RNA sequencing steps toward the first line

• DNA is the sequence that codes for proteins.
• Messenger RNA is transcribed from the DNA sequence of genes and translated into protein.
• It can be difficult to predict how a change in the DNA sequence will affect messenger RNA and protein quantity and quality.
• DNA translocation changes can cause the joining of sequences from two different genes or different parts of the same gene.
• DNA sequencing is often used clinically to predict how DNA changes might affect proteins.
• Alternatively, RNA sequencing can be used as a more direct measure of the effect of DNA changes on the protein products.
• This sequencing is important for identifying changes in cancer that may indicate response to targeted therapy, prognosis, or diagnosis.

     

The Role of Colchicine in Treating Postoperative and Post-catheter Ablation Atrial Fibrillation

Purpose

The goal of this review was to summarize, analyze, and compare trials studying the efficacy of colchicine in the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) post-operatively (POAF) and post–catheter ablation. Ongoing studies and current guidelines are also presented and reviewed.

Adoption of the 275-patient buprenorphine treatment waiver for treating opioid use disorder: A state-level longitudinal analysis

Abstract

Background: Increasing access to buprenorphine treatment is a critical tool for addressing the opioid epidemic in the United States. In 2016, a federal policy change allowed physicians who meet specific requirements to treat up to 275 concurrent buprenorphine patients. This study examines state-level measures of buprenorphine treatment supply over 21?months since this policy change and estimates associations between the supply of 275-patient waivers and state characteristics. Methods: Monthly state-level measures of the number of physicians holding the 275-patient waiver per 100,000 residents were constructed from September 2016 to May 2018 using the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Controlled Substance Act database. State characteristics were obtained from publicly available sources. Mixed-effects regression models were estimated to examine change over time. Results: During the 21-month period, the number of physicians waivered to treat 275 patients increased from 153 to 4009 physicians. The mean supply of 275-patient physicians per 100,000 state residents significantly increased from 0.07 (SD?=?0.21) in September 2016 to 1.43 (SD?=?1.08) in May 2018 (t?=??9.84, df?=?50, P?<?.001). The final mixed-effects regression model indicated that Census division and the preexisting supply of 100-patient waivered physicians were correlated with the rate of growth in 275-patient waivers over the study period. Conclusions: Although uptake of the 275-patient waiver has exceeded initial projections, growth is uneven across the United States. Unequal patterns of growth pose a challenge to efforts to increase treatment availability as a means of addressing the opioid epidemic.     

Rapid antidepressant effect of S-ketamine in schizophrenia

Rapid anti-suicidal and antidepressant effects of ketamine have repeatedly been confirmed in unipolar and bipolar depression. Although meaningful antidepressant efficacy of ketamine has also been shown in depressed patients with a history of psychotic symptoms, its administration in psychotic disorders has largely been neglected due to its potential to exacerbate dissociative or psychotic symptoms. Presenting a case of a young female inpatient suffering from schizophrenia with a severe post-psychotic depression, we demonstrate a robust anti-suicidal and antidepressant effect of S-ketamine infusions administered thrice weekly for 3 weeks in total. Importantly, no relevant psychotic or dissociative symptoms occurred during the whole augmentation treatment period leading to a sustained remission of depressive symptoms and suicidality. Our safe and effective experience with intravenous S-ketamine might encourage researchers and clinicians to widen its administration range beyond the diagnosis of depression to enrich the current knowledge of ketamine effects in psychotic disorders.