Characterizing the Experience of Tapentadol Nonmedical Use: Mixed Methods Study

BackgroundThe prevalence of abuse, diversion, and web-based endorsement of tapentadol (extended-release [ER], immediate-release [IR]) has been characterized as low compared with other prescription opioids. Little is known about individual experience with tapentadol nonmedical use (NMU). ObjectiveThis study aims to pilot web-based survey technologies to investigate the motivation for tapentadol NMU, sources of procurement, routes of administration, tampering methods, doses used, and impressions of tapentadol products (Nucynta and Nucynta ER). MethodsRecruitment flyers and banner advertisements were placed on the Bluelight website [DragonByte Technologies Ltd] with a link to a web-based survey (Qualtrics) designed to query about individuals’ lifetime tapentadol NMU. This web-based survey was followed by an interactive web-based chat (Cryptocat) with respondents who were willing to be contacted. Respondents were queried about sources for obtaining tapentadol, motives for use, routes of administration, tampering methods, drugs used in combination, tablet strengths and dosages, and reasons for continued or discontinued use. Desirability and attractiveness for NMU was rated. ResultsWeb-based recruitment successfully attracted difficult-to-find study participants. A total of 78 participants reported that tapentadol was obtained from friends and family (ER 11/30, 37%; IR 18/67, 27%), the internet (ER 11/30, 37%; IR 12/67, 18%) or participants’ own prescriptions from a doctor (ER 9/30, 30%; IR 17/67, 25%). It was used nonmedically for pain relief (ER 18/30, 60%; IR 33/67, 49%) and multiple psychotropic effects, including relaxation (ER 13/30, 43%; IR 29/67, 43%), reduction in depression or anxiety (ER 7/30, 23%; IR 30/67, 45%), or getting high (ER 12/30, 40%; IR 33/67, 49%). Tapentadol was primarily swallowed (ER 22/30, 73%; IR 55/67, 82%), although snorting (ER 2/30, 7%; IR 8/67, 12%) and injection (ER 2/30, 7%; IR 5/67, 8%) were also reported. The preferred dose for NMU was 100 mg (both ER and IR). The participants reported tapentadol use with benzodiazepines (ER 12/21, 57%; IR 28/47, 60%). Most participants had discontinued tapentadol NMU at the time of survey completion (ER 22/30, 73%; IR 55/67, 82%). Reasons for discontinued ER NMU included side effects (10/22, 46%) and lack of effective treatment (10/22, 46%). Reasons for discontinued IR NMU included lack of access (26/55, 47%) and better NMU options (IR 21/55, 38%). Few individuals were willing to divulge identifying information about themselves for the interactive chat (8/78, 10%), demonstrating the strength of anonymous, web-based surveys. Interactive chat supported the survey findings. A subgroup of participants (4/78, 5%) reported hallucinogenic side effects with high doses. ConclusionsWeb-based surveys can successfully recruit individuals who report drug NMU and those who are difficult to find. Tapentadol NMU appears to occur primarily for pain relief and for its psychotropic effects. Although it was liked by some, tapentadol did not receive a robust pattern of endorsement for NMU

Off-plane grating spectrometer for the International X-ray Observatory

A dispersive spectrometer onboard the International X-ray Observatory (IXO) provides a method for high throughput and high spectral resolution at X-ray energies below 1 keV. An off-plane reflection grating array maximizes these capabilities. We present here a mature mechanical design that places the grating array on the spacecraft avionics bus 13.5 m away from the focal plane. In addition, we present the technology development plan for advancing the Technology Readiness Level to 6 for the Off-Plane X-ray Grating Spectrometer

sj-csv-1-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 – Supplemental material for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors

Supplemental material, sj-csv-1-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors by René M Dailey, Rachel Lloyd, Suzanne Burdick, Zhengyu Zhang and Rebecca Kurlak in Journal of Health Psychology</p

sj-docx-5-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 – Supplemental material for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors

Supplemental material, sj-docx-5-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors by René M Dailey, Rachel Lloyd, Suzanne Burdick, Zhengyu Zhang and Rebecca Kurlak in Journal of Health Psychology</p

sj-docx-4-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 – Supplemental material for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors

Supplemental material, sj-docx-4-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors by René M Dailey, Rachel Lloyd, Suzanne Burdick, Zhengyu Zhang and Rebecca Kurlak in Journal of Health Psychology</p

sj-docx-3-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 – Supplemental material for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors

Supplemental material, sj-docx-3-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors by René M Dailey, Rachel Lloyd, Suzanne Burdick, Zhengyu Zhang and Rebecca Kurlak in Journal of Health Psychology</p

sj-docx-2-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 – Supplemental material for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-hpq-10.1177_13591053221123842 for Romantic partner undermining of weight loss: Links between overweight individuals’ weight management efforts and perceptions of their partner’s undermining motivations and behaviors by René M Dailey, Rachel Lloyd, Suzanne Burdick, Zhengyu Zhang and Rebecca Kurlak in Journal of Health Psychology</p

Adolescent ethanol drinking promotes hyperalgesia, neuroinflammation and serotonergic deficits in mice that persist into adulthood

Khan, K. M., Bierlein-De La Rosa, G., Biggerstaff, N., Selvakumar, G. P., Wang, R., Mason, S., Dailey, M. E., & Marcinkiewcz, C. A. (2023). “Adolescent Ethanol Drinking Promotes Hyperalgesia, Neuroinflammation and Serotonergic Deficits in Mice that Persist into Adulthood.” Brain Behavior and Immunity, 107, 419–431. doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2022.07.16

Ozone Reacts With Carbon Black to Produce a Fulvic Acid-Like Substance and Increase an Inflammatory Effect

Exposure to ambient ozone has been associated with increased human mortality. Ozone exposure can introduce oxygen-containing functional groups in particulate matter (PM) effecting a greater capacity of the particle for metal complexation and inflammatory effect. We tested the postulate that (1) a fulvic acid-like substance can be produced through a reaction of a carbonaceous particle with high concentrations of ozone and (2) such a fulvic acid-like substance included in the PM can initiate inflammatory effects following exposure of respiratory epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells and an animal model (male Wistar Kyoto rats). Carbon black (CB) was exposed for 72 hours to either filtered air (CB-Air) or approximately 100 ppm ozone (CB-O3). Carbon black exposure to high levels of ozone produced water-soluble, fluorescent organic material. Iron import by BEAS-2B cells at 4 and 24 hours was not induced by incubations with CB-Air but was increased following coexposures of CB-O3 with ferric ammonium citrate. In contrast to CB-Air, exposure of BEAS-2B cells and rats to CB-O3 for 24 hours increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lung injury, respectively. It is concluded that inflammatory effects of carbonaceous particles on cells can potentially result from (1) an inclusion of a fulvic acid-like substance after reaction with ozone and (2) changes in iron homeostasis following such exposure