Systemic corticosteroids for radicular and non-radicular low back pain.

Background: Corticosteroids are medications with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties. Systemic corticosteroids administered through the oral, intravenous, or intramuscular routes have been used to treat various types of low back pain, including radicular back pain (not due to spinal stenosis), non-radicular back pain, and spinal stenosis. However, there is uncertainty about the benefits and harms of systemic corticosteroids for low back pain.

Synthesis and evaluation of the performance of a small molecule library based on diverse tropane-related scaffolds.

A unified synthetic approach was developed that enabled the synthesis of diverse tropane-related scaffolds. The key intermediates that were exploited were cycloadducts formed by reaction between 3-hydroxy-pyridinium salts and vinyl sulfones or sulfonamides. The diverse tropane-related scaffolds were formed by addition of substituents to, cyclisation reactions of, and fusion of additional ring(s) to the key bicyclic intermediates.

The First National Institutes of Health Institutional Training Program in Emergency Care Research: Productivity and Outcomes.

Study Objective: We assess the productivity, outcomes, and experiences of participants in the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded K12 institutional research training programs in emergency care research.

Methods: We used a mixed-methods study design to evaluate the 6 K12 programs, including 2 surveys, participant interviews, scholar publications, grant submissions, and funded grants. The training program lasted from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2017.

Ceftriaxone for the Treatment of Methicillin-susceptible Bacteremia: A Case Series.

Methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) causes 45% of bloodstream infections (BSI) and is the most important cause of BSI-associated death. The standard of care therapy is an anti-staphylococcal penicillin or cefazolin, but dosing frequencies for these agents are often infeasible; multiple daily doses tie up infusion lines and are impractical for outpatient antibiotic infusion. Ceftriaxone represents a promising alternative, with once daily dosing and a short infusion time.

Health Care Utilization Rates After Oregon's 2008 Medicaid Expansion: Within-Group and Between-Group Differences Over Time Among New, Returning, and Continuously Insured Enrollees.

Background: Although past research demonstrated that Medicaid expansions were associated with increased emergency department (ED) and primary care (PC) utilization, little is known about how long this increased utilization persists or whether postcoverage utilization is affected by prior insurance status.

Objectives: (1) To assess changes in ED, PC, mental and behavioral health care, and specialist care visit rates among individuals gaining Medicaid over 24 months postinsurance gain; and (2) to evaluate the association of previous insurance with utilization.

Methods: Using claims data, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of adults insured for 24 months following Oregon's 2008 Medicaid expansion.

Interpreting the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: United States Emergency Department Opioid Prescribing, 2006-2010.

Objectives: Prescription opioid overdoses are a leading cause of death in the United States. Emergency departments (EDs) are potentially high-risk environments for doctor shopping and diversion. The hypothesis was that opioid prescribing rates from the ED have increased over time.

Simplifying Direct Composite Veneer Placement.

Several clinical uses for the Uveneer system have been described in the case examples presented herein, demonstrating how this technique can help the dentist more easily create aesthetic facial surfaces of maxillary anterior teeth. This template system can be used to create direct composite veneers as definitive restorations, and in a variety of diagnostic situations that help the dentist and patient get on the "same page" when designing an aesthetic restorative case to meet a patient's individual goals.

The dental handpiece: technology continues to impact everyday practice.

One of the most fundamental devices used in dentistry, the handpiece can enhance the efficiency of everyday dental tasks. Through the years, handpieces have gradually been redesigned and upgraded to become the highly accurate and sophisticated tools they are today. Technological advances continue to improve these indispensable instruments.

Emergency department visits for nontraumatic dental problems: a mixed-methods study.

Objectives: We documented emergency department (ED) visits for nontraumatic dental problems and identified strategies to reduce ED dental visits.

Methods: We used mixed methods to analyze claims in 2010 from a purposive sample of 25 Oregon hospitals and Oregon's All Payer All Claims data set and interviewed 51 ED dental visitors and stakeholders from 6 communities.

Results: Dental visits accounted for 2.

Listening to Consumer Perspectives to Inform Addictions and Housing-Related Practice and Research.

The study, funded by the Northwest Health Foundation of Portland, Oregon and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), was conducted as part of the HEARTH collaborative (Housing, Employment and Recovery Together for Health). HEARTH, established in 2010, is a community-academic partnership involving partners from Portland State University (PSU), Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), and Central City Concern (CCC). Using the approaches of community-based participatory research (CBPR), these diverse stakeholders collaborated to co-develop research of direct relevance to the local community and to national academic and policy communities.

Comparison of presenting complaint vs discharge diagnosis for identifying " nonemergency" emergency department visits.

Importance: Reduction in emergency department (ED) use is frequently viewed as a potential source for cost savings. One consideration has been to deny payment if the patient's diagnosis upon ED discharge appears to reflect a "nonemergency" condition. This approach does not incorporate other clinical factors such as chief complaint that may inform necessity for ED care.