Stimulated by Rees et al 2025.[1] IF – impact factorHIS – international headache societydoi – digital object identifierTCC – trigeminocervical complex – key to acronyms This narrative review in Cephalalgia (IF 4.6) caught my eye because the title describes a clinical conundrum I have wrestled with for most of my career. That is whether or … Continue reading Neck pain in migraine 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
Stimulated by Niu et al 2025.[1] Photo by Cheng Shi Song on Pexels.com – skyline of Nanjing. EA – electroacupunctureRARP – robot-assisted radical prostatectomyUI – urinary incontinenceUC – urinary continenceIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trial – key to acronyms This week we have another paper from JAMA Network Open (IF 9.7). This time … Continue reading EA for post-RARP UI
Stimulated by Li et al 2025.[1] Photo by Matthew Zheng on Pexels.com EA – electroacupunctureIF – impact factorAPC – article publishing charge (cost to the authors or their institution for publishing a paper)SEA – sham electroacupunctureWL – waiting listNPQ – Northwick Park neck pain questionnaireMCID – minimal clinically important differenceSF-MPQ – short form McGill pain … Continue reading EA for chronic neck pain 2025
Stimulated by Sun et al 2025.[1] Photo by Tom fly on Pexels.com MwoA – migraine without auraIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialHIT-6 – headache impact test 6MSQ – migraine specific questionnaireCGRP – calcitonin gene-related peptideRR50 – responder rate 50 (a 50% or more reduction in the relevant metric)VAS – visual analogue scale – … Continue reading Acupuncture for MwoA 2025
Stimulated by Xu et al 2025.[1] Photo by Lee Jason on Pexels.com PSD – post-stroke dysphagiaRCT – randomised controlled trialMA – manual acupunctureIF – impact factorWST – water swallowing test (30ml of water)CRT – conventional rehabilitation trainingSSA – standardised swallowing assessmentMMASA – modified Mann assessment of swallowing ability5-HT – 5-hydroxytriptamine (aka serotonin)SWAL-QoL – swallowing quality of … Continue reading Acupuncture for PSD 2 2025
Stimulated by Zhang et al 2025.[1] Photo by Kent Zhong on Pexels.com.Aerial View of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China. PSD – post-stroke dysphagiaRCT – randomised controlled trialMA – manual acupunctureSRT – swallowing rehabilitation trainingIF – impact factorc – circa (from Latin and written before a number to mean it is an approximation)WST … Continue reading Acupuncture for PSD 2025
Stimulated by Yang et al 2025.[1] IBS – irritable bowel syndromeIBS-D – diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndromeBUCM – Beijing University of Chinese MedicineMA – manual acupunctureBSFS – Bristol stool form scale – key to acronyms This is a paper from a well-known research group based in BUCM. It reports a multicentre trial, so the authors cover … Continue reading Acupuncture for IBS-D
Inspired by Liou et al 2025.[1] AI generated image. EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureIF – impact factorMSKCC – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterADT – androgen deprivation therapyIPSS – international prostate symptom scoreMCID – minimal clinically important difference – key to acronyms This week we are sticking with the urinary system, and I have chosen … Continue reading EA for nocturia 2025
Inspired by Lv et al 2025.[1] Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com EA – electroacupunctureOAB – overactive bladderVES – vaginal electrical stimulationTTNS – transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulationTENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationTEAS – transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulationPTNS – percutaneous tibial nerve stimulationOABSS – overactive bladder symptom scoreMCID – minimal clinically important differenceSNM – sacral neuromodulation – … Continue reading EA for OAB 2025
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