Stimulated by 10 reports from March to September 2026.[1–10] See if you can guess the case from which this image is taken. AE – adverse eventGPAC – Gram-positive anaerobic coccusIF – impact factorCT – computed tomographyCECT – contrast-enhanced computed tomographyMTP – metatarsophalangealCXR – chest X-ray – key to acronyms I have been accumulating this sample … Continue reading Adverse events 2026
Stimulated by Hyun et al 2026.[1] Gadolinium rim enhancement of a sequestered disc on T1-weighted MRI... see PID regression 2021. KM – Korean medicine (referring to traditional Korean medicine, but mostly acupuncture)LDH – lumbar disc herniationIF – impact factorTKR – total knee replacementOA – osteoarthritisHIRA – health insurance review and assessment service (South Korea)NHIS – … Continue reading KM in LDH 2026
Stimulated by Kwan et al 2026.[1] AI generated image to illustrate axSpA. axSpA – axial spondyloarthritisIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialEULAR – European Alliance of Associations for RheumatologySI – sacroiliacNRS – numerical rating scaleBASDAI – Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity indexBASFI – Bath functional indexBAS-G – Bath ankylosing spondylitis global scoreHAQ – health … Continue reading Acupuncture for axial spondyloarthritis 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 Chai et al 2026.[1] Photo by Robina on Unsplash. IF – impact factorBCE – before common eraED – emergency department – key to acronyms This case report comes from Wuhan, China, and reads a bit like an investigative crime novel in places. It was published in the journal Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology (IF 1.4), which … Continue reading Fatal bilateral pneumothoraces 2026
Stimulated by Herman et al 2026.[1] This is the visual abstract from the main paper reporting the trial (DeBar et al 2025).[2] cLBP – chronic low back painIF – impact factorCEA – cost-effectiveness analysisCUA – cost-utility analysisEA – enhanced acupuncture (rather confusing I’m afraid)SA – standard electroacupunctureUMC – usual medical careRMDQ – Roland-Morris Disability QuestionnaireMCID … Continue reading Acupuncture saves costs in cLBP 2026
Stimulated by Reindorf et al and Song et al 2025.[1,2] Figure 1 from Reindorf et al 2025.[1] The red arrow is indicating a small right apical pneumothorax. According to the text of the case report, you are also supposed to be able to see the needle fragment, but they have not given us an arrow … Continue reading Punctured lungs and eyeballs 2025
Stimulated by DeBar et al 2025.[1] Photo of Multnomah Falls in Oregan by Makayla Asuncion from Pexels. cLBP – chronic low back painIF – impact factorEA – enhanced acupuncture (rather confusing I’m afraid)SA – standard electroacupunctureUMC – usual medical careRMDQ – Roland-Morris Disability QuestionnaireMCID – minimal clinically important differencePEG – pain, enjoyment, and general activity … Continue reading Acupuncture for cLBP 2025
Stimulated by Gyeltshen et al 2025.[1] Photo by Pema Gyamtsho on Pexels.com IF – impact factorEiC – editor in chiefSLR – straight leg raising (the most famous test for sciatica, but not a terribly good one) – key to acronyms This is a somewhat smaller trial (n=70) than the last one I highlighted on sciatic … Continue reading Acupuncture vs gabapentin for sciatica in Bhutan
Inspired by Kawi et al 2025.[1] Vaccaria hispanica seeds from the Government of Canada seed identification site. APA – auricular point acupressurecLBP – chronic low back painIF – impact factorMSK – musculoskeletalNRS – numerical rating scaleRMDQ – Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire – key to acronyms This is a moderately large 3-arm trial (n=272) from the US. … Continue reading APA in cLBP 2025
The BMAS Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.