Stimulated by Kong et al 2026.[1] An elderly man gazes thoughtfully at Shanghai's skyline during sunset – an AI generated image. AD – Alzheimer’s diseaseRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorCDR – clinical dementia ratingMA – manual acupunctureEA – electroacupunctureADAS-cog 12 – AD assessment scale, cognitive subscale, 12 item versionMMSE – mini mental state … Continue reading Acupuncture plus donepezil in AD 2026
Stimulated by Wang et al 2026.[1] AI generated image used in a previous blog post – see SCs in endometriosis pain 2024. DOR – diminished ovarian reserveRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorCACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesAMH – anti-Müllerian hormoneAFC – antral follicle countSAS – self-rating anxiety scaleIQR – interquartile range … Continue reading Acupuncture for DOR 2026
Stimulated by Wei et al 2026.[1] Image from Slashme on Wikipedia.This is an image of the fruit of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) split open to show the seed with the surrounding aril (also known as mace). I cannot help thinking it looks a bit like a heart. EA – electroacupunctureSF-NR – slow flow / no-reflow (refers to inadequate myocardial perfusion post-PCI)PCI … Continue reading EA for SF-NR 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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