Neurocognitive Functions After 6-Month Buprenorphine (Naloxone)-Based Opioid Agonist Maintenance Treatment: A Controlled Prospective Study.

Background: Medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) may influence neurocognitive functions. Inadequate power, confounders, and practice effects limit the validity of the existing research. We examined the change in cognitive functions in patients with OUD at 6-month buprenorphine (naloxone) posttreatment and compared the cognitive performance of the buprenorphine-treated group with control subjects.

Neurocognitive Dysfunctions in People with Concurrent Cannabis Use and Opioid Dependence: A Cross-Sectional, Controlled Study.

Cannabis and opioid co-dependence is independently associated with cognitive impairments. We examined neurocognitive dysfunctions in people with concurrent opioid dependence with cannabis dependence (OD+CD) or cannabis use (OD+CU) compared to those with only opioid dependence (OD) and healthy controls (HC). We selected adult participants, any sex, who met the diagnosis of OD ( = 268), OD+CU ( = 58), and OD + CD ( = 115).

Adhesions Detection and Staging Classification for Preoperative Assessment of Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies: A Prospective Case-Control Study.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the treatment of choice for cholelithiasis; however, there are procedural difficulties in determining preoperative detection of a difficult LC. The current methods using clinical and sonographic variables to identify difficult LCs have limitations to identify gallbladder adhesions which form the most common cause. We present a new method of evaluation using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI)-based virtual touch imaging (VTI) for the detection and classification of these patients.

A Qualitative Analysis of the Coping Strategies of Female Victimisation After Separation.

Victims of high-risk domestic violence in Malaysia return to their husbands if they lack the necessary support to face life challenges, especially after separation. Violence against women is part of the violation of human rights. Therefore, several action strategies are essential to counteract the various pressures of the social injustice they have endured.

Demographic Dividend in the Age of Neoliberal Capitalism: An Analysis of Employment and Employability in India.

After examining the concept of demographic dividend and in-depth analysis of the changing demographic profile of Indian population in a comparative framework, in this study it has been argued that the transformation of demographic potential into demographic dividend is predicated on the premise that India adopts state sponsored social-economic policy regime for public health and education for its youth to acquire skills which will be required in the twenty-first century and adopts macroeconomic policies which ensures optimal use of human resources. Otherwise demographic dividend will be a myth and a mirage.

Implications for social work teaching and learning in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A reflection.

The global lockdown due to COVID-19 is a major concern as all higher educational institutions face disruption in teaching, learning and assessment. Social work educators in Malaysia's higher educational institutions are not spared of this disruption. Conventional teaching methods are now being replaced by non-conventional modes of teaching, which include online teaching and assessment using various platforms such as Zoom, WebEx and others.

Biomediated synthesis, characterization, and biological applications of nickel oxide nanoparticles derived from Toona ciliata, Ficus carica and Pinus roxburghii.

Biomediated ecofriendly method for the synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles using plants extracts (Toona ciliata, Ficus carica and Pinus roxburghii) has been reported. The nanoparticles so obtained were characterized by various techniques such as ultraviolet-visible, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Formation of nickel oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction where the former technique ascertains the formation of bond between nickel and oxygen.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus computed tomographic scan (CT scan) of brain in evaluation of suspected cavernous sinus syndrome.

Background And Purpose: The cavernous sinus is a unique region owing to anatomical factors and the pathologies affecting it. The diagnosis of cavernous sinus syndrome (CSS) predominantly relies on clinicoradiological correlation. We studied the utility of computed tomographic (CT) scan versus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of CSS.

Simultaneous Use of Two Different Tools to Assess Compliance with Antiepileptic Drugs: Experience in A Community-Based Study.

 Antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy remains the primary form of treatment for epilepsy, noncompliance to which can result in breakthrough seizure, emergency department visits, fractures, head injuries, and increased mortality. Various tools like self-report measures, pill-counts, medication refills, and frequency of seizures can assess compliance with varying extent. Thus, assessment of compliance with AEDs is crucial to be studied.

The diagnostic performance of 99mTc-methionine single-photon emission tomography in grading glioma preoperatively: a comparison with histopathology and Ki-67 indices.

Objective: To characterize glioma preoperatively using quantitative 99mTc-methionine SPECT and comparison with MR-perfusion/spectroscopy and histopatholgical/Ki-67 scoring.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients (21M: 8F; mean age 42.3 ± 10.

Spontaneous Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Background And Objective: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are associated with increased economic burden on the society. Monitoring of ADRs can help in decreasing the incidence of preventable adverse reactions.

Methods: Under Pharmacovigilance Program of India, collection and reporting of ADRs has been going on at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital since January 2011.

Dataset of source-sink manipulation through growth retardant for enhancing productivity and profitability of cotton in north west, India.

Two different field experiments were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bathinda, (1) to manage optimum source-sink relationship through mepiquat chloride (MC) in cotton hybrid and (2) to find feasibility of MC application on non hybrid compact cotton genotype under high density planting system (HDPS) with varied nitrogen levels. Raw data for growth and yield parameters was recorded from each treatment and statistically analysed. In experiment (1), application of MC 75 g active ingredient per hectare (a.

Outcomes and Quality of Life Improvement After Multilevel Spinal Fusion in Elderly Patients.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objectives: Both the rate and complexity of spine surgeries in elderly patients has increased. This study reports the outcomes of multilevel spine fusion in elderly patients and provides evidence on the appropriateness of complex surgery in elderly patients.

Parametric optimization of deep cryogenic treatment for the wear response of implant material UNS R56700: Taguchi's approach.

Using the Taguchi's robust design of experiments methodology, this article presents the systematic identification and optimization of most influential parameters of deep cryogenic treatment process to minimize the specific wear rate of UNS R56700 (Ti6Al7Nb). In addition to the different soaking durations (0-96 h) at 77 K and different tempering temperatures (room temperature, 403-523 K), three commonly used variables of pin-on-disk test, namely, sliding speed (1.047-2.

A tetrapeptide class of biased analgesics from an Australian fungus targets the µ-opioid receptor.

An Australian estuarine isolate of sp. MST-MF667 yielded 3 tetrapeptides named the bilaids with an unusual alternating LDLD chirality. Given their resemblance to known short peptide opioid agonists, we elucidated that they were weak ( low micromolar) μ-opioid agonists, which led to the design of bilorphin, a potent and selective μ-opioid receptor (MOPr) agonist ( 1.

Taylor and Gradient Descent-Based Actor Critic Neural Network for the Classification of Privacy Preserved Medical Data.

Classification of the privacy preserved medical data is the domain of the researchers as it stirs the importance behind hiding the sensitive data from the third-party authenticator. Ensuring the privacy of the medical records and using the disease prediction mechanisms played a remarkable role in peoples' lives such that the earlier detection of the diseases is required for earlier diagnosis. Accordingly, this article proposes a method, named Taylor gradient descent (TGD)-based actor critic neural network (ACNN), which concentrates on performing the medical data classification.

A validated preoperative score for predicting 30-day readmission after 1-2 level elective posterior lumbar fusion.

Purpose: To develop a model to predict 30-day readmission rates in elective 1-2 level posterior lumbar spine fusion (PSF) patients.

Methods: In this retrospective case control study, patients were identified in the State Inpatient Database using ICD-9 codes. Data were queried for 30-day readmission, as well as demographic and surgical data.

Outpatient total elbow arthroplasty: 90-day outcomes.

Background: Interest in outpatient arthroplasty has grown in response to increasing emphasis on the efficient delivery of safe, high-quality medical care. This study evaluated 90-day episode-of-care complications after outpatient total elbow arthroplasty (TEA).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 28 patients discharged the same day after primary TEA for 90-day episode-of-care complications, reoperations, and readmissions.

Differentiation of Recurrent/Residual Glioma From Radiation Necrosis Using Semi Quantitative 99mTc MDM (Bis-Methionine-DTPA) Brain SPECT/CT and Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast-Enhanced MR Perfusion: A Comparative Study.

Purpose: In this study, Tc MDM (bis-methionine-DTPA) SPECT was used for the detection and differentiation of recurrent/residual glioma from radiation necrosis and the results were compared with dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSCE)-MRI and clinical findings.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight patients (18 men and 10 women; mean ± SD age, 41.4 ± 15.

Unusual Presentation of Ulcerative Postauricular Swelling as Sebaceous Cell Carcinoma.

Sebaceous glands have high concentration over head and neck region. Despite high concentration, sebaceous cell adenoma and carcinomas are infrequent. Sebaceous cell carcinoma is an uncommon, cutaneous aggressive tumor arising from the sebaceous glands and seen almost exclusively on the eyelids (75%).