Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42477731›Full record

Trial reportBMC medicine2026

Specific mode acupoint electrical stimulation combined with NGF for neurological recovery in ischemic stroke convalescence: A randomized controlled study.

Mengyuan Dai, Zhaoxing Jia, Ziqi Xuan, Junhong Liu, Xuewen Wu, Yiqing Zhang, Shuijin Zhang, Lixiu Wu, Jianxun Liu, Yibin Zhao and 8 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled TrialMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05231694 (Specific Stimulation Mode Electroacupuncture Combined With NGF for Recovery Period of Ischemic Stroke：Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial), which is not on this 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.

NCT05231694 phase4unknown statusnot on this map

Specific Stimulation Mode Electroacupuncture Combined With NGF for Recovery Period of Ischemic Stroke：Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityRan2022 to 2025Enrolled288ConditionsIschemic StrokeArmsNerver growth factor (NGF) injection, Placebo injection, EA intervention, sham EA intervention
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

18 authors.

Mengyuan Dai *The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Zhaoxing Jia *The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Ziqi Xuan *The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Junhong Liu *The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Xuewen Wu *The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Yiqing Zhang *The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Shuijin ZhangDepartment of Rehabilitation, Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.
Lixiu WuDepartment of Rehabilitation, The Second People's Hospital of Lishui, Lishui, China.
Jianxun LiuDepartment of Rehabilitation, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
Yibin ZhaoThe Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Huimei ZhuDepartment of Rehabilitation, Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.
Caijun MaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.
Weiwei HanDepartment of Rehabilitation, The Second People's Hospital of Lishui, Lishui, China.
Mengming ShaoDepartment of Rehabilitation, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
Shiting XuThe Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Nuo XuThe Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Congcong MaThe Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China. macongcong19940307@163.com.
Xianming LinThe Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China. linxianming1966@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2729-8324

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82174502Special Project of Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Zhejiang Province in 2022 2022ZX009Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Scientific Research Project-key research project 742219A00203
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNerve growth factor (NGF) has neurorestorative potential after ischemic stroke, but its efficacy may be limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Preclinical studies suggested that specific mode acupoint electrical stimulation (SMES) may transiently increase BBB permeability and facilitate neurotrophic factor delivery. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of SMES combined with NGF in ischemic stroke and explored treatment-associated functional brain changes.

methodsIn this multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, adults aged 30-80 years with first-ever ischemic stroke, 14 days to 6 months after onset, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 3-4, and MMSE score < 27 were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to acupuncture + placebo, acupuncture + NGF, SMES + placebo, or SMES + NGF. NGF or placebo was administered by daily intramuscular injection for 28 days, followed by acupuncture or SMES at GV20 and GV26. The primary efficacy outcome was longitudinal change in mRS score. Secondary outcomes included the Modified Barthel Index, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 2, and week 4, with mRS and MoCA further assessed during follow-up. Exploratory rs-fMRI and fNIRS assessments were performed at baseline and week 4.

resultsAmong 324 randomized participants, 296 completed treatment and follow-up. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant time and group-by-time effects for mRS, indicating different recovery trajectories among groups. In factorial analysis, NGF had a significant main effect on mRS improvement (P = 0.001), whereas the SMES main effect and SMES-by-NGF interaction were not significant. Cognitive outcomes showed a clearer combined-treatment pattern: the SMES + NGF group had the greatest improvements in MoCA and LOTCA at week 4, and the SMES-by-NGF interaction for MoCA was significant at week 4 (P = 0.019) and during follow-up (P < 0.001). Exploratory neuroimaging analyses suggested treatment-associated functional brain changes. Six adverse events occurred, with no serious treatment-related adverse events.

conclusionsNGF-containing interventions were associated with improved neurological disability after ischemic stroke, while SMES combined with NGF showed additional benefits for cognitive recovery. SMES combined with NGF may represent a promising adjunctive strategy for post-stroke rehabilitation.

trial registrationThe protocol was registered in the Clinical Trials repository under NCT05231694.

Indexed as

Acupuncture PointsBrain IschemiaElectric Stimulation TherapyIschemic StrokeNerve Growth FactorStrokeAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCombined Modality TherapyElectroacupunctureFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRecovery of FunctionNerve Growth FactorBlood-brain barrierIschemic strokeMacromolecular drug deliveryNeurological function rehabilitationSpecific mode electroacupuncture stimulation

Identifiers

PMID42477731
PMCPMC13670477

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