STP and the DH 2023

Stimulated by Cathenaut et al 2023.[1] Graphic drawn by MC in the late 90's at the request of AW for a paper in the BMJ.[2] STP – short term plasticityDH – dorsal horn (the sensory horn of the spinal cord)EA – electroacupunctureCirca – approximately (sometimes shortened to c)TRPV1 – transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1GABA … Continue reading STP and the DH 2023 →

LI4 for IUD insertion

Stimulated by Erdoğan and Yardimci 2023.[1] Photo from Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash. IUD – intrauterine deviceRCT – randomised controlled trialVAS – visual analogue scaleAE – adverse eventSR – systematic reviewIVF – invitro fertilisationEiC – editor in chief key to acronyms This is a small RCT from Turkey published in Archives of Gynaecology and … Continue reading LI4 for IUD insertion →

MSAT for MSK pain

Stimulated by a trip to Jaseng, Seoul, for their 4th annual academic conference, and a paper from the founder of Jaseng, published in Pain 10 years ago, Shin et al 2013.[1] MSAT – motion style acupuncture treatmentMSK – musculoskeletalcLBP – chronic low back painUS – ultrasoundTP – transverse processCAT – conventional acupuncture treatmentRCT – randomised … Continue reading MSAT for MSK pain →

TENS in patients with ICDs

Stimulated by Subhail Arain et al 2023.[1] Visual abstract from Subhail Arain et al 2023.[1] TENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationICD – implanted cardioverter defibrillatorEA – electroacupunctureCRT – cardiac resynchronisation therapyECG – electrocardiogramEMI – electromagnetic interferenceVT – ventricular tachycardiaVF – ventricular fibrillationAEs – adverse events key to acronyms As a keen proponent of EA and … Continue reading TENS in patients with ICDs →

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 →

Where to needle – part 3

…in teres minor and other SG muscles. Stimulated by Yi et al 2023.[1] Photo by Shakibuzzaman Khan Chowdhury on Unsplash. SG – shoulder girdleTrP – trigger point (referring to a myofascial trigger point)SG – shoulder girdleTrP – trigger point (referring to a myofascial trigger point)EPZ – endplate zone (the area of a muscle where motor … Continue reading Where to needle – part 3 →

Acupuncture for FM 2023

Stimulated by Di Carlo et al 2023 and Treister-Goltzman et al 2023.[1,2] Photo by Mattia Golinucci on Unsplash. An ancient church in a cave, il tempio del valadier, the valadier's temple in Ancona. Di Carlo et al are from the same region of Italy. FM – fibromyalgiaMA – manual acupunctureBMI – body mass indexFIQR – … Continue reading Acupuncture for FM 2023 →

Acupuncture for MSK pain in China

Stimulated by Mei et al 2023.[1] Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash. MSK – musculoskeletalCHARLS – China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study key to acronyms The title of this paper caught my eye, and the abstract contains an acronym that makes me smile with a mixture of irony and curiosity – CHARLS. CHARLS was set … Continue reading Acupuncture for MSK pain in China →

Acupuncture in ICH 2023

Stimulated by Li et al 2023.[1] BDNF - Microswitch at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. ICH – intracerebral haemorrhageRCT – randomised controlled trialEA – electroacupunctureSAH – subarachnoid haemorrhagemRS – modified Rankin Scale (a 0 to 6 scale measuring disability)GCS – Glasgow coma scale (measures conscious level up to a maximum of … Continue reading Acupuncture in ICH 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 →