Intrahepatic cholestasis in sickle cell disease: A review of diagnostic criteria, treatments, and case reports.

Objective To delineate the etiology, symptomatology, and treatment of sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis (SCIC). Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most frequently inherited hematologic disease, and SCIC is one rare and often fatal complication and comorbid disease. The literature contains only a small number of case reports involving SCIC and hence limited guidance can be obtained.

Cannabis Use and Nonfatal Opioid Overdose among Patients Enrolled in Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Background: Some ecological studies found lower rates of opioid overdose in states with liberalized cannabis legislation, but results are mixed, and the association has not been analyzed in individuals. We quantified the association between cannabis use and nonfatal opioid overdose among individuals enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid use disorder (OUD).

Methods: We recruited a convenience sample of individuals enrolled in four MMT clinics in Washington State and southern New England who completed a one-time survey.

Gender Differences in Patterns and Correlates of Continued Substance Use among Patients in Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Continued substance use is common during opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. There are still inconsistencies in how continued substance use and concurrent patterns of substance use among patients with OUD varies by gender. There is still more to learn regarding how factors associated with continued and concurrent use might differ for men and women in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).

Three-Column Classification System for Tibial Plateau Fractures: What the Orthopedic Surgeon Wants to Know.

Recent orthopedic surgical literature emphasizes a three-column approach to understand and guide the treatment of tibial plateau fractures. This three-column classification system published in 2010 relies on preoperative CT images to depict injuries to the medial, lateral, and posterior columns of the tibial plateau and improves surgical outcomes in complex tibial plateau fractures with coronal fracture planes and posterior plateau fracture fragments requiring dorsal plating. Tibial plateau fracture classification systems traditionally used by radiologists and orthopedic surgeons, including the Schatzker and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen-Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO-OTA) classification systems, rely on findings at anteroposterior radiography and lack the terminology to accurately characterize fractures in the coronal plane involving the posterior tibial plateau.

Field efficacy and safety of protamine zinc recombinant human insulin in 276 dogs with diabetes mellitus.

Twice-daily (BID) insulin injections are a major deterrence to owners treating dogs with diabetes mellitus (DM). The hypothesis for this study was that Protamine Zinc Recombinant Human Insulin (PZIR) is safe and efficacious as a once-daily (SID) treatment for canine DM. This was a prospective, baseline-controlled, multi-center study over 182 ± 5 d.

Long-term health-related quality of life concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic: a call to action.

The COVID-19 pandemic has far-reaching implications for HRQoL into the future. This disease affects many systems of the body, as well as having an impact on the psychological status of those with the condition, their families, and health care workers. Given the breadth of conditions that may result from COVID-19, it is critical that quality of life researchers begin preparing to address the many factors that may impact HRQoL for many people worldwide.

Efficacy and safety of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy using fluoroscopic guidance and a drill-powered needle: clinical experience from 775 cases.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of performing a fluoroscopically guided bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (BMAB) using a drill-powered needle in a large patient population.

Methods: This retrospective study received institutional review board approval with a waiver of patient informed consent. We identified all BMAB procedures from August 2012 through December 2016 performed at our institution using fluoroscopic guidance and a drill-powered needle.

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bryson WJ. . 2020;16(8):1423.

Improved two-dimensional electrophoretic mapping of Japanese human hair proteins; application to curved and straight Japanese human hairs; and protein identification by MALDI MS and MS/MS quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Objectives: To evaluate improved protein extraction and two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) separation methods with Japanese reference human hair (JRH); to determine whether fibre curvature is related to protein composition in curly and straight Japanese women's human hair (JHH) samples; and to identify proteins from JRH 2DE maps and expression differences between curly and straight JHH.

Methods: Hair keratin and keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) were extracted intact with dithiothreitol or tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine from JRH or from curved or straight JHH. Extracted proteins were isoelectric-focused on first-dimensional pH gradient gel strips, then separated by molecular weight on laboratory-made, second-dimension, large format gels.

Gender differences in the association between modifiable risk factors and financial hardship among middle-aged and older adults.

Objective: To identify associations between modifiable risk factors (cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity) and financial hardship (difficulty paying bills, food insecurity and medication need) among middle-aged and older Americans in a nationally representative sample.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 8212 persons age 50 years and older who completed the core 2010 Health and Retirement Study survey and the psychosocial questionnaire. We ran separate multinomial logistic regressions to assess the association of three modifiable risk factors and three different financial hardship indicators.

Loneliness and Illicit Opioid Use Among Methadone Maintenance Treatment Patients.

Loneliness has been linked to greater substance use, especially among women. Yet little is known about how loneliness is associated with treatment outcomes for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). We evaluated how patient reports of using illicit opioids (i.

Mental health treatment among older adults with mental illness on parole or probation.

Background: The number of older adults on parole and probation is growing at an unprecedented rate, yet little is known about the mental health needs and treatment utilization patterns among this group. The objective of this study is to compare the prevalence of serious or moderate mental illness (SMMI), and the proportion of those with SMMI who receive mental health treatment, among community-dwelling older adults on correctional supervision (parole or probation) vs. not on correctional supervision.

Electron microscopy and tomography reveal that sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate incorporated into perming solutions swells and tilts trichocyte intermediate filaments causing straightening of curly Japanese human hair.

Objective: A new hair-care process has been specifically developed for the straightening of curved Japanese woman's hair . The process included sodium 2-naphthalene sulfonate (SNS) in the reduction and oxidation steps of a conventional perming process. Our objective was to develop an understanding of how this process caused hair straightening by measuring the changes to morphology and ultrastructure between untreated, conventionally permed and SNS permed hair.

Errors in Interpretation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Thymic Lesions.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of thymic lesions and to review those features that may result in diagnostic uncertainty or error.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included patients with pathologically proven thymic epithelial neoplasms (TEN) and thymic cysts who underwent preoperative MRI. Clinical reports were evaluated for the radiologist's first-choice diagnosis, if not already known before the MRI.

Prevalence and Correlates of Loss of Control Eating among Adults Presenting for Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Background: Research suggests that substance use disorders and disordered eating are often comorbid. In light of the ongoing opioid epidemic, the purpose of the current study was to understand the prevalence and health-related correlates of loss of control (LOC) eating in adults seeking methadone maintenance treatment primarily for addiction to heroin and/or painkillers.

Methods: Participants were 447 adults surveyed at presentation for methadone maintenance treatment who responded to survey items on LOC eating.

Characteristics of Medicaid recipients in Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A comparison across the lifespan.

Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) is utilized by an increasingly broad age-range of individuals with opioid use disorders. The present study aims to (1) describe health, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristics among adults aged 50 years and older compared with younger adults enrolled in MMT, (2) describe socioeconomic and clinical characteristics by age and time in MMT and (3) investigate whether age influences the associations between duration of MMT and health and psychosocial characteristics. Our sample consisted of 1364 recipients from four MMT programs (age ranged from 18 to 77 years; mean: 38 years: standard deviation: 11.

Identifying and categorizing spurious weight data in electronic medical records.

Background: Spurious weights compromise the validity of summary measures, such as averages and trends. Even rare errors in weight records can undermine the utility of electronic medical record (EMR) data.

Objective: We sought to estimate the prevalence of spurious weight values in a large EMR, to ascertain the likely causes, and to develop and test straightforward algorithms for identifying spurious weight data.

Pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and functional limitations among older adults with serious mental illness.

Objective: To examine pain-related activity interference as a mediator for the relationship between pain intensity and depressive symptoms among older adults with serious mental illness (SMI).

Method: Ordinary least-squares regressions were used to investigate the mediation analysis among older adults with SMI (n = 183) from community mental health centers. Analyses used secondary data from the HOPES intervention study.

Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Older Adults: Cost and Logistical Considerations.

In a demographic shift, older adults now comprise an increasing proportion of those receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid use disorder. A study of MMT recipients in New York City suggests that 13% of the population is over 60 years of age. Adults ages 50-59 are among the largest age demographic, evidence that the number of older adults receiving MMT will continue to increase.

Electroconvulsive therapy for depression in Parkinson's disease: systematic review of evidence and recommendations.

Aim: We performed a systematic review of evidence regarding treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease (PD) utilizing electroconvulsive therapy.

Methods: The search led to the inclusion of 43 articles, mainly case reports or case series, with the largest number of patients totaling 19.

Results: The analysis included 116 patients with depression and PD; depression improved in 93.

Trends in cigarette smoking and cessation among Medicare managed care recipients, 2005-2012.

Objectives: To examine recent trends in cigarette smoking among older (65 years and above) adults in the United States.

Methods: We used data from the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey dataset to estimate rates of smoking, quitting, and (re)starting from 2005 to 2012. Medicare Advantage enrollees completed mail surveys at baseline and two years later.

Extended-release naltrexone for alcohol dependence: persistence and healthcare costs and utilization.

Objective: Evaluate persistence with treatment, healthcare costs, and utilization in stably enrolled Aetna Behavioral Health members receiving extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) for alcohol use dependence compared with oral medications and psychosocial therapy only.

Study Design: Historical cohort study.

Methods: Aetna beneficiaries with stable enrollment (at least 6 months before and after index treatment) who initiated pharmacotherapy with XR-NTX (n = 211), disulfiram (n = 1043), oral naltrexone (n = 1408), acamprosate (n = 2479), or psychosocial therapy only (n = 6374) for alcohol use disorders between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008, were extracted and deidentified from Aetna's nationwide claims and utilization database.