Opioid-related clinical outcomes and associated healthcare costs following abuse/misuse of oxycodone formulations: A HEOR analysis from real-world data.

Objective: The United States (US) opioid epidemic is a continued burden on the healthcare system and on the lives of individuals affected by the consequences of opioid abuse/misuse. The objective of this study was to use real-world data from intentional abuse/misuse exposures managed by US poison centers to compare clinical outcomes and quantify healthcare costs among three study cohorts: -exposures that involved Xtampza ER®, other oxycodone extended-release (ER), and oxycodone immediate-release (IR).

Study Design: A real-world, observational study.

Substance Use Patterns and Characteristics Using Real World Data from Adolescents Assessed for Substance Use and Treatment Planning-United States, 2017-2021.

Background: Although substance use rates among adolescents have decreased, drug overdose deaths among adolescents have increased since 2020, driven largely by illegally made fentanyl (IMF). This study explores substance use patterns and characteristics of adolescents who were assessed for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment to inform prevention and response strategies.

Methods: A convenience sample of adolescents aged 10-18 years assessed for SUD treatment from September 2017 to December 2021 was analyzed using the Comprehensive Health Assessment for Teens.

Characteristics of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drug Use Among Persons Aged 13-18 Years Being Assessed for Substance Use Disorder Treatment - United States, 2014-2022.

Substance use often begins during adolescence, placing youths at risk for fatal overdose and substance use disorders (SUD) in adulthood. Understanding the motivations reported by adolescents for using alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs and the persons with whom they use these substances could guide strategies to prevent or reduce substance use and its related consequences among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents being assessed for SUD treatment in the United States during 2014-2022, to examine self-reported motivations for using substances and the persons with whom substances were used.

Sources of nonmedically used prescription psychotherapeutic drugs using real-world data from adolescents and adults assessed for substance use treatment--2014-2022.

Background: Nonmedical use (NMU) of prescription psychotherapeutic drugs (PPD) may increase risk for significant morbidity and mortality in the overdose crisis.

Objective: This study examines sources of PPD using real-world data from adolescents and adults reporting past 30-day NMU of PPDs.

Methods: A convenience sample of individuals aged ≥10 years assessed for substance use disorders (SUD) treatment was analyzed using the 2014-2022 National Addictions Vigilance Intervention and Prevention Program datasets.

DNA-binding protein PfAP2-P regulates parasite pathogenesis during malaria parasite blood stages.

Malaria-associated pathogenesis such as parasite invasion, egress, host cell remodelling and antigenic variation requires concerted action by many proteins, but the molecular regulation is poorly understood. Here we have characterized an essential Plasmodium-specific Apicomplexan AP2 transcription factor in Plasmodium falciparum (PfAP2-P; pathogenesis) during the blood-stage development with two peaks of expression. An inducible knockout of gene function showed that PfAP2-P is essential for trophozoite development, and critical for var gene regulation, merozoite development and parasite egress.

Underrepresentation of African Americans in Plastic Surgery: Examining Demographics, Specialty Factors, and Medical School Experiences.

Background: Racial representation among medical trainees translates into physicians that are able to communicate with diverse patient populations and are perceptive to health disparities. This is important within plastic surgery where an optimal physicianpatient relationship is essential to health outcomes.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to address underrepresentation of African Americans (AA) in plastic surgery through improving understanding of factors that may contribute to AA medical student interest in plastic surgery.

PfAP2-MRP DNA-binding protein is a master regulator of parasite pathogenesis during malaria parasite blood stages.

Malaria pathogenicity results from the parasite's ability to invade, multiply within and then egress from the host red blood cell (RBC). Infected RBCs are remodeled, expressing antigenic variant proteins (such as PfEMP1, coded by the gene family) for immune evasion and survival. These processes require the concerted actions of many proteins, but the molecular regulation is poorly understood.

Buprenorphine use and setting type among reproductive-aged women self-reporting nonmedical prescription opioid use.

Introduction: Screening for opioid misuse and treatment for opioid use disorder are critical for reducing morbidity and mortality. We sought to understand the extent of self-reported past 30-day buprenorphine use in various settings among women of reproductive age with self-reported nonmedical prescription opioid use being assessed for substance use problems.

Methods: The study collected data from individuals being assessed for substance use problems using the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version in 2018-2020.

Associations between prescription stimulant use as prescribed, nonmedical use, and illicit stimulant use among adults evaluated for substance use treatment, 2017-2021.

Background: Limited data exist on risk factors for illicit stimulant use, including associations between prescription stimulant use/nonmedical use (NMU) and illicit stimulant use.

Methods: We used 2017-2021 data from adults assessed for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment using the National Addictions Vigilance Intervention and Prevention Program Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version® tool. Multivariable Poisson regression models analyzed associations between past 30-day prescription stimulant use as prescribed or NMU and past 30-day illicit stimulant use.

Multiple cases in case-based learning: A qualitative description study.

Introduction: Case-based learning is widely used in health professions education to improve clinical learning, but little is known about how best to approach multiple cases in this active learning strategy. Our study explored dental student views of multiple case-based learning in oral pathology.

Materials And Methods: Qualitative description informed the study design.

Evaluating the effectiveness of reformulated extended-release oxycodone with abuse-deterrent properties on reducing non-oral abuse among individuals assessed for substance abuse treatment with the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version (ASI-MV).

Objective: Original brand extended-release (ER) oxycodone tablets (OC) for oral use were reformulated (ORF) with abuse-deterrent properties (ADP) against inhalation and injection routes in August 2010. This product transition provided an opportunity to compare "before and after" reformulation abuse trends. Our goal was to assess the change in abuse of brand oxycodone ER from before and after introduction of ORF.

The Effectiveness of Culturally Specific Male Domestic Violence Offender Intervention Programs on Behavior Changes and Mental Health: A Systematic Review.

The objective of domestic violence intervention programs is to address perpetrator behavior. However, the suitability and effectiveness of these programs in confronting problematic behavior for ethnically diverse groups is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to cohesively examine whether such programs are effective in reducing recidivism, changing perpetrator behavior, and addressing mental health issues for culturally diverse groups.

Microplastics in the surgical environment.

Atmospheric microplastics (MPs) have been consistently detected within indoor and outdoor air samples. Locations with high human activity are reported to have high MP levels. The aim was to quantify and characterise the MPs present within the surgical environment over a one-week sampling period.

Apicoplast ribosomal protein S10-V127M enhances artemisinin resistance of a Kelch13 transgenic Plasmodium falciparum.

Background: The resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin-based (ART) drugs, the front-line drug family used in artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for treatment of malaria, is of great concern. Mutations in the kelch13 (k13) gene (for example, those resulting in the Cys580Tyr [C580Y] variant) were identified as genetic markers for ART-resistant parasites, which suggests they are associated with resistance mechanisms. However, not all resistant parasites contain a k13 mutation, and clearly greater understanding of resistance mechanisms is required.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender disparities in acute coronary syndrome patterns.

Background: Global evidence has emerged showing fewer Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) cases than expected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study aims to evaluate the incidence of ACS before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and analyze differences in gender distribution, and type of presentation.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 997 patients who presented to Huntsville Hospital's catheterization lab for elective and emergency catheterization for ACS and non-ACS during a four-week period from February 26, 2020, to March 10, 2020, and from March 25, 2020, to April 8, 2020, and compared with the equivalent weeks in 2019.

Characterizing the Experience of Tapentadol Nonmedical Use: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The prevalence of abuse, diversion, and web-based endorsement of tapentadol (extended-release [ER], immediate-release [IR]) has been characterized as low compared with other prescription opioids. Little is known about individual experience with tapentadol nonmedical use (NMU).

Objective: This study aims to pilot web-based survey technologies to investigate the motivation for tapentadol NMU, sources of procurement, routes of administration, tampering methods, doses used, and impressions of tapentadol products (Nucynta and Nucynta ER).

Characteristics of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Evaluated for Substance Use and Treatment Planning - United States, 2019.

In 2019, 65.8 million U.S.

Changes in Hydrocodone Misuse Exposures Reported to U.S. Poison Centers Following Rescheduling in 2014.

Background: In 2014, the Drug Enforcement Administration rescheduled hydrocodone combination products to Schedule II to reduce nonmedical use and diversion.

Methods: The impact of rescheduling was assessed using quarterly data from 2011 through 2019 from the Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS) System Poison Center Program and IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Data. Trends and immediate changes in prescriptions dispensed and misuse exposures before and after rescheduling involving hydrocodone, oxycodone, and other Schedule II opioid analgesics were calculated using segmented regression.

Spotty Bone Marrow: A Frequent MRI Finding in the Feet of Ballet Dancers.

Bone marrow signal abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are common in athletes. However, few studies evaluate the MRI appearance of bone marrow in the feet of ballet dancers. Our study aims to describe the "spotty bone marrow" (SBM) pattern in the tarsal bones of a cohort of ballet dancers, establishing its prevalence, distribution, potential associations, and evolution.

Molecular characterization of type I IFN-induced cytotoxicity in bladder cancer cells reveals biomarkers of resistance.

Although anti-tumor activities of type I interferons (IFNs) have been recognized for decades, the molecular mechanisms contributing to clinical response remain poorly understood. The complex functions of these pleiotropic cytokines include stimulation of innate and adaptive immune responses against tumors as well as direct inhibition of tumor cells. In high-grade, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, nadofaragene firadenovec, a non-replicating adenovirus administered locally to express the transgene, embodies a novel approach to deploy the therapeutic activity of type I IFNs while minimizing systemic toxicities.

Characterizing prescription stimulant nonmedical use (NMU) among adults recruited from Reddit.

Objective: Increased prescription stimulant nonmedical use (NMU) is part of a growing polysubstance use landscape. The purpose of the present study was to characterize prescription stimulant NMU among adults reporting past 5-year non-oral prescription stimulant NMU.

Methods: Adults who reported non-oral prescription stimulant NMU within the last 5 years were recruited by banner ads placed on the Reddit website between February and September 2019.

Deletion of Plasmodium falciparum ubc13 increases parasite sensitivity to the mutagen, methyl methanesulfonate and dihydroartemisinin.

The inducible Di-Cre system was used to delete the putative ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 13 gene (ubc13) of Plasmodium falciparum to study its role in ubiquitylation and the functional consequence during the parasite asexual blood stage. Deletion resulted in a significant reduction of parasite growth in vitro, reduced ubiquitylation of the Lys63 residue of ubiquitin attached to protein substrates, and an increased sensitivity of the parasite to both the mutagen, methyl methanesulfonate and the antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA), but not chloroquine. The parasite was also sensitive to the UBC13 inhibitor NSC697923.

Inhibition of protein N-myristoylation blocks Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development, egress and invasion.

We have combined chemical biology and genetic modification approaches to investigate the importance of protein myristoylation in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Parasite treatment during schizogony in the last 10 to 15 hours of the erythrocytic cycle with IMP-1002, an inhibitor of N-myristoyl transferase (NMT), led to a significant blockade in parasite egress from the infected erythrocyte. Two rhoptry proteins were mislocalized in the cell, suggesting that rhoptry function is disrupted.