An interventional study of Yifei moxibustion and Conventional Western medicine treatment in Stable COPD Patients, sponsored by Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-19.
Sponsored by Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study adopted a randomized controlled design, enrolling 90 patients and 30 healthy volunteers. The patients were randomly divided into the Yifei Moxibustion group, the conventional Western medicine treatment group, and the TCM syndrome differentiation treatment group, and were treated for 3 months. Peripheral venous blood was collected from both the healthy volunteers and the patients to observe indicators such as T cell subsets and immunoglobulins, to evaluate the effect of Yifei Moxibustion on improving immune function. The regulation of target genes by exosomes and potential action targets and molecular mechanisms were preliminarily verified through techniques such as nanoparticle tracking technology and flow cytometry.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common chronic airway disease, and airway inflammation and immune regulation mechanisms play a significant role in its development. Macrophage polarization is involved in the immune response process of COPD and is crucial for the resolution of airway inflammation and the regulation of the body's immune system. Among them, M1 polarization of macrophages can expand the inflammatory response, cause tissue damage, and aggravate the disease progression. Literature indicates that exosomal miR-125b may be an important target for regulating M1 polarization of macrophages.Yifei Moxibustion can improve the immune function of COPD patients, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. Therefore, the following hypothesis is proposed: Yifei Moxibustion can promote the resolution of inflammation and regulate the body's immune system by regulating miR-125b-mediated M1 polarization of macrophages. This study adopts a randomized controlled design, including 90 patients and 30 healthy volunteers. Patients are randomly divided into the Yifei Moxibustion group, the Western medicine conventional treatment group, and the TCM syndrome differentiation treatment group, and treated for 3 months. Peripheral venous blood is collected from healthy volunteers and patients. Firstly, T cell subsets, immunoglobulins and other indicators are observed to evaluate the effect of Yifei Moxibustion on improving immune function. Secondly, macrophage polarization is detected by nanoparticle tracking analysis, co-culture of transfected cells, CCK8 and other methods. miR-125b differentially expressed target genes are screened by miRDB and other databases, and the secretion of target genes regulated by exosomes is verified by luciferase reporter gene and other methods. Finally, macrophage polarization-related markers of patients before and after intervention are detected by flow cytometry, ELISA and other methods to preliminarily verify the regulation of exosomes on target genes, as well as potential targets and molecular mechanisms.
4,131 studies on the registry are indexed under Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; 697 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 120 is above the median of 70 across 2,926 interventional studies indexed under Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive.
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Patients who meet the diagnostic criteria for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
Exclusion Criteria:
Pregnant and lactating women;
Patients with cognitive impairment, confusion, dementia, or various mental disorders;
Patients with unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction;
Patients with a history of syncope after exercise or bone and joint diseases that affect exercise; ⑤ Patients with pneumothorax, pleural effusion, pulmonary embolism, or tumors;
The patients in the Yifei Moxibustion group are treated with conventional Western medicine combined with Yifei Moxibustion.
Behavioral: Yifei moxibustion
The patients in the conventional Western medicine treatment group receives standard Western medication therapy.
Drug: Conventional Western medicine treatment
Patients in the TCM syndrome differentiation treatment group receives TCM pattern-based therapy in addition to conventional Western medical treatment.
Drug: TCM syndrome differentiation treatment
The conventional Western medicine treatment is based on the 2023 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the 2021 Chinese Thoracic Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, or a combination therapy are administered.The Yifei moxibustion is applied from the Dazhui to Yaoshu acupoints along the Governor Vessel. Ginger juice is spread over the treatment area, followed by sprinkling moxa powder and covering with mulberry bark paper. A 2.5 cm thick layer of ginger paste and a 3 cm thick layer of moxa wool are then placed on the mulberry bark paper. The moxa wool is ignited and allowed to burn out naturally, being replaced every 30 minutes. After 90 minutes, the ginger paste is removed. The treatment is performed once every 15 days, with 6 sessions constituting one course of treatment, totaling 3 months.
The conventional Western medicine treatment is based on the 2023 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the 2021 Chinese Thoracic Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, or a combination therapy are administered.
The conventional Western medicine treatment followes the same protocol as described above. The diagnosis of TCM pattern-based therapy is made in accordance with the TCM Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease issued by the Pulmonary Disease Committee of the Internal Medicine Branch, China Association of Chinese Medicine and the treatment is based on the 2019 Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease issued by the China Association of Chinese Medicine.
The level of plasma exosomal miR-125b
The regulatory effect of Yifei moxibustion on miR-125b was evaluated through the detection of peripheral venous blood.
Time frame: Before treatment and 3 months after treatment
T-cell subsets and immunoglobulin levels
By detectingCD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+、Th17、Treg、Th17/Treg 、IgG、IgA、IgM, the regulatory effect of Yifei moxibustion on the immune function of COPD was evaluated.
Time frame: Before treatment and 3 months after treatment
Clinical Symptoms and Signs Assessment Questionnaire Assessment
Clinical Symptoms and Signs Assessment Questionnaire Assessment will be performed by clinical symptoms and signs questionnaire. The clinical symptoms to be evaluated in this study include cough, phlegm, chest tightness, gasp, shortness of breath, feeble and cyanosis. A score of 0-3 will be given to every symptom or sign with a higher score indicating a worse conditoin.
Time frame: Before treatment, the first month, the second month and the third month
The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale
The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale is a 5-point (0-4) scale based on the severity of dyspnoea. "0" means no dyspnea perception, "4" means severe dyspnea perception.
Time frame: Before treatment, the first month, the second month and the third month
lung function
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)#Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1) and Percentage of Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second to Predicted Value (FEV1% pred) were mainly used for lung function evaluation
Time frame: Time Frame：Before treatment and 3 months after treatment
Six-Minute Walk Distance（6MWD）
The six-minute walk distance is used to assess exercise tolerance and functional status.
Time frame: Before treatment, the first month, the second month and the third month
The COPD Assessment Test (CAT)
The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) is an 8-item questionnaire that assesses health status in patients with COPD. The questionnaire uses a 0-5 point scale, with higher values indicating a greater impact of COPD on the patient.
Time frame: Before treatment, the first month, the second month and the third month
The modified COPD Patient-Reported Outcome scale (mCOPD-PRO)
The modified COPD Patient-Reported Outcome scale (mCOPD-PRO) will be used to assess quality of life. The mCOPD-PRO contains 27 items in three domains. mCOPD-PRO scores range from 0 to 4 with a decrease in score showing higher health status.
Time frame: Before treatment, the first month, the second month and the third month.
The modified Effectiveness Satisfaction Questionnaire for COPD
(mESQ-COPD)The modified Effectiveness Satisfaction Questionnaire for COPD (mESQ-COPD) will be used to assess treatment satisfaction. The mESQ-COPD contains 19 items in four domains. mESQ-COPD scores range from 0 to 4 with a decrease in score showing higher treatment satisfaction.
Time frame: Before treatment, the first month, the second month and the third month
Acute exacerbation situation
The frequency of colds and acute exacerbations was used to assess the improvement of immune function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by Yifei moxibustion.
Time frame: Before treatment, the first month, the second month and the third month
Adverse Event Documentation and Laboratory Safety Metrics
Adverse Event Documentation and aboratory safety indicators such as blood routine, urine routine, liver function, kidney function, electrocardiogram are used to assess the safety of the treatment.
Time frame: Before treatment and 3 months after treatment
Plan to share: No
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Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine