PO predicts use of CAM

…and conventional medicine. Stimulated by Valtonen et al 2023.[1] Figure 3 from Valtonen et al 2023.[1] The association between an anti-corruption PO and the use of CM. PO – political orientationCAM – complementary and alternative medicineCM – conventional medicineGal-Tan – a political dimension distinguishing Gal voters from Tan votersGal – green-alternative-libertarianTan – traditional-authoritarian-nationalist key to … Continue reading PO predicts use of CAM

Acupuncture and dementia risk in insomnia 2023

Inspired by Huang et al 2023.[1] Visual abstract from Huang et al 2023.[1] WHO – World Health OrganisationPRC – Peoples Republic of ChinaLHID – Longitudinal Health Insurance DatabaseNHIRD – National Health Insurance Research Database (Taiwan)HR – hazard ratioaHR – adjusted hazard ratioNSAID – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugMAOI – monoamine oxidase inhibitorSSRI – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor … Continue reading Acupuncture and dementia risk in insomnia 2023

Hypertension risk in CSU 2023

Stimulated by Chang et al 2023.[1] Modified slightly from BruceBlaus, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons CSU – chronic spontaneous urticariaCIU – chronic idiopathic urticaria (same as CSU)NHIRD – National Health Insurance Research DatabaseLHID – Longitudinal Health Insurance DatabaseaHR – adjusted hazard ratio key to acronyms This is another of the large retrospective observational … Continue reading Hypertension risk in CSU 2023

Acupuncture for endometriosis pain 2023

Stimulated by Li et al 2023.[1] Figure 2 from Li et al 2023.[1] RCT – randomised controlled trialVAS – visual analogue score key to acronyms This is the second moderately large (n=106) controlled trial of acupuncture in endometriosis. It is a sham controlled trial. The first was a similarly sized (n=101) cross-over trial using acupuncture … Continue reading Acupuncture for endometriosis pain 2023

Stroke risk in migraine 2023

Inspired by Liao et al 2023.[1] Photo by SpotwizardLee on Pexels.com MDPI – Molecular Diversity Preservation InternationalLGTD 2005 – Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database 2005NHIRD – National Health Insurance Research DatabaseaHR– adjusted hazard ratio key to acronyms This is another one of those large retrospective cohort trials from Taiwan. Thanks to Martin Allbright for spotting it … Continue reading Stroke risk in migraine 2023

Idiopathic facial palsy 2022

Inspired by Yang et al and Shi et al 2022.[1,2] Scottish neurophysiologist Sir Charles Bell was the first author to describe the anatomical basis for facial paralysis, and has since served as the eponym for Bell's palsy. Bell’s palsy – idiopathic facial palsyMA – manual acupunctureEA – electroacupunctureH-B – House–Brachmann (a grading system for facial … Continue reading Idiopathic facial palsy 2022

Acupuncture and dementia risk in migraine

Inspired by Huang et al 2022.[1] Photo by Rad Cyrus on Unsplash. NHIRD – National Health Insurance Research Database (Taiwan)HR – hazard ratioaHR – adjusted hazard ratioSR – systematic reviewNMA – network meta-analysisEA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupuncture key to acronyms It has been a while since I have seen one of these huge retrospective … Continue reading Acupuncture and dementia risk in migraine

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

Acupuncture and fracture risk in OA

Inspired by Huang et al 2022.[1] Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com OA – osteoarthritisJICM – Journal of Integrative and Complementary MedicineJACM – Journal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineVIP – very important personaHR – adjusted hazard ratio key to acronyms This paper appeared online on the 14th of this month in JICM, and it was then … Continue reading Acupuncture and fracture risk in OA

Risk of T2DM in RA

Inspired by Chen et al 2021.[1] Tea fields, Alishan Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Photo by Alexa Soh on Unsplash. T2DM – type 2 diabetes mellitusRA – rheumatoid arthritisCHD – coronary heart diseaseaHR – adjusted hazard ratioMA – manual acupunctureEA – electroacupunctureTNFα – tumour necrosis factor alpha (a potent inflammatory cytokine)LHID – longitudinal health insurance database … Continue reading Risk of T2DM in RA