Risk of Opioid Overdose Associated with Concurrent Use of Hydrocodone and CYP3A4-inhibiting Calcium Channel Blockers: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs), including diltiazem and verapamil, inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), an enzyme involved in the metabolism of hydrocodone, the most commonly used opioid in the United States (US). This study evaluated whether concomitant use of hydrocodone with CYP3A4-inhibiting CCBs increases the risk of opioid overdose compared to use of hydrocodone with amlodipine, a CCB that does not inhibit CYP3A4. Using three US databases (2000-2021), two cohorts were identified: (1) hydrocodone initiation while on CCB; and (2) CCB initiation while on hydrocodone.

Approach to Chelating Radioactivity using Carbon Dots for Positron Emission Tomography Imaging.

With the rapid development of the radiotheranostic field, developing new methods to produce radiolabeled agents has become a critical area of exploration. We hypothesized that the inert carbon shell of carbon dots (CDs) could serve as a robust chelation strategy to overcome the stability issue of radiometal complexes, including the recoil energy issue of alpha (α)-emitting radioisotopes. To investigate this, we utilized radioactive copper-64 (Cu) as a surrogate for therapeutic isotopes and optimized a synthetic route for encapsulating Cu within CDs (Cu@C).

Assessment of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests and Histidine-Rich Protein 2 Deletions among Asymptomatic Children and Adults in Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) that detect histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) remain the mainstay of falciparum malaria diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding their test characteristics when used for surveillance in asymptomatic populations is important. We explored the rate of false-positive and false-negative mRDT results among asymptomatic persons >5 years old screened for malaria at schools and clinics in the rural Bagamoyo District using 18S ribosomal RNA real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as the reference test.

Tramadol use in U.S. Adults With Commercial Health Insurance, 2005-2021.

Introduction: Tramadol has been associated with chronic opioid use and emergency room (ER) visits. However, little is known about trends in prescription tramadol use in the U.S.