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to workir conditioning system on 2004 mit

to workir conditioning system on 2004 mit




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22xi monitors owners manual

22xi monitors owners manual




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242116 001 monitors owners manual

242116 001 monitors owners manual




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Listening to worms wriggle can help us monitor ecosystem health

The noises made by organisms like ants and worms as they move around in the soil can be used to assess whether an ecosystem is in good shape




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New Scientist recommends eight-legged musical instrument Sonic Spider

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week




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Bizarre crystal made only of electrons revealed in astonishing detail

To capture the clearest and most direct images of a “Wigner crystal”, a structure made entirely of electrons, researchers used a special kind of microscope and two pieces of graphene unusually free of imperfections




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Why supersonic, diamond-spewing volcanoes might be coming back to life

Strange volcanoes called kimberlites bring diamonds up from Earth's depths. Scientists have always struggled to understand why they switched off millions of years ago – but perhaps they didn't




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Lakes are losing winter ice cover at an astonishing rate

Fewer lakes are freezing over each winter compared with past years, posing environmental and economic consequences around the world




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War-era sugar rationing boosted health of UK people conceived in 1940s

People conceived during the UK's 1940s and 50s sugar rationing have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure than those conceived after rationing ended




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Ukraine may have been first part of Europe colonised by early humans

Korolevo, a site in Ukraine where early humans made stone tools, has been dated to 1.4 million years ago, suggesting early humans moved from Ukraine into the rest of Europe




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Astonishing images show how female Neanderthal may have looked

The skull of Shanidar Z was found in the Shanidar cave in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and has been painstakingly put back together




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How Does Melatonin Make You Feel, and Are There Side Effects?

Title: How Does Melatonin Make You Feel, and Are There Side Effects?
Category: Health and Living
Created: 7/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/15/2022 12:00:00 AM




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Chronic Media Multi-Tasking Makes It Harder to Focus

Title: Chronic Media Multi-Tasking Makes It Harder to Focus
Category: Health News
Created: 8/24/2009 4:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2009 12:00:00 AM




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More Evidence Virus Plays Role in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Title: More Evidence Virus Plays Role in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2010 6:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2010 12:00:00 AM




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Chronic Drinking Linked to Circadian Disruptions

Title: Chronic Drinking Linked to Circadian Disruptions
Category: Health News
Created: 8/25/2010 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/2010 12:00:00 AM




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Epilepsy Drug Gabapentin Calms Chronic Cough

Title: Epilepsy Drug Gabapentin Calms Chronic Cough
Category: Health News
Created: 8/28/2012 11:01:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/28/2012 12:00:00 AM




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Electronic Cigarettes Have Slight Impact on Heart: Study

Title: Electronic Cigarettes Have Slight Impact on Heart: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 8/27/2012 2:05:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/28/2012 12:00:00 AM




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Health Tip: If Your Child Develops Food Poisoning

Title: Health Tip: If Your Child Develops Food Poisoning
Category: Health News
Created: 8/29/2012 8:05:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2012 12:00:00 AM




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Health Tip: Work Through Chronic Pain

Title: Health Tip: Work Through Chronic Pain
Category: Health News
Created: 8/25/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2016 12:00:00 AM




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Doctors Divided on Safety, Use of Electronic Cigarettes

Title: Doctors Divided on Safety, Use of Electronic Cigarettes
Category: Health News
Created: 8/26/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/2016 12:00:00 AM




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Chronic Illness Can Plunge Young Adults Into Despair

Title: Chronic Illness Can Plunge Young Adults Into Despair
Category: Health News
Created: 8/31/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 9/1/2017 12:00:00 AM




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Monitoring System for Underage Tobacco Sales Falls Short: Study

Title: Monitoring System for Underage Tobacco Sales Falls Short: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 8/29/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/30/2018 12:00:00 AM




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Flu, Pneumonia Vaccines Save Lives of Heart Failure Patients: Study

Title: Flu, Pneumonia Vaccines Save Lives of Heart Failure Patients: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 8/28/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/28/2020 12:00:00 AM




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Are High-Tech Blood Pressure Monitors Really Worth It?

Title: Are High-Tech Blood Pressure Monitors Really Worth It?
Category: Health News
Created: 8/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/16/2022 12:00:00 AM




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Metronidazole (Flagyl) vs. Fluconazole (Diflucan)

Title: Metronidazole (Flagyl) vs. Fluconazole (Diflucan)
Category: Medications
Created: 11/27/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM




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How Do I Increase Serotonin?

Title: How Do I Increase Serotonin?
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 5/24/2021 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/5/2022 12:00:00 AM




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Noninvasive diagnostic modalities and prediction models for detecting pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease: a narrative review

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is highly prevalent in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Widely available noninvasive screening tools are warranted to identify patients at risk for PH, especially severe PH, that could be managed at expert centres. This review summarises current evidence on noninvasive diagnostic modalities and prediction models for the timely detection of PH in patients with ILD. It critically evaluates these approaches and discusses future perspectives in the field. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in PubMed and Scopus, identifying 39 articles that fulfilled inclusion criteria. There is currently no single noninvasive test capable of accurately detecting and diagnosing PH in ILD patients. Estimated right ventricular pressure (RVSP) on Doppler echocardiography remains the single most predictive factor of PH, with other indirect echocardiographic markers increasing its diagnostic accuracy. However, RVSP can be difficult to estimate in patients due to suboptimal views from extensive lung disease. The majority of existing composite scores, including variables obtained from chest computed tomography, pulmonary function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise tests, were derived from retrospective studies, whilst lacking validation in external cohorts. Only two available scores, one based on a stepwise echocardiographic approach and the other on functional parameters, predicted the presence of PH with sufficient accuracy and used a validation cohort. Although several methodological limitations prohibit their generalisability, their use may help physicians to detect PH earlier. Further research on the potential of artificial intelligence may guide a more tailored approach, for timely PH diagnosis.




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Only One Quarter of Family Physicians Are Very Satisfied with Their Electronic Health Records Platform

Two decades into the era of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), the promise of streamlining clinical care, reducing burden, and improving patient outcomes has yet to be realized. A cross-sectional family physician census conducted by the American Board of Family Medicine in 2022 and 2023 included self-reported physician EHR satisfaction. Of the nearly 10,000 responding family physicians, only one-in-four (26.2%) report being very satisfied and one-in-three (33.8%) were not satisfied. These low levels of satisfaction point to the need for greater transparency in the marketplace and pressure to increase user-centric EHR design.




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Impact of COVID-19 on Chronic Ambulatory-Care-Sensitive Condition Emergency Department Use Among Older Adults

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic social distancing requirements encouraged patients to avoid public spaces including in-office health care visits. Ambulatory-care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs) represent conditions that can be managed with quality primary care and when access is limited, these conditions can lead to avoidable emergency department (ED) visits.

Methods:

Using national data on ED visits from 2019 to 2021 in the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey, we examined the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on ACSC ED visits among older adults (aged ≥65).

Results:

The proportion of ED visits among older adults that were for ACSCs increased between 2019 (17.4%) and 2021 (18.5%). The trend in both rural (26.4%–28.6%) and urban areas (15.4%–16.8%) shows a significant jump from 2019 to 2021 (P < .001).

Conclusions:

This rise in ACSC ED use is consistent with a delay in normal primary care during the pandemic.




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Potential Drawbacks of Noninvasive Diagnostic Methods for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The rising obesity epidemic is a phenomenon that has gained increasing attention from health providers and health policy makers. This led to recognition of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (MASLD). The standard for its assessment has been histologic, which is neither practical nor acceptable by patients. Subsequently, a number of noninvasive assessment methods have been developed. However, despite ease of implementation, their confounding variables do hinder their accuracy. Nonetheless, the development of the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and incorporation of other biological parameters has minimized but not eliminated the need for liver biopsy. Imaging methods are useful in evaluation, estimation, and following the progression of steatosis and fibrosis with particular attention to controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and MRI–Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF). The choices for the family physician are broad and rely on tests’ availability, cost, and patient acceptance. Great efforts have been undertaken to produce more robust and novel noninvasive markers that indicate fibrinogenesis directly in an implementable and cost-effective way.




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Clinician-Reported Barriers and Needs for Implementation of Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Background:

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is associated with improved clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial patient health outcomes and is part of the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care. CGM prescription often takes place in endocrinology practices, yet 50% of adults with type 1 diabetes and 90% of all people with type 2 diabetes receive their diabetes care in primary care settings. This study examined primary care clinicians’ perceptions of barriers and resources needed to support CGM use in primary care.

Methods:

This qualitative study used semistructured interviews with primary care clinicians to understand barriers to CGM and resources needed to prescribe. Participants were recruited through practice-based research networks. Rapid qualitative analysis was used to summarize themes from interview findings.

Results:

We conducted interviews with 55 primary care clinicians across 21 states. Participants described CGM benefits for patients with varying levels of diabetes self-management and engagement. Major barriers to prescribing included lack of insurance coverage for CGM costs to patients, and time constraints. Participants identified resources needed to foster CGM prescribing, for example, clinician education, support staff, and EHR compatibility.

Conclusion:

Primary care clinicians face several challenges to prescribing CGM, but they are interested in learning more to help them offer it to their patients. This study reinforces the ongoing need for improved clinician education on CGM technology and continued expansion of insurance coverage for people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.




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Using Primary Health Care Electronic Medical Records to Predict Hospitalizations, Emergency Department Visits, and Mortality: A Systematic Review

Introduction:

High-quality primary care can reduce avoidable emergency department visits and emergency hospitalizations. The availability of electronic medical record (EMR) data and capacities for data storage and processing have created opportunities for predictive analytics. This systematic review examines studies which predict emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and mortality using EMR data from primary care.

Methods:

Six databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, EBM Reviews (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Methodology Register, Health Technology Assessment, NHS Economic Evaluation Database), Scopus, CINAHL) were searched to identify primary peer-reviewed studies in English from inception to February 5, 2020. The search was initially conducted on January 18, 2019, and updated on February 5, 2020.

Results:

A total of 9456 citations were double-reviewed, and 31 studies met the inclusion criteria. The predictive ability measured by C-statistics (ROC) of the best performing models from each study ranged from 0.57 to 0.95. Less than half of the included studies used artificial intelligence methods and only 7 (23%) were externally validated. Age, medical diagnoses, sex, medication use, and prior health service use were the most common predictor variables. Few studies discussed or examined the clinical utility of models.

Conclusions:

This review helps address critical gaps in the literature regarding the potential of primary care EMR data. Despite further work required to address bias and improve the quality and reporting of prediction models, the use of primary care EMR data for predictive analytics holds promise.




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Physician Satisfaction Should Be the Measure of Electronic Health Record Quality for the Nation




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Comparing Highs and Flows in Patients With COPD With Chronic Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure




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Home Respiratory Strategies in Patients With COPD With Chronic Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure

BACKGROUND:Home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) may improve chronic hypercarbia in COPD and patient-important outcomes. The efficacy of home high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) as an alternative is unclear.METHODS:We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov for randomized trials of subjects from inception to March 31, 2023, and updated the search on July 14, 2023. We performed a frequentist network meta-analysis and assessed the certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. We analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NIV, HFNC, or standard care in adult subjects with COPD with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. Outcomes included mortality, COPD exacerbations, hospitalizations, and quality of life (St George Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ]).RESULTS:We analyzed 24 RCTs (1,850 subjects). We found that NIV may reduce the risk of death compared to standard care (relative risk 0.82 [95% CI 0.66–1.00]) and probably reduces exacerbations (relative risk 0.71 [95% CI 0.58–0.87]). HFNC probably reduces exacerbations compared to standard care (relative risk 0.77 [0.68–0.88]), but its effect on mortality is uncertain (relative risk 1.20 [95% CI 0.63–2.28]). HFNC probably improves SGRQ scores (mean difference −7.01 [95% CI −12.27 to −1.77]) and may reduce hospitalizations (relative risk 0.87 [0.69–1.09]) compared to standard care. No significant difference was observed between HFNC and NIV in reducing exacerbations.CONCLUSIONS:Both NIV and HFNC reduce exacerbation risks in subjects with COPD compared to standard care. HFNC may offer advantages in improving quality of life.




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Downstream Effects of Market Changes on Inhalers: Impacts on Individuals With Chronic Lung Disease

COPD and asthma are two of the most common chronic lung diseases, affecting over 545 million people globally and 34 million in the United States. Annual health care costs related to chronic lung disease are estimated at €380 billion in the European Union, and $24–$50 billion in the United States averaging to $4,000 in out-of-pocket costs per person in the U.S. A full-text literature search was conducted for English publications between January 1, 2005–March 18, 2024. It returned over 5,000 publications that were further narrowed using key search words, resulting in 172 peer-reviewed articles. Using their experience and subject expertise, the authors further narrowed the peer-reviewed articles to 55 that were in their opinion relevant. Also, 38 recently published industry reports and news articles specific to downstream effects of inhaler market changes and the future impact were included. The literature suggests that individuals with chronic lung disease face increased challenges with access to inhaled medication due to rising medication costs, discontinuation of branded medications, introduction of generic medications not covered by insurance, exclusionary preferred drug list tactics that force health care providers into non-medical switching of medication or devices, and ongoing medication shortages. Providers experience ongoing hurdles in prescribing appropriate inhaled medications for individuals with chronic lung disease, including increased time and costs spent on administrative tasks due to inhaler denials, a loss of patient trust, and limits on their ability to prescribe appropriate inhaled medication for individuals with chronic lung disease.




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The Impact of Opioid Prescription on the Occurrence and Outcome of Pneumonia: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea

BACKGROUND:Opioids are known to cause respiratory depression, aspiration, and to suppress the immune system. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between short- and long-term opioid use and the occurrence and clinical outcomes of pneumonia in South Korea.METHODS:The data for this population-based retrospective cohort analysis were obtained from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service. The opioid user group consisted of those prescribed opioids in 2016, while the non-user group, who did not receive opioid prescriptions that year, was selected using a 1:1 stratified random sampling method. The opioid users were categorized into short-term (1–89 d) and long-term (≥90 d) users. The primary end point was pneumonia incidence from January 1, 2017–December 31, 2021, with secondary end points including pneumonia-related hospitalizations and mortality rates during the study period.RESULTS:In total, 4,556,606 adults were enrolled (opioid group, 2,070,039). Opioid users had a 3% higher risk of pneumonia and an 11% higher risk of pneumonia requiring hospitalization compared to non-users. Short-term users had a 3% higher risk of pneumonia, and long-term users had a 4% higher risk compared to non-users (P < .001). Additionally, short-term users had an 8% higher risk of hospital-treated pneumonia, and long-term users had a 17% higher risk compared to non-users (P < .001).CONCLUSIONS:Both short- and long-term opioid prescriptions were associated with higher incidences of pneumonia and hospital-treated pneumonia. In addition, long-term opioid prescriptions were linked to higher mortality rates due to pneumonia.




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Effects of Ultrasonic Use on Hearing Loss in Dental Hygienists: A matched pairs design study

Purpose Dental professionals are exposed to hazardous noise levels on a daily basis in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare the hearing status of dental hygienists who utilize ultrasonic scalers in the workplace compared to age-matched control participants (non-dental hygienists) who were not exposed to ultrasonic noise.Methods A convenience sample of nineteen dental hygienists (experimental) and nineteen non-dental hygienists (control) was recruited for this study. A matched pairs design was utilized; participants in each group were matched based on age and gender to eliminate confounding variables. The testing procedure consisted of an audiologist performing a series of auditory tests including otoacoustic emissions test, pure-tone audiometry, and tympanometry on the experimental and control groups.Results In the right ear, there were notable differences from 1000 Hz – 10,000 Hz and in the left ear from 6000 Hz – 10,000 Hz, with higher hearing thresholds in the experimental group of dental hygienists. While 56% of the univariate tests conducted on how many days were worked per week showed statistical significance, the regression line slope indicated those that worked more days had better hearing statuses. The variables for years in practice for dental hygienists, how many of those years were full-time employment, and how many years the dental hygienist had used an ultrasonic scaling device, also had many significant univariate tests for the experimental group only. These variables were more likely to serve as proxies representing true noise exposure. The paired t-test between the groups demonstrated statistically significant differences between the experimental and control group at 9000 Hz in both ears.Conclusion While results from this study demonstrated various qualitative differences in hearing status of the control group (non-dental hygienists) and experimental group (dental hygienists), age was found to be the most critical variable. Furthermore, this data demonstrated differences in hearing status based on various frequencies between dental hygienists and age-matched controls that should be further explored with a larger population.




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Could cough hypersensitivity symptom profile differentiate phenotypes of chronic cough?

Background

Recently, cough reflex hypersensitivity has been proposed as a common underlying feature of chronic cough in adults. However, symptoms and clinical characteristics of cough hypersensitivity have not been studied amongst phenotypes of chronic cough. This study aimed to compare symptom features, such as cough triggers and associated throat sensations, of cough hypersensitivity in patients with asthmatic chronic cough and those with refractory chronic cough (RCC).

Methods

Patients with chronic cough from the Korean Chronic Cough Registry were prospectively evaluated over 6 months. Physicians determined the aetiological diagnosis based on clinical evaluations and responses to treatment at the 6-month follow-up visit. Symptoms of cough hypersensitivity and cough-specific quality of life were assessed using the Cough Hypersensitivity Questionnaire (CHQ) and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), respectively.

Results

The analysis included 280 patients who completed the follow-up: 79 with asthmatic cough (cough variant asthma or eosinophilic bronchitis) and 201 with RCC. Baseline CHQ scores were similar between the groups (8.3±3.7 in asthmatic cough versus 8.9±3.9 in RCC; p=0.215, adjusted for age, sex and LCQ score). There were no significant between-group differences in the LCQ and cough severity Visual Analog Scale scores. Both groups showed a similar negative correlation with LCQ scores (asthmatic cough: r=–0.427, p<0.001; RCC: r=–0.306, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The symptoms of cough hypersensitivity may not distinguish between asthmatic cough and RCC. This suggests that chronic cough is the primary diagnosis in both phenotypes. It indicates a shared mechanism in their cough pathogenesis, despite having potentially different treatable traits.




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The noninvasive ventilation outcomes score in patients requiring NIV for COPD exacerbation without prior evidence of airflow obstruction

Introduction

Exacerbation of COPD complicated by respiratory acidaemia is the commonest indication for noninvasive ventilation (NIV). The NIV outcomes (NIVO) score offers the best estimate of survival for those ventilated. Unfortunately, two-thirds of cases of COPD are unrecognised, and patients may present without COPD having been confirmed by spirometry.

Methods

In the 10-centre NIVO validation study there was no pre-admission spirometry in 111 of 844 consecutive patients (termed "clinical diagnosis" patients). We compared the performance of the NIVO, DECAF and CURB-65 scores for in-hospital mortality in the clinical diagnosis cohort. Usual clinical practice was not influenced, but confirmation of COPD in the year following discharge was captured.

Results

In the clinical diagnosis cohort, in-hospital mortality was 19.8% and rose incrementally across the NIVO risk categories, consistent with the NIVO validation cohort. NIVO showed good discrimination in the clinical diagnosis cohort: area under the receiver operating curve 0.724, versus 0.79 in the NIVO validation cohort. At 1 year after discharge, 41 of 89 clinical diagnosis patients had undertaken diagnostic spirometry; 33 of 41 had confirmation of airflow obstruction (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/(forced) vital capacity <0.7), meaning the diagnosis of COPD was incorrect in 19.5% of cases.

Discussion

These data support the use of the NIVO score in patients with a "clinical diagnosis" of COPD. NIVO can help guide shared decision-making, assess risk-adjusted outcomes by centre and challenge prognostic pessimism. Accurate diagnosis is critical to ensure that acute and long-term treatment is optimised; this study highlights failings in the follow-up of such patients.




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Reassessing Halm's clinical stability criteria in community-acquired pneumonia management

Background

Halm's clinical stability criteria have long guided antibiotic treatment and hospital discharge decisions for patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Originally introduced in 1998, these criteria were established based on a relatively small and select patient population. Consequently, our study aims to reassess their applicability in the management of CAP in a contemporary real-world setting.

Methods

This cohort study included 2918 immunocompetent patients hospitalised with CAP from three hospitals in Denmark between 2017 and 2020. The primary outcome was time to achieve clinical stability as defined by Halm's criteria. Additionally, we examined recurrence of clinical instability and severe complications. Cumulative incidence function or Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to analyse these outcomes, considering competing risks.

Results

The study population primarily comprised elderly individuals (median age 75 years) with significant comorbidities. The median time to clinical stability according to Halm's criteria was 4 days, with one-fifth experiencing recurrence of instability after early clinical response (stability within 3 days). Severe complications within 30 days mainly comprised mortality, with rates of 5.1% (64/1257) overall in those with early clinical response, 1.7% (18/1045) in the subgroup without do-not-resuscitate orders and 17.3% (276/1595) among the rest.

Conclusion

Halm's clinical stability criteria effectively classify CAP patients with different disease courses, yet achieving stability required more time in this ageing population with substantial comorbidities and more severe disease. Early clinical response indicates reduced risk of complications, especially in those without do-not-resuscitate orders.




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Characterizing the Distribution of a Stimulator of Interferon Genes Agonist and Its Metabolites in Mouse Liver by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Imaging Mass Spectrometry [Special Section on New and Emerging Areas and Technologies in Drug Met

A STING (stimulator of interferon genes) agonist GSK3996915 under investigation in early discovery for hepatitis B was orally dosed to a mouse model for understanding the parent drug distribution in liver, the target organ. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) was used to quantify the distribution of GSK3996915 in liver collected from mice administered a single oral dose at 90 mg/kg. GSK3996915 was detected with a zonal distribution localized in the portal triad and highly concentrated in the main bile ducts, indicating clearance through biliary excretion. High spatial resolution imaging showed the distribution of the parent drug localized to the cellular populations in the sinusoids, including the Kupffer cells. Additionally, a series of drug-related metabolites were observed to be localized in the central zones of the liver. These results exemplify the potential of utilizing MALDI IMS for measuring not only quantitative drug distribution and target exposure but also drug metabolism and elimination in a single suite of experiments.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

An integrated imaging approach utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) complemented with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and histology was used to address the question of target exposure at the cellular level. Localized quantification of the parent drug in the target organ and identification of potential metabolites in the context of tissue histology were also achieved in one experimental suite to support characterization of pharmacokinetic properties of the drug in the early discovery stage.:




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Simplified Method for Kinetic and Thermodynamic Screening of Cardiotonic Steroids through the K+-Dependent Phosphatase Activity of Na+/K+-ATPase with Chromogenic pNPP Substrate [Article]

The antitumor effect of cardiotonic steroids (CTS) has stimulated the search for new methods to evaluate both kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of their binding to Na+/K+-ATPase (IUBMB Enzyme Nomenclature). We propose a real-time assay based on a chromogenic substrate for phosphatase activity (pNPPase activity), using only two concentrations with an inhibitory progression curve, to obtain the association rate (kon), dissociation rate (koff), and equilibrium (Ki) constants of CTS for the structure-kinetics relationship in drug screening. We show that changing conditions (from ATPase to pNPPase activity) resulted in an increase of Ki of the cardenolides digitoxigenin, essentially due to a reduction of kon. In contrast, the Ki of the structurally related bufadienolide bufalin increased much less due to the reduction of its koff partially compensating the decrease of its kon. When evaluating the kinetics of 15 natural and semisynthetic CTS, we observed that both kon and koff correlated with Ki (Spearman test), suggesting that differences in potency depend on variations of both kon and koff. A rhamnose in C3 of the steroidal nucleus enhanced the inhibitory potency by a reduction of koff rather than an increase of kon. Raising the temperature did not alter the koff of digitoxin, generating a H (koff) of –10.4 ± 4.3 kJ/mol, suggesting a complex dissociation mechanism. Based on a simple and inexpensive methodology, we determined the values of kon, koff, and Ki of the CTS and provided original kinetics and thermodynamics differences between CTS that could help the design of new compounds.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

This study describes a fast, simple, and cost-effective method for the measurement of phosphatase pNPPase activity enabling structure-kinetics relationships of Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitors, which are important compounds due to their antitumor effect and endogenous role. Using 15 compounds, some of them original, this study was able to delineate the kinetics and/or thermodynamics differences due to the type of sugar and lactone ring present in the steroid structure.




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Arachidonic Acid Directly Activates the Human DP2 Receptor [Article]

Aberrant type 2 inflammatory responses are the underlying cause of the pathophysiology of allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, and other atopic diseases, with an alarming prevalence in relevant parts of the Western world. A bulk of evidence points out the important role of the DP2 receptor in these inflammation processes. A screening of different polyunsaturated fatty acids at a fluorescence resonance energy transfer–based DP2 receptor conformation sensor expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells revealed an agonistic effect of the prostaglandin (PG)-D2 precursor arachidonic acid on DP2 receptor activity of about 80% of the effect induced by PGD2. In a combination of experiments at the conformation sensor and using a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer–based G protein activation sensor expressed together with DP2 receptor wild type in HEK cells, we found that arachidonic acid acts as a direct activator of the DP2 receptor, but not the DP1 receptor, in a concentration range considered physiologically relevant. Pharmacological inhibition of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases as well as cytochrome P450 did not lead to a diminished arachidonic acid response on the DP2 receptor, confirming a direct action of arachidonic acid on the receptor.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

This study identified the prostaglandin precursor arachidonic acid to directly activate the DP2 receptor, a G protein–coupled receptor that is known to play an important role in type 2 inflammation.




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Gabapentinoids Increase the Potency of Fentanyl and Heroin and Decrease the Potency of Naloxone to Antagonize Fentanyl and Heroin in Rats Discriminating Fentanyl [Behavioral Pharmacology]

Despite a significant decrease in the number of prescriptions for opioids, the opioid crisis continues, fueled in large part by the availability of the phenylpiperidine mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonist fentanyl. In contrast, the number of prescriptions for and the off-label use of gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) has increased dramatically, with gabapentinoids commonly detected in opioid overdose victims. Although gabapentinoids can decrease the potency of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone to reverse heroin-induced hypoventilation in male rats, the specificity and nature of interaction between gabapentinoids and MOR agonists and any potential sex difference in those interactions are not well characterized. Gabapentinoids were studied in female and male rats discriminating fentanyl (0.0032 mg/kg, i.p.) or cocaine (3.2 mg/kg, i.p.). Alone, neither gabapentin nor pregabalin significantly increased fentanyl- or cocaine-appropriate responding. In rats discriminating fentanyl, each gabapentinoid dose-dependently shifted the fentanyl and heroin discrimination dose-effect functions to the left, whereas naloxone dose-dependently shifted the fentanyl and heroin discrimination dose-effect functions to the right. Each gabapentinoid (100 mg/kg) significantly decreased the potency of naloxone to antagonize the discriminative stimulus effect of fentanyl or heroin. In contrast, each gabapentinoid dose-dependently shifted the cocaine and d-methamphetamine discrimination dose-effect functions to the right. There were no significant sex differences in this study. These results suggest that gabapentinoids impact the misuse of opioids, the co-use of opioids and stimulant drugs, and the increasing number of overdose deaths in individuals using opioids, stimulant drugs, and gabapentinoids in mixtures.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

The number of prescriptions for and the off-label use of gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) has increased dramatically, with gabapentinoids commonly detected in opioid overdose victims. This study reports that in rats gabapentinoids increase the potency of fentanyl and heroin to produce discriminative stimulus effects while decreasing the potency of naloxone to antagonize those effects of fentanyl and heroin. These results can help guide policies for regulating gabapentinoids and treating opioid misuse and overdose.




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Alternative Reinforcers Enhance the Effects of Opioid Antagonists, but Not Agonists, on Oxycodone Choice Self-Administration in Nonhuman Primates [Behavioral Pharmacology]

Clinical reports suggest that the most effective strategies for managing opioid use disorder comprise a comprehensive treatment program of both pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches. However, the conditions under which these combinations are most effective are not well characterized. This study examined whether the presence of an alternative reinforcer could alter the efficacy of Food and Drug Administration–approved opioid antagonist or agonist medications, as well as the nonopioid flumazenil, in decreasing oxycodone choice self-administration in nonhuman primates. Adult squirrel monkeys (n = 7; four females) responded under concurrent second-order fixed-ratio (FR)-3(FR5:S);TO45s schedules of reinforcement for intravenous oxycodone (0.1 mg/kg) or saline on one lever and 30% sweetened condensed milk or water on the other. Doses of naltrexone (0.00032–1.0 mg/kg), nalbuphine (0.32–10 mg/kg), buprenorphine (0.0032–0.032 mg/kg), methadone (0.32–1.0 mg/kg), or flumazenil (1–3.2 mg/kg) were administered intramuscularly prior to oxycodone self-administration sessions that occurred with either milk or water as the alternative. Naltrexone, a μ-opioid receptor antagonist, was >30-fold more potent when milk was available compared with water and abolished oxycodone intake (injections/session) while concomitantly increasing milk deliveries at the highest dose tested. Pretreatment with the low-efficacy μ-agonist nalbuphine was most effective in the presence of milk compared with water, decreasing oxycodone preference to <50% of control values. The higher efficacy μ-agonists, methadone and buprenorphine, and the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil did not appreciably alter the reinforcing potency of oxycodone under either condition. These results suggest that antagonist medications used in combination with alternative reinforcers may be an effective strategy to curtail opioid abuse–related behaviors.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Clinical treatment programs for opioid use disorder use a combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches. However, the conditions under which these combinations are most effective have not been fully characterized. This study examined whether the effectiveness of μ-opioid medications to decrease oxycodone self-administration is altered in the presence of an alternative reinforcer. The results suggest that alternative reinforcers enhance the effects of antagonist or low-efficacy partial agonists, suggesting they may be a more effective strategy to curtail opioid use.




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Evaluating the Abuse Potential of Lenabasum, a Selective Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Agonist [Special Section: Cannabinoid Signaling in Human Health and Disease]

Endocannabinoids, which are present throughout the central nervous system (CNS), can activate cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2). CB1 and CB2 agonists exhibit broad anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting their potential to treat inflammatory diseases. However, careful evaluation of abuse potential is necessary. This study evaluated the abuse potential of lenabasum, a selective CB2 receptor agonist in participants (n = 56) endorsing recreational cannabis use. Three doses of lenabasum (20, 60, and 120 mg) were compared with placebo and nabilone (3 and 6 mg). The primary endpoint was the peak effect (Emax) on a bipolar Drug Liking visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary VAS and pharmacokinetic (PK) endpoints and adverse events were assessed. Lenabasum was safe and well tolerated. Compared with placebo, a 20-mg dose of lenabasum did not increase ratings of Drug Liking and had no distinguishable effect on other VAS endpoints. Dose-dependent increases in ratings of Drug Liking were observed with 60 and 120 mg lenabasum. Drug Liking and all other VAS outcomes were greatest for nabilone 3 mg and 6 mg, a medication currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At a target therapeutic dose (20 mg), lenabasum did not elicit subjective ratings of Drug Liking. However, supratherapeutic doses of lenabasum (60 and 120 mg) did elicit subjective ratings of Drug Liking compared with placebo. Although both doses of lenabasum were associated with lower ratings of Drug Liking compared with 3 mg and 6 mg nabilone, lenabasum does have abuse potential and should be used cautiously in clinical settings.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

This work provides evidence that in people with a history of recreational cannabis use, lenabasum was safe and well tolerated, although it did demonstrate abuse potential. This work supports further development of lenabasum for potential therapeutic indications.




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Chronic Administration of Cannabinoid Agonists ACEA, AM1241, and CP55,940 Induce Sex-Specific Differences in Tolerance and Sex Hormone Changes in a Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy [Special Section: Cannabinoid Signaling in Human Health and Dise

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment, routinely manifesting as increased pain sensitivity (allodynia) in distal extremities. Despite its prevalence, effective treatment options are limited. Cannabinoids are increasingly being evaluated for their ability to treat chronic pain conditions, including CIPN. While previous studies have revealed sex differences in cannabinoid-mediated antinociception in acute and chronic pain models, there is a paucity of studies addressing potential sex differences in the response of CIPN to cannabinoid treatment. Therefore, we evaluated the long-term antiallodynic efficacy of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1)-selective, cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2)-selective, and CB1/CB2 mixed agonists in the cisplatin CIPN model, using both male and female mice. CB1 selective agonism was observed to have sex differences in the development of tolerance to antiallodynic effects, with females developing tolerance more rapidly than males, while the antiallodynic effects of selective CB2 agonism lacked tolerance development. Compound-specific changes to the female estrous cycle and female plasma estradiol levels were noted, with CB1 selective agonism decreasing plasma estradiol while CB2 selective agonism increased plasma estradiol. Chronic administration of a mixed CB1/CB2 agonist resulted in increased mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and endocannabinoid regulatory enzymes in female spinal cord tissue. Ovarian tissue was noted to have proinflammatory cytokine mRNA expression following administration of a CB2 acting compound while selective CB1 agonism resulted in decreased proinflammatory cytokines and endocannabinoid regulatory enzymes in testes. These results support the need for further investigation into the role of sex and sex hormones signaling in pain and cannabinoid-mediated antinociceptive effects.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

CIPN is a common side effect of chemotherapy. We have found that both CB1 and CB2 receptor agonism produce antinociceptive effects in a cisplatin CIPN model. We observed that tolerance to CB1-mediated antinociception developed faster in females and did not develop for CB2-mediated antinociception. Additionally, we found contrasting roles for CB1/CB2 receptors in the regulation of plasma estradiol in females, with CB1 agonism attenuating estradiol and CB2 agonism enhancing estradiol. These findings support the exploration of cannabinoid agonists for CIPN.




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KLS-13019, a Novel Structural Analogue of Cannabidiol and GPR55 Receptor Antagonist, Prevents and Reverses Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Rats [Special Section: Cannabinoid Signaling in Human Health and Disease]

Neuropathic pain is a form of chronic pain that develops because of damage to the nervous system. Treatment of neuropathic pain is often incompletely effective, and most available therapeutics have only moderate efficacy and present side effects that limit their use. Opioids are commonly prescribed for the management of neuropathic pain despite equivocal results in clinical studies and significant abuse potential. Thus, neuropathic pain represents an area of critical unmet medical need, and novel classes of therapeutics with improved efficacy and safety profiles are urgently needed. The cannabidiol structural analog and novel antagonist of GPR55, KLS-13019, was screened in rat models of neuropathic pain. Tactile sensitivity associated with chemotherapy exposure was induced in rats with once-daily 1-mg/kg paclitaxel injections for 4 days or 5 mg/kg oxaliplatin every third day for 1 week. Rats were then administered KLS-13019 or comparator drugs on day 7 in an acute dosing paradigm or days 7–10 in a chronic dosing paradigm, and mechanical or cold allodynia was assessed. Allodynia was reversed in a dose-dependent manner in the rats treated with KLS-13019, with the highest dose reverting the response to prepaclitaxel injection baseline levels with both intraperitoneal and oral administration after acute dosing. In the chronic dosing paradigm, four consecutive doses of KLS-13019 completely reversed allodynia for the duration of the phenotype in control animals. Additionally, coadministration of KLS-13019 with paclitaxel prevented the allodynic phenotype from developing. Together, these data suggest that KLS-13019 represents a potential new drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, debilitating side effect of cancer treatment with no known cure. The GPR55 antagonist KLS-13019 represents a novel class of drug for this condition that is a potent, durable inhibitor of allodynia associated with CIPN in rats in both prevention and reversal-dosing paradigms. This novel therapeutic approach addresses a critical area of unmet medical need.




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Select Minor Cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa Are Cannabimimetic and Antinociceptive in a Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain [Special Section: Cannabinoid Signaling in Human Health and Disease]

Chronic pain conditions affect nearly 20% of the population in the United States. Current medical interventions, such as opioid drugs, are effective at relieving pain but are accompanied by many undesirable side effects. This is one reason increased numbers of chronic pain patients have been turning to Cannabis for pain management. Cannabis contains many bioactive chemical compounds; however, current research looking into lesser-studied minor cannabinoids in Cannabis lacks uniformity between experimental groups and/or excludes female mice from investigation. This makes it challenging to draw conclusions between experiments done with different minor cannabinoid compounds between laboratories or parse out potential sex differences that could be present. We chose five minor cannabinoids found in lower quantities within Cannabis: cannabinol (CBN), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabigerol (CBG), 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (8-THC), and 9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). These compounds were then tested for their cannabimimetic and pain-relieving behaviors in a cannabinoid tetrad assay and a chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) pain model in male and female CD-1 mice. We found that the minor cannabinoids we tested differed in the cannabimimetic behaviors evoked, as well as the extent. We found that CBN, CBG, and high-dose 8-THC evoked some tetrad behaviors in both sexes, while THCV and low-dose 8-THC exhibited cannabimimetic tetrad behaviors only in females. Only CBN efficaciously relieved CIPN pain, which contrasts with reports from other researchers. Together these findings provide further clarity to the pharmacology of minor cannabinoids and suggest further investigation into their mechanism and therapeutic potential.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Minor cannabinoids are poorly studied ligands present in lower levels in Cannabis than cannabinoids like THC. In this study, we evaluated five minor cannabinoids (CBN, CBDV, CBG, THCV, and 8-THC) for their cannabimimetic and analgesic effects in mice. We found that four of the five minor cannabinoids showed cannabimimetic activity, while one was efficacious in relieving chronic neuropathic pain. This work is important in further evaluating the activity of these drugs, which are seeing wider public use with marijuana legalization.