EA for OIC

Stimulated by Wang et al 2023.[1] EA protocol used for OIC in Wang et al 2023.[1]Diagram by MC. EA – electroacupunctureOIC – opioid-induced constipationCSFC – chronic severe functional constipation5-HT – 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)TEAS – TENS applied to acupuncture points (ie TENS)TENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationSCC – severe chronic constipationCSBM – complete spontaneous bowel movementSBM – … Continue reading EA for OIC

Sham devices impede real acupuncture 2023

Stimulated by Lee et al 2023.[1] Photo by Iai_man_nung on Unsplash. NMA – network meta-analysisRCT – randomised controlled trialOAK – osteoarthritis of the kneeMA – manual acupunctureEA – electroacupunctureSMD – standardised mean differenceMCID – minimum clinically important differenceNICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence key to acronyms I first wrote about this on … Continue reading Sham devices impede real acupuncture 2023

Antidepressants for pain 2023

Inspired by Ferreira et al 2023.[1] Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.comI chose an image that looks a bit like one formulation of duloxetine – the SNRI that probably figures most prominently in the research discussed. NICE – National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceSR – systematic reviewSNRIs – serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitorsCI – confidence intervalMCID … Continue reading Antidepressants for pain 2023

Acup* for ARC 2023

Inspired by Chen C et al 2023 and Chen H-T et al 2023.[1,2] Screen grab from the supplementary video file demonstrating the position of the Qiu point.[1] Acup* – Acupressure or AcupunctureARC – acute renal colicRCT – randomised controlled trialIV – intravenousNSAID – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugBCE – before common era (secular version of BC)CE – … Continue reading Acup* for ARC 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

Intranasal acupuncture 2023

Inspired by Liu et al 2023.[1] Figure 1 from Liu et al 2023.[1] INA – intranasal acupuncturePAR – persistent allergic rhinitisWM – western medicine (in this case – nasal steroid and antihistamine)VAS – visual analogue scaleRQLQ – rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire key to acroyms I first came across INA when a consultant ENT surgeon (a … Continue reading Intranasal acupuncture 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

EA for SU

...in neurocritical patients. Inspired by Li et al 2022.[1] Potential mean saving of £10 000 per patient through use of EA. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com EA – electroacupunctureSU – stress ulcerationGI – gastrointestinal...VEGF – vascular endothelial growth factorHSP70 – heat shock protein 70TFF2 – trefoil factor family 2 key to acronyms This is quite … Continue reading EA for SU

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