Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42365414›Full record

Trial reportJournal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan2026

Effect of electro-thumbtack needles on symptoms during high-altitude exposure: a pilot, single-blind, randomized, controlled study.

Wang Xin, Cao Xue, Qin Yuning, Sun Minglin, Yue Lihong, Tian Yukun, Wang Guangjun, Liu Xinglong, Wang Zirong, Labasangzhu and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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.

Wang XinInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Cao XueInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Qin YuningInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Sun MinglinInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Yue LihongInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Tian YukunInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Wang GuangjunInstitute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Liu XinglongXizang Entry-Exit Frontier Inspection Station, National Immigration Administration, Lhasa 850000, China.
Wang ZirongDepartment of Logistics and Security, National Immigration Administration, Beijing 100006, China.
LabasangzhuDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, China.
Liu JiaInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.

Funding

Project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences: Research on the Key Technology of the Real-World Case Registry 2022031Project of the National Key Research and Development Program: Development of International Clinical Research Service Standard for Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2019YFC1712205Science and Technology Innovation Project of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences: Registration and Enrollment Study on the Evaluation of the Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Real World CI2021A05408Standard Project of Chinese Acupuncture Society: Expert Consensus on Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment for High Altitude Sickness Z0674, surplus funds
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of electro-thumbtack needles (ETN) compared with sham acupuncture (SA) on symptoms during high-altitude exposure.

methodsIn this pilot, single-blind, randomized, controlled study, we assessed the impact of ETN acupuncture on symptoms associated with high-altitude exposure. Participants were randomized into two groups: an ETN group and a SA group. The intervention involved routine skin disinfection and stimulation of seven acupuncture points: bilateral Neiguan (PC6), bilateral Hegu (LI4), bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN5), and Zhongwan (CV12), with pressure for approximately 1 min on each point. The primary outcome was the Lake Louise Score after intervention. Secondary outcome measures were heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, headache visual analogue scale score, clinical function score, and sleep scale scores after the intervention.

resultsWe enrolled 125 patients with high-altitude exposure; 59 in the ETN group and 66 in the SA group. AMS was present in 37.90% of the 125 patients. The Lake Louise Score in the ETN group was significantly lower than that in the SA group 6 h postintervention [

conclusionsThis study assessed the feasibility of ETN to address AMS and was a preliminary evaluation of its efficacy. This study provides a basis for the development of intervention programs and scale implementation. ETN is a possible intervention in AMS for special populations, such as those with drug contraindications or pregnant women. This study may guide future research by presenting novel insights, strategic directions, and foundational evidence.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyAltitude SicknessElectroacupunctureAcupuncture PointsAdultAltitudeBlood PressureFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeedlesPilot ProjectsSingle-Blind MethodTreatment OutcomeYoung Adultacupuncturealtitudealtitude sicknessoxygen saturationrandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID42365414
PMCPMC13266325

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.