Stimulated by Lee et al 2026.[1] A dopamine molecule – carbon (yellow), oxygen (red), nitrogen (blue) and hydrogen (gold). PD – Parkinson’s diseaseIF – impact factorNHIS – national health insurance service (Korea)IPD – idiopathic Parkinson’s diseaseKM – Korean medicineWM – Western medicinePSM – propensity score matchingaHR – adjusted hazard ratioOR – odds ratio – key … Continue reading Acupuncture in PD 2026
Stimulated by Hao et al 2026.[1] LDH – lumbar disc herniationRCT – randomised controlled trialBUCM – Beijing University of Chinese MedicineVAS – visual analogue scaleSP – spinous process of the vertebra (the lower border in this case)DN – deep needling group (needles placed at 1 cun lateral to the SP and 60 to 70mm deep)CN … Continue reading Deep acupuncture in LDH 2026
Inspired by Wang et al 2026.[1] EA – electroacupunctureOA – osteoarthritisRCT – randomised controlled trialMA – manual acupunctureDSG – diclofenac sodium gelMCPjs – metacarpophalangeal jointsVAS – visual analogue scaleMCID – minimum clinically important differenceOTC – over the counter (used for medications available to buy without a prescription)QDS – quarter die sumendum (“to be taken 4 … Continue reading EA for hand OA 2026
Stimulated by Milia et al 2026.[1] Photo by Mo Hassanein on Pexels.com T2DM – type 2 diabetes mellitusEA – electroacupuncturePCOS – polycystic ovarian syndromePMOS – polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndromeIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialMA – manual acupuncture – key to acronyms I first heard about the possibility of EA influencing insulin sensitivity in … Continue reading Acupuncture for T2DM 2026
Stimulated by Deng et al 2026.[1] Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com MwoA – migraine without auraVAS – visual analogue scaleRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorICHD-3 – International Classification for Headache Disorders 3rd editionMA – manual acupuncturePSD – Park sham deviceCIs – 95% confidence intervalsSR – systematic reviewGRADE – Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, … Continue reading Acupuncture for acute MwoA 2026
Inspired by Hang et al 2026.[1] Relevant pages from the BMAS Chronic Pain Protocols book from 2021.Note that this is not exactly the same protocol used in the trial highlighted. EA – electroacupunctureOA – osteoarthritisOAK – OA of the kneeRCT – randomised controlled trialMRI – magnetic resonance imagingMA – manual acupunctureWOMAC – Western Ontario and … Continue reading EA for OAK 2026
Stimulated by Chen et al 2026.[1] Taken from Figure 2 in Chen et al 2026.[1] EA – electroacupuncturePHN – postherpetic neuralgiaIF – impact factorNRS – numerical rating scaleSD – standard deviationMCID – minimum clinically important differenceNMA – network meta-analysisPSQI – Pittsburgh sleep quality index – key to acronyms This is the largest (n=448) study on … Continue reading EA for PHN 2026
Inspired by Ter et al 2026.[1] Photo by How-Soon Ngu on Unsplash. CIPN – chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathyEA – electroacupunctureMSKCC – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCTCAE – common terminology criteria for adverse events (from the US NCI)NCI – National Cancer Institute (US)ADLs – activities of daily livingMA – manual acupunctureNPSI – neuropathic pain symptom inventoryVAS – … Continue reading Acupuncture for CIPN 2026
Stimulated by Yuasa et al 2026.[1] Figure 3a from Yuasa et al 2026.[1] AE – adverse eventTHA – total hip arthroplastyTKA – total knee arthroplastyIF – impact factorIV – intravenousCLAP – continuous local antibiotic perfusionCRP – C reactive proteinGT – greater trochanterRCT – randomised controlled trial – key to acronyms This is the first AE … Continue reading Acupuncture and arthroplasty 2026
Stimulated by Zheng et al 2026.[1] This is one of the colour versions of the Fashion variety. I think a black one like this was used in the trial. TEAS – transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulationPONV – post-operative nausea and vomitingIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialIV – intravenousGA – general anaesthesiaNRS – numerical … Continue reading TEAS vs metoclopramide for PONV 2026
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