Chronic pain and the PAG 2022

Inspired by Xu et al 2022.[1] Photo by TBS 44 on Unsplash. PAG – periaqueductal grayFC – functional connectivityMRI – magnetic resonance imagingfMRI – functional magnetic resonance imagingCNSP – chronic neck and shoulder painHC – healthy controlMA – manual acupunctureMC – metacarpalBOLD – blood oxygen level dependantpIns – posterior insulaPCS – pain catastrophising scalekey to … Continue reading Chronic pain and the PAG 2022 →

EA vs metformin for IR in PCOS 2021

Inspired by Wen et al 2021.[1] Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash. The admittedly tenuous link to this week's blog is of course FINS, which feature in both. EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureIR – insulin resistancePCOS – polycystic ovary syndromeRCT – randomised controlled trialBMI – body mass indexHOMA-IR – homeostatic model assessment of … Continue reading EA vs metformin for IR in PCOS 2021 →

MA vs TENS in PGP

Inspired by Svahn Ekdahl et al 2021.[1] Image by Janko Ferlič on Unsplash. MA – manual acupunctureTENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationPGP – pelvic girdle painNIHR – National Institute of Health ResearchODI – Oswestry disability indexITT– intention to treatPP – per protocolCI – confidence intervalQoL – quality of life key to acronyms There was a flurry of research … Continue reading MA vs TENS in PGP →

Distant vs local needling

Inspired by Yu et al 2021.[1] Photo by Dylann Hendricks | 딜란 on Unsplash. PoPS – principles of point selectionOA – osteoarthritisVAS – visual analogue scaleROM – range of movementHNCS – heterotopic noxious conditioning stimulationDNIC – diffuse noxious inhibitory controlkey to acronyms I will immediately admit that I am always biased in this debate in … Continue reading Distant vs local needling →

Acupuncture for CP CPPS

Inspired by Sun et al 2021.[1] Points used in the trial adapted from Supplement 3 of the publication.[1] CP – chronic prostatitisCPPS – chronic pelvic pain syndromeRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorNIH-CPSI – National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom IndexMA – manual acupunctureMCID – minimal clinically important differenceSUI – stress urinary incontinencekey … Continue reading Acupuncture for CP CPPS →

Preventing xerostomia

Stimulated by Menezes et al 2021.[1] Photo by Craig Cameron on Unsplash. RIX – radiation induced xerostomiaPROM – patient reported outcome measureXI – Xerostomia InventoryXQ – Xerostomia QuestionnaireBAI – Beck Anxiety Inventory key to acronyms I was a bit late to pick up this paper, perhaps because the title is long, and I didn’t really … Continue reading Preventing xerostomia →

Pudendal EA for LUTS

Stimulated by Chen et al 2021.[1] Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com EA – electroacupunctureLUTD – lower urinary tract dysfunctionLUTS – lower urinary tract symptomsSNM – sacral neuromodulationIPG – implantable pulse generatorEPNS – electrical pudendal nerve stimulationkey to acronyms This week I am choosing a case report to highlight because it nicely illustrates the overlap between … Continue reading Pudendal EA for LUTS →

EA or AA vs UC – the PEACE trial

Stimulated by Mao et al 2021.[1] Visual abstract of PEACE trial from JAMA Oncology EA – electroacupunctureAA – auricular acupunctureUC – usual carePEACE – Personalised EA vs AA Comparative EffectivenessMSK – musculoskeletalMSKCC – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterARC – Acupuncture in Routine CareBFA – battlefield acupunctureBPI – brief pain inventoryVA – The United States Department … Continue reading EA or AA vs UC – the PEACE trial →

SCD and 100Hz EA for itch

Stimulated by Pan et al 2021,[1] and Li et al 2021.[2] Photo by Flickr on Pexels.com SCD – systemic contact dermatitisEA – electroacupunctureIgE – immunoglobulin EGRPR – gastrin-releasing peptide receptorDYN-A – dynorphin Akey to acronyms We have all heard of allergy to metals in the form of a localised dermatitis at the site of contact, … Continue reading SCD and 100Hz EA for itch →

Acupuncture vs drugs in migraine

Stimulated by Giannini et al 2021,[1] and Szikszay et al 2020.[2] Photo by MC Botox – botulinum toxin type ACG150 – NICE Clinical Guideline 150 (Headaches in over 12s)GERAC – GERman ACupuncture trialRR50 – responder rate defined by a 50% reduction in days with headacheOA – Offset Analgesia (surely they could have used a different … Continue reading Acupuncture vs drugs in migraine →