Gamer's Thrombosis: A Review of Published Reports.

Thrombosis, well known as a condition of the elderly, is occurring in the otherwise healthy adolescent population. Immobility is a significant risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and adolescents who play video games are immobile for extended periods of time. Some are presenting with VTE.

Treating Non-fentanyl-derived Synthetic Opioid Overdose with a Traditional Opioid Reversal Agent.

As the opioid crisis in the United States continues to grow, non-fentanyl-derived synthetic opioids (NSOs) are growing in both availability and popularity. NSO use comes with considerable risk including a high potential for both abuse and overdose. In this editorial, we review the consequences of overdose with the NSOs U-47700 and butyrfentanyl (BF) and the potential for the use of naloxone as a treatment for such instances.

Systematic review of the clinical consequences of butyrfentanyl and corresponding analogues.

Butyrfentanyl and its analogues are being increasingly used throughout the United States and Europe. Currently, lethal cases are emerging across the United States, England, and Europe without any end in sight. We therefore performed a systematic review of existing case reports on the literature of butyrfentanyl and similar analogs.

Optimizing Patient Outcomes with PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for the First-Line Treatment of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

The rapidly expanding repertoire of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) now includes two agents, pembrolizumab and atezolizumab, approved for first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) as monotherapy or as part of chemoimmunotherapy. This review summarizes the clinical evidence supporting these indications, with a focus on strategies to optimize patient outcomes. These strategies include patient and tumor factors, adverse-effect profiles, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions, and quality of life and cost-effectiveness considerations.

The Road to a Hypoglycemic Care Model.

Hypoglycemia is a modifiable condition that causes mortality and readmission rates to increase in a hospital setting. The condition is worsened by its complications, quick onset, and an absence of a protocol mapped out by hospitals. This complication does not come from one origin, but rather from a range of barriers.

The Relationship of UGT2B15 Pharmacogenetics and Lorazepam for Anxiety.

Anxiety affects over 260 million people worldwide. Benzodiazepines are a class of agents used in combination with other therapies for the management of anxiety. Lorazepam is a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine metabolized by uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases.

Evaluation of Factors which Influence Mortality in Gram-positive Bacteremia in Hemodialysis Patients.

Vascular access infection is one of the major contributors to hemodialysis (HD) patient morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of consensus guidelines on vancomycin use in the HD population. The primary objective of this study was to determine if vancomycin serum concentrations were associated with positive outcomes in HD patients with Gram-positive bacteremia.

A Review of the Opioid Analgesic Benzhydrocodone-Acetaminophen.

There is an undeniable opioid crisis in the United States that has caused significant negative consequences including many lives lost due to opioid overdoses. Currently, researchers are searching for alternatives for pain management as well as developing abuse-deterrent agents. In February 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved benzhydrocodone and acetaminophen (Apadaz™) for the short-term (no more than 14 days) management of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and where alternative treatments are inadequate.

Putting Out the Fire: The Relationship of Pharmacogenetics and Proton Pump Inhibitors for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a mainstay treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and are mainly metabolized by CYP2C19 in the liver. However, several polymorphisms of CYP2C19 exist that affect the metabolism of PPIs. Due to the large variability of PPI pharmacokinetics among the polymorphisms, this has implications in the management of patients with refractory GERD who may be potentially undertreated.

An Unnecessary Pain: Using Pharmacogenetics for Statin-related Skeletal Muscle Toxicity.

Statins are an important class of medications in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events as well as overall mortality. However, a well-known adverse effect of statins is skeletal muscle toxicity, which may lead to abrupt discontinuation of the statin. In turn, patients may miss out on the benefits of statin therapy.

AH-7921: A review of previously published reports.

AH-7921 is a synthetic opioid that was developed in the early 1970s. It has resulted in several fatal and nonfatal intoxications, despite not having approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. To date, AH-7921 is listed as a schedule I drug, and there have been no clinical trials exploring the safety of AH-7921.

Pain Perception and the Opioid Receptor Delta 1.

Genetic factors play an integral role in the perception of pain, and studies have only recently begun to explore the degree to which these factors affect clinical decisions. The process of prescribing opioids is greatly influenced by an individual's pain perception, which can vary based on several factors including genetic variation. Opioid receptor delta 1 (OPRD1) plays a significant role in the perception of both pain and its relief via opioids, and it shows significant variability between individuals.

Addressing Hazards from Unscheduled Novel Psychoactive Substances as Research Chemicals: The Case of U-50488.

Increased experimentation with easily accessible synthetic opioids is posing a hazard to the public. We discuss one such synthetic opioid, U-50488. Much is unknown about U-50488; however, due to its structural similarity to U-47700, there is possible risk associated with its use.

U-47700: An Emerging Threat.

Illicit opioid use continues to be an ever-growing problem in the United States. The rise of synthetic opioids is an emerging threat that is beginning to draw attention over the past few years. Herein, we present an overview of the rise of a synthetic opioid known as U-47700.

Interprofessional education and distance education: A review and appraisal of the current literature.

Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) is becoming essential for students and healthcare professionals. An evolving approach to implement it is via distance education. Distance education can provide a viable solution to deliver IPE in a variety of settings.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase A1298C Polymorphism and Major Depressive Disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disorder that carries significant psychosocial and economic implications. Research efforts have focused on identifying biomarkers that can aid in the prediction, diagnosis, and efficacious treatment of MDD. Most of this focus has been placed on a polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase () gene, C677T.

On the Horizon: The Synthetic Opioid U-49900.

Synthetic opioid use continues to be a problem in the United States. New designer opioids continue to be released as "research chemicals" by vendors, leading to widespread use and potentially devastating consequences. U-49900 is a new synthetic opioid with limited clinical data available.

To Dab or Not to Dab: Rising Concerns Regarding the Toxicity of Cannabis Concentrates.

Cannabis use is steadily rising in the United States. As the popularity of marijuana rises, new varieties of cannabis-related products are becoming available. Dabs are cannabis concentrates gaining notoriety for their significant amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that are ultimately vaporized and inhaled for their effect.

Correction to: Continuous Infusion Versus Intermittent Bolus of Beta-Lactams in Critically Ill Patients with Respiratory Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Unfortunately, ≥ was found missing between scores and 20 in conclusion section of the online published article. The original article was corrected.

Continuous Infusion Versus Intermittent Bolus of Beta-Lactams in Critically Ill Patients with Respiratory Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Critically ill patients display altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and are more likely to be infected with more resistant pathogens. Beta-lactam antibiotics exhibit time-dependent pharmacodynamics; therefore, it is postulated that continuous infusion (CI) may optimize these parameters.

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature comparing CI versus intermittent bolus (IB) of beta-lactam antibiotics in critically ill adult patients with respiratory infections to determine if clinical benefits exist.

The Current Landscape of Marijuana and Pharmacogenetics.

The treatment of medical conditions with cannabis and cannabinoid compounds is advancing. Although there are numerous reports related to the genetic variations of the cannabinoid receptor, a lack of studies that examine the relationship between other pharmacogenetic markers and health outcomes currently exists. Herein, we advocate for the legalization of marijuana in the United States in order to perform more randomized controlled trials to help elucidate the role of other pharmacogenetic targets and cannabis for use in clinical practice.

U-47700: A Clinical Review of the Literature.

Background: U-47700 is a synthetic opioid developed by The Upjohn Company in the 1970s, which has recently appeared in the news and medical literature due to its toxicity. Currently, there are no clinical trial data assessing the safety of U-47700.

Objective: To describe the signs and symptoms of ingestion, laboratory testing, and treatment modalities for U-47700 intoxication.

Retrospective comparison of low molecular weight heparin vs. warfarin vs. oral Xa inhibitors for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism in oncology patients: The Re-CLOT study.

Background There is increasing evidence indicating oral factor Xa inhibitors can be used for secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism. Studies are needed to compare oral factor Xa inhibitors, low molecular weight heparins, and warfarin in the oncology population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the recurrent venous thromboembolism incidence in oncology patients utilizing oral Xa inhibitors, low molecular weight heparins, or warfarin.