How do restrictions on opioid prescribing, harm reduction, and treatment coverage policies relate to opioid overdose deaths in the United States in 2013-2020? An application of a new state opioid policy scale.

Background: Identifying the most effective state laws and provisions to reduce opioid overdose deaths remains critical.

Methods: Using expert ratings of opioid laws, we developed annual state scores for three domains: opioid prescribing restrictions, harm reduction, and Medicaid treatment coverage. We modeled associations of state opioid policy domain scores with opioid-involved overdose death counts in 3133 counties, and among racial/ethnic subgroups in 1485 counties (2013-2020).

Geometrically constrained cytoskeletal reorganisation modulates DNA nanostructures uptake.

DNA nanostructures (DNs) have gained popularity in various biomedical applications due to their unique properties, including structural programmability, ease of synthesis and functionalization, and low cytotoxicity. Effective utilization of DNs in biomedical applications requires a fundamental understanding of their interactions with living cells and the mechanics of cellular uptake. Current knowledge primarily focuses on how the physicochemical properties of DNs, such as mass, shape, size, and surface functionalization, affect uptake efficacy.

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Pre-Existing Essential Tremor After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background/objectives: Although COVID-19 has been linked to worse outcomes in patients with neurological disorders, its impact on those with essential tremor (ET) remains unclear. To investigate clinical outcomes of ET patients with and without COVID-19 three and a half years post-pandemic.

Methods: 1074 ET patients were evaluated in this retrospective study in the Montefiore Health System from January 2016 to July 2023.

A standardized care pathway increases optimal dialysis starts.

Objective:  To determine whether an intensive value-based care educational program that includes a standardized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) transition pathway would improve the number of optimal starts within Kidney Contracting Entities (KCEs).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods:  We recorded optimal starts, defined as the initiation of dialysis without a central venous catheter, and the initial modality type (hemodialysis vs peritoneal dialysis [PD]) in adult Medicare patients in a Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting program.