History Of Drug Use Research Articles

Deaths among adults under supervision of the England and Wales’ probation services: variation in individual and criminal justice-related factors by cause of death

BackgroundThe mortality rate among people under probation supervision in the community is greater than that among incarcerated people and that among the general population. However, there is limited research on the distinct vulnerabilities and risks underlying the causes of death in this population. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the individual and criminal justice-related factors associated with different causes of death. Factors were assessed in relation to the type of supervision, distinguishing between those under post-custodial release and those serving a community sentence.ResultsThe study utilised the official data held by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in England and Wales on the deaths of men and women under probation supervision between 01 April 2019 and 31 March 2021 where the cause of death had been definitively recorded (n = 1770). The high risk of deaths primarily caused by external factors (i.e., suspected suicide (10%), homicide (5%), and drug-related death (26%)) in this population was confirmed. A Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) demonstrated unique relationships with suspected suicide and drug-related deaths for known suicide risk, history of drug use and recent (< 28 days of death) enforcement action due to a breach of probation conditions. Our findings suggest that that familial violence and abuse may be relevant in suicide and drug-related deaths and that minority groups may experience disproportional risk to certain types of death.ConclusionsThis study identified unique risk indicators and modifiable factors for deaths primarily caused by external factors in this population within the health and justice spheres. It emphasised the importance of addressing health inequalities in this population and improved joint-working across health and justice. This involves ensuring that research, policies, training, and services are responsive to the complex needs of those under probation supervision, including those serving community sentences. Only then can we hope to see lower rates of death within this population.

Relation of Serum Level of Tramadol With Consumption Dose and Time

Background: This study aimed to find out the relationship between the serum level of tramadol and consumption dose and the time interval between the drug consumption and arrival at the emergency department (ED). Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study that included all patients who came to the ED of Sina hospital, a poisoning center, due to the consumption or abuse of tramadol within 6 months. Among these patients, those with unreliable history and history of drug use, those whose primary toxicologic screening in the ED indicated opioids and buprenorphine, and those who used tramadol chronically due to underlying disease were excluded from the study. Demographic characteristics of the patients, the type of consumed drug, the reason for use, the type of complication, and the outcome of the patient extracted from the documentation, blood samples obtained from the patients after obtaining informed consent, and the serum level of tramadol were checked and recorded using the capillary electrophoresis (CE) device. Results: The study investigated the serum levels of tramadol in 43 male patients presenting to the ED due to tramadol consumption or abuse. The median age was 30 years. All patients were male, and the median dose of utilized tramadol was 2000 mg. The average time from consumption to referral was 6 hours, and 14% of patients experienced seizures after taking the medication. The median serum level of tramadol was 46.12 mmol/dL. Furthermore, quadratic regression analysis revealed no significant relationship between tramadol serum levels with the dose (P=0.233) and the interval (P=0.682) between drug consumption and seeking medical attention. Conclusion: These findings suggested that serum levels of tramadol do not correlate with the administered dose or the time elapsed before seeking medical help.

Perfil clínico de los pacientes españoles con hepatitis C naïve con cirrosis compensada tratados en el estudio CREST

Background and aim of the studyThere are still patients with hepatitisC in Spain who have yet to be diagnosed, but their clinical profile is unclear. In 2021, 21.93% of patients diagnosed had cirrhosis and were mostly treatment-naïve. MethodsThis sub-analysis describes the clinical profile of the 60Spanish treatment-naïve patients with compensated cirrhosis who were included in the CREST study. Major resultsSixty percent of patients were male, median age 56years, and 33% had a history of drug use. Almost three-quarters (71.3%) had more than one comorbidity and 78.3% took concomitant medication. At treatment initiation, median platelet count was 139×103/μL and FibroScan® 17kPa. No virological failure was observed and no patient discontinued treatment due to adverse events. No clinically significant changes were noted during or after treatment in the median platelet, albumin, bilirubin, and transaminase levels. ConclusionsTreatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for 8weeks in this cohort of treatment-naïve patients with compensated cirrhosis in Spain was safe and effective. This information reinforces the use of this short antiviral regimen even when there is compensated cirrhosis, simplifying the approach to hepatitisC among those patients still to be diagnosed and treated in Spain.

Police-Identified Psychological Distress, Substance Use, and Physical Violence Among Male Intimate Partner Stalkers.

Risk factors for stalking violence are not well understood and few studies have examined psychological distress and substance use specifically. This study aimed to assess whether factors extant in police data could predict severity of stalking violence against intimate partner victims. Western Australia Police Force provided data for 603 men linked to a stalking charge relating to a female intimate partner. Binomial logistic regressions showed police-identified histories of psychological distress and drug use predicted moderate violence, but not severe violence. A co-occurring history of drug use and alcohol use was the strongest predictor of moderate violence (OR = 6.8). These findings suggest accounting for violence severity and substance type when examining stalking violence risk factors. Whether psychological distress and/or substance use were active problems for the men during their stalking behavior is unknown, however the detection of these problems may indicate an unmet need for treatment among this group.

Opioid agonist treatment and trust in the community pharmacy setting: a qualitative study of perceptions and experiences

Background Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) in New South Wales Australia involves prescribed consumption of methadone or buprenorphine formulations and is commonly accessed through community pharmacies. People with a history of drug use often feel mistrusted and this can deter them from starting or staying in treatment. This study sought pharmacist and consumer perspectives to understand how treatment engagement can be best supported. Objective To explore consumer and pharmacist experiences of OAT services, identifying the social and structural elements that enhance or impair treatment and professional satisfaction and analyzing how these are influenced by trust. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2021–2022 with 10 pharmacists and 15 consumers. Transcripts were analyzed using a realist thematic approach. Results Burdensome fees, pharmacy service problems, and system opportunities were generated as themes of subjection, and socially inclusive care and person-centered approaches as themes of connection. OAT consumers felt more inclusion when pharmacy practices did not differentiate or demean them and when pharmacists communicated in a personable and caring manner, and pharmacists recognized these aspects as contributing to greater professional fulfillment and less service problems. Conclusion OAT delivery in community pharmacies provides opportunities for greater social inclusion, particularly when trust and fairness are demonstrated.

Dying whilst on probation: a scoping review of mortality amongst those under community justice supervision.

Data suggest mortality rates of those under community justice services such as probation or parole have been increasing year on year. Little is known about why and how these individuals are dying. This scoping review explores the causes and contributing factors of mortality in those under community justice supervision. Studies published between 2011 and 2021 were identified across CINAHL, Embase, Global Health, Ovid Medline and PsycINFO. Articles were included if they presented original data on either mortality rates among those under community justice supervision or risk factors associated with the mortality of those under community justice supervision. Searches identified 101 unique articles of which 13 were included in the review. Articles were representative of five countries. All articles were either retrospective reviews or retrospective cohort studies. The studies fell into the categories of all-cause mortality, self-inflicted deaths or drug-related deaths. Mortality rates of those under community justice supervision were found to be consistently higher than mortality rates for the general population regardless of cause of death. Factors identified as affecting mortality included history of drug use, history of self-harm and previous imprisonment including length of time in custody and experience of hospitalisation or solitary confinement while in custody.

Management of Gynecomastia: Retrospective, Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Study about 16 Cases, Experience of the University Hospital Tangier-Tetouan -Al Hoceima

Gynecomastia is a benign glandular proliferation of the male breast, which can be unilateral or bilateral, acute or chronic. It can be a source of psychological discomfort, raise fears of breast cancer and sometimes be a sign of serious endocrine or systemic disease. In the case of symptomatic gynecomastia, medical treatment is likely to be ineffective and surgery is the ideal treatment. In general, surgery frequently consists of mastectomy preceded by liposuction. The aim of our study was to analysis the epidemiological, anthropometric and clinical aspects of gynecomastia in our structure. A comparative study of the different surgical techniques will also be included, in order to obtain the best possible result, especially in aesthetic aspects. This is a retrospective study of 16 patients treated for gynecomastia who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of Aesthetic Plastic Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, CHU Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima between March 2021 and October 2023. The average age of our patients was 27 years. 56% had a history of pubertal gynecomastia, 12.5% had a history of drug use, 37.5% were overweight and 31.25% were obese. The reasons for consultation were aesthetic problems in the majority of cases (81%) and cancer phobia in 19%. 62.5% were classified as having predominantly glandular gynecomastia, with Simon's grade IIa (44%) being the most common. The hormonal check-up was normal in all our patients. Concerning surgical techniques, subcutaneous mastectomy preceded by liposuction was applied in the majority of patients 94%, and subcutaneous mastectomy alone was applied in only 1 patient. We didn't observe any post-operative complications in any of our patients, and most of them were satisfied with the aesthetic results. The combination of mastectomy and liposuction is indispensable, as almost all types of gynecomastia consist of glandular and fatty hypertrophy, so these two techniques have guaranteed fewer complications and more ..........

One-Bag 8-Step Ferric Carboxymaltose Desensitization Protocol for Patients with a History of Hypersensitivity Reactions to Iron Preparations

Introduction: Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in both sexes, although it is more common in women. Intravenous (IV) iron replacement is preferred in patients who cannot tolerate oral treatment or when iron stores need to be replenished rapidly. In this study, we wanted to share the ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) desensitization protocol that we self-created and successfully applied. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to IV or oral iron replacement and patients who were planned to receive IV iron replacement but were referred to the allergy clinic because of have risk factors (atopic diseases, history of HSR to other drugs, high serum tryptase levels, etc.) for HSRs. Before desensitization, some of the patients underwent skin tests (skin prick test and intradermal test) with FCM, and the results were recorded. Skin tests were not performed in patients with a history of drug use (antihistamine, systemic steroid, omalizumab, etc.) that affected the results of skin tests. All patients underwent a one-bag 8-step desensitization protocol with 500 mg FCM and were observed for 2 h after desensitization. Results: A total of 15 patients (14 females and 1 male) with a mean age of 41.13 ± 11.18 years were included in the study. When the patients were evaluated in terms of the risk of allergic reactions according to their clinical history, 8 patients had a history of anaphylaxis with iron preparations (FCM, n = 4; ferric hydroxide sucrose, n = 2; iron [II] glycine sulfate, n = 1; and iron [III] hydroxide polymaltose, n = 1), and 7 patients had a history of HSR other than anaphylaxis with iron preparations (urticaria, n = 6 [FCM, n = 2; iron (II) glycine sulfate, n = 2; and iron (III) hydroxide polymaltose, n = 2] and urticaria + angioedema [ferric hydroxide sucrose, n = 1]). Desensitization was successfully completed in all patients. No HSR was observed during or after the procedure in any of the patients. Conclusion: IV iron replacement is a very effective method, especially in cases where iron stores need to be replenished more rapidly. In patients with a history of iron HSR or at risk of developing HSR, replacement can be safely performed without an allergic reaction with successful desensitization protocols.

Fear of COVID-19 and illicit drug use during COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a case-control study.

Some people use illicit drugs to relieve stress. However, these drugs cause serious damage not only to individuals but also to society as a whole. Stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is considerable, as the number of illicit drug users continues to increase, despite a decrease in the availability of drugs and opportunities to leave the house during the pandemic. Fear of COVID-19 causes stress; however, its association with illicit drug use is not yet understood. In this study, we examined whether the fear of COVID-19 affects the subsequent use of illicit drugs. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal case-control study using data from an Internet survey performed annually between 2020-2022, with the 2020 survey as the baseline survey and the 2021 and 2022 surveys as follow-up surveys. Those who were illicit drug use-free at the baseline survey but had a history of drug use upon follow-up were defined as the outcome group, whereas those who remained illicit drug use-free at follow-up were defined as the no-outcome group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted between the two groups, using "the fear of COVID-19" as the explanatory variable and adjusting for the effects of confounding factors. The same analysis was conducted by dividing illicit drugs into cannabis and non-cannabis groups, then setting their use as a secondary outcome. The study included 17,800 subjects, 837 of whom used illicit drugs at follow-up and 16,963 who did not use illicit drugs at follow-up. Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher levels of fear over COVID-19 correlated with higher illicit drug use among the participants. However, our analysis of cannabis-only outcomes showed no significant differences. We found that fear of COVID-19 was a contributing factor to illicit drug use. Although the exact mechanism through which fear influences illicit drug use remains unknown, previous studies have shown that fear of certain targets increases illicit drug use, and our study adds to this evidence. However, in this study, we were unable to show a statistically significant causal relationship between fear of COVID-19 and the use of cannabis alone. Further research on the relationship between fear and the use of cannabis or other drugs, for varying focuses of fear, may broaden our knowledge of the different reasons individuals have for using different drugs.

Family and Stigmatization: Coping Experience of Persons with Substance Use Disorders in North Central Nigeria

In northern Nigeria, stigma has been used as a means of discouraging drug use because of the claim that substance users are responsible for their choices, in this line many families also adopted the same measure as a way of chastising family members involved in drug use. This qualitative study on stigma investigated the personal experiences of 40 people with a history of drug use who are receiving treatment in a facility. The study used a purposive sampling technique to obtain information from participants through interviews. Statistically, this study also obtained data from 261 participants admitted to the same facility over 7 years ago. From this population, 59.4% were diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), while 3.8% were diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder comorbid mental illness. Compare to females, there were more males at 85.1%. Furthermore, 55.0% are between the ages of 16 to 30 years of age, making it the highest age group that participated in the study. On marital status singles made up the highest number at 86.4%, participants raised by a single parent were 2 which is .9%. Based on family type, the mean obtained was 1.18 and SD of .387 these participants were grouped into a monogamous and polygamous family. Two hypotheses raised in this study predicted that “there is likelihood that person with substance use disorder will have a stigmatized experience” and “Persons with substance use disorder will have ways to cope with stigmatization” were tested to be significant, the Nvivo software was used in analysing the data obtained from the interviews. The outcome of the study suggests that family members are often the first point of stigmatization for drug-using persons in most families in North-central Nigeria.

The relationship between HIV-related stigma and quality of life among HIV infected outpatients: A cross-sectional study in Vietnam.

The impact of stigma on individuals with HIV remains a significant challenge, causing feelings of worthlessness, shame, and emotional distress. This study aimed to examine the relationship between HIV-related stigma and quality of life (QOL) among HIV-infected outpatients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Vietnam. This was a cross-sectional study which conducted at Vinh General Hospital, Nghe An Province, involved 323 HIV-infected outpatients. Participants were surveyed between October 2020 and October 2021. The study collected data through structured interviews, assessing socio-demographic factors, HIV stigma, and QOL. The result showed that HIV-infected outpatients experiencing higher stigma showed poorer QOL across various domains. The negative impact of stigma was particularly evident in domains related to physical health, psychological well-being, and spirituality. Participants who were married, had children, consumed alcohol, had comorbidities (particularly hepatitis B/C), and lacked a history of drug use reported varying levels of correlation with QOL domains and stigma. By identifying the intricate connections between stigma and QOL, the study provides valuable insights for designing comprehensive interventions that prioritize the well-being of HIV infected outpatients.

Follow-Up Report of Patients With Moderate Aortic Valve Regurgitation After Cardiac Surgery.

The appropriateness of aortic valve surgery for patients with moderate aortic valve regurgitation undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), mitral valve replacement (MVR), or both is uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of moderate aortic valve regurgitation following these procedures. This retrospective cohort study included 113 eligible participants with moderate aortic valve regurgitation who underwent CABG, MVR, or both procedures between January 2014 and January 2015 at Tehran Heart Center. Echocardiographic index data were extracted from the Tehran Heart Center data center after a 2-year follow-up to examine changes in the patients' conditions. A total of 113 patients (mean [SD] age, 64.7 [9.9] years; 78 [69.0%] female patients) were included in the study and followed up for a mean (SD) of 24 (6) months. Among those patients, 38 (33.6%) experienced improvement, with their aortic valve regurgitation downgraded to mild, while the remaining 75 (66.4%) patients maintained a moderate aortic valve regurgitation level. Notably, combined CABG and MVR procedures were associated with statistically significant improvement, with all cases downgraded to mild aortic valve regurgitation. Baseline characteristics, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, family history of aortic valve regurgitation, and a history of drug use, did not differ statistically significantly between patients with improved aortic valve regurgitation and patients with no changes. Echocardiographic indices related to the aorta, such as aortic valve pressure gradient, showed improvement (P < .001), and ejection fractions before and after surgery remained comparable. Changes in aortic valve regurgitation severity were found to differ statistically significantly between the various procedures (P = .001). These findings suggest that it is not likely that moderate aortic valve regurgitation will progress after CABG or MVR. Hence, no support was found for concurrent aortic valve replacement during these procedures.

Case Report: Evaluation of Patient Diagnosed Perianal Fistula According to Abdellah's 21 Nursing Problems Model

This case report aimed to provide nursing care to the patient diagnosed with Perianal Fistula for the nursing diagnoses in Faye Abdellah's "21 Nursing Problem Theory and North American Nurses Association (NANDA) classification system. Material and Methods: Verbal and written consent was obtained from the patient and the attending physician for the research. Results: He was married at the age of 62. The patient, who has four children and had perianal fistula surgery in 2002, was admitted to the Gastroenterohepatology Polyclinic of a training and research hospital due to increased rectal discharge and constipation recently. disease. There is no known disease in the family history. There is no known history of drug use and known allergy. Conclusion and Suggestions: The case was examined based on Faye Abdellah's "21 Nursing Problem Theory" and the North American Nurses Association (NANDA) Nursing care was given by using the nursing diagnoses in the classification system.

EXPLORING THE NEXUS: METHAMPHETAMINE-INDUCED PSYCHOSIS, CO-MORBID MENTAL DISORDERS, AND ASSOCIATED RISKS AMONG DEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR

Objective: This study examined the risk of lifetime and present methamphetamine-induced psychosis in dependentindividuals. The relationship between methamphetamine-induced psychosis and mental co-morbidity was examined.Study design : A Cross-sectional studyDuration and place of study : tertiary care hospital of Peshawar from January 2022 to January 2023Methods: This Cross-sectional study done simultaneously at a Peshawar Tartary care hospital from January 2022to January 2023. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) was used to interview DSM-IV-diagnosed methamphetamine users for psychosis and other Axis I psychiatric disorders. Social demographics and druguse history were acquired via interviews or medical records.Results: There was a history of psychotic symptoms in 65 (45.4% of the total) participants, and 23 (15.6% ofthe total) patients at the present time. After adjusting for other covariates, there was a substantial association betweenheavy methamphetamine use, childhood methamphetamine-induced psychosis, and co-morbid major depressive disorder(n-24, 16.2%), bipolar disorder (n-6, 5.8%), and antisocial personality disorder (n-14, 10.8%). The only variableslinked to present psychosis were major depressive illness (n-6, 5.8% of the population) and antisocial personalitydisorder (n-4, 4.2% of the population).Conclusion: this study sheds light on the interplay between methamphetamine use, psychosis, and co-morbid mentaldisorders. Early detection and integrated treatment approaches are vital for mitigating the adverse effects of substanceabuse and improving mental health outcomes in affected individuals.Keywords: Methamphetamine, Psychosis, Co-morbidity, Dependent individuals, Mental disorders

Exploring substance misuse in a prison in Wales: a cross-sectional analysis

BackgroundSince 2015, the risks of dying due to drug-related causes are higher in prison than in the general population, with opiates and psychoactive substances being the most common substances recorded on death certificates in prison. Many individuals use drugs before entering the prison environment, it is not clear which individuals continue to use drugs while in prison. This study is a first step towards identifying characteristics of those who use drugs in prison, while exploring substances commonly used. MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed on 299 men (mean age 38 years [SD 11]) in a long-stay UK prison in South Wales who participated in a research study exploring cardiometabolic risk in prison, in which substance misuse was included as a risk variable. All men aged 25 years or older with no previous diagnosis of cardiometabolic illness were eligible to participate. Data were collected between Oct 7 and Oct 23, 2019. Participants were asked details about their substance use before and since entering the prison. Mental wellbeing was assessed using the short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Score and low mental wellbeing calculated as 1 SD below the population mean score. To examine associations between characteristics (age groups, mental wellbeing, exposure to prison environment) and drug use, we used binary logistic regression (adjusted for characteristics such as age group, mental wellbeing, and exposure to prison environment ). FindingsOverall, 195 (65%) of 299 participants reported a history of drug use before entering prison. Since entering prison 49 (16%) participants reported using drugs including methadone, and 24 (8%) reported using drugs excluding methadone. The next leading substances used in prison were spice (11 [4%] participants) and cannabis (six [2%] participants). All those who used drugs in prison had a history of drug use. Individuals more likely to continue using drugs in prison were aged 39 years and younger (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4·72, 95% CI 1·88–11·89; p=0·0009), with reported low mental wellbeing (3·38, 1·54–7·41; p=0·002), and had spent collectively more than 2·5 years in the prison environment (4·77, 2·09–10·91; p=0·0002). InterpretationThis study, from a limited sample, describes the characteristics of those who use drugs in prison. Harm reduction interventions targeted to these individuals could reduce the risk of prison drug-related deaths. These findings should be interpreted with some caution, as this is a single site and may not reflect the wider UK prison environment. FundingPublic Health Wales.

Determining the Prevalence of Primary Lung Malignancies by Histopathological Types and Gender: A Five-year Study

Objectives: The high incidence of lung cancer and its poor prognosis have led to significant health problems in recent decades. This research aimed to study the prevalence of histopathological types of primary lung malignancies, focusing on treatment plans and their effective causes. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study employed a census method over 5 years (2016-2021). A total of 567 diagnosed cases of primary malignant tumors of the lung were extracted from the department’s records. Then, their slides were reviewed according to WHO 2004 histological classification of lung tumors and entered into the checklist. Results: In this study, there were 567 lung malignancies, of which 434(77.1%) affected male patients and 130(22.9%) female patients, with a mean age of 66.1±12.3 years. The most common tumors among men and women were adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (25.6% and 9.3%, respectively). Among the clinical symptoms, shortness of breath was the most common (24.7%). Cough with shortness of breath (24.2%), hemoptysis (10.9%), and weight loss (6.5%) were other clinically common manifestations. Chemotherapy had the highest treatment frequency (63.3%). Moreover, 432 patients (79.2%) had a history of smoking, 143(25.2%) reported a history of drug use, and 30.7% died of the cancer, resulting in a survival rate of 69.3%. Discussion: The results of the present study showed that the most common tumors were adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and their prevalence was higher in men than women during the study period. Furthermore, lung cancer treatment is usually not associated with the desired results, and the prognosis of lung cancer is still poor.

Acoustic Characteristics of Mandarin Speech in Male Drug Users

Drug use/addiction has a profound impact on the physical and mental health of individuals. Previous studies have indicated that drug users may experience speech perception disorders, including speech illusion and challenges in recognizing emotional speech. However, the influence of drugs on speech production, as another crucial aspect of speech communication, has not been thoroughly examined. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate how drugs affect the acoustic characteristics of speech in Chinese male drug users. Speech recordings were collected from a total of 160 male drug users (including 106 heroin users, 23 ketamine users, and 31 methamphetamine users) and 55 male healthy controls with no history of drug use. Acoustic analysis was conducted on the collected speech data from these groups, and classification analysis was performed using five supervised learning algorithms. The results demonstrated that drug users exhibited smaller F0 standard deviation, reduced loudness, cepstral peak prominence, and formant relative energies, as well as higher H1-A3, longer unvoiced segments, and fewer voiced segments per second compared to the control group. The classification analyses yielded good performance in classifying drug users and non-drug users, with an accuracy above 86%. Moreover, the identification of the three groups of drug users achieved an accuracy of approximately 70%. Additionally, the study revealed different effects on speech production among the three types of drugs. The above findings indicate the presence of speech disorders, such as vocal hoarseness, in drug users, thus confirming the assumption that the acoustic characteristics of speech in drug users deviates from the norm. This study not only fills the knowledge gap regarding the effects of drugs on the speech production of Chinese male drug users but also provides a more comprehensive understanding of how drugs impact human behaviors. Furthermore, this research provides theoretical foundations of detoxification and speech rehabilitation for drug users.

Detection of illicit psychoactive substances in the urine of mothers and newborn infants at a public hospital. Comparison between the 2009-2013 and 2014-2018 five-year periods.

Introduction. The use of illicit psychoactive substances during pregnancy is a growing problem. Few Latin American maternity centers implement a screening strategy, and published data are scarce. Objectives. To compare the outcomes of 2 five-year periods of a postpartum strategy to screen for illicit psychoactive drugs. Population and methods. This was a cross-sectional study. Immunoassay detection in urine of mother-newborn infant dyads in an Argentine public hospital between 2009 and 2018. Results. Substances were detected in 76/191 dyads over 10 years. The most frequent detection criterion was reporting or history of drug use: 25/37 and 32/39 in each five-year period. Cannabis (21/37 and 26/39) and cocaine (19/37 and 16/39) predominated in both periods. No differences were observed in demographic, gynecological, pregnancy, or neonatal data between both five-year periods. Conclusions. No differences were found in the frequency or type of substances detected over 10 years.

Association of living environmental and occupational factors with semen quality in chinese men: a cross-sectional study

Sperm quality can be easily influenced by living environmental and occupational factors. This study aimed to discover potential semen quality related living environmental and occupational factors, expand knowledge of risk factors for semen quality, strengthen men's awareness of protecting their own fertility and assist the clinicians to judge the patient’s fertility. 465 men without obese or underweight (18.5 < BMI < 28.5 kg/m2), long-term medical history and history of drug use, were recruited between June 2020 to July 2021, they are in reproductive age (25 < age < 45 years). We have collected their semen analysis results and clinical information. Logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association of semen quality with different factors. We found that living environment close to high voltage line (283.4 × 106/ml vs 219.8 × 106/ml, Cohen d = 0.116, P = 0.030) and substation (309.1 × 106/ml vs 222.4 × 106/ml, Cohen d = 0.085, P = 0.015) will influence sperm count. Experienced decoration in the past 6 months was a significant factor to sperm count (194.2 × 106/ml vs 261.0 × 106/ml, Cohen d = 0.120, P = 0.025). Living close to chemical plant will affect semen PH (7.5 vs 7.2, Cohen d = 0.181, P = 0.001). Domicile close to a power distribution room will affect progressive sperm motility (37.0% vs 34.0%, F = 4.773, Cohen d = 0.033, P = 0.030). Using computers will affect both progressive motility sperm (36.0% vs 28.1%, t = 2.762, Cohen d = 0.033, P = 0.006) and sperm total motility (57.0% vs 41.0%, Cohen d = 0.178, P = 0.009). After adjust for potential confounding factors (age and BMI), our regression model reveals that living close to high voltage line is a risk factor for sperm concentration (Adjusted OR 4.03, 95% CI 1.15–14.18, R2 = 0.048, P = 0.030), living close to Chemical plants is a protective factor for sperm concentration (Adjusted OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05–0.46, R2 = 0.048, P = 0.001) and total sperm count (Adjusted OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13–0.99, R2 = 0.026, P = 0.049). Time spends on computer will affect sperm total motility (Adjusted OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.11–4.73, R2 = 0.041, P = 0.025). Sum up, our results suggested that computer using, living and working surroundings (voltage line, substation and chemical plants, transformer room), and housing decoration may association with low semen quality. Suggesting that some easily ignored factors may affect male reproductive ability. Couples trying to become pregnant should try to avoid exposure to associated risk factors. The specific mechanism of risk factors affecting male reproductive ability remains to be elucidated.

Factors associated with perceived helpfulness and use of mental health websites by Australian young adults with a family history of mental illness.

Young adults with a family history of mental illness may be vulnerable to develop mental health conditions based on genetic and environmental features. This study aimed to explore factors associated with the use of mental health websites for young adults aged 18-30 years who reported a family history of mental illness. Young adults (n = 469) who reported a family history of mental illness completed an online survey regarding their use of mental health websites, demographic questionnaires and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales. In total, 194 (41%) participants reported using mental health websites, with the majority using these for their own mental well-being (n = 156; 33%). Having a previous history of a mental health condition was associated with mental health website use, along with having a prior history of drug use and having more than one family member diagnosed with a mental illness.