Stimulated by Zhang et al 2025.[1] Visual abstract from Zhang et al.[1] EA – electroacupunctureMIA – maternal immune activationIF – impact factorAPC – author processing chargeUSD – US dollarsPoly (I:C) – polyinosinic-polycytidylic acidRNA – ribose nucleic acidIL6 – interleukin 6 (a proinflammatory cytokine)MCP-1 – monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (a downstream chemokine of IL6)α7nAChR – the … Continue reading Pre-natal EA for MIA 2025
Category: Pregnancy
Acupressure plus TENS in labour
Inspired by Gu et al 2025.[1] Photo by 东旭 王 on Unsplash. TENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationTEAS – transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulationSW-CRT – stepped wedge cluster randomised trialLDU – labour and delivery unitCEQ – childbirth experience questionnaire – key to acronyms This is a large trial from Shanghai evaluating two non-pharmacological approaches to treating … Continue reading Acupressure plus TENS in labour
Acupuncture pre-IOL 2024
Inspired by Zamora-Brito et al 2024.[1] IOL – induction of labourMFM – Maternofetal MedicineIF – impact factorSOL – spontaneous onset of labourPROM – premature rupture of membranesCS – caesarean section – key to acronyms This paper in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology MFM (IF 3.8) comes from Barcelona and it comes out of … Continue reading Acupuncture pre-IOL 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
EA for NVP 2023
Stimulated by Wu et al 2023.[1] EA – electroacupunctureNVP – nausea and vomiting of pregnancyPCOS – polycystic ovarian syndromeLisa SV – Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Karolinska InstitutetPUQE – pregnancy unique quantification of emesisIF – impact factorGWAS – genome wide association studyhCG – human chorionic gonadotrophinGDF15 – growth/differentiation factor 15 key to acronyms This is the largest … Continue reading EA for NVP 2023
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
Acupuncture for LBPGP 2022
Inspired by Yang et al 2022.[1] Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com LBPGP – low back or pelvic girdle pain during pregnancyNICE – National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceRCTs – randomised controlled trialsQoL – quality of lifeLBP – low back painPGP – pelvic girdle pain key to acronyms I did see this review paper … Continue reading Acupuncture for LBPGP 2022
Evidence mapping 2022
Inspired by number 8 in the BMJ acupuncture research series.[1–8] SR – systematic reviewICU – intensive care unitRCT – randomised controlled trialGRADE – Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (a method of grading the quality or ‘certainty’ and strength or ‘effect size’ of evidence inhealthcare)MSK – musculoskeletalES – effect sizeSMD – standardised mean differenceTMJD … Continue reading Evidence mapping 2022
EA vs metformin for IR in PCOS 2021
Inspired by Wen et al 2021.[1] Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash. The admittedly tenuous link to this week's blog is of course FINS, which feature in both. EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureIR – insulin resistancePCOS – polycystic ovary syndromeRCT – randomised controlled trialBMI – body mass indexHOMA-IR – homeostatic model assessment of … Continue reading EA vs metformin for IR in PCOS 2021
MA vs TENS in PGP
Inspired by Svahn Ekdahl et al 2021.[1] Image by Janko Ferlič on Unsplash. MA – manual acupunctureTENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationPGP – pelvic girdle painNIHR – National Institute of Health ResearchODI – Oswestry disability indexITT– intention to treatPP – per protocolCI – confidence intervalQoL – quality of life key to acronyms There was a flurry of research … Continue reading MA vs TENS in PGP









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