Acupuncture for refractory IBS

Inspired by Zhao et al 2024.[1] AI generated collage from ancient Rome...The Rome IV diagnostic criteria were used to evaluate patients with suspected refractory IBS. IBS – irritable bowel syndromeRCT – randomised controlled trialMA – manual acupunctureIBS-SSS – IBS symptom severity scale – key to acronyms This is a multicentre RCT from China (Beijing and … Continue reading Acupuncture for refractory IBS

Acupuncture for chronic neck pain 2024

Inspired by Zhao et al 2024.[1] RCT – randomised controlled trialPPT – pressure pain thresholdVAS – visual analogue scaleMCID – minimal clinically important difference – key to acronyms I reviewed this paper for Annals of Internal Medicine in September last year. It is a large 4 arm RCT (n=716) from a well-known group in Chengdu. … Continue reading Acupuncture for chronic neck pain 2024

Acupuncture for CAD 2024

Inspired by Huang et al 2024.[1] Figure 1 from Ihle-Hansen et al 2023.[2]Calculation of carotid plaque score. CAD – carotid atherosclerotic diseaseUS – ultrasoundSCM – sternocleidomastoid (muscle)cIMT – carotid intima-media thicknessPS – plaque score (based on plaque thickness)PV – plaque volume (3D measure)GSM – grey-scale median (3D measure of fibrosis and hence plaque stability)PWV – … Continue reading Acupuncture for CAD 2024

Acupuncture for MMT reduction 2024

Stimulated by Lu et al 2024.[1] MMT – methadone maintenance treatmentIF – impact factorOUD – opioid use disorderVAS – visual analogue scaleQoL – quality of lifeNMA – network meta-analysisPOAS – protracted opioid abstinence syndrome – key to acronyms This is the second sham controlled trial of acupuncture published in Annals of Internal Medicine (IF 39.2) … Continue reading Acupuncture for MMT reduction 2024

Acupuncture for DLSS

Stimulated by Zhu et al 2024.[1] DLSS – degenerative lumbar spinal stenosisIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialNRS – numerical rating scaleRMDQ – Roland Morris disability questionnaireMCID – minimum clinical important differenceSSSQ – Swiss spinal stenosis questionnaire – key to acronyms This paper in Annals of Internal Medicine (IF 39.2) reports on a multi-centre … Continue reading Acupuncture for DLSS

Acupuncture for sleep in PD 2024

Stimulated by Yan et al 2024.[1] PD – Parkinson’s diseaseIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialPDSS – Parkinson’s disease sleep scaleUPDRS-III – unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale part 3 (motor examination)MCID – minimum clinical important difference – key to acronyms This paper in JAMA Network Open (IF 10.5) reports on a single-centre sham controlled … Continue reading Acupuncture for sleep in PD 2024

Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine 2024

Stimulated by Liu et al 2024.[1] IF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialART – Acupuncture Randomised Trial (part of the Modellvorhaben Akupunktur)RR50 – responder rate 50 (50 refers to a reduction of 50% or more in headache days)MMDs – monthly migraine daysNICE – National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceNMA – network meta-analysis – … Continue reading Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine 2024

EA plus CBZ for TN 2024

Stimulated by Li et al 2024.[1] EA – electroacupunctureCBZ – carbamazepineTN – trigeminal neuralgiaIF – impact factorG – googletid – ter in die (latin for three times a day) – key to acronyms I chose this paper in the Journal of Neurology (IF 6.0) because the 2x2 factorial design is uncommon in acupuncture research from … Continue reading EA plus CBZ for TN 2024

Pyonex for necks 2024

Stimulated by Horike & Ukezono 2024.[1] Deniah modelling 3 pink Pyonex over her upper L SCM. DIY – do-it-yourselfVAS – visual analogue score (for pain intensity in this case)M-VAS – motion-related VAS (for neck movement-related pain in this case)NDI-J – neck disability index (Japanese version)PPT – pressure pain threshold – key to acronyms This is … Continue reading Pyonex for necks 2024

Acupuncture for SCD 2024

Stimulated by Wang et al 2024.[1] SCD – subjective cognitive declineIF – impact factorSCDQ – subjective cognitive decline questionnaireMMSE – mini mental state examinationMCI – mild cognitive impairmentAD – Alzheimer’s diseaseEA – electroacupunctureAVLT – auditory verbal learning testTMT – trail making testAFT – animal fluency testBNT – Boston naming testSCWT – Stroop colour word testDSST … Continue reading Acupuncture for SCD 2024