The effect of lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy on cobb angle progression in individuals with adult scoliosis compared to natural history: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Lumbar radiofrequency neurotomy (LRFN) effectively alleviates zygapophyseal joint-mediated pain by coagulating medial branch nerves to disrupt nociceptive signaling pathways. The concomitant denervation of multifidus fibers has led to concern that LRFN may increase segmental instability and accelerate degenerative changes in patients with certain pre-existing spinal pathologies. There is a paucity of literature evaluating whether LRFN increases the progression of spinal curvature in patients with adult scoliosis.

Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Asian American Subgroups.

Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) play a significant role in the development of cardiovascular risk factors. We investigated SDOH associations with cardiovascular risk factors among Asian American subgroups.

Methods And Results: We utilized the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative survey of US adults, years 2013 to 2018.

Botulinum toxin injections for the treatment of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome: A systematic review.

Botulinum toxin (BTX) injections into the musculature surrounding the brachial plexus have been examined as a potential treatment for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS). This systematic review identified 15 publications, of which one was a randomized controlled trial. BTX injections performed with ultrasound or electromyographic guidance, and with the inclusion of the pectoralis minor muscle, in addition to the anterior and/or middle scalenes, tended to provide greater symptom improvement and may predict response to first rib resection.

Social Determinants of Health and Allergic Disease Prevalence Among Asian American Children.

Background: Although racial and ethnic disparities in allergic diseases have previously been observed, the relationship between social determinants of health (SDoH) and allergic disease prevalence among disaggregated Asian American (AsA) subgroups is poorly understood.

Objective: To examine the association of SDoH with allergic disease prevalence among disaggregated AsA subgroups.

Methods: Using the 2011-2018 National Health Interview Survey, we examined caregiver-reported race and ethnicity, SDoH, and allergic diseases.

Seasonal Variation of Use of Common Psychedelics and Party Drugs Among Nightclub/Festival Attendees in New York City.

Few epidemiological studies have focused on seasonal variation in the use of common psychedelics and party drugs among nightclub and festival attendees, typically those who attend electronic dance music (EDM) events. We sought to determine whether the use of different drug types varies seasonally within this population. Across 15 seasons from summer 2017 through fall 2022, we surveyed 3,935 adults entering randomly selected nightclubs and festivals in New York City regarding their past-month use of cocaine, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (shrooms), and ketamine.

Prevalence of self-reported adverse effects associated with drug use among nightclub and festival attendees, 2019-2022.

Background: Research investigating adverse effects from drug use has focused extensively on poisonings and mortality. This study focuses on drug-related adverse effects not necessarily resulting in hospitalization or death among a population known for high prevalence of party drug use-electronic dance music (EDM) nightclub and festival attendees.

Methods: Adults entering EDM venues were surveyed in 2019-2022 ( = 1952).

Trends in drug use among nightclub and festival attendees in New York City, 2017-2022.

Background: Drug use is prevalent among people who attend electronic dance music (EDM) parties at nightclubs or festivals. This population can serve as a sentinel population to monitor trends in use of party drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS) that may diffuse through larger segments of the population.

Methods: We surveyed adults entering randomly selected EDM parties at nightclubs and dance festivals in New York City about their drug use in 2017 (n=954), 2018 (n=1,029), 2019 (n=606), 2021 (n=229), and 2022 (n=419).

Learning Games: A New Tool for Orthodontic Education.

Learning games that are based on current scientific concepts are underutilized in dental education. This paper explores the relevant science of learning and discusses several principles that are conducive to learning and teaching in an educational setting, namely retrieval practice, feedback, motivation, and engagement. A discussion of learning games in health professional education ensues, followed by a description of relevant best practices in game design for learning.

Association of Acculturation with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Asian-American Subgroups.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to better understand the heterogeneous associations of acculturation level on CV risk factors among disaggregated Asian subgroups. We hypothesize that the association between acculturation level and CV risk factors will differ significantly by Asian subgroup.

Methods: We used the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative US survey, years 2014-18.

Exploring Potential Bellwethers for Drug-Related Mortality in the General Population: A Case for Sentinel Surveillance of Trends in Drug Use among Nightclub/Festival Attendees.

: Drug-related deaths in the US continue to increase. Sentinel surveillance of high-risk populations can provide early warning for shifts in trends. Nightclub/festival attendees have high levels of drug use, so we explored whether use among this population can serve as a potential bellwether or indicator for use-related mortality in the general population.

Associations between Oral Health and Cannabis Use among Adolescents and Young Adults: Implications for Orthodontists.

Cannabis use is prevalent among adolescents and young adults in the US. Virtually all modes of cannabis consumption involve the oral cavity, and previous studies have linked cannabis use with poorer oral health. We sought to identify associations between cannabis use and various oral health outcomes and behaviors among individuals 12-25 years of age, and to discuss implications for orthodontists who largely interact with this age group over an extended period of treatment time.

Spontaneous neuronal regeneration in the forebrain of the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) following neurochemical lesioning.

Background: Neurogenesis is the ability to generate new neurons from resident stem/progenitor populations. Although often understood as a homeostatic process, several species of teleost fish, salamanders, and lacertid lizards are also capable of reactive neurogenesis, spontaneously replacing lost or damaged neurons. Here, we demonstrate that reactive neurogenesis also occurs in a distantly related lizard species, Eublepharis macularius, the leopard gecko.

Medical Versus Invasive Management of Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: While management guidelines clearly indicate treatment algorithms for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, evidence behind treatment of other forms of acute coronary syndrome among diabetic patients has been inconclusive. This study examines diabetic patients with non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who were subsequently treated conservatively or with an invasive approach.

Methods: Diabetic patients admitted to our health network with NSTEMI between January 2013-2018 were identified.

Risky Party and Nightclub Attendance during the COVID-19 Nightlife Shutdown in New York City.

From March 2020 through May 2021, nightlife venues were shut down and large gatherings were deemed illegal in New York City (NYC) due to COVID-19. This study sought to determine the extent of risky party attendance during the COVID-19 shutdown among people who attend electronic dance music parties in NYC. During the first four months that venues were permitted to reopen (June through September 2021), time-space sampling was used to survey adults (n = 278) about their party attendance during the first year of the shutdown (March 2020-March 2021).

Media coverage about medical benefits of MDMA and ketamine affects perceived likelihood of engaging in recreational use.

Background: Research on the efficacy of ketamine in treating depression and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in treating post-traumatic stress disorder have been widely covered by the media. Given recent widespread coverage of the efficacy of these drugs, it is important to determine whether such coverage influences prevalence of recreational use. While longitudinal studies would be most ideal for assessing this, to acquire preliminary data, we tested survey items assessing this potential phenomenon in a population known for high prevalence of use of these drugs.

Online surveillance of novel psychoactive substances (NPS): Monitoring Reddit discussions as a predictor of increased NPS-related exposures.

Background: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) present continuous and growing challenges for the scientific, medical, and interventional communities as emerging substances on recreational drug markets change national and international drug landscapes. NPS account for an increasing proportion of adverse events, hospitalizations, and deaths due to increasing potency and unanticipated biological effects compared to predecessors. This study evaluated the utility of drug use forums as an early indicator or predictor of impending intoxications with potentially harmful or lethal outcomes prior to their occurrences.

Cannabis and Prescription Drug Use Among Older Adults With Functional Impairment.

Introduction: Psychoactive substance use may be risky for adults with functional impairments. This study investigates cannabis use and prescription opioid and tranquilizer/sedative (mis)use among adults aged ≥50 years reporting functional impairments in the U.S.

Discordant report of vaping of cannabis among high school seniors in the United States.

: Reliable responses on surveys are important to ensure accurate estimates of drug use. This study compared prevalence of self-reported vaping of cannabis based on two separate questions on the same survey.: We examined combined data from the 2017-2019 Monitoring the Future nationally representative survey of high school seniors in the US (6,982).

Underreporting of past-year cannabis use on a national survey by people who smoke blunts.

Accurate prevalence estimates are critical to epidemiological research but discordant responses on self-report surveys can lead to over- or underestimation of drug use. We sought to examine the extent and nature of underreported cannabis use (among those later reporting blunt use) from a national drug survey in the US. We used data from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health ( = 281,650), a nationally representative probability sample of non-institutionalized populations in the US.

When national drug surveys "take too long": An examination of who is at risk for survey fatigue.

Background: National surveys are a leading method for estimating prevalence of substance use and other health-related behaviors. However, when a participant perceives a survey as too time-consuming, there is a higher probability of lower quality responses.

Methods: We examined data from the 2018 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized individuals ages ≥12 in the U.