Enhancing Cancer Treatment Through Combined Approaches: Photodynamic Therapy in Concert with Other Modalities.

This review explores the role of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunctive treatment for cancers, with a focus on its potential to enhance the effects of established therapies like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Given the limitations of conventional cancer treatments, PDT's ability to improve therapeutic outcomes through combination strategies is examined. In cancers such as lung, breast, cholangiocarcinoma, and cervical, PDT shows promise in enhancing response rates, reducing recurrence, and minimizing adverse effects when used alongside standard modalities.

Enhanced anticancer efficacy of photodynamic therapy in combination with immunotherapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is known to trigger immunogenic cell death (ICD), leading to an anticancer effect even in untreated metastatic cancer, a phenomenon called the "abscopal effect". Furthermore, ICD induction activates an immune response, which may synergize with immunotherapy. The objective of our research was to evaluate the anticancer efficacy of combining PDT with immunotherapy.

Interactions of bosutinib with drug transporters: In vitro and In vivo inhibition of organic cation transporter 2, multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1, and breast cancer resistance protein by bosutinib.

Bosutinib has been approved for use in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Information regarding the effects of bosutinib on clinically important drug transporters is limited, particularly regarding its inhibitory potency on transporters and in vivo effects. Therefore, we conducted a study investigating the in vitro and in vivo effects of bosutinib on drug transporters.

Barriers and Facilitators to Establishing Partnerships for Substance Use Disorder Care Transitions Between Safety-Net Hospitals and Community-Based Organizations.

Background: The effectiveness of hospital-based transitional opioid programs (TOPs), which aim to connect patients with substance use disorders (SUD) to ongoing treatment in the community following initiation of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment in the hospital, hinges on successful patient transitions. These transitions are enabled by strong partnerships between hospitals and community-based organizations (CBOs). However, no prior study has specifically examined barriers and facilitators to establishing SUD care transition partnerships between hospitals and CBOs.

Examining the relationship between social determinants of health, measures of structural racism and county-level overdose deaths from 2017-2020.

Introduction: Despite being an important determinant of health outcomes, measures of structural racism are lacking in studies examining the relationship between the social determinants of health (SDOH) and overdose deaths. The aim of this study is to examine the association between per capita revenue generated from fines and forfeitures, a novel measure of structural racism, and other SDOH with county-level overdose deaths from 2017-2020.

Methods: This longitudinal analysis of 2,846 counties from 2017-2020 used bivariate and multivariate Generalized Estimating Equations models to estimate associations between county overdose mortality rates and SDOH characteristics, including the fines and forfeitures measure.

Roles of breast cancer resistance protein and organic anion transporting polypeptide 2B1 in gastrointestinal toxicity induced by SN-38 under inflammatory conditions.

Drug transporters are among the factors that determine the pharmacokinetic profiles after drug administration. In this study, we investigated the roles of drug transporters involved in transport of SN-38, which is an active metabolite of irinotecan, in the intestine under inflammatory conditions in vitro and determined their functional consequences. The expression alterations of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 2B1 were determined at the mRNA and protein levels, and the subsequent functional alterations were evaluated via an accumulation study with the representative transporter substrates [prazosin and dibromofluorescein (DBF)] and SN-38.

Telehealth use during the early COVID-19 public health emergency and subsequent health care costs and utilization.

Telehealth utilization increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet few studies have documented associations of telehealth use with subsequent medical costs and health care utilization. We examined associations of telehealth use during the early COVID-19 public health emergency (March-June 2020) with subsequent total medical costs and health care utilization among people with heart disease (HD). We created a longitudinal cohort of individuals with HD using MarketScan Commercial Claims data (2018-2022).

A Year After Implementation of the Telehealth Waiver: Being Offered and Utilizing Video-Specific Telehealth Among Dual-Eligible Medicare Recipients During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: Telehealth is an essential tool to provide access to care while reducing infection exposure for high-risk populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study aims to examine factors associated with telehealth availability and usage among Medicare and dual-eligible recipients 1 year after implementation of the Medicare's temporary telehealth waiver.

Design, Setting, And Participant: A cross-sectional, phone survey with a national representative sample of Medicare recipients.

Assessing Differences in Social Determinants of Health Screening Rates in a Large, Urban Safety-Net Health System.

Introduction/objective: Previous studies have evaluated the implementation of standardized social determinants of health (SDOH) screening within healthcare settings, however, less is known about where screening gaps may exist following initial implementation based on facility characteristics. The objective of this study is to assess differences in screening rates for SDOH at a large, urban healthcare system.

Methods: We used electronic health record data obtained from NYC Health + Hospitals primary care sites from 2019 to 2022.

Stakeholder Perspectives on Data-Driven Solutions to Address Cardiovascular Disease and Health Equity in New York City.

Introduction: There is growing recognition of the importance of addressing the social determinants of health in efforts to improve health equity. In dense urban environments such as New York City, disparities in chronic health conditions (e.g.

Recent Studies in Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer Treatment: From Basic Research to Clinical Trials.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging and less invasive treatment modality for various types of cancer. This review provides an overview of recent trends in PDT research, ranging from basic research to ongoing clinical trials, focusing on different cancer types. Lung cancer, head and neck cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer are discussed in this context.

Targeted Therapy for Cancers: From Ongoing Clinical Trials to FDA-Approved Drugs.

The development of targeted therapies has revolutionized cancer treatment, offering improved efficacy with reduced side effects compared with traditional chemotherapy. This review highlights the current landscape of targeted therapy in lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer, focusing on key molecular targets. Moreover, it aligns with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and drug candidates.

Trends in the Prioritization and Implementation of Substance Use Programs by Nonprofit Hospitals: 2015-2021.

Objectives: Hospitalizations are an important opportunity to address substance use through inpatient services, outpatient care, and community partnerships, yet the extent to which nonprofit hospitals prioritize such services across time remains unknown. The objective of this study is to examine trends in nonprofit hospitals' prioritization and implementation of substance use disorder (SUD) programs.

Methods: We assessed trends in hospital prioritization of substance use as a top five community need and hospital implementation of SUD programing at nonprofit hospitals between 2015 and 2021 using two waves (wave 1: 2015-2018; wave 2: 2019-2021) by examining hospital community benefit reports.

Facilitation of team-based care to improve HTN management and outcomes: a protocol for a randomized stepped wedge trial.

Background: There are well-established guidelines for treating hypertension (HTN), yet only half of patients with HTN meet the defined target of < 140/90. Team-based care (TBC) is an evidence-based strategy for improving blood pressure (BP) management and control. TBC is defined as the provision of health services by at least two health professionals "who work collaboratively with patients and their caregivers to accomplish shared goals to achieve coordinated, high-quality care".

Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Integrating a Harm Reduction Approach to Substance Use in Three Medical Settings.

Background: Evidence suggests that harm reduction, a public health strategy aimed at reducing the negative consequences of a risky health behavior without requiring elimination of the behavior itself, may be a promising approach for minimizing drug-related harms while engaging individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) in care. However, philosophical clashes between the medical and harm reduction models may pose barriers to adopting harm reduction approaches within medical settings.

Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators to implementing a harm reduction approach toward care within healthcare settings.

Integrating Harm Reduction into Medical Care: Lessons from Three Models.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are at a national high, with significant morbidity and mortality. Harm reduction, a public-health strategy aimed at reducing the negative consequences of a risky behavior without necessarily eliminating the behavior, represents a useful approach to engage patients with SUDs in care. The objective of this article is to describe how 3 medical practices operationalized harm reduction as a framework toward patient care and identify the common practices undertaken across these settings to integrate harm reduction and medical care.

The In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Effect of Photomed for Photodynamic Therapy: Comparison with Photofrin and Radachlorin.

To overcome the limitation of conventional cancer treatments, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been introduced as another treatment option. PDT provides a non-invasive, non-surgical way with reduced toxicity. To improve the antitumor efficacy of PDT, we synthesized a novel photosensitizer, a 3-substituted methyl pyropheophorbide-a derivative (Photomed).

Hospital adoption of harm reduction and risk education strategies to address substance use disorders.

Hospitals are well-positioned to integrate harm reduction into their workflow. However, the extent to which hospitals across the United States are adopting these strategies remains unknown. To assess what factors are associated with hospital adoption of harm reduction/risk education strategies, and trends of adoption across time.

Assessing the effectiveness of problem-solving courts on the reduction of overdose deaths in the United States: A difference-in-difference study.

Background: Criminal justice-involved populations are disproportionately more likely to have an active substance use disorder (SUD) and experience a fatal overdose. One way the criminal justice system connects individuals with SUDs to treatment is through problem-solving drug courts designed to divert offenders into treatment. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of drug court implementation on drug overdoses in U.

Utilizing Publicly Available Community Data to Address Social Determinants of Health: A Compendium of Data Sources.

To compile a compendium of data sources representing different areas of social determinants of health (SDOH) in New York City. We conducted a PubMed search of the peer-reviewed and gray literature using the terms "social determinants of health" and "New York City," with the Boolean operator "AND." We then conducted a search of the "gray literature," defined as sources outside of standard bibliographic databases, using similar terms.

Association of Medicaid expansion and 1115 waivers for substance use disorders with hospital provision of opioid use disorder services: a cross sectional study.

Introduction: Opioid-related hospitalizations have risen dramatically, placing hospitals at the frontlines of the opioid epidemic. Medicaid expansion and 1115 waivers for substance use disorders (SUDs) are two key policies aimed at expanding access to care, including opioid use disorder (OUD) services. Yet, little is known about the relationship between these policies and the availability of hospital based OUD programs.

Findings on In Vitro Transporter-Mediated Drug Interactions and Their Follow-Up Actions for Labeling: Analysis of Drugs Approved by US FDA between 2017 and 2021.

Understanding possible follow-up actions on in vitro findings helps determine the necessity of labeling for drug interactions. We analyzed information for in vitro findings on transporter-mediated interactions of drugs approved by the U.S.

Obesity and Patient Activation: Confidence, Communication, and Information Seeking Behavior.

Introduction/objectives: Patient activation describes the knowledge, skills, and confidence that allow patients to actively engage in managing their health. Prior studies have found a strong relationship between patient activation and clinical outcomes, costs of care, and patient experience. Patients who are obese or overweight may be less engaged than normal weight patients due to lower confidence or stigma associated with their weight.