EA and COMT Val158Met 2023

Stimulated by Yang et al 2023.[1] Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com.You might expect this sort of character to be Val Val ie homozygous for guanine at codon 158 of the COMT gene. EA – electroacupunctureAA – auricular acupunctureCOMT – catechol-o-methyltransferaseMSK – musculoskeletalBFA – battlefield acupuncture (an AA protocol – See: Ears and the battlefield)rs – … Continue reading EA and COMT Val158Met 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 after CS 2022

Inspired by Jin et al 2022.[1] EA protocol used in Jin et al 2022 (left), and what I would do in the same circumstances (right). EA – electroacupunctureCS – caesarean sectionNAPC – number of analgesic pump compressionsPCIA – patient controlled intravenous analgesiaIL-6 – interleukin 6 (a proinflammatory cytokine)TAP – tranversus abdominis plane key to acronyms … Continue reading EA after CS 2022

Where to start in LBP

Stimulated by Harwood et al 2022.[1] Photo by Adam Jones on Unsplash. Photo by Olenka Kotyk on Unsplash. LBP – low back painUS – United States of AmericaHCCI – Heath Care Cost InstituteED – emergency departmentEM – emergency medicinekey to acronyms This is very large retrospective observational cohort from the US examining opioid use, other … Continue reading Where to start in LBP

EA for surgical ToP

Inspired by Ng et al 2021.[1] Photo by Andy Wang on Unsplash. EA – electroacupunctureToP – termination of pregnancyIVF – invitro fertilisationRCT – randomised controlled trialSE – suction evacuationIM – intramuscularAA – auricular acupuncturekey to acronyms This paper was published online in Acupuncture in Medicine last month and comes from a well-known research group led … Continue reading EA for surgical ToP

Does acupuncture reduce opioid use?

Stimulated by Pham et al 2021.[1] Photo by Alexandru G Stavrică on Unsplash.Woman in a field of poppies... the original source of opiates – the natural subset of opioids. NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsPT – physical therapyTENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationED – emergency departmentkey to acronyms This is another large retrospective observational cohort trial, … Continue reading Does acupuncture reduce opioid use?

Consider acupuncture for chronic pain

Stimulated by NG193.[1] Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash. NICE – National Institute for Health & Care ExcellencecLBP – chronic low back painMSK – musculoskeletalGERAC – German acupuncture trials (large 3 arm trials with ~1000 patients in each)MCID – minimum clinical important differenceLA – local anaestheticCRPS – complex regional pain syndromeRFD – radiofrequency denervation. key … Continue reading Consider acupuncture for chronic pain

SCD and 100Hz EA for itch

Stimulated by Pan et al 2021,[1] and Li et al 2021.[2] Photo by Flickr on Pexels.com SCD – systemic contact dermatitisEA – electroacupunctureIgE – immunoglobulin EGRPR – gastrin-releasing peptide receptorDYN-A – dynorphin Akey to acronyms We have all heard of allergy to metals in the form of a localised dermatitis at the site of contact, … Continue reading SCD and 100Hz EA for itch

Peripheral receptors and neuromediators

Stimulated by Trento et al 2021.[1] IF – impact factorAPs – acupuncture pointsNE – norepinephrine (aka noradrenaline)NO – nitric oxidekey to acronyms This paper was sent to me by Ari (second author) the day before it appeared on my PubMed searches. Ari has lectured to the BMAS in the past, and I met him first … Continue reading Peripheral receptors and neuromediators

Acupuncture in the ED 2020

Stimulated by an email from a colleague in Australia re Jan et al 2020;[1] plus Cohen et al 2017.[2] Photo by NCI on Unsplash. ED –Emergency DepartmentBFA – BattleField AcupunctureIF – Impact Factorkey to acronyms This week I am focussing on the possible role for acupuncture as a non-pharmacological adjunct or alternative analgesic intervention for … Continue reading Acupuncture in the ED 2020