http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/ en-us Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:45:14 GMT Silverchair editor@archinte.jamanetwork.com webmaster@archinte.jamanetwork.com http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1484597 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT Mommaerts J, Vandevoorde J, Devroey D. <span class="paragraphSection">Suzuki et al claim that their placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture clearly demonstrates that this is a useful adjunctive therapy in reducing dyspnea on exertion in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They used a design in which a placebo acupuncture group (PAG) received treatment with a Park sham device “with a guide tube mounted on a base adherent to the skin.”^(p879-880) The authors further describe that “[t]he tips of the placebo needles used for the placebo acupuncture group . . . were blunt and appeared to be penetrating the skin but actually telescoped back into place.”^(p880) With no blinding of the practitioner, the authors assessed subjects' blindness after the study, letting subjects choose between “real acupuncture,” “placebo acupuncture,” and “don't know.” Of the real acupuncture group (RAG), 25 of 30 subjects reported “don't know.” Of the PAG, 26 of 32 subjects did so.</span> 172 22 1772 1773 10.1001/2013.jamainternmed.453 http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1484597 http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1484598 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT Suzuki M, Ishizaki N. <span class="paragraphSection">In reply</span> 172 22 1772 1773 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1285 http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1484598