Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Individuals with problematic alcohol use often face anxiety and depressive symptoms, which can hinder treatment engagement, compliance, and effectiveness. Psychosocial therapy through video conference (e-alcohol therapy) may reduce these barriers. We explored whether 1) anxiety or/and depressive symptoms modify the effect of proactive e-alcohol therapy on treatment initiation, compliance, and alcohol intake, 2) proactive e-alcohol therapy impacts anxiety or/and depressive symptoms compared to standard care.

Over-the-counter naloxone availability at North Carolina community pharmacies: A secret shopper study.

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone became available for sale at community pharmacies in September 2023. This study examines whether naloxone availability and cost are associated with pharmacy type (independent vs chain), pharmacy rurality, and their interaction.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional secret shopper study design, data were collected by phone from a stratified random sample of 600 community pharmacies in North Carolina from November 2023 to January 2024.

Application Discrepancies in the 2023-2024 Integrated Plastic Surgery Match.

Background: The Plastic Surgery Common Application (PSCA) was introduced in the 2020-2021 integrated plastic surgery match cycle. We investigated the accuracy of medical student-reported quantitative metrics in the PSCA.

Methods: Quantifiable data from 1 year of PSCA applications were compared between matched and unmatched students.

Food and Housing Insecurity, COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Health-Related Activities, and Care Plans for Children with Obesity.

Objective: To understand the association between food insecurity (FI) and housing insecurity (HI) risk, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related activities among children with overweight or obesity, and caregivers' and clinicians' challenges and priorities related to pediatric weight management.

Methods: We conducted surveys with caregivers of children with overweight and obesity and pediatric clinicians at two academic medical centers in the Greater Boston area. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine associations between FI and HI risk and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related activities and descriptive statistics to summarize caregivers' and clinicians' challenges and priorities related to pediatric weight management.

Identifying System-Level Strategies to Engage in HPV Prevention Across Oral Health and Primary Care Settings.

Introduction: HPV vaccination prevents most HPV-related cancers, yet uptake remains low. HPV is linked to an estimated 70% of oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs) in the US and outnumber cases of HPV-related cervical cancers. Not all OPCs can be detected through routine screening, making HPV vaccination a more effective primary prevention strategy.

Intraoperative Complications as Predictors of Flap Failure in Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

Background:  Intraoperative microvascular complications in autologous breast reconstruction significantly increase the risk of postoperative complications. No study has identified which specific intraoperative complications contribute to partial or total flap loss.

Methods:  A retrospective chart review of microsurgical breast reconstructions by five surgeons between 2009 and 2020 analyzed operative variables and patient outcomes, with complications determined from the operative report.

The Effect of Numeric Versus Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1 Scores in the Integrated Plastic Surgery 2023-2024 Match Cycle: A Single Institution Study.

Objective: The USMLE Step 1 exam, an important metric in the integrated plastic surgery match, transitioned to pass/fail scoring in January 2022. No previous studies have investigated the impact of this new scoring system on the process of ranking applicants in the integrated plastic surgery match.

Design: 330 Plastic Surgery Common Applications (PSCAs) were submitted to a single academic center in the 2023-2024 match cycle.

Physical Activity Mobile App (CareFit) for Informal Carers of People With Dementia: Protocol for a Feasibility and Adaptation Study.

Background: Physical activity is a critical component of both well-being and preventative health, reducing the risk of both chronic mental and physical conditions and early death. Yet, there are numerous groups in society who are not able to undertake as much physical activity as they would like to. This includes informal (unpaid) carers, with the United Kingdom national survey data suggesting that 81% would like to do more physical activity on a regular basis.

Youth and young adult knowledge of and access to opioid harm reduction policies and interventions in North Carolina.

Introduction: From 2019-2021, overdose deaths among youth and young adults ages 10-19 years of age residing in the United States increased by 109 %. We sought to examine the extent to which youth and young adults who have experience with substance use are aware of the harm reduction policies and interventions, including the statewide Good Samaritan Law (GSL), naloxone, and fentanyl test strips, and have access to naloxone and fentanyl test strips.

Methods: From December 2022 to February 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey of individuals ages 12-25 years who resided in North Carolina (NC) (N=15,000).

Perceptions of disposal options for unused opioid analgesics among people who have been prescribed an opioid analgesic in North Carolina.

Medication disposal programs have been promoted as one solution to the opioid crisis, but uptake by community members has been minimal. To clarify perceptions of medication disposal options among people who have been prescribed an opioid analgesic in North Carolina to inform interventions that can facilitate the disposal of unused opioids. In 2022, we conducted focus groups with participants who received an opioid medication in the past year to gain information to develop an intervention related to the disposal of unused opioid medication (12 focus group discussions (FGDs); total  = 37; 30 identified as female, 6 as male, and 1 as another gender).

Concurrent substance use among cancer patients with and without a history of cannabis use since cancer diagnosis at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center in Florida.

Background: Although substance use may have adverse impacts on cancer outcomes, little is known regarding patterns of concurrent substance use with cannabis among cancer patients. Our objective was to examine predictors of concurrent substance use with cannabis among cancer patients since their cancer diagnosis and explore perceptions of cannabis among these patients.

Methods: Patients treated at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center were invited to participate in an electronic survey regarding medical cannabis from August to November 2021.

Cannabis use and patient-reported outcomes among patients at a comprehensive cancer center.

Background: Patients with cancer report increasing rates of cannabis use, often to manage symptoms and toxicities. The efficacy and safety of cannabis, however, for some use cases remains unclear. To better understand characteristics of patients with cancer who report using cannabis, we examined data from a cannabis use survey of among patients with cancer seen at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center.

Patient-provider communication about the use of medical cannabis for cancer symptoms: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There has been limited study regarding patient-provider communication about medical cannabis for cancer symptom management. To address this gap, this study assesses the determinants and prevalence of patient-provider communication about the use of medical cannabis for cancer symptoms at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Methods: Individuals who completed cancer treatment from July 2017 to December 2019 were invited to participate in a survey regarding medical cannabis.

Naloxone Availability and Cost After Transition to an Over-the-Counter Product.

Importance: The US Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan, a nasal spray formulation of naloxone, for sale as an over-the-counter (OTC) medication in March 2023. The purpose of OTC approval was to improve naloxone accessibility to reduce opioid overdoses; however, research has not yet evaluated whether naloxone's availability and cost changed since this policy was implemented.

Objective: To evaluate whether the accessibility and cost of naloxone at North Carolina community pharmacies changed after OTC naloxone became available and whether cost and availability varied by pharmacy type and urbanicity.

Role of Veterinary Practitioners in the Genomic Era in Dairy: Economic Impact.

As veterinary practitioners serve modern dairies and ranches, genetic consultation is an area that many practitioners are implementing to bring value to their clients. As an unbiased professional with intimate knowledge of the herd's health and management practices and vision for the future, veterinarians are uniquely positioned to provide this consultative service.

Effectiveness of proactive video therapy for problematic alcohol use on treatment initiation, compliance, and alcohol intake: a randomised controlled trial in Denmark.

Background: Few people with problematic alcohol use reach treatment and dropout is frequent. Therapy for problematic alcohol use delivered via video conference (e-alcohol therapy) might overcome treatment barriers. In this randomised study, we tested whether proactive e-alcohol therapy outperformed face-to-face alcohol therapy (standard care) regarding treatment initiation, compliance, and weekly alcohol intake at 3-month and 12-month follow-up.

Changes in Perceptions of First Responders After Witnessing a Drug Overdose: Individual and Contextual Variations Among People Who Use Opioids in West Virginia.

Introduction: Success of opioid overdose interventions involving first responders is dependent on the comfort level that bystanders have with first responders and their willingness to call for assistance. Positive or negative experiences with first responders following witnessing an overdose may influence a person's willingness to call a first responder for assistance in the future.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine changes in bystanders' perceptions of first responders following witnessing an overdose attended by emergency medical services or a law enforcement official.

Drug Deactivation Pouches for Primary Prevention of Opioid Overdose: Perceptions and Attitudes of Community Members.

Importance: A substantial number of opioid analgesics dispensed into communities will go unused and be susceptible to diversion for misuse. Convenient, efficient, and environmentally safe mechanisms for disposal are needed to prevent the diversion of unused opioid analgesics.

Objective: This initiative piloted the feasibility of distributing drug deactivation pouches in a community setting and examined community members' acceptance, intention to use drug deactivation pouches, and their current disposal practices of unused opioid analgesics.

A U.S. Lead Exposure Hotspots Analysis.

To identify U.S. lead exposure risk hotspots, we expanded upon geospatial statistical methods from a published Michigan case study.

Likelihood of Young Adult Engagement in Protective Behavioral Strategies for Alcohol Use across Drinking Contexts: Implications for Adaptive Interventions.

Objective: This study examined how young adults' likelihood to engage in protective behavioral strategies (PBS) to reduce alcohol harms varies across physical and social contexts for drinking.

Method: We conducted an online survey with 514 heavy drinking young adults (M = 22.4 years, 52% women, 30% Hispanic/Latin(x), 40% non-White).

Naloxone Accessibility by Standing Order in North Carolina Community Pharmacies.

Background: According to a standing order in North Carolina (NC), naloxone can be purchased without a provider prescription.

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine whether same-day naloxone accessibility and cost vary by pharmacy type and rurality in NC.

Methods: A cross-sectional telephone audit of 202 NC community pharmacies stratified by pharmacy type and county of origin was conducted in March and April 2023.

Development and Evaluation of Messages to Facilitate Secure Storage and Disposal of Prescribed Opioid Medication.

Background: Secure storage and disposal is a critical strategy to reduce prescription opioid misuse. We sought to develop effective messages to promote secure storage and disposal of unused opioid medications that can be used in interventions designed to reduce diversion of opioid medications for nonmedical use.

Methods: We used a mixed-method design to develop and evaluate messages.

Proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicle cargoes mirror the cardioprotective effects of rivaroxaban in patients with venous thromboembolism.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Rivaroxaban, a direct oral factor Xa inhibitor, mediates anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular-protective effects besides its well-established anticoagulant properties; yet, these remain poorly characterized. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered proinflammatory messengers regulating a myriad of (patho)physiological processes and may be highly relevant to the pathophysiology of VTE.