Tramadol as a fentanyl adulterant: Prevalence and management in a ToxIC Fentalog study prospective cohort.

Background: Tramadol is an adulterant of illicit opioids. As it is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor as well as a μ-opioid agonist, tramadol adulteration may worsen overdose signs and symptoms or affect the amount of naloxone patients receive.

Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective cohort of adult patients with suspected opioid overdoses who presented to one of eight United States emergency departments and were included in the Toxicology Investigators Consortium's Fentalog Study.

Dexmedetomidine in the emergency department: A prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a centrally acting sympatholytic sedative. Abundant evidence from the intensive care unit and other settings demonstrates that the use of DEX is associated with improved sedation-related outcomes. There is a paucity of data on the use and efficacy of DEX in the emergency department (ED).

Ultrasound-Derived Nerve Cross-Sectional Area in Extremes of Height and Weight.

Background And Purpose: There is a lack of consensus in the literature as to which body habitus parameter most influences nerve cross-sectional area (CSA). This study was specifically designed to determine if height or weight is more influential.

Methods: Fifteen young healthy participants, 8 extremely tall and 7 heavy, with no peripheral nerve symptoms were recruited.

Selective inhibition of small-diameter axons using infrared light.

Novel clinical treatments to target peripheral nerves are being developed which primarily use electrical current. Recently, infrared (IR) light was shown to inhibit peripheral nerves with high spatial and temporal specificity. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate that IR can selectively and reversibly inhibit small-diameter axons at lower radiant exposures than large-diameter axons.

Alternating current and infrared produce an onset-free reversible nerve block.

Nerve block can eliminate spasms and chronic pain. Kilohertz frequency alternating current (KHFAC) produces a safe and reversible nerve block. However, KHFAC-induced nerve block is associated with an undesirable onset response.