The need for scalable delivery of mental health care services that are efficient and effective is now a major public health priority. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have the potential to improve ...behavioral health care services by helping clinicians collect objective data on patients' progress, streamline their workflow, and automate administrative tasks.
The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an AI platform for behavioral health in facilitating better clinical outcomes for patients receiving outpatient therapy.
The study was conducted at a community-based clinic in the United States. Participants were 47 adults referred for outpatient, individual cognitive behavioral therapy for a main diagnosis of a depressive or anxiety disorder. The platform provided by Eleos Health was compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU) approach during the first 2 months of therapy. This AI platform summarizes and transcribes the therapy session, provides feedback to therapists on the use of evidence-based practices, and integrates these data with routine standardized questionnaires completed by patients. The information is also used to draft the session's progress note. Patients were randomized to receive either therapy provided with the support of an AI platform developed by Eleos Health or TAU at the same clinic. Data analysis was carried out based on intention-to-treat approach from December 2022 to January 2023. The primary outcomes included the feasibility and acceptability of the AI platform. Secondary outcomes included changes in depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) scores as well as treatment attendance, satisfaction, and perceived helpfulness.
A total of 72 patients were approached, of whom 47 (67%) agreed to participate. Participants were adults (34/47, 72% women and 13/47, 28% men; mean age 30.64, SD 11.02 years), 23 randomized to the AI platform group, and 24 to TAU. Participants in the AI group attended, on average, 67% (mean 5.24, SD 2.31) more sessions compared to those in TAU (mean 3.14, SD 1.99). Depression and anxiety symptoms were reduced by 34% and 29% in the AI platform group versus 20% and 8% for TAU, respectively, with large effect sizes for the therapy delivered with the support of the AI platform. No group difference was found in 2-month treatment satisfaction and perceived helpfulness. Further, therapists using the AI platform submitted their progress notes, on average, 55 hours earlier than therapists in the TAU group (t=-0.73; P<.001).
In this randomized controlled trial, therapy provided with the support of Eleos Health demonstrated superior depression and anxiety outcomes as well as patient retention, compared with TAU. These findings suggest that complementing the mental health services provided in community-based clinics with an AI platform specializing in behavioral treatment was more effective in reducing key symptoms than standard therapy.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05745103; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05745103.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract Rationale Preclinical studies report that drug use and social contact mutually influence the reinforcing effects of one another. Most of these studies have used same-sex dyads exclusively, ...and the role of factors related to biological sex and hormonal fluctuations are not well understood. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the reinforcing effects of cocaine and social contact with an opposite-sex partner in male and female rats, and how these effects are modulated by ovarian hormones. Methods Male and female rats were trained in a nonexclusive choice procedure in which cocaine and social contact with an opposite-sex partner were simultaneously available on concurrent progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement. To examine the effects of ovarian hormones related to estrous cycling, Experiment 1 used naturally cycling, gonadally intact females, whereas Experiment 2 used ovariectomized females, and estrus was artificially induced with exogenous hormones. Results In both experiments, cocaine and social contact functioned as robust reinforcers, and there were no significant effects of biological sex or estrus status of the females. The positive reinforcing effects of both cocaine and social contact increased as a function of cocaine dose, indicating that contingent cocaine administration increases the reinforcing effects of social contact. Conclusions These data suggest that cocaine use among opposite-sex partners may enhance factors that contribute to social bonding.
Rationale
Previous studies have shown that gonadal hormones influence opioid self-administration in female rodents, but very few studies have examined these effects in male rodents.
Objectives
The ...purpose of this study was to examine the effects of chronic hormone treatment on intravenous heroin self-administration in gonadectomized male rats using both physiological and supraphysiological doses of testosterone, estradiol, or progesterone.
Methods
Gonadectomized male rats were surgically implanted with intravenous catheters and trained to self-administer heroin on a fixed ratio (FR1) schedule of reinforcement. Using a between-subjects design, rats were treated daily with testosterone (0.175 or 1.75 mg, sc), estradiol (0.0005 or 0.005 mg, sc), progesterone, (0.0125 or 0.125 mg, sc), or their vehicles. After 14 days of chronic treatment, a dose–effect curve was determined for heroin (0.0003—0.03 mg/kg/infusion) over the course of one week.
Results
Neither testosterone nor estradiol altered responding maintained by heroin. In contrast, the high dose of progesterone (0.125 mg) reduced responding maintained by all doses of heroin to saline-control levels. This dose of progesterone did not reduce responding maintained by food on a progressive ratio schedule in either food-restricted or food-sated rats.
Conclusions
These data indicate that exogenous progesterone or a pharmacologically active metabolite selectively decreases heroin intake in male rodents, which may have therapeutic implications for men with opioid use disorder.
Epidemiological studies report a high concordance rate of drug use within groups, suggesting an interplay between drug reinforcement and social cohesion. Preclinical studies reveal that (a) ...contingent access to a social partner increases cocaine intake and (b) experimenter-delivered cocaine increases the reinforcing effects of social contact. The purpose of this study was to determine if response-contingent cocaine increases the reinforcing effectiveness of social contact. Male rats were implanted with intravenous catheters and trained on a fixed ratio (FR1) schedule for 30-s access to a social partner. The reinforcing effectiveness of social contact was then determined using a progressive ratio (PR) schedule. After the PR test, rats were divided into two groups in which each response on an FR1 schedule produced social access and either response-contingent cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) or saline. After 9 days, the reinforcing effectiveness of social contact in the absence of infusions was determined again on the PR schedule. The cocaine and saline reinforcers were then switched between groups and the latter procedures were repeated. Recent exposure to response-contingent cocaine increased the reinforcing effectiveness of social contact on the PR schedule. This effect was transient, and the reinforcing effectiveness of social contact returned to baseline levels once response-contingent cocaine was replaced with saline. These data indicate that recent exposure to response-contingent cocaine transiently increases the reinforcing effectiveness of social contact and suggest that cocaine use may strengthen social cohesion by increasing the reinforcing effects of social contact with other individuals.
Public Health Significance
One of the most reliable predictors of drug use is whether an individual's peers use drugs. This study examined whether response-dependent cocaine increases the motivation for social contact. We report that response-dependent cocaine transiently increases the motivation for social contact, suggesting that cocaine use may increase social cohesion under some conditions.
The recreational use of fentanyl in combination with xylazine (i.e., "tranq-dope") represents a rapidly emerging public health threat characterized by significant toxicity and mortality. This study ...quantified the interactions between these drugs on lethality and examined the effectiveness of potential rescue medications to prevent a lethal overdose.
Male and female mice were administered acute doses of fentanyl, xylazine, or their combination via intraperitoneal injection, and lethality was determined 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 24 h after administration. Both fentanyl and xylazine produced dose-dependent increases in lethality when administered alone.
A nonlethal dose of fentanyl (56 mg/kg) produced an approximately 5-fold decrease in the estimated LD50 for xylazine (i.e., the dose estimated to produce lethality in 50% of the population). Notably, a nonlethal dose of xylazine (100 mg/kg) produced an approximately 100-fold decrease in the estimated LD
for fentanyl. Both drug combinations produced a synergistic interaction as determined via isobolographic analysis. The opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (3 mg/kg), but not the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist, yohimbine (3 mg/kg), significantly decreased the lethality of a fentanyl-xylazine combination. Lethality was rapid, with death occurring within 10 min after a high dose combination and generally within 30 min at lower dose combinations. Males were more sensitive to the lethal effects of fentanyl-xylazine combinations under some conditions suggesting biologically relevant sex differences in sensitivity to fentanyl-xylazine lethality.
These data provide the first quantification of the lethal effects of "tranq-dope" and suggest that rapid administration of naloxone may be effective at preventing death following overdose.
A return to cocaine use following abstinence frequently occurs in a social context, and the presence of other individuals using cocaine may contribute to the likelihood of use. Previous studies have ...reported that chronic d-amphetamine treatment decreases cocaine self-administration in laboratory animals and reduces a return to cocaine use following abstinence in humans.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of chronic d-amphetamine treatment on the reacquisition of cocaine use in rats self-administering cocaine in different social contexts.
Male and female rats were implanted with intravenous catheters and trained to self-administer cocaine during daily 6-hr sessions. After 14 days, cocaine self-administration was extinguished by substituting saline for the cocaine stimulus. At this time, rats were randomized to receive chronic treatment with either d-amphetamine or saline. After 9 days of extinction, cocaine was again made available during daily 6-hr sessions. At this time, rats were further randomized into three social conditions: (1) rats continued self-administering cocaine in isolation, (2) rats self-administered cocaine in the presence of a same-sex partner that also self-administered cocaine, or (3) rats self-administered cocaine in the presence of a same-sex partner that did not have access to cocaine. Daily treatment with d-amphetamine or saline continued for the duration of reacquisition testing.
Chronic treatment with d-amphetamine decreased cocaine intake during reacquisition, but these effects were not influenced by the social context. No sex differences were observed.
These data support previous studies reporting that d-amphetamine decreases cocaine intake and demonstrate its efficacy across social contexts.
•D-amphetamine and social context were examined on cocaine self-administration.•Cocaine self-administration was established prior to extinction and reacquisition.•Chronic d-amphetamine decreased the reacquisition of cocaine self-administration.•The effects of d-amphetamine were independent of social context.
Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) following orthopedic surgery may lead to serious morbidity and mortality. Fortunately, VTEs following upper extremity procedures are uncommon. However, the true ...incidence is likely underreported. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review, excluding large database studies, to report on the incidence of VTEs following shoulder arthroscopic procedures.
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, a systematic review of multiple databases was performed. A comprehensive search of several databases from inception to September 1, 2021, limited to English language and excluding animal studies, was designed and conducted. Studies were screened by 2 independent reviewers. A decision to exclude studies from large surgical or insurance claim databases was made to minimize the risk of including overlapping data points in this systematic review.
Thirteen studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria and form part of this systematic review. A total of 32,407 patients were included in this study. Among these patients, the deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and overall VTE rates were 0.15%, 0.08%, and 0.21%, respectively. Among the patients specified to have undergone arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, the rate of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and overall VTE was 0.71%, 0.37%, and 1.04%, respectively.
While symptomatic VTEs are rare following shoulder arthroscopic procedures, surgeons must be aware that they still account for a certain number of postoperative complications. Factors such as operative time, open procedures, obesity, and altitude may increase the risk of postoperative VTE although conflicting data exist. Current literature supports the idea that chemical antithrombotic prophylaxis likely provides no significant advantage over early mobilization in reducing VTEs following shoulder arthroscopy in low-risk patients.
Pneumomediastinum from isolated blunt or penetrating oral-facial trauma is a rare occurrence, which can be associated with facial fractures or may be iatrogenic. We present two cases caused by ...high-pressure-induced facial injuries that had very different management and outcomes. The first patient had asymptomatic pneumomediastinum and an uncomplicated recovery, whereas the second had a complicated clinical course requiring extensive surgical debridement. Neither patient developed mediastinitis as a complication of pneumomediastinum. This case series illustrates isolated facial trauma causing pneumomediastinum and reviews the literature over last 20 years for similar cases. The authors advocate emergency department management of pneumomediastinum from facial trauma.
Sensitive detection of low-abundance proteins in complex biological samples has typically been achieved by immunoassays that use antibodies specific to target proteins; however, de novo development ...of antibodies is associated with high costs, long development lead times, and high failure rates. To address these challenges, we developed an antibody-free strategy that involves PRISM (high-pressure, high-resolution separations coupled with intelligent selection and multiplexing) for sensitive selected reaction monitoring (SRM)–based targeted protein quantification. The strategy capitalizes on high-resolution reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separations for analyte enrichment, intelligent selection of target fractions via on-line SRM monitoring of internal standards, and fraction multiplexing before nano–liquid chromatography-SRM quantification. Application of this strategy to human plasma/serum demonstrated accurate and reproducible quantification of proteins at concentrations in the 50–100 pg/mL range, which represents a major advance in the sensitivity of targeted protein quantification without the need for specific-affinity reagents. Application to a set of clinical serum samples illustrated an excellent correlation between the results obtained from the PRISM-SRM assay and those from clinical immunoassay for the prostate-specific antigen level.