Cannabis use frequency and pain interference among people with HIV.

Cannabis is often used by people with HIV (PWH) for pain, yet study results are inconsistent regarding whether and how it affects pain. This study examines whether greater cannabis use frequency is associated with lower pain interference and whether cannabis use modifies the association of pain severity and pain interference among 134 PWH with substance dependence or a lifetime history of injection drug use. Multi-variable linear regression models examined the association between past 30-day cannabis use frequency and pain interference.

The effects of acute alcohol administration on circulating endocannabinoid levels in humans.

Several lines of evidence suggest that endocannabinoid signalling may influence alcohol consumption. Preclinical studies have found that pharmacological blockade of cannabinoid receptor 1 leads to reductions in alcohol intake. Furthermore, variations in endocannabinoid metabolism between individuals may be associated with the presence and severity of alcohol use disorder.

Elevated stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 activity is associated with alcohol-associated liver disease.

Chronic binge drinking induces hepatic lipid accumulation, but only certain individuals develop alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Specific patterns of lipid accumulation are thought to be associated with ALD, but this has not been comprehensively investigated to date. We analyzed plasma fatty acid levels, quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in a sample of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Impact of chronic illness on functional outcomes and quality of life among injured older adults.

Introduction: Trauma care for injured older adults is complicated by pre-existing chronic illness. We examined the association between chronic illness and post-injury function, healthcare utilization and quality of life.

Methods: Trauma patients ≥65 years with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9 discharged from one of three level-1 trauma centers were interviewed 6-12 months post-discharge.

The OPRM1 A118G polymorphism: converging evidence against associations with alcohol sensitivity and consumption.

The endogenous opioid system may be involved in the development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and is a target for existing AUD pharmacotherapies. A functional polymorphism of the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1 A118G, rs1799971) may alter the risk of developing AUD. Human laboratory studies have demonstrated that minor allele carriers self-administer more alcohol, show greater sensitivity to alcohol's effects, and exhibit increased alcohol-induced dopamine release.