Hot flushes 2024

Inspired by Lu et al 2024.[1] AI generated image... ET – endocrine therapyAI – aromatase inhibitor(s)FACT-ES – Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Endocrine SymptomsESS – endocrine symptom subscale (of FACT-ES)MA – manual acupunctureEA – electroacupunctureRIX – radiation-induced xerostomia – key to acronyms Hot flushes was the subject of my first blog back in 2016 … Continue reading Hot flushes 2024

Acupuncture for CP CPPS in drinkers

Inspired by Zhu et al 2024.[1] Points used in the trial adapted from Supplement 3 of the publication.[2] CP – chronic prostatitisCPPS – chronic pelvic pain syndromeRCT – randomised controlled trialMA – manual acupunctureNIH-CPSI – National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index – key to acronyms This is secondary analysis of a large RCT … Continue reading Acupuncture for CP CPPS in drinkers

EA for CINV 2024

Inspired by Shen et al 2024.[1] AI generated image of 'chemotherapy induced nausea'. EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureCINV – chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomitingHEC – highly emetogenic chemotherapy5-HT – 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)NK – neurokininVAS – visual analogue scale – key to acronyms This trial in JCO (IF 42.1) immediately caught my attention because of the topic … Continue reading EA for CINV 2024

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 pre-IOL 2024

Inspired by Zamora-Brito et al 2024.[1] IOL – induction of labourMFM – Maternofetal MedicineIF – impact factorSOL – spontaneous onset of labourPROM – premature rupture of membranesCS – caesarean section – key to acronyms This paper in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology MFM (IF 3.8) comes from Barcelona and it comes out of … Continue reading Acupuncture pre-IOL 2024

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 in Alberta 2024

Inspired by Lu et al 2024.[1] Moraine Lake, Alberta, by John Lee on Unsplash. ABCHIP – Alberta Complementary Health Integration ProjectBPI – brief pain inventoryPSQI – Pittsburgh sleep quality indexPHQ9 – patient health questionnaire 9PROMIS – patient-reported outcomes measurement information system [2]SF – short formEQ-5D-5L – EuroQol Group 5D-5L instrument [3]NRS – numerical rating scaleQoL – … Continue reading Acupuncture in Alberta 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 and stroke risk in insomnia

Inspired by Huang et al 2024.[1] Visual abstract from Huang et al 2024.[1] IF – impact factorAPC – article publishing chargeNHIRD – national health insurance database (Taiwan)LGTD2000 – longitudinal generational tracking database from 2000NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsaHR – adjusted hazard ratio – key to acronyms This is another large retrospective cohort study from Taiwan … Continue reading Acupuncture and stroke risk in insomnia

Fatal ISCA attributed to acupuncture

Stimulated by Lui et al 2024.[1] Figure 1B from Lui et al 2024.[1] ISCA – intramedullary spinal cord abscessIF – impact factorhvKp – hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniaeGLASS-EAR – Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Surveillance System on Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance ReportingST – sequence typeGI – gastrointestinal – key to acronyms This is an adverse event report from Chengdu … Continue reading Fatal ISCA attributed to acupuncture