Improving acupuncture research 2022

Inspired by a series of recent on access articles in the BMJ online.[1–6] Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com CACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBUCM – Beijing University of Chinese MedicineEBM – evidence-based medicineSR – systematic reviewRCT – randomised controlled trialGRADE – Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (a method of grading … Continue reading Improving acupuncture research 2022

Acupuncture for CD 2022

Inspired by Bao et al 2022.[1] Cladogram from Bao et al 2022. A cladogram is a diagram used to show relationships between organisms – from the Greek clados (branch) and gramma (character). CD – Crohn’s DiseaseMA – manual acupunctureCDAI – Crohn’s Disease Activity IndexEA – electroacupunctureCDEIS – Crohn’s Disease Endoscopic Index of SeverityHS – Histopathological … Continue reading Acupuncture for CD 2022

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

Missing the point in Guangzhou 2022

Inspired by Zeng et al 2022.[1] Cropped photo of BMJ cover from 10th March 2018. IF – impact factorEA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureNPQ – Northwick Park Neck Pain QuestionnaireSF-MPQ – Short-Form McGill Pain QuestionnaireVAS – visual analogue scorePT – pain threshold (in this case electrical pain threshold in skin)PPT – pressure pain thresholdkey to … Continue reading Missing the point in Guangzhou 2022

Guidelines for acupuncture RCTs

Inspired by He et al 2022 and Gang et al 2022.[1,2] Photo Kerry Hu on Unsplash. A panda in Chengdu. RCTs – randomised controlled trialsSR – systematic reviewCAM – complementary and alternative medicineCAIM – complementary alternative and integrative medicineLBP – low back painkey to acronyms I rarely refer to protocols on this blog. One exception … Continue reading Guidelines for acupuncture RCTs

EA for surgical ToP

Inspired by Ng et al 2021.[1] Photo by Andy Wang on Unsplash. EA – electroacupunctureToP – termination of pregnancyIVF – invitro fertilisationRCT – randomised controlled trialSE – suction evacuationIM – intramuscularAA – auricular acupuncturekey to acronyms This paper was published online in Acupuncture in Medicine last month and comes from a well-known research group led … Continue reading EA for surgical ToP

EA vs metformin for IR in PCOS 2021

Inspired by Wen et al 2021.[1] Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash. The admittedly tenuous link to this week's blog is of course FINS, which feature in both. EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureIR – insulin resistancePCOS – polycystic ovary syndromeRCT – randomised controlled trialBMI – body mass indexHOMA-IR – homeostatic model assessment of … Continue reading EA vs metformin for IR in PCOS 2021

Acupuncture for ARC 2021

Inspired by Zhang et al 2021.[1] Photo by Anton Nikolov on Unsplash. ARC – acute renal colicIF – impact factorMA – manual acupunctureIM – intramuscular (injection – a route for administering drugs)IV – intravenous (ditto)NSAID – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugCOX – cyclooxygenaseSEs – side effectsVAS – visual analogue scale (score) key to acronyms This is a … Continue reading Acupuncture for ARC 2021

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

EA and the gut microbiome

Inspired by Wang et al 2021.[1] Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.comWhilst I think EA is great in KOA, the most direct way of influencing the microbial diversity in the gut is through what we chose to put in it. All the data suggests that colourful vegetables are probably the most important component of diet … Continue reading EA and the gut microbiome