Sex Differences in Prevalence of Emergency Department Patient Substance Use

Purpose

Substance use and misuse is prevalent in emergency department (ED) populations. While the prevalence of substance use and misuse is reported, sex-specific trends in ED populations have not been documented. We set out to determine the sex-specific prevalence of ED patient substance use during this current epidemic.

Suicidal ideation is associated with nighttime wakefulness in a community sample

Study ObjectivesNocturnal wakefulness is a risk factor for suicide and suicidal ideation in clinical populations. However, these results have not been demonstrated in general community samples or compared to sleep duration or sleep quality. The present study explored how the timing of wakefulness was associated with suicidal ideation for weekdays and weekends.MethodsData were collected from 888 adults aged 22–60 as part of the Sleep and Healthy Activity, Diet, Environment, and Socialization study. Suicidal ideation was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, while timing of wakefulness was estimated from the Sleep Timing Questionnaire. Binomial logistic regressions estimated the association between nocturnal (11 pm–5 am) and morning (5 am–11 am) wakefulness and suicidal ideation.ResultsNocturnal wakefulness was positively associated with suicidal ideation on weekdays (OR: 1.44 [1.28–1.64] per hour awake between 11:00 pm and 05:00 am, p < 0.0001) and weekends (OR: 1.22 [1.08–1.39], p = 0.0018). Morning wakefulness was negatively associated with suicidal ideation on weekdays (OR: 0.82 [0.72–0.92] per hour awake between 05:00 am and 11:00 am, p = 0.0008) and weekends (OR: 0.84 [0.75–0.94], p = 0.0035). These associations remained significant when adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Additionally, nocturnal wakefulness on weekdays was associated with suicidal ideation when accounting for insomnia, sleep duration, sleep quality, and chronotype (OR 1.25 [1.09–1.44] per hour awake, p = 0.002).ConclusionWakefulness at night was consistently associated with suicidal ideation. Additionally, morning wakefulness was negatively associated with suicidal ideation in some models. Although these findings are drawn from a non-clinical sample, larger longitudinal studies in the general population are needed to confirm these results.     

Interpersonal profiles in major depressive disorder

Although patients with mood disorders report interpersonal difficulties in addition to depression or anxiety, few studies have examined interpersonal patterns in those patients. Here the authors' goals were to (a) identify the interpersonal pattern in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), (b) determine interpersonal differences between subgroups of MDD patients, and (c) examine the interpersonal patterns of comorbid MDD patients. One- hundred forty-one MDD adults participated in an ongoing randomized clinical trial of treatments for depression. Interpersonal profiles revealed that MDD patients were significantly more distressed by interpersonal problems than normative samples. Furthermore, MDD patients with depressive personality disorder reported more interpersonal distress than MDD-only patients report and were more likely to have interpersonal problems related to dominance and control than submissiveness.     

Tumor-induced mechanical hyperalgesia involves CGRP receptors and altered innervation and vascularization of DsRed2 fluorescent hindpaw tumors

Functional and anatomical relationships among primary afferent fibers, blood vessels, and cancers are poorly understood. However, recent evidence suggests that physical and biochemical interactions between these peripheral components are important to both tumor biology and cancer-associated pain. To determine the role of these peripheral components in a mouse model of cancer pain, we quantified the change in nerve and blood vessel density within a fibrosarcoma tumor mass using stereological analysis of serial confocal optical sections of immunostained hind paw. To this end we introduced the Discoma coral-derived red fluorescent protein (DsRed2) into the NCTC 2472 fibrosarcoma line using the Sleeping Beauty transposon methodology, thus providing a unique opportunity to visualize tumor-nerve-vessel associations in context with behavioral assessment of tumor-associated hyperalgesia. Tumors from hyperalgesic mice are more densely innervated with calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers and less densely vascularized than tumors from non-hyperalgesic mice. As hyperalgesia increased from Day 5 to 12 post-implantation, the density of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5)-immunoreactive nerves and CD31-immunoreactive blood vessels in tumors decreased, whereas CGRP-immunoreactive nerve density remained unchanged. Importantly, intra-tumor injection of a CGRP1 receptor antagonist (CGRP 8-37) partially blocked the tumor-associated mechanical hyperalgesia, indicating that local production of CGRP may contribute to tumor-induced nociception through a receptor-mediated process. The results describe for the first time the interaction among sensory nerves, blood vessels and tumor cells in otherwise healthy tissue, and our assessment supports the hypothesis that direct tumor cell-axon communication may underlie, at least in part, the occurrence of cancer pain.     

Double rarity: an unusual case of bromoform poisoning detected by post-mortem radiography

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Bromoform ingestion and toxicity is a rare finding. Historically, bromoform was therapeutically prescribed as a sedative in whooping cough, and accidental...     

Caregiver education and support: results of a multi-site pilot in an HMO

Caregiver workshops were offered to members by a group practice HMO as part of a larger demonstration of adding community care to HMO services. Of 1,200 members indicating interest at four sites, 532 participated in workshops and 320 completed pre- and post-questionnaires on effectiveness. Analyses showed improvements in caregiving preparedness and reductions in sadness and depression. Engagement in the workshops (completing 3 or more sessions) and improvements were more likely for individuals with more independent lives and social capital. Alternative helping strategies are recommended for caregivers who are less likely to engage in classes due to burden or lack of respite or transportation.