Rules and values: a coordinated regulatory and educational approach to the public health crises of chronic pain and addiction.

Chronic pain and opioid addiction are 2 pressing public health problems, and prescribing clinicians often lack the skills necessary to manage these conditions. Our study sought to address the benefits of a coalition of an academic medical center pain faculty and government agencies in addressing the high unintentional overdose death rates in New Mexico. New Mexico's 2012-2013 mandated chronic pain and addiction education programs studied more than 1000 clinicians.

A history of being prescribed controlled substances and risk of drug overdose death.

Objective: The abuse of prescription drugs has increased dramatically since 1990. Persons who overdose on such drugs frequently consume large doses and visit multiple providers. The risk of fatal overdose for different patterns of use of opioid analgesics and sedative/hypnotics has not been fully quantified.

Portal system thrombosis after splenectomy for neoplasm or chronic hematologic disorder: is routine surveillance imaging necessary?

Purpose: This study was undertaken to assess the frequency and sequelae of portal system thrombosis (PST) after splenectomy in patients with cancer or chronic hematologic disorders and to determine whether routine surveillance imaging for this potential complication is warranted.

Method: The radiology reports of 203 consecutive patients with cancer or chronic hematologic disorders who underwent splenectomy between January 1990 and January 1997 were reviewed. Imaging examinations and medical records were reviewed for those in whom PST was found after splenectomy.

Gallbladder cancer: can ultrasonography evaluate extent of disease?

This study reviews the spectrum of sonographic findings in patients with gallbladder cancer, attempts to determine if sonography can identify patients with potentially resectable disease, and emphasizes the limitations of ultrasonography in the evaluation of -gallbladder cancer. Thirty-five consecutive patients with histologically proven gallbladder carcinoma who had preoperative abdominal ultrasonography and surgery were identified. Involvement of the gallbladder and gallbladder fossa, metastases, bile ducts, portal vein, and adjacent lymph nodes was assessed sonographically.

A comparison of screening mammography results from programs for women of different socioeconomic status.

Background: The ability of screening mammography programs serving women of different socioeconomic status (SES) to diagnose early stage breast carcinoma in a comparably effective fashion has been questioned.

Methods: Results of screening 50,653 women of lower SES were compared with those of screening 45,923 more socioeconomically advantaged women during the same period in New York State. Results were compared with those reported for the general population to the New York State cancer registry.