Acupuncture vs BFT in FI

Stimulated by Ng et al 2024.[1] Photo by Coleen Rivas on Unsplash. This image is taken in the Super Tree Grove, which is one of the Gardens by the Bay, built on reclaimed land in Singapore Marina Bay. BFT – biofeedback therapyFI – faecal incontinencePFE – pelvic floor exercisesUCL – University College LondonIF – impact … Continue reading Acupuncture vs BFT in FI →

Acupuncture for swallowing in PSD 2024

Stimulated by Ma et al and Zhang et al 2024.[1,2] MC doing tongue manoeuvres with a needle buried in CV23 at a BMAS Practical course in March 2024.CV23 has recently been introduced on the BMAS Foundation Course... PSD – post stroke dysphagiaIF – impact factorFMA – Fugl-Meyer assessment (motor function assessment after stroke)BI – Barthel … Continue reading Acupuncture for swallowing in PSD 2024 →

Acupuncture in the ICU 2024

Stimulated by Ben-Arie et al 2024.[1] ICU – intensive care unitSR – systematic reviewMV – mechanical ventilationRCT – randomised controlled trialEA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureUS – ultrasoundRR – relative riskCI – confidence interval key to acronyms This paper was published online in November 2023, but I could not access the full text. Eventually I … Continue reading Acupuncture in the ICU 2024 →

EA vs metformin for IR in PCOS 2024

Inspired by Cao et al 2023.[1] With thanks to Deniah for the image. EA – electroacupunctureIR – insulin resistancePCOS – polycystic ovary syndromeBMI – body mass indexHOMA-IR – homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistanceAUC – area under curve key to acronyms I have a blog category for PCOS, but the last post on the topic … Continue reading EA vs metformin for IR in PCOS 2024 →

Patient–practitioner interactions 2024

Stimulated by Ko et al 2023.[1] A sketch of the treatment room interaction by MC. See below for key to acronyms in this diagram. PPI – patient­–practitioner interactionsWM – Western medicineCM – Chinese medicinePoPS – principles of point selectionWMA – Western medical acupunctureRI – Royal Institution (the place where they do the Christmas Lectures)OA – … Continue reading Patient–practitioner interactions 2024 →

TEAS vs dexamethasone in PONV

Stimulated by Zhang et al 2023.[1] Diagram by MC illustrating TEAS applied to PC6 in a patient following breast surgery. TEAS – transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (ie a form of TENS)TENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationPONV – post-operative nausea and vomitingCI – confidence intervalIV – intravenous key to acronyms This paper came out in June … Continue reading TEAS vs dexamethasone in PONV →

Acupuncture and obesity 2023

Stimulated by Fumagalli et al 2023 and Landgraaf et al 2023.[1,2] Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Pexels.com VLCD – very low calorie dietBMI – body mass indexPCOS – polycystic ovarian syndrome key to acronyms I have to say that I have never been particularly interested in obesity or its treatments, and certainly not the use … Continue reading Acupuncture and obesity 2023 →

EA for intestinal barrier function in IBS and UC 2023

Stimulated by Liu et al 2023.[1] Volcano plots from Figure 1 of Liu et al 2023.[1] EA – electroacupunctureIBS – irritable bowel syndromeUC – ulcerative colitisDSS – dextran sodium sulphateDEGs – differentially expressed genesGSEA – gene set enrichment analysis key to acronyms This paper came up in one of my searches in the last week … Continue reading EA for intestinal barrier function in IBS and UC 2023 →

EA for OIC

Stimulated by Wang et al 2023.[1] EA protocol used for OIC in Wang et al 2023.[1]Diagram by MC. EA – electroacupunctureOIC – opioid-induced constipationCSFC – chronic severe functional constipation5-HT – 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)TEAS – TENS applied to acupuncture points (ie TENS)TENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationSCC – severe chronic constipationCSBM – complete spontaneous bowel movementSBM – … Continue reading EA for OIC →

EA for PSD

Stimulated by Yao et al 2023.[1] PSD – post-stroke dysphagiaIF – impact factorEA – electroacupunctureaka – also known asROS – reactive oxygen speciesM1 – primary motor cortexPBN – parabrachial nucleusNTS – nucleus tractus solitarius key to acronyms I am pretty selective about choosing laboratory studies to highlight on the blog. I do not have direct … Continue reading EA for PSD →