Association of preoperative opioid use and postoperative complications following breast reconstruction.

Background: Previous studies in orthopedics and general surgery have linked negative patient outcomes with preoperative opioid use. In this study, we investigated the association of preoperative opioid use on breast reconstruction outcomes and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: We reviewed our prospective registry of patients who underwent breast reconstruction for documented preoperative opioid use.

Improving understanding of disease control implementation research through a mooc with participants from low- and middle-income countries: Evaluating participant reactions and learning.

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases developed a massive open online course (MOOC) on implementation research with a focus on infectious diseases of poverty (IDPs) to reinforce the explanation of implementation research concepts through real case studies. The target MOOC participant group included public health officers, researchers and students. By reshaping institutions and building resilience in communities and systems, implementation research will allow progress towards universal health coverage and sustainable development goals.

Adverse Effects Associated with Patient-Controlled Analgesia with Ketamine Combined with Opioids and Ketamine Infusion with PCA Bolus in Postoperative Spine Patients: A Retrospective Review.

Objective: There has been increasing use of ketamine at subanesthetic doses as an adjunct to opioids in perioperative pain management. There are several known adverse drug effects (ADEs) associated with ketamine. However, the incidence of ADEs with ketamine infusions with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) boluses compared with combined opioid and ketamine PCAs is not well described.

Evaluating results of the implementation research MOOC using Kirkpatrick's four-level model: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study.

Introduction: An implementation research (IR) massive open online course (MOOC) was developed by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, to address the scarcity of training in low-income and middle-income countries in the field of IR. The Kirkpatrick model was used to evaluate the IR MOOC as it is widely applied for evaluation of training and educational programmes. The Kirkpatrick model evaluates training programmes on four levels: reaction, learning, behaviour and results.

Estimates of Probabilities of Successful Development of Pain Medications: An Analysis of Pharmaceutical Clinical Development Programs from 2000 to 2020.

Background: The authors estimate the probability of successful development and duration of clinical trials for medications to treat neuropathic and nociceptive pain. The authors also consider the effect of the perceived abuse potential of the medication on these variables.

Methods: This study uses the Citeline database to compute the probabilities of success, duration, and survivorship of pain medication development programs between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2020, conditioned on the phase, type of pain (nociceptive vs.

The effect of patient satisfaction scores on physician clinical decision making: A possible factor driving utilization of opioid prescriptions, magnetic resonance imaging, and interventional spine procedures.

Objective: To survey the effect of patient satisfaction scores on pain physicians' medical decision making, with an emphasis on resource utilization.

Design: Email-based Survey.

Methods: Setting & Subjects: A 23-question survey was approved for dissemination to membership of a medical society and emailed to all members.

Changes in Patient Satisfaction Scores During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a rapid and widespread application of telemedicine services in the outpatient setting. Prior to COVID-19, patient satisfaction was measured with Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Clinician & Group Survey (CG-CAHPS) and was then measured with the Press Ganey telemedicine survey. Both surveys ask about a patient's likelihood to recommend a particular medical practice, which is a useful, but imperfect, surrogate for overall satisfaction.

Infectious Complications of Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of Incidence.

Background And Objectives: Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) is a newer form of neuromodulation that targets the dorsal root ganglion. DRGS has superior efficacy in complex regional pain syndrome compared to spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and may have efficacy in other forms of chronic pain. While decades of safety data are available for SCS, there is less available safety information for DRGS.

Implementation research training for learners in low- and middle-income countries: evaluating behaviour change after participating in a massive open online course.

Background: Implementation research (IR) can play a critical role in the delivery of disease control interventions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The growing demand for IR training has led to the development of a range of training programmes and university courses, the majority of which can not be accessed by learners in LMICs. This article reports on the evaluation of the massive open online course (MOOC) developed by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases hosted by WHO on the topic of IR with a focus on infectious diseases of poverty.

The effect of patient satisfaction scores on physician job satisfaction and burnout.

Physician burnout is recognized as reversible with the potential to negatively influence quality of care and patient outcomes. The study objective was to evaluate associations between patient satisfaction scores (PSS) and physicians' perceptions of job satisfaction and burnout via a physician survey. Eighty two out of 107 report PSS are institutionally tracked, with 23/107 and 39/107 reporting PSS utilization in financial compensation or performance review, respectively.

Survey of Spinal Cord Stimulation Hardware Currently Available for the Treatment of Chronic Pain in the United States.

The number of spinal cord stimulator (SCS) units sold in the United States (US) for the treatment of chronic pain has increased with a corresponding expansion in the number of different SCS platforms available. Each marketed stimulator has several unique features, indications, and limitations, which distinguish one from the other and makes the selection of appropriate hardware possible for optimal patient care. There are an even greater number of similar and overlapping features between SCS.

Incorporating operational research in programmes funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in four sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: The current study builds upon a previous situation analysis of the extent to which grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) are being utilized to support operational research and implementation research (OR/IR) activities in recipient countries. The objective of this follow-up study was to identify approaches and pathways to implement an OR component into grants to the Global Fund, in four sub-Saharan African countries. Special focus was given to the Structured Operational Research and Training IniTiative (SORT IT).

Strengthening the core health research capacity of national health systems helps build country resilience to epidemics: a cross-sectional survey.

 TDR, The Special Programme for Research and Training hosted at the World Health Organization, has long supported Low- and Middle-Income Countries in strengthening research capacity through three training programmes: the Postgraduate Training Scheme (PGTS), the Clinical Research and Development Fellowship (CRDF), and the Structured Operational Research Training InitiaTive (SORT IT). In the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, we assessed whether those trained through these programmes were involved in the COVID-19 response and if so, in which area(s) of the emergency response they were applying their skills. From the records for each training programme, we identified the individuals who had completed training during the relevant timespan of each programme: 1999-2018 for the CRDF scheme, 2015-2020 for PGTS, and 2009-2019 for SORT-IT.

Anti-nerve growth factor antibodies for the treatment of low back pain.

Introduction: The treatment of chronic low back pain (cLBP) often involves multimodal pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies. There remain shortcomings with these tools with regards to both effect size and side effects.

Areas Covered: In an effort to better address cLBP, anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are nearing marketing approval.

Workplace Violence in the Setting of Pain Management.

In the context of the opioid crisis, increased attention has been placed on the risk of violence in outpatient pain medicine clinics. The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of workplace violence in a mixed group of clinicians (ie, practicing physicians, resident and fellow physicians in training, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists) participating in a workplace violence education session at a national pain conference held March 6 through March 10, 2019. A published survey instrument developed to assess workplace violence among pain management clinicians was offered to all 70 attendees, and 58 (82.

Emerging concepts on the use of ketamine for chronic pain.

: The use of ketamine infusions for chronic pain has surged, with utilization exceeding the proliferation of knowledge. A proposed mechanism for the long-term benefit in chronic pain is that ketamine may alter the affective-motivational component of pain.: In this review, we discuss the classification and various dimensions of pain, and explore the effects of ketamine on different pain categories and components.

Uganda Genome Resource Enables Insights into Population History and Genomic Discovery in Africa.

Genomic studies in African populations provide unique opportunities to understand disease etiology, human diversity, and population history. In the largest study of its kind, comprising genome-wide data from 6,400 individuals and whole-genome sequences from 1,978 individuals from rural Uganda, we find evidence of geographically correlated fine-scale population substructure. Historically, the ancestry of modern Ugandans was best represented by a mixture of ancient East African pastoralists.

Morphine decreases the function of primary human natural killer cells by both TLR4 and opioid receptor signaling.

Background: Opioids are commonly used to provide analgesia for cancer pain, and functional opioid receptors have been identified on natural killer (NK) cells, the lymphocytes responsible for surveillance and elimination of cancer cells. Opioids also bind to other lymphocyte receptors, such as Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4. Here, we characterized the effects of morphine on primary human NK cell cytotoxicity and mediator release, which occur through classical opioid receptor or TLR4 signaling.

Developing a framework of core competencies in implementation research for low/middle-income countries.

The field of implementation research (IR) is growing. However, there are no recognised IR core competencies in low/middle-income countries (LMICs), nor consistent curriculum across IR training programs globally. The goal of this effort is to develop a framework of IR core competencies for training programs in LMICs.

Suppression of Human Natural Killer Cells by Different Classes of Opioids.

Background: The use of regional and other opioid-sparing forms of anesthesia has been associated with a decrease in the recurrence of certain malignancies. Direct suppression of human natural killer cells by opioids has been postulated to explain this observation. However, the effect of different classes of opioids on suppression of natural killer cell cytotoxicity has not been systematically characterized.