Trends in alcohol and marijuana detected in homicide victims in 9 US states: 2004–2016

Background Use of alcohol and other drugs is a major risk factor for assaultive injuries and violent deaths. The purpose of this study was to examine the time trends in the prevalence of alcohol and marijuana detected in homicide victims. Methods We analyzed toxicological testing data for homicide victims (n = 12,638) from the 2004–2016 National Violent Death Reporting System in 9 US states (Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin). We used the Cochran-Armitage test for trend to assess the statistical significance of changes in the prevalence of alcohol and marijuana detected in these homicide victims during the study period. Results Overall, 37.5% of the homicide victims tested positive for alcohol, 31.0% positive for marijuana, and 11.4% positive for both substances. During the study period, the prevalence of marijuana increased from 22.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19.6, 25.0) in 2004 to 42.1% (95% CI = 39.2, 44.9) in 2016 (Z = -15.7; P < .001) while the prevalence of alcohol declined slightly (Z = 1.5; P = 0.143). Marked increases in the prevalence of marijuana were observed in both sexes and across age and racial groups. Conclusions Marijuana is increasingly detected in homicide victims irrespective of demographic characteristics. Further research is needed to assess the causal role of marijuana use and concurrent use of marijuana and alcohol in homicide victimization

Research utility of the National Violent Death Reporting System: a scoping review

Background To better understand and prevent suicide and homicide, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) in six states in 2002. As of 2018, the NVDRS has been expanded to include all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The purpose of this review was to assess the research utility of the NVDRS based on studies indexed in major bibliographical databases. Methods We performed a scoping review of published studies that were based on data from the NVDRS, identified by searching six electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, OVID, Scopus, and Web of Science. We examined the time trend of annual NVDRS-based research output, generated a word cloud using the keywords listed in the publications, and mapped the knowledge domains covered by NVDRS-based studies. Results Our review included a total of 150 studies published between 2005 and 2018. There was a marked increase in the annual number of NVDRS-based publications, with 120 (80.0%) of the 150 studies published between 2011 and 2018. Overall, 104 (69.3%) studies focused on suicide and 39 (26.0%) on homicide. Of the included studies, 100 (66.7%) were descriptive epidemiology, 31 (20.7%) were risk factor analyses, 9 (6.0%) were evaluations, 7 (4.7%) were trend analyses, and 4 (2.7%) were data quality assessments. Knowledge domain mapping identified two major clusters of studies, one on suicide and the other on homicide. The cluster on suicide was commonly linked to “circumstance,” “alcohol” and “substance abuse” and the cluster on homicide was commonly linked to “firearm,” “injury,” and “gang.” The two clusters were interlinked to overlapping networks of keywords, such as “firearm” and “mental health problem.” Conclusions Research utility of the NVDRS has increased considerably in recent years. Studies based on data from the NVDRS are clustered in two knowledge domains – suicide and homicide. The vast potential of the NVDRS for violence research and prevention remains to be fully exploited

Liver cirrhosis in the elderly population: analysing prevalence and gender characteristics within the biotechnological framework

Liver cirrhosis stands as the predominant cause of mortality within digestive system diseases, excluding tumours, with a prevalence of 2-3 per cent among liver diseases. The temporal trajectory of liver cirrhosis development is intricately linked to diverse risk factors, underscoring the pivotal role of early detection and coordinated treatment. This study emphasizes the significance of mitigating complications associated with cirrhosis, ranging from gastrointestinal bleeding to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, liver encephalopathy, and kidney failure. In this article, we present the outcomes of a rigorous 21-year clinical epidemiological monitoring initiative focused on the distribution of liver cirrhosis among the elderly population in the Andijan region of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with specific attention to gender characteristics. The findings not only contribute to the scientific understanding of liver cirrhosis prevalence within the elderly demographic but also align with the biotechnological framework. The results promise to optimize practices for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of liver cirrhosis within the specified biotechnological perspectives. Moreover, the data serves as a foundational basis for the creation of prognostic tables and the development of innovative technologies. The article concludes with practical recommendations derived from the analytical results, offering valuable insights to address the complexities of liver cirrhosis in the elderly within the context of the biotechnological framework

Liver cirrhosis in the elderly population: analysing prevalence and gender characteristics within the biotechnological framework

Liver cirrhosis stands as the predominant cause of mortality within digestive system diseases, excluding tumours, with a prevalence of 2-3 per cent among liver diseases. The temporal trajectory of liver cirrhosis development is intricately linked to diverse risk factors, underscoring the pivotal role of early detection and coordinated treatment. This study emphasizes the significance of mitigating complications associated with cirrhosis, ranging from gastrointestinal bleeding to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, liver encephalopathy, and kidney failure. In this article, we present the outcomes of a rigorous 21-year clinical epidemiological monitoring initiative focused on the distribution of liver cirrhosis among the elderly population in the Andijan region of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with specific attention to gender characteristics. The findings not only contribute to the scientific understanding of liver cirrhosis prevalence within the elderly demographic but also align with the biotechnological framework. The results promise to optimize practices for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of liver cirrhosis within the specified biotechnological perspectives. Moreover, the data serves as a foundational basis for the creation of prognostic tables and the development of innovative technologies. The article concludes with practical recommendations derived from the analytical results, offering valuable insights to address the complexities of liver cirrhosis in the elderly within the context of the biotechnological framework