OBJECTIVE We aim to examine predictors of opiate abstinence status 3 months after the end of buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for opioid-dependent participants. PATIENTS AND METHODS Participants (n= 516, age > 15 years) received buprenorphine/ naloxone treatment for 4 weeks and then randomly assigned to undergo dose tapering over either 7 days or 28 days. Bivariate analysis was performed to i...

BACKGROUND Violent conflicts disproportionately affect populations in low and middle-income countries, and exposure to conflict is a known risk factor for mental disorders and substance use, including use of illicit opiates. Opiate use can be particularly problematic in resource-limited settings because few treatment options are available and dependence can impede economic development. In this ...

Background: Whilst several studies have demonstrated poor cardiovascular health in opiate dependence, its role as a cardiovascular risk factor has not been considered. Methods: Pulse wave analysis was undertaken by radial arterial tonometry (SphygmoCor) in female control and opiate-dependent patients and compared to lifetime opiate use. Results: 222 opiate dependent women were compared to 175 c...

CONTEXT Millions of assays are performed each year to monitor for substance abuse in various settings. When common medications cross-react with frequently used testing assays, false-positive results can lead to invalid conclusions. OBJECTIVE To evaluate cross-reactivity of quinolone antimicrobials in common opiate screening assays and to assess the in vivo implications of this phenomenon. D...

Background—Hypothermic myocardial arrest is necessary to complete most cardiac surgery, which limits the success of such operations. Similarly, cold, inhospitable environments limit the survival of warm-blooded animals. Animals have successfully adapted to this challenge through hibernation. Hibernation is an energy-conserving state, now known to be governed by cyclical variation in endogenous ...

Based upon its ability to inhibit opiate receptor binding, a low-molecular-weight substance (600) has been isolated from human plasma by extraction into butanol and ion exchange, molecular sieve, and thin-layer chromatography. When this substance, termed anodynin, is microinjected into rat periaqueductal gray matter, it causes a profound, long-lasting analgesia which is prevented by prior injec...

Addiction to the illicit and prescribed use of opiate is an alarming public health issue. Studies on addictive disorders have demonstrated severe nutritional deficiencies in opiate abusers with behavioral, physiological and cognitive symptoms. Opiate addiction is also link with a significant number of diseases including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and other blood...

The applications of LC-API-MS in routine forensic toxicological casework were presented. This technique has been used for routine determination of several groups of drugs: opiate agonists (like morphine, codeine, dihydrocodeine and their glucuronides, methadone, buprenorphine) cocaine and its metabolites (benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester), amphetamine and other psychoactive phenethylam...

Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain affects the functionality, mood, and sleep patterns of approximately 10 to 20 percent of patients with diabetes mellitus. Treatment goals include restoring function and improving pain control. Patients can realistically expect a 30 to 50 percent reduction in discomfort with improved functionality. The main classes of agents used to treat diabetic peripheral ...