Cocaethylene and suicidality: an exploratory systematic review

BackgroundThere is evidence that both cocaine and alcohol lead to an increased risk of suicide. However, cocaethylene (a metabolite created from their co-ingestion) and suicidality are underexamined, and there has yet to be a systematic review of the evidence of any relationship between cocaethylene and suicidality. This research aimed to systematically examine whether cocaethylene formation from the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol is an independent risk factor for suicide.MethodsStudies examining the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol and its association with suicide were included.ResultsA total of 7 papers were retained for the final review. The review highlights a significant gap in the current literature regarding cocaethylene’s role as an independent risk factor for suicide and self-harm behaviors. Although numerous studies have examined the individual effects of cocaine and alcohol on suicide risk, there remains a lack of focused research on the combined effects of these substances and the specific role of cocaethylene.ConclusionThis review highlights a critical gap in the understanding of cocaethylene’s role in suicidality. Given the increasing prevalence of polydrug use, especially the co-ingestion of cocaine and alcohol, there is an urgent need for more comprehensive research into cocaethylene’s pharmacological and behavioral effects

Many analysts, one data set: making transparent how variations in analytic choices affect results

Twenty-nine teams involving 61 analysts used the same data set to address the same research question: whether soccer referees are more likely to give red cards to dark-skin-toned players than to light-skin-toned players. Analytic approaches varied widely across the teams, and the estimated effect sizes ranged from 0.89 to 2.93 (Mdn = 1.31) in odds-ratio units. Twenty teams (69%) found a statistically significant positive effect, and 9 teams (31%) did not observe a significant relationship. Overall, the 29 different analyses used 21 unique combinations of covariates. Neither analysts’ prior beliefs about the effect of interest nor their level of expertise readily explained the variation in the outcomes of the analyses. Peer ratings of the quality of the analyses also did not account for the variability. These findings suggest that significant variation in the results of analyses of complex data may be difficult to avoid, even by experts with honest intentions. Crowdsourcing data analysis, a strategy in which numerous research teams are recruited to simultaneously investigate the same research question, makes transparent how defensible, yet subjective, analytic choices influence research results

Open letter from UK based academic scientists to the secretaries of state for digital, culture, media and sport and for health and social care regarding the need for independent funding for the prevention and treatment of gambling harms

First paragraph: Dear secretaries of state, As leading academic scientists studying gambling behaviours and its harms, we are writing to express our concern about the continuing support shown for the voluntary system of funding treatment, prevention and research in Great Britain. We feel compelled to write to you following the Betting and Gaming Council’s (BGC) recent announcement (17 June 2020) that five of its operators will now allocate the long awaited increase in funding for prevention and treatment, first promised on 2 August 2019, to GambleAware rather than the charity Action Against Gambling Harms. Irrespective of which organisation funds are given to, the BGC’s announcement exemplifies the longstanding weakness of a funding system that allows the gambling industry to regulate the availability and distribution of vital funds to address gambling harms across our communities. As we outline below, the continuance of this arrangement produces several negative effects that undermine the collective effort to reduce harms from gambling. It is also our belief that funds for research into gambling harms and their reduction should primarily be distributed through recognised independent organisations, such as UK Research and Innovation. We hereby urge you, as the secretaries of state with responsibilities for addressing gambling harms, to implement a statutory levy to fund effective prevention and treatment of gambling harms that is free both from industry influence and the perception of industry influence...... [Read more in the article]Additional co-authors: Carolyn Downs, Simon Dymond, Emanuele Fino, Elizabeth Goyder, Cindy Gray, Mark Griffiths, Peter Grindrod, Lee Hogan, Alice Hoon, Richard James, Bev John, Jill Manthorpe, Jim McCambridge, David McDaid, Martin McKee, Sally McManus, Antony Moss, Caroline Norrie, David J Nutt, Jim Orford, Rob Pryce, Gerda Reith, Amanda Roberts, Emmett Roberts, Gareth Roderique-Davies, Jim Rogers, Robert D Rogers, Stephen Sharman, John Strang, Richard Tunney, John Turner, Robert West, David Zendl

Rapid literature review on the impact of health messaging and product information on alcohol labelling

Background and aim Alcohol labelling enables people to make informed decisions about the products they purchase and consume. This rapid review explores the impact of health messaging and product information on consumer attention, comprehension, recall, judgment and behavioural compliance in relation to alcohol use. Methods The rapid review adopted a multi-faceted search strategy to identify primary studies on health messaging and/or product information on alcohol packaging, and the impact of these on consumer-related outcomes. Results The review provides support for large, colourful labels on the front of alcohol products and the use of plain packaging to increase the visibility of health messaging. It also supports the use of explicit, negatively-framed statements that link alcohol to specific diseases. Colour-coded schemes and pictorial warnings may further optimize the effectiveness of alcohol labels. We did not find sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of product information alone in influencing consumerattention, comprehension, recall, judgment and behavioural compliance. Conclusion Well-designed alcohol labels can positively influence consumers’ attention, comprehension, recall, judgment and behavioural compliance. The findings have implications for alcohol labelling research and policy.Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Onlin

Preclinical evaluation of injectable reduced hydroxocobalamin as an antidote to acute carbon monoxide poisoning

BACKGROUND: Current management of acute inhalational carbon monoxide (CO) toxicity includes hyperbaric or normobaric O(2) therapy. However, efficacy has not been established. The purpose of this study was to establish therapeutic proof of concept for a novel injectable antidote consisting of the combination of hydroxocobalamin and ascorbic acid into a reduced form (B(12r)) as demonstrated by clinically-significant increase (> 500 ppm) in CO(2) production, reduced carboxyhemoglobin (COHgb) half-life (COHgb t(1/2)), and increased cerebral O(2) delivery and attenuation of CO-induced microglial damage in a preclinical rodent model of CO toxicity. METHODS: B(12R)-mediated conversion of CO to CO(2) and COHgb t(1/2) in human blood were measured by gas analysis and Raman resonance spectroscopy. Rats were exposed to either air or CO, then injected with saline or B(12r). Cognitive assessment was tested in a Morris water maze. Brain oxygenation was measured with Licox. Brain histology was assessed by fluorescent antibody markers and cell counts. RESULTS: B(12r) resulted in significant CO(2) production (1170 ppm), compared to controls. COHgb t(1/2) was reduced from 33 min (NS) to 17.5 (p < 0.001). In rat models, severe CO-induced brain hypoxia (Pb(t)O(2) 18 mmHg) was followed by significant reduction in τ(25) to 12 min for B(12r) rats vs 40 min for NS-treated rats (p < 0.0001). There was major attenuation of CO-induced microglial damage, although cognitive performance differences were minimal. CONCLUSION: Our preclinical data suggest that the novel synergism of hydroxocobalamin with ascorbic acid has the potential to extract CO through conversion to CO(2,) independently of high-flow or high-pressure O(2). This resulted in a clinically-significant off-gassing of CO(2) at levels 5 to 8 times greater than controls, a clinically-significant reduction in COHgb half-life, and evidence of increased brain oxygenation and amelioration of myoglial damage in rat models. Reduced hydroxocobalamin has major potential as an injectable antidote for CO toxicit

A systematic review of interventions aimed at improving emotional regulation in children, adolescents, and adults.

There are a wide range of interventions designed to target emotional regulation, but there has yet to be a holistic examination of their comparable effectiveness. The aim of this review was to map the landscape of interventions targeting emotional regulation difficulties and identify their effectiveness and the methodologies employed. Controlled studies examining the impact of interventions targeting emotion regulation in children and adults were included in the review. This review demonstrated that there was considerable heterogeneity in the conceptualisation of emotional regulation, the characteristics and mental health problems of the participants, the measures used, and the duration of follow-up assessment (where one was reported). In addition, the emotional regulation interventions used in the studies were adapted in many cases. Together, this heterogeneity makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the specific circumstances where emotional regulation interventions will be more effective than alternatives and precluded a meta-analysis of the included papers. Clinicians and researchers should examine the relevant literature closely when selecting interventions and measures for research and practice to ensure that these are appropriate for the aims and intended outcomes of their work