Contralateral EA and descending controls 2026

Stimulated by Zhang et al 2026.[1] Figure 1 from Yu et al 2023.[2] EA – electroacupunctureIF – impact factorWDR – wide dynamic rangeSD – Sprague DawleyCFA – complete Freund’s adjuvant (an oily antigenic mixture including heat-killed mycobacteria)PWR – paw withdrawal thresholdAAV – adeno-associated virusRVM – rostral ventromedial medullaGABA – gamma amino butyric acidChR2 – channel rhodopsin … Continue reading Contralateral EA and descending controls 2026 →

EA for QoL in gastric cancer 2026

Stimulated by Zhu et al 2026.[1] Photo by Mitchell Luo on Unsplash.From a previous blog that is worth revisiting. EA – electroacupunctureQoL – quality of lifeHRQoL – health-related quality of lifeIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialHBV – hepatitis B virusHDV – hepatitis D virusFACT-Ga – functional assessment of cancer therapy – gastricTOI – trial outcome indexDFS … Continue reading EA for QoL in gastric cancer 2026 →

GV20 EA for OXT-driven anxiolysis 2026

Stimulated by Gong et al 2026.[1] C57BL/6J mouse EA – electroacupunctureOXT – oxytocinOXTR – oxytocin receptorIF – impact factorOFT – open field testEPM – elevated plus maze testPVR – pseudorabies virus (which is actually a herpes virus)EGFP – enhanced green fluorescent proteinPVN – paraventricular nucleus (of the hypothalamus)ip – intraperitoneal – key to acronyms I … Continue reading GV20 EA for OXT-driven anxiolysis 2026 →

EA for muscle tenderness 2026

Stimulated by Yu et al 2025.[1] Image from part of Figure 1 in Yu et al 2023.[2] EA – electroacupunctureCACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesIF – impact factorJIM – Journal of Integrated MedicineJCIM – Journal of Chinese Integrated MedicineCJIM – Chinese Journal of Integrated MedicineCFA – complete Freund’s adjuvant (an oily antigenic mixture including heat-killed mycobacteria)SD … Continue reading EA for muscle tenderness 2026 →

EA for PVCs post-MI 2025

Stimulated by Zhang et al 2025.[1] Visual abstract from Zhang et al 2025.[1] EA – electroacupuncturePVCs – premature ventricular complexesMI – myocardial infarctionIF – impact factorVF – ventricular fibrillationECG – electrocardiogramAAV – adeno-associated virusDREADD – designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugM1L5 – lamina 5 of the primary motor cortexRVLM – rostral ventrolateral medullaZI – … Continue reading EA for PVCs post-MI 2025 →

EPNS for PPUI 2025

Stimulated by Li et al 2025.[1] Re-edited version of the image used in the Oliveira 2018,[2] illustrating the position of the needle placement described in the current paper. The gluteus maximus muscle and the sacrotuberous ligament are faded so that the deeper structures can be seen. This image has been modified from the version used … Continue reading EPNS for PPUI 2025 →

Pre-natal EA for MIA 2025

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 →

EDN in OAK 2025

Stimulated by Dunning et al 2025.[1] Figure 1 from the paper... or you wouldn't have believed me. EDN – electrical dry needlingOAK – OA kneeOA – osteoarthritisIF – impact factorPEDN – periosteal electrical dry needlingPIEDN – periosteal and intra-articular electrical dry needlingEA – electroacupunctureWMA – Western medical acupunctureTENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationSAE – serious … Continue reading EDN in OAK 2025 →

EA vs Prucalopride in USCC 2025

Stimulated by Gao et al 2026.[1] Protocol used in Liu et al 2012.[2] EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureUSCC – ultra severe chronic constipationSCC – severe chronic constipationCACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesIF – impact factorCSBM – complete spontaneous bowel movementMCID – minimal clinically important differenceOIC – opioid-induced constipation – key to acronyms … Continue reading EA vs Prucalopride in USCC 2025 →

EA for hot flushes 2025

Stimulated by Wang et al 2025.[1] AI generated image. EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureJIM – the Journal of Integrative MedicineIF – impact factorJICM – the Journal of Integrative and Complementary MedicineJACM – the Journal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineHF – hot flashes or flushesPCOS – polycystic ovarian syndromePOI – primary ovarian insufficiencyPOF – primary … Continue reading EA for hot flushes 2025 →