Comparative effectiveness of methadone take-home dose initiation in British Columbia, Canada: protocol for a population-based retrospective cohort study using target trial guidelines.

Introduction: Due to inferior safety profile and higher risk of diversion than buprenorphine/naloxone, guidelines typically recommend stringent eligibility criteria such as daily witnessed ingestion of methadone for at least 12 weeks before considering take-home doses. Recent research has focused on whether or not to initiate take-home methadone doses, often using pandemic-era data when temporary prescribing changes provided a natural experiment on the impact of access to take-home doses. However, none of these studies adequately examined the optimal timing and criteria for safely starting take-home doses to enhance treatment outcomes.

Preclinical evaluation of a surgical assistant robot for use in minimally invasive abdominal surgeries.

In recent years, robotic assistance has become increasingly used and applied in minimally invasive surgeries. A new cooperative surgical robot system that includes a joystick-guided robotic scope holder was developed in this study, and its feasibility for use in minimally invasive abdominal surgery was evaluated in a preclinical setting. The cooperative surgical robot consists of a six-degree-of-freedom collaborative robot arm and a one-degree-of-freedom bidirectional telescopic end-effector specializing in surgical assistance.

Solvent-Tuned Plasticity for Various Binder-Free Applications of a New Lead-Free Manganese Halide.

The development of efficient color conversion layers for μ-LED technology faces significant challenges owing to the limitations of materials that require binders. Binders are typically used to ensure uniform film formation in color-conversion layers, but they often cause optical losses, increase layer thickness, and introduce long-term stability issues. To address the limitations of materials requiring binders, cyclopropyltriphenylphosphonium manganese tetrabromide (CPTPMnBr) is synthesized, a novel lead-free metal halide.

Fine-Modulation of Perovskite Ion-Additive Binding Interaction Using Multidentate Ligation for High Performance Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

Research on perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) has primarily focused on modulating crystal growth to achieve smaller grain sizes and defect passivation using organic additives. However, challenges remain in controlling the intermolecular interactions between these organic additives and perovskite precursor ions for precise modulation of crystal growth. In this study, we synthesize two triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO)-based multidentate additives: bidentate hexane-1,6-diyl-bis(oxy-4-triphenylphosphine oxide) (2-TPPO) and tetradentate pentaerythrityl-tetrakis(oxy-4-triphenylphosphine oxide) (4-TPPO).

Design of Nanocrystalline Suspension of Dutasteride for Intramuscular Prolonged Delivery.

The aim of the study is to formulate an injectable nanocrystalline suspension (NS) of dutasteride (DTS), a hydrophobic 5α-reductase inhibitor used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and scalp hair loss, for parenteral long-acting delivery. A DTS-loaded NS (DTS-NS, 40 mg/mL DTS) was prepared using a lab-scale bead-milling technique. The optimized DTS-NS prepared using Tween 80 (0.

Effects of K doping on ZnCoO spinel catalysts for low-temperature catalytic NO decomposition in the presence of inhibitors.

The recent development of NH as a fuel has led to significant emissions of NO, a major greenhouse gas. Direct catalytic NO decomposition (de-NO) is a promising technology for NO emissions control because it effectively decomposes NO at low temperatures without requiring reducing agents or producing other pollutants. In marine applications, to improve the flame properties, NH is often mixed with marine diesel oil, which contains sulfur.

Dexamethasone nanocrystals-embedded hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel increases cochlear delivery and attenuates hearing loss following intratympanic injection.

Herein, dexamethasone (DEX) nanocrystalline suspension (NS)-embedded hydrogel (NS-G) was constructed using a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) polymer to enhance cochlear delivery and attenuate hearing loss following intratympanic (IT) injection. Hydrophobic steroidal nanocrystals were prepared using a bead milling technique and incorporated into a polysaccharide hydrogel. The NS-G system with HPMC (average molecular weight, 86,000 g/mol; 15 mg/mL) was characterized as follows: rod-shaped drug crystalline; particle size <300 nm; and constant complex viscosity ≤1.

Enhanced Responsivity and Photostability of CsBiI-Based Self-Powered Photodetector via Chemical Vapor Deposition Engineering.

Lead-based halide perovskites have gained significant prominence in recent years in optoelectronics and photovoltaics, owing to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Nonetheless, the toxicity of lead (Pb) and the stability concern pose obstacles to their potential for future large-scale market development. Herein, stable lead-free CsBiI (CBI) films are presented with smooth and compact morphologies synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD), demonstrating their application as an UV photodetector in a self-powered way.

Alteration in the Morphological and Transcriptomic Profiles of after Exposure to Colistin.

is often highly resistant to multiple antimicrobials, posing a risk of treatment failure, and colistin is a "last resort" for treatment of the bacterial infection. However, colistin resistance is easily developed when the bacteria are exposed to the drug, and a comprehensive analysis of colistin-mediated changes in colistin-susceptible and -resistant is needed. In this study, using an isogenic pair of colistin-susceptible and -resistant isolates, alterations in morphologic and transcriptomic characteristics associated with colistin resistance were revealed.

Tricaprylin-based drug crystalline suspension for intramuscular long-acting delivery of entecavir with alleviated local inflammation.

In order to ensure prolonged pharmacokinetic profile along with local tolerability at the injection site, tricaprylin-based drug crystalline suspension (TS) was designed and its local distribution, pharmacokinetics, and inflammatory response, were evaluated with conventional aqueous suspension (AS). As model drug particles, entecavir 3-palmitate (EV-P), an ester lipidic prodrug for entecavir (EV), was employed. The EV-P-loaded TS was prepared by ultra-sonication method.

The potential utility of (2S,4R)-4-[18F] fluoroglutamine as a novel metabolic imaging marker for inflammation explored by rat models of arthritis and paw edema.

Purpose: ()-4-[F]fluoroglutamine ([F]FGln) is a promising metabolic imaging marker in cancer. Based on the fact that major inflammatory cells are heavily dependent on glutamine metabolism like cancer cells, we explored the potential utility of [F]FGln as a metabolic imaging marker for inflammation in two rat models: carrageenan-induced paw edema (CIPE) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Procedures: The CIPE model (n = 4) was generated by injecting 200 μL of 3% carrageenan solution into the left hind paw three hours before the PET.

Highly Emissive Lanthanide-Based 0D Metal Halide Nanocrystals for Efficient Ultraviolet Photodetector.

Recently, lanthanide-based 0D metal halides have attracted considerable attention for their applications in X-ray imaging, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), sensors, and photodetectors. Herein, lead-free 0D gadolinium-alloyed cesium cerium chloride (Gd-alloyed CsCeCl) nanocrystals (NCs) are introduced as promising materials for optoelectronic application owing to their unique optical properties. The incorporation of Gd in CsCeCl (CCC) NCs is proposed to increase the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) from 57% to 96%, along with significantly enhanced phase and chemical stability.

Carboxymethyl cellulose-based rotigotine nanocrystals-loaded hydrogel for increased transdermal delivery with alleviated skin irritation.

Transdermal rotigotine (RTG) therapy is prescribed to manage Parkinson's disease (Neupro® patch). However, its use is suffered from application site reactions. Herein, drug nanocrystalline suspension (NS)-loaded hydrogel (NS-HG) employing polysaccharides simultaneously as suspending agent and hydrogel matrix was constructed for transdermal delivery, with alleviated skin irritation.

Intrinsically Stretchable Floating Gate Memory Transistors for Data Storage of Electronic Skin Devices.

To propel electronic skin (e-skin) to the next level by integrating artificial intelligence features with advanced sensory capabilities, it is imperative to develop stretchable memory device technology. A stretchable memory device for e-skin must offer, in particular, long-term data storage while ensuring the security of personal information under any type of deformation. However, despite the significance of these needs, technology related to stretchable memory devices remains in its infancy.

Opioid Coprescription Through Risk Mitigation Guidance and Opioid Agonist Treatment Receipt.

Importance: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of British Columbia, Canada, released clinical guidance to support physicians and nurse practitioners in prescribing pharmaceutical alternatives to the toxic drug supply. These alternatives included opioids and other medications under the risk mitigation guidance (RMG), a limited form of prescribed safer supply, designed to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and harms associated with illicit drug use. Many clinicians chose to coprescribe opioid medications under RMG alongside opioid agonist treatment (OAT).

What is the ideal time to begin tapering opioid agonist treatment? A protocol for a retrospective population-based comparative effectiveness study in British Columbia, Canada.

Introduction: Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) tapering involves a gradual reduction in daily medication dose to ultimately reach a state of opioid abstinence. Due to the high risk of relapse and overdose after tapering, this practice is not recommended by clinical guidelines, however, clients may still request to taper off medication. The ideal time to initiate an OAT taper is not known.

Autonomous self-healing supramolecular polymer transistors for skin electronics.

Skin-like field-effect transistors are key elements of bio-integrated devices for future user-interactive electronic-skin applications. Despite recent rapid developments in skin-like stretchable transistors, imparting self-healing ability while maintaining necessary electrical performance to these transistors remains a challenge. Herein, we describe a stretchable polymer transistor capable of autonomous self-healing.

Kinetically controlled metal-elastomer nanophases for environmentally resilient stretchable electronics.

Nanophase mixtures, leveraging the complementary strengths of each component, are vital for composites to overcome limitations posed by single elemental materials. Among these, metal-elastomer nanophases are particularly important, holding various practical applications for stretchable electronics. However, the methodology and understanding of nanophase mixing metals and elastomers are limited due to difficulties in blending caused by thermodynamic incompatibility.

Prescribing practices in opioid agonist treatment and changes in compliance to clinical dosing guidelines in British Columbia, Canada.

Background And Aim: In British Columbia, Canada, clinical guidelines for the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD) were updated in 2017, during a period in which the potency and composition of the illicit drug supply changed rapidly. We aimed to describe changes in opioid agonist treatment (OAT) prescribing practices at the population level in a setting in which fentanyl and its analogs have become the primary illicit opioid of use.

Design, Setting And Participants: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study using three linked health administrative databases in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

Chemical effect on the Van Hove singularity in superconducting kagome metal AVSb (A = K, Rb, and Cs).

To understand the alkali-metal-dependent material properties of recently discovered AVSb (A = K, Rb, and Cs), we conducted a detailed electronic structure analysis based on first-principles density functional theory calculations. Contrary to the case of A = K and Rb, the energetic positions of the low-lying Van Hove singularities are reversed in CsVSb, and the characteristic higher-order Van Hove point gets closer to the Fermi level. We found that this notable difference can be attributed to the chemical effect, apart from structural differences.