Pre-natal EA for MIA 2025

Stimulated by Zhang et al 2025.[1] Visual abstract from Zhang et al.[1] EA – electroacupunctureMIA – maternal immune activationIF – impact factorAPC – author processing chargeUSD – US dollarsPoly (I:C) – polyinosinic-polycytidylic acidRNA – ribose nucleic acidIL6 – interleukin 6 (a proinflammatory cytokine)MCP-1 – monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (a downstream chemokine of IL6)α7nAChR – the … Continue reading Pre-natal EA for MIA 2025

Brain topology turning points over the human lifespan

Stimulated by Mousley et al 2025.[1] IF – impact factorMR – magnetic resonanceDTI – diffusion tensor imaging3D – three dimensional2D – two dimensionalGMV – grey matter volumeWMV – white matter volumeTCV – total cerebral volume – key to acronyms I heard a news item on this research on BBC Radio 4 at the beginning of … Continue reading Brain topology turning points over the human lifespan

Pneumonia risk in stroke patients on PPIs

Stimulated by Wang et al 2025.[1] Photo by Robina on Unsplash. PPIs – proton pump inhibitorsIF – impact factorCDI – Clostridium difficile infectionSIBO – small intestinal bacterial overgrowthPD – Parkinson’s diseaseGERD – gastroesophageal reflex diseaseOR – odds ratio – key to acronyms I have come to quite like the large retrospective cohort studies that have been published in … Continue reading Pneumonia risk in stroke patients on PPIs

Acupuncture for PSD 3 2025

Stimulated by Li et al 2025.[1] Part of one figure from Yao et al 2023.[2] PSD – post-stroke dysphagiaIF – impact factorWST – water swallowing test (30mls of warm water) – key to acronyms This is the third paper on PSD I have highlighted this year. It is a cohort study from China, which is … Continue reading Acupuncture for PSD 3 2025

EDN in OAK 2025

Stimulated by Dunning et al 2025.[1] Figure 1 from the paper... or you wouldn't have believed me. EDN – electrical dry needlingOAK – OA kneeOA – osteoarthritisIF – impact factorPEDN – periosteal electrical dry needlingPIEDN – periosteal and intra-articular electrical dry needlingEA – electroacupunctureWMA – Western medical acupunctureTENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationSAE – serious … Continue reading EDN in OAK 2025

Neck pain in migraine 2025

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

Acupuncture and mortality in IHD 2025

Stimulated by Jun et al 2025.[1] Image of Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda, Iksan. IHD – ischaemic heart diseaseCVD – cardiovascular diseaseKIOM – Korean Institute of Oriental Medicinedoi – digital object identifierrTPA – recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (aka Alteplase)DALY – disability-adjusted life yearCHA₂DS₂-VASc score – a scoring system that predicts the risk of CV eventsVIM – variability … Continue reading Acupuncture and mortality in IHD 2025

EA vs Prucalopride in USCC 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

EA for hot flushes 2025

Stimulated by Wang et al 2025.[1] AI generated image. EA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureJIM – the Journal of Integrative MedicineIF – impact factorJICM – the Journal of Integrative and Complementary MedicineJACM – the Journal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineHF – hot flashes or flushesPCOS – polycystic ovarian syndromePOI – primary ovarian insufficiencyPOF – primary … Continue reading EA for hot flushes 2025