Do buprenorphine doses and ratios matter in medication assisted treatment adherence.

Introduction: Buprenorphine (BUP), generally prescribed as buprenorphine/naloxone, is a key component of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to manage opioid use disorder. Studies suggest higher doses of BUP increase treatment adherence. Routine urine drug screens (UDS) assist in monitoring MAT adherence via measurement of excreted BUP and its metabolite, norbuprenorphine (NBP).

Does early physical therapy intervention reduce opioid burden and improve functionality in the management of chronic lower back pain?

Introduction: Chronic lower back pain is a leading cause of disability in US adults. Opioid use continues to be controversial despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on chronic pain management to use nonpharmacologic and nonopioid pharmacologic interventions. The objectives of the study were to assess the impact of early physical therapy (PT) intervention on improving functionality and reducing opioid burden in patients with chronic lower back pain.

Dinutuximab in adult-onset chemotherapy refractory high-risk neuroblastoma.

Introduction: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in pediatrics but is considerably uncommon in adults, with approximately 1 case per 10 million diagnosed per year and is associated with poor prognosis. There are no standard treatment protocols for adult-onset neuroblastomas and there are only a few published case reports on neuroblastoma in adults.

Case Report: We report our treatment experience in a 41-year-old female diagnosed with high-risk, poorly differentiated neuroblastoma.

Efficacy of ketamine for initial control of acute agitation in the emergency department: A randomized study.

Background: Clinicians often encounter agitated patients, and current treatment options include benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. Ketamine rapidly induces dissociation, maintains cardiovascular stability, spontaneous respirations, and airway reflexes. There are no prospective, randomized studies comparing ketamine to other agents in the initial management of acute agitation in the Emergency Department (ED).

Beat-to-beat corrected QT analysis detects corrected QT prolongation in 50 consecutive telemetry-monitored patients.

Background: The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation recommends monitoring for corrected QT (QTc) prolongation. The incidence of QTc prolongation in the general public is unknown. Episodic measurements may miss patients at risk.

The modern spectrum of rhabdomyolysis: drug toxicity revealed by creatine kinase screening.

Purpose: This study describes the current etiologies, demographic characteristics, incidence of acute renal insufficiency and correlation between peak creatine kinase (CK) and peak creatinine in hospitalized patients with rhabdomyolysis.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with creatine kinase (CK) values greater than 5000 IU/L during a nine month period identified 106 cases of rhabdomyolysis.

Results: The most common contributing etiologies were recreational drug and/or alcohol use in 28%, trauma in 23%, compression in 19%, shock in 17%, statin-use in 13%, seizure in 8% and quetiapine-use in 8%.

Cost analytic model to determine the least costly inpatient erythropoiesis stimulating therapy regimen.

Background: Unlike in outpatient settings, the comparative costs of epoetin alpha (EPO) and darbepoetin alpha (DARB) have not been evaluated broadly from the inpatient hospital perspective.

Objective: To develop a cost analytic model comparing hospital inpatient costs for erythropoiesis stimulating therapies within the nephrology and oncology settings.

Methods: A cost analytic model incorporating erythropoietic drug, pharmacy, and nursing costs was developed from the inpatient hospital perspective to evaluate comparative costs of EPO and DARB.