Stimulated by Yu et al 2026.[1] Photo by Matthew Zheng on Pexels.com IF – impact factorPSM – propensity score matchingaHR – adjusted hazard ratioECOG PS score – Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score – key to acronyms This week we are staying with the theme of cancer care but moving from gastric cancer to … Continue reading Acupuncture and insomnia in lung 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
Stimulated by Zheng et al 2026.[1] View of Kaohsiung from the Bird’s-eye View Observation Deck. Photo by a local guide whose name translates as Red Iris. PSD – post-stroke dysphagiaPSA – post-stroke aphasiaRA – rheumatoid arthritisPPI – proton pump inhibitorIF – impact factorPSM – propensity score matchingHR – hazard ratio (aHR – adjusted HR)mRS – … Continue reading Acupuncture for stroke 2026
Stimulated by Wang et al 2026.[1] Image by Cristian Newman on Unsplash. PF – plantar fasciitisPHP – plantar heel painIF – impact factorCACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesRCT – randomised controlled trialEA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureCI – confidence interval – key to acronyms It has been almost 6 years to the day … Continue reading Plantar fasciitis 2026
Stimulated by Pinheiro et al and Yi et al 2026.[1,2] Image retrieved by ChatGPT 5.2, but of unknown origin. MSK – musculoskeletalIF – impact factorMRI – magnetic resonance imaging – key to acronyms This week I have chosen a couple of recent anatomical papers that examine innervation patterns in the two lower limb muscles named … Continue reading Gluteus medius and soleus – innervation patterns 2026
Stimulated by Eucker et al 2025 and Neilsen et al 2026.[1,2] Photo by Charles Givens on Unsplash. ED – emergency departmentIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialMSK – musculoskeletalBFA – battlefield acupunctureNRS – numerical rating scaleEA – electroacupunctureABVN – auricular branch of the vagus nerveNTS – nucleus tractus solitarius – key to acronyms This … Continue reading Acupuncture in the ED 2026
Stimulated by Sato et al 2026.[1] Photo by Lindsey Franzke on Unsplash. BMS – burning mouth syndromeRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorACUSAR – acupuncture for seasonal allergic rhinitisARC – acupuncture in routine care (part of the Modellvorhaben Akupunktur)BDI-II – Beck Depression Inventory IIVAS – visual analogue scaleANOVA – analysis of variance – key … Continue reading Acupuncture for BMS 2026
Stimulated by Herman et al 2026.[1] This is the visual abstract from the main paper reporting the trial (DeBar et al 2025).[2] cLBP – chronic low back painIF – impact factorCEA – cost-effectiveness analysisCUA – cost-utility analysisEA – enhanced acupuncture (rather confusing I’m afraid)SA – standard electroacupunctureUMC – usual medical careRMDQ – Roland-Morris Disability QuestionnaireMCID … Continue reading Acupuncture saves costs in cLBP 2026
Stimulated by Schlaeger et al 2026.[1] Acupuncture protocol for vulvodynia used in Schlaeger et al 2026,[1] and Schlaeger et al 2015.[2] RCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorTYN – Takakura and Yajima needleMPQ – McGill pain questionnaire (computerised version)PINS – pain intensity number scale (0–10)API – average pain intensity (mean of current, least and … Continue reading Acupuncture for vulvodynia 2026
Stimulated by Reindorf et al and Song et al 2025.[1,2] Figure 1 from Reindorf et al 2025.[1] The red arrow is indicating a small right apical pneumothorax. According to the text of the case report, you are also supposed to be able to see the needle fragment, but they have not given us an arrow … Continue reading Punctured lungs and eyeballs 2025
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