Individual and prescription level factors associated with overdose in opioid naïve older people.

Background: Opioid naïve older adults may be at risk of overdose after receiving an initial opioid prescription.

Methods: This population-based cohort study from a linked dataset of patients in Oregon, linking all payer claims data to other administrative datasets, aimed to assess the prescription- and patient-level characteristics associated with increased odds of opioid overdose after an initial opioid prescription. Included patients were ≥65 years old and received an index pain-formulation opioid prescription between 2016 and 2019.

Profiles of Nonpharmacologic Treatment Receipt in the First 10 Weeks Following a New Back Pain Diagnosis Among Active Duty Soldiers: A Latent Class Analysis.

Introduction: US service members experience high rates of back pain. Guidelines prioritize nonpharmacologic treatment (NPT) as first-line pain treatments; however, NPT utilization patterns research is limited. This study examined NPT patterns of care within the first 10 weeks following an index back pain diagnosis.

Production of GcMAF with Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Its Effect on Models of Induced Arthritis in Mice and Cystitis in Rats.

Vitamin D transporter (DBP) is a multifunctional protein. Site-specific deglycosylation results in its conversion to group-specific component protein-derived macrophage activating factor (GcMAF), which is capable of activating macrophages. It has been shown that depending on precursor conversion conditions, the resulting GcMAF activates mouse peritoneal macrophages towards synthesis of either pro- (IL-1β, TNF-α-M1 phenotype) or anti-inflammatory (TGF-β, IL-10-M2 phenotype) cytokines.

Relationship of hub and treatment characteristics with client outcomes in the initial Washington State hub and spoke cohort.

Introduction: Washington State's Hub and Spoke (HS) approach aims to improve availability of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Washington initially funded six hubs with expertise in medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) that built care networks with referral and treatment partners (spokes). We assessed outcomes for the initial HS cohort, considering the role of HS and treatment characteristics.

Opioid Overdose After Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Initiation Following Hospitalization or ED Visit.

Importance: Hospitalizations related to opioid use disorder (OUD) represent an opportunity to initiate medication for OUD (MOUD).

Objective: To assess whether starting MOUD after a hospitalization or emergency department (ED) visit is associated with the odds of fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose at 6 and 12 months.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cohort study used data from the Oregon Comprehensive Opioid Risk Registry, which links all payer claims data to other administrative health datasets, for individuals aged 18 years or older who had diagnosis codes related to OUD recorded at an index ED visit or hospitalization from January 2017 to December 2019.

Impact of High-Fat Diet and Exercise on Bone and Bile Acid Metabolism in Rats.

Bile acids help facilitate intestinal lipid absorption and have endocrine activity in glucose, lipid and bone metabolism. Obesity and exercise influence bile acid metabolism and have opposite effects in bone. This study investigates if regular exercise helps mitigate the adverse effects of obesity on bone, potentially by reversing alterations in bile acid metabolism.

Association of Disability Status and Type With Binge Drinking and Prescription Opioid Misuse Among Adults From a 3-State Sample.

Background: Research examining at-risk substance use by disability status is limited, with little investigation into differences by disability type. We investigated binge drinking and prescription opioid misuse among adults with and without disabilities, and by type of disability, to inform need for assessment and intervention within these populations.

Methods: Secondary analyses of adults who completed the disability, alcohol, and prescription opioid misuse items in the 2018 Ohio, Florida, or Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys (n = 28 341), the only states that included prescription opioid misuse in 2018.

The Macrophage Activator GcMAF-RF Enhances the Antitumor Effect of Karanahan Technology through Induction of M2-M1 Macrophage Reprogramming.

Macrophages are the immune cells of high-immunological plasticity, which can exert both pro- and anti-inflammatory activity, as well as repolarize their phenotype to the opposite or neutral one. In this regard, M2 macrophages of the tumor-associated stroma (TAS) are a promising therapeutic target in treating malignant neoplasms. Using FACS assay, we have estimated the CD11b+/Ly-6G+/Ly-6C+ fraction of macrophages from the peritoneum and TAS in intact healthy mice and those with developed Lewis carcinoma, both untreated and treated according to Karanahan technology in combination with group-specific macrophage activator (GcMAF-RF).

Unraveling frontiers in poultry health (part 1) - Mitigating economically important viral and bacterial diseases in commercial Chicken and Turkey production.

This symposium offered up-to-date perspectives on field experiences and the latest research on significant viral and bacterial diseases affecting poultry. A highlight was the discussion on the use of enteroids as advanced in vitro models for exploring disease pathogenesis. Outcomes of this symposium included identifying the urgent need to improve the prevention and control of avian influenza by focusing research on vaccine effectiveness.

Expanding access to medication treatment for opioid use disorders: Findings from the Washington State hub and spoke effort.

Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a leading cause of preventable death and injury nationwide. Efforts to increase the use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are needed. In 2017, Washington State implemented a Hub and Spoke (HS) model of care with the primary goal of expanding access to MOUD.

The Molecular Aspects of Functional Activity of Macrophage-Activating Factor GcMAF.

Group-specific component macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) is the vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) deglycosylated at Thr. The protein is believed to exhibit a wide range of therapeutic properties associated with the activation of macrophagal immunity. An original method for GcMAF production, DBP conversion to GcMAF, and the analysis of the activating potency of GcMAF was developed in this study.

Clinician approaches to new spine pain cases in primary care: Balance of opioid prescribing and early linkage to exercise therapy and spinal manipulation.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Spine pain (SP) is common and often disabling. Clinical practice guidelines discourage opioid treatment and outline the value of varied nonpharmacologic therapies (NPTs). This study elucidates the amount of variability in primary-care clinicians' (PCPs') prescribing of opioids and in their cases' receipt of the two most common NPTs (exercise therapy and spinal manipulation).

The association between community social vulnerability and prescription opioid availability with individual opioid overdose.

Background: This study aims to assess the association of community social vulnerability and community prescription opioid availability with individual non-fatal or fatal opioid overdose.

Methods: We identified patients 12 years of age or older from the Oregon All Payer Claims database (APCD) linked to other public health datasets. Community-level characteristics were captured in an exposure period (EP) (1/1/2018-12/31/2018) and included: census tract-level social vulnerability domains (socio-economic status, household composition, racial and ethnic minority status, and housing type and transportation), census tract-level prescriptions and community-level opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnoses per 100 capita binned into quartiles or quintiles.

Healthcare utilization and readiness outcomes among soldiers with post-deployment at-risk drinking, by multimorbidity class.

Although alcohol use disorder (AUD) regularly co-occurs with other conditions, there has not been investigation of specific multimorbidity classes among military members with at-risk alcohol use. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to cluster 138,929 soldiers with post-deployment at-risk drinking based on their co-occurring psychological and physical health conditions and indicators of alcohol severity. We examined the association of these multimorbidity classes with healthcare utilization and military readiness outcomes.

Antitumor efficacy of multi-target vaccinations with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, anti-OX40, anti-PD1 antibodies, and aptamers.

To overcome immune tolerance to cancer, the immune system needs to be exposed to a multi-target action intervention. Here, we investigated the activating effect of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), mesyl phosphoramidate CpG ODNs, anti-OX40 antibodies, and OX40 RNA aptamers on major populations of immunocompetent cells . Comparative analysis of the antitumor effects of vaccination with CpG ODNs and anti-OX40 antibodies, as well as several other combinations, such as mesyl phosphoramidate CpG ODNs and OX40 RNA aptamers, was conducted.

Association of Household Opioid Availability With Opioid Overdose.

Importance: Previous studies that examined the role of household opioid prescriptions in opioid overdose risk were limited to commercial claims, did not include fatal overdoses, and had limited inclusion of household prescription characteristics. Broader research is needed to expand understanding of the risk of overdose.

Objective: To assess the role of household opioid availability and other household prescription factors associated with individuals' odds of fatal or nonfatal opioid overdose.

Impact of Double-Stranded RNA Internalization on Hematopoietic Progenitors and Krebs-2 Cells and Mechanism.

It is well-established that double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) exhibits noticeable radioprotective and radiotherapeutic effects. The experiments conducted in this study directly demonstrated that dsRNA was delivered into the cell in its native form and that it induced hematopoietic progenitor proliferation. The 68 bp synthetic dsRNA labeled with 6-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) was internalized into mouse hematopoietic progenitors, c-Kit+ (a marker of long-term hematopoietic stem cells) cells and CD34+ (a marker of short-term hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitors) cells.

The New General Biological Property of Stem-like Tumor Cells (Part II: Surface Molecules, Which Belongs to Distinctive Groups with Particular Functions, Form a Unique Pattern Characteristic of a Certain Type of Tumor Stem-like Cells).

An ability of poorly differentiated cells of different genesis, including tumor stem-like cells (TSCs), to internalize extracellular double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) fragments was revealed in our studies. Using the models of Krebs-2 murine ascites carcinoma and EBV-induced human B-cell lymphoma culture, we demonstrated that dsDNA internalization into the cell consists of several mechanistically distinct phases. The primary contact with cell membrane factors is determined by electrostatic interactions.

Psychometric Performance of the SF-6D Quality of Life Measure in an Outpatient Population with Bipolar Disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder is among the top 10 causes of disability worldwide. The Short-Form Six-Dimension (SF-6D) is a frequently used measure of preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, this measure's psychometric performance has not been tested in outpatient patients with bipolar disorder.

A Spatial Examination of COVID-19 Policies among Missouri School Districts.

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, school district administrators in the United States were faced with difficult decisions regarding the implementation of virtual or in-person learning to reduce risk of infection throughout student and staff populations. While a coordinated effort with surrounding districts would be most beneficial when encountering a highly infectious respiratory-based infectious disease, the determinants of type of education delivery is unclear.

Methods: Data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education assessing education delivery method at each school district across the state of Missouri (n = 514) from August 2020 were used.

Can clinician champions reduce potentially inappropriate medications in people living with dementia? Study protocol for a cluster randomized trial.

Background: For people living with dementia (PLWD) the overuse of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) remains a persistent problem. De-prescribing trials in the elderly have mixed results. Clinician champions may be uniquely suited to lead efforts to address this challenge.

The new general biological property of stem-like tumor cells Part I. Peculiarities of the process of the double-stranded DNA fragments internalization into stem-like tumor cells.

Stem-like tumor cells of ascites carcinoma Krebs-2 and Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-lymphoma were shown to possess the innate capability of binding and internalizing the TAMRA-labeled double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) probe. The process of binding and internalizing is rather complicated and composed of the following successive stages: 1) initiating electrostatic interaction and contact of a negatively charged dsDNA molecule with a positively charged molecule(s) on the surface of a stem-like tumor cell; 2) binding of the dsDNA probe to a tumor stem cell surface protein(s) the formation of a strong chemical/molecular bond; and 3) the very internalization of dsDNA into the cell. Binding of DNA to cell surface proteins is determined by the presence of heparin/polyanion-binding sites within the protein structure, which can be competitively blocked by heparin and/or dextran sulfate, wherein heparin blocks only the binding, while dextran sulfate abrogates both binding and internalization.

Analysis of the Biological Properties of Blood Plasma Protein with GcMAF Functional Activity.

The main problem related to the studies focusing on group-specific component protein-derived macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) is the lack of clarity about changes occurring in different types of macrophages and related changes in their properties under the effect of GcMAF in various clinical conditions. We analyzed the antitumor therapeutic properties of GcMAF in a Lewis carcinoma model in two clinical conditions: untreated tumor lesion and tumor resorption after exposure to Karanahan therapy. GcMAF is formed during site-specific deglycosylation of vitamin D3 binding protein (DBP).