Publications by authors named "Christopher Nicholas"

Results from multiple recent studies support further evaluation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in conjunction with psychotherapy (i.e., MDMA-Assisted Therapy) in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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Analysis of permanent gases and organic acids is typically performed with separate methods due to challenges in achieving sufficient resolution when using GC columns that are chemically compatible with acids. We developed a method to analyze samples containing high levels of water, organic acids, oxygenates, and permanent gases (CO, CO, and CH) using a single injection. Resolution is achieved using two columns: (1) an HP-FFAP column resistant to water and acids, which separates compounds based on hydrogen-bonding affinity, and (2) a GS-CarbonPLOT column capable of separating permanent gases.

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Aspects of the acute experience induced by the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin predict symptomatic relief in multiple psychiatric disorders and improved well-being in healthy participants, but whether these therapeutic effects are immediate or are based on memories of the experience is unclear. To examine this, we co-administered psilocybin (25 mg) with the amnestic benzodiazepine midazolam in 8 healthy participants and assayed the subjective quality of, and memory for, the dosing-day experience. We identified a midazolam dose that allowed a conscious psychedelic experience to occur while partially impairing memory for the experience.

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Background: Soft tissue injuries are frequently repaired using various suture material. The ideal suture should have the biomechanical properties of low displacement, high maximum load to failure, and high stiffness to avoid deformation. Since tendon healing occurs over a period of months, it is important for the surgeon to select the proper suture with certain biomechanical properties.

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Background: As the opioid crisis continues to affect communities across the United States, new interventions for screening and prevention are needed to mitigate its impact. Mental health diagnoses have been identified as a risk factor for opioid misuse, and surgical populations and injury survivors are at high risk for prolonged opioid use and misuse. This study investigated the implementation of a novel opioid risk screening tool that incorporated putative risk factors from a recent study in four trauma units across Wisconsin.

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Background Context: Prior studies have demonstrated a close association between cervical spine fractures and blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI). Undiagnosed BCVI is a feared complication because of the potentially catastrophic outcomes in a missed posterior circulation stroke. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is commonly used to screen BCVI in the trauma setting.

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This multi-site, randomized, double-blind, confirmatory phase 3 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) versus placebo with identical therapy in participants with moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Changes in Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) total severity score (primary endpoint) and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) functional impairment score (key secondary endpoint) were assessed by blinded independent assessors. Participants were randomized to MDMA-AT (n = 53) or placebo with therapy (n = 51).

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Importance: Psilocybin shows promise as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD).

Objective: To evaluate the magnitude, timing, and durability of antidepressant effects and safety of a single dose of psilocybin in patients with MDD.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this phase 2 trial conducted between December 2019 and June 2022 at 11 research sites in the US, participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single dose of psilocybin vs niacin placebo administered with psychological support.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents a major public health problem for which currently available treatments are modestly effective. We report the findings of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-site phase 3 clinical trial (NCT03537014) to test the efficacy and safety of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy for the treatment of patients with severe PTSD, including those with common comorbidities such as dissociation, depression, a history of alcohol and substance use disorders, and childhood trauma. After psychiatric medication washout, participants ( = 90) were randomized 1:1 to receive manualized therapy with MDMA or with placebo, combined with three preparatory and nine integrative therapy sessions.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Current techniques like contingency management and psychotherapy have high relapse rates, and pharmacological options generally show little success in treating this disorder.
  • * The review discusses the potential of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a new treatment avenue for methamphetamine use disorder, drawing from the authors' experiences in planning and conducting clinical trials for this approach.
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Dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate was experimentally evaluated over a Na-FAU zeolite catalyst impregnated with multifunctional diamines. 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (12BPE) and 4,4'-trimethylenedipyridine (44TMDP), at a nominal loading of 40 wt % or two molecules per Na-FAU supercage, afforded a dehydration selectivity of 96 ± 3% over 2000 min time on stream. Although 12BPE and 44TMDP have van der Waals diameters approximately 90% of the Na-FAU window opening diameter, both flexible diamines interact with internal active sites of Na-FAU as characterized by infrared spectroscopy.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study tested the effects of MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) on patients with severe PTSD and analyzed its influence on alcohol and substance use disorders (ASUD).
  • Participants (n=90) received either MDMA-AT or a placebo in combination with therapy, with assessments of alcohol and drug use conducted at the start and end of the trial.
  • Results showed that MDMA-AT led to a significant reduction in alcohol use compared to the placebo group, suggesting potential benefits for treating both PTSD and co-occurring alcohol issues without increasing the risk of illicit drug use.
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Background: Traumatic injury frequently requires opioid analgesia to manage pain and avoid catastrophic complications. Risk screening for opioid misuse and the development of use disorder remains uninvestigated.

Methods: Participants were Trauma/Orthopedic Surgical Services patients at a Level I Trauma Center who were English speaking, aged 18-75, received an opioids prescription at discharge, and were under control of their own medications at discharge.

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Introduction: Little is known about prehospital availability and use of medications to treat patients from hazardous materials (hazmat) medical emergencies. The aim of this study was to identify the availability and frequency of use of medications for patients in hazmat incidents by paramedics with advanced training to care for these patients.

Methods: A prospectively validated survey was distributed to United States paramedics with advanced training in the medical management of patients from hazmat incidents who successfully completed a 16-hour Advanced Hazmat Life Support (AHLS) Provider Course from 1999 to 2017.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents a major public health problem for which currently available treatments are modestly effective. We report the findings of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-site phase 3 clinical trial (NCT03537014) to test the efficacy and safety of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy for the treatment of patients with severe PTSD, including those with common comorbidities such as dissociation, depression, a history of alcohol and substance use disorders, and childhood trauma. After psychiatric medication washout, participants (n = 90) were randomized 1:1 to receive manualized therapy with MDMA or with placebo, combined with three preparatory and nine integrative therapy sessions.

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Background And Aims: In 2010, a virtual sarcoma referral model was implemented, which aims to provide a centralised multidisciplinary team (MDT) to provide rapid advice, avoiding unnecessary appointments and providing a streamlined service. The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of this screening tool in reducing the service burden and expediting patient journey.

Methods And Results: All referrals made to a single tertiary referral sarcoma unit from January 2010 to December 2018 were extracted from a prospective database.

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Background: Scientific interest in the therapeutic effects of classical psychedelics has increased in the past two decades. The psychological effects of these substances outside the period of acute intoxication have not been fully characterized. This study aimed to: (1) quantify the effects of psilocybin, ayahuasca, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on psychological outcomes in the post-acute period; (2) test moderators of these effects; and (3) evaluate adverse effects and risk of bias.

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: Total joint arthroplasty is projected to expand rapidly by 2030. With large numbers of patients undergoing TJA, the choice of incisional closure has come into question. We compared the 2-Ocyl cyanoacrylate closure system of Dermabond ® Prineo ® with Exofin Fusion ® to compare rates of adverse wound outcomes after total joint arthroplasty.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study looked at how psilocybin, a substance found in magic mushrooms, affects anxiety and depression when combined with behavioral therapies.
  • The results showed that people who took psilocybin had big improvements in their anxiety and depression symptoms, with lots of data supporting it.
  • There weren't any serious side effects, but the researchers mentioned that there weren't many studies and some could have bias, so more research is needed.
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After crystallization during ionothermal syntheses in phospho-nium-containing ionic liquids, the structure of (NH)Al(PO) [tri-ammonium dialuminum tris-(phosphate)] was refined on the basis of powder X-ray diffraction data from a synchrotron source. (NH)Al(PO) is a member of the structural family with formula Al(PO), where is a group 1 element, and of which the NH, K, and Rb forms were previously known. The NH form is isostructural with the K form, and was previously solved from single-crystal X-ray data when the material (SIZ-2) crystallized from a choline-containing eutectic mixture [Cooper (2004 ▸).

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The charge density mismatch concept was applied to the synthesis of high-charge-density silicoaluminophosphate SAPO-69 (OFF) and SAPO-79 (ERI) and zincoaluminophosphate PST-16 (CGS), PST-17 (BPH), PST-19 (SBS), and ZnAPO-88 (MER) molecular sieves. Combined alkali-organoammonium structure direction in these systems is thus enabled. Structure direction is treated from the perspective of stabilizing an ionic framework, the relationships between reaction charge density (OH /H PO ), alkali and organoammonium content, and ionicity of tetrahedral framework atoms in successful structure direction are presented.

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