application of FEO and coconut oil (CO) in patients with BSP. The goal is to enroll 32 patients with BSP who have received immediate BoNT injection in each treatment arm. Only patients who have previously received less than 12 weeks of positive benefits from BoNT therapy will be enrolled. The primary outcome will be the duration of symptom improvement after the intervention with BoNT combined with FEO or CO within the 24-week follow-up period. Symptom improvement is defined as a decrease of one point or more in the Jankovic Rating Scale severity score compared to baseline in patients with BSP. Secondary outcomes will consist of changes in BSP symptom severity, disability, and quality of life from baseline to each time point after the intervention. Safety analysis will be based on the presence of localized skin allergic reactions and adverse events. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 after the therapy begins. Discussion: This study will provide evidence that FEO therapy is a promising non-invasive therapy that can be easily combined with BoNT injections to improve clinical outcomes in patients with BSP. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2400091987.

Indexed as

blepharospasmbotulinum toxinsclinical trial protocolfrankincenserandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID41404469
PMCPMC12703971

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.