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
Stimulated by Mousley et al 2025.[1] IF – impact factorMR – magnetic resonanceDTI – diffusion tensor imaging3D – three dimensional2D – two dimensionalGMV – grey matter volumeWMV – white matter volumeTCV – total cerebral volume – key to acronyms I heard a news item on this research on BBC Radio 4 at the beginning of … Continue reading Brain topology turning points over the human lifespan
Stimulated by Wang et al 2025.[1] Photo by Robina on Unsplash. PPIs – proton pump inhibitorsIF – impact factorCDI – Clostridium difficile infectionSIBO – small intestinal bacterial overgrowthPD – Parkinson’s diseaseGERD – gastroesophageal reflex diseaseOR – odds ratio – key to acronyms I have come to quite like the large retrospective cohort studies that have been published in … Continue reading Pneumonia risk in stroke patients on PPIs
Stimulated by Li et al 2025.[1] Part of one figure from Yao et al 2023.[2] PSD – post-stroke dysphagiaIF – impact factorWST – water swallowing test (30mls of warm water) – key to acronyms This is the third paper on PSD I have highlighted this year. It is a cohort study from China, which is … Continue reading Acupuncture for PSD 3 2025
Stimulated by Jun et al 2025.[1] Image of Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda, Iksan. IHD – ischaemic heart diseaseCVD – cardiovascular diseaseKIOM – Korean Institute of Oriental Medicinedoi – digital object identifierrTPA – recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (aka Alteplase)DALY – disability-adjusted life yearCHA₂DS₂-VASc score – a scoring system that predicts the risk of CV eventsVIM – variability … Continue reading Acupuncture and mortality in IHD 2025
Stimulated by Gao et al 2026.[1] Protocol used in Liu et al 2012.[2] EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureUSCC – ultra severe chronic constipationSCC – severe chronic constipationCACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesIF – impact factorCSBM – complete spontaneous bowel movementMCID – minimal clinically important differenceOIC – opioid-induced constipation – key to acronyms … Continue reading EA vs Prucalopride in USCC 2025
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