Carbonyl-protein content increases in brain and blood of female rats after chronic oxycodone treatment.

Background: Opioids are the most effective drugs commonly prescribed to treat pain. Due to their addictive nature, opioid pain relievers are now second to marijuana, ahead of cocaine with respect to dependence. Ours and other studies suggest potential toxic effects of chronic opioid administration leading to neuronal degeneration.

Chronic oxycodone induces axonal degeneration in rat brain.

Background: Chronic opioid therapy for non-malignant pain conditions has significantly increased over the last 15 years. Recently, the correlation between opioid analgesics and alternations in brain structure, such as leukoencephalopathy, axon demyelination, and white matter lesions, has been demonstrated in patients with a history of long-term use of prescription opioids. The exact mechanisms underlying the neurotoxic effect of opioids on the central nervous system are still not fully understood.

Injuries associated with police use of force.

Background: Use of force [UOF] by police can result in serious injuries and fatalities. The risk of significant injuries associated with different force modalities is poorly defined. We sought to determine the incidence of police UOF and compare the likelihood of significant injury with different force modalities.

Validation of cell-cycle arrest biomarkers for acute kidney injury using clinical adjudication.

Rationale: We recently reported two novel biomarkers for acute kidney injury (AKI), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-2 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), both related to G1 cell cycle arrest.

Objectives: We now validate a clinical test for urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] at a high-sensitivity cutoff greater than 0.3 for AKI risk stratification in a diverse population of critically ill patients.

Safety and injury profile of conducted electrical weapons used by law enforcement officers against criminal suspects.

Study Objective: Conducted electrical weapons such as the Taser are commonly used by law enforcement agencies. The safety of these weapons has been the subject of scrutiny and controversy; previous controlled studies in animals and healthy humans may not accurately reflect the risks of conducted electrical weapons used in actual conditions. We seek to determine the safety and injury profile of conducted electrical weapons used against criminal suspects in a field setting.

Outcomes of patients not transported after calling 911.

To compare the outcomes of patients who were denied transport by emergency medical services (EMS) with those who refused to be transported, all EMS non-transports were reviewed to determine who refused the transport and adherence to mandatory transport guidelines. Patients were contacted for telephone survey. Of 906 non-transported patients, 310 consented to the survey.

Ultrasound in the emergency department: detection of wooden foreign bodies in the soft tissues.

Detection of a soft tissue foreign body is often very difficult, even when strongly suggested by history and physical examination. Plain radiography is helpful only in cases where the foreign body is radiopaque. Wood, which is usually radiolucent, can go undetected if further imaging is not considered.