New Synthetic Opioids: Clinical Considerations and Dangers.

Since the early 2010s, synthetic opioids have significantly contributed to overall opioid-related overdose mortalities. For point of reference, of the 68,630 opioid-related deaths recorded in 2020, 56,516 involved synthetic opioids. During much of this period, fentanyl has been the most commonly used synthetic opioid.

Historical Pathways for Opioid Addiction, Withdrawal with Traditional and Alternative Treatment Options with Ketamine, Cannabinoids, and Noribogaine: A Narrative Review.

Even as prescription opioid dispensing rates have begun to decrease, the use of illicit opioids such as heroin and fentanyl has increased. Thus, the end of the opioid epidemic is not in sight, and treating patients that are addicted to opioids remains of utmost importance. Currently, the primary pharmacotherapies used to treat opioid addiction over the long term are the opioid antagonist naltrexone, the partial-agonist buprenorphine, and the full agonist methadone.

Vasectomy Regret or Lack Thereof.

Background: Vasectomy is a procedure that results in permanent yet reversible sterility and remains a great contraceptive option for many. Previous research studies have highlighted frequency of vasectomy utilization, defining characteristics of individuals who opt for this method, various surgical techniques, and the risks and benefits associated with the procedure. What remains to be defined is why or why not individuals may experience post-vasectomy regret and whether the previous characteristics correlate.

Coupling plant litter quantity to a novel metric for litter quality explains C storage changes in a thawing permafrost peatland.

Permafrost thaw is a major potential feedback source to climate change as it can drive the increased release of greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO ) and methane (CH ). This carbon release from the decomposition of thawing soil organic material can be mitigated by increased net primary productivity (NPP) caused by warming, increasing atmospheric CO , and plant community transition. However, the net effect on C storage also depends on how these plant community changes alter plant litter quantity, quality, and decomposition rates.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice: Impact on Emergency Department Blood Culture Contamination.

Purpose/objectives: Blood culture collection is a common procedure performed in emergency departments. Rate of blood culture contamination is a metric that is tracked by organizations to ensure appropriate treatment for patients suspected of having bacteremia and ensure appropriate use of hospital resources. A team of nurses and technicians undertook a quality improvement project to decrease blood culture contamination rates in a suburban emergency department.

PrEP Communications Accelerator: a digital demand creation tool for sub-Saharan Africa.

Unlabelled: Background Strategic communications are critical for successful market introduction of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This paper focuses on the OPTIONS Consortium's approach to developing the PrEP Communications Accelerator, a digital tool that provides communication strategies and tools for generating demand for PrEP across sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: The PrEP Communications Accelerator was developed through needs assessment, communications landscape and gap analysis, market research and content development and testing.

Tropical peatland carbon storage linked to global latitudinal trends in peat recalcitrance.

Peatlands represent large terrestrial carbon banks. Given that most peat accumulates in boreal regions, where low temperatures and water saturation preserve organic matter, the existence of peat in (sub)tropical regions remains enigmatic. Here we examined peat and plant chemistry across a latitudinal transect from the Arctic to the tropics.

Perspectives related to the potential use of vaginal microbicides among drug-involved women: focus groups in three cities in the United States and Puerto Rico.

HIV transmission through heterosexual contact remains the greatest risk factor for women globally. Topical microbicides applied intravaginally may offer a female-initiated HIV prevention option for many who are unable or unwilling to use male condoms or who would want additional protection. This article presents results of focus groups in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, with women who use crack or heroin or have male partners who inject illegal drugs.