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An Analysis of Oxycodone and Hydrocodone Distribution Trends in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Between 2006 and 2014
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Opioid medications are widely recognized for their use in analgesia and their addictive properties that have led to the opioid epidemic. Areas with historically high prescribing patterns have been shown to suffer more from the crisis. There is also regional variability in these trends. This study is a county level analysis of oxycodone and hydrocodone use in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia between 2006 and 2014. Materials and methods
A retrospective analysis of oxycodone and hydrocodone distributed as collected by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Post Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Raw drug weights in each county were adjusted to “daily average dose” (grams/county population/365) using publicly available population estimates for all state counties. Purchasing data collected from ARCOS was used to compare distribution trends during this period. This study was limited in that ARCOS report quantity of drug distribution rather than average dose of script written. Results
There was a 57.59% increase in the weight of oxycodone and hydrocodone prescribed between 2006 and 2014. Oxycodone prescriptions increased by 75.50% and hydrocodone by 11.05%. Oxycodone increased across all three states between 2006 and 2010 and declined until 2014. Hydrocodone also increased but to a lesser extent than oxycodone. There was substantial variability in daily average dose of both opioids at the county level in all states. Pharmacies accounted for largest portion of oxycodone (69.17%) and hydrocodone (75.27%) purchased in the region. Hospitals accounted for 26.67% of oxycodone and 22.76% of hydrocodone purchased. Practitioners and mid-level providers, including Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, did not significantly contribute to this increase. Conclusion
In the states of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, the distribution of the prescription opioids oxycodone and hydrocodone increased by 57.59%. Daily average dose increased between 2006 and 2010 in all three states, followed by a decline until 2014. Variability in daily average dose by county highlights the relationship between geography and likelihood of receiving high-dose opioids. Increased monitoring at regional health centers and improving substance abuse treatment infrastructure at the county level may be a more efficient strategy in combating the opioid epidemic. Future research is needed to understand the socioeconomic trends that may influence prescribing trends of opioid medications
Behavioral Economic Demand: Investigation of Sex Differences in Four Core Genotype Model of Oral Oxycodone Self-administration
Get PDFOpioid misuse has been identified to be related to problematic release of dopamine in the brain that is otherwise satiated by other alternative rewards. As mediated by patterns of positive and negative reinforcement, prolonged opioid use may transition into misuse and development of opioid use disorder. In human populations, men and women differ in their acquisition of drug use and escalation to drug misuse. Women quickly surpass their male counterparts in their transition from use to misuse in what is coined the telescoping effect. In this four core genotype model of oral oxycodone self administration, males were hypothesized to consume more total oxycodone in comparison to females during acquisition of drug behavior. Additionally, XX mice, regardless of gonadal sex, were hypothesized to be less sensitive to price increases as summarized in demand value alpha, as compared to XY mice. Subject consumption and price were used to create demand curves and parameters using the package in R. Average consumption in price were differentiated for every combination of sex, chromosome, complement, and gonadal sex as represented in the mouse model. This allows the generation of four averaged demand curves to reflect alpha value. There were no observable signifivcant differences in total consumption. Largely no main effect differences were observed to be due to gonadal sex or sex chromosome complement in reference to total oxycodone consumption. When observing mean values of alpha, there is no main effect significance between male and female subjects. However, there is a difference between XX and XY females where there is a two-fold increase in XX females (sig 0.053). Within the limitations of the timeline of this present model, further research would need to be conducted to preserve the findings of atypical female consumptions at beginning stages of problematic use
Synthesis and Characterization of Pd/CeO2 Single Atom Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Get PDFSingle-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted considerable interest for their potential to improve the efficiency of chemical reactions. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a Pd/CeO2 SAC for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). CeO2 nanocubes as the catalyst support were successfully synthesized and characterized by XRD and TEM. Single atoms (Pd1) were loaded on the nanocubes to create the SAC. It is expected that the Pd/CeO2 SAC would show improved ORR activity compared to the Pd nano-crystalline catalyst, highlighting the potential of SACs for improving catalytic performance. Additionally, this work could pave the way for the extension of this method to other metals and supports, leading to a better understanding of how catalysts can be designed to maximize the ORR performance.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2023/1081/thumbnail.jp
Different Populations Perspective of Sexual Health and Reproductive Care Accessibility
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to understand the difference between various populations\u27 perspectives of their access to reproductive and sexual healthcare. According to prior research, people of color face higher levels of medical bias and healthcare inequity, which can contribute to a more negative perspective towards receiving medical care, thus decreasing accessibility. Therefore it is important to investigate whether there is a difference in different populations perspectives of sexual and reproductive care accessibility in order to understand how to create equitable accessible sexual and reproductive care for all. This study will use a qualitative and quantitative survey in order to investigate this research question. My sample population will include everyone over the age of 18 and will look at gender and race/ethnicity based trends. The data and trends seen will be used to expand equitable access to reproductive and sexual healthcare resources across the community and campus.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2023/1091/thumbnail.jp
Assessing the Impacts of Anthropogenic Pollutants on Earthworm (Eisenia fetida) Biomass and Behavior Using Soil Microcosms
Get PDFAnthropogenic pollutants are a common issue, yet ubiquitous in natural environments. In this experiment, Eisenia fetida, a common indicator of ecosystem health, was exposed to varying pollutants and assessed using behavioral assays, escape response to stress, change in biomass, and avoidance trials. The treatment groups included; high (HMP) and low (LMP) microplastics, high and low salt concentrations, imidacloprid pesticide, and combinations of the latter three. Following experimental testing, pH and conductivity were measured to assess soil health. In the presence of microplastics, earthworms showed a significant decrease in their ability to respond to stress, indicating negative impacts on behavior. We also found significant differences between initial and final biomass for the control, HMP, and LMP. In conclusion, microplastics and high salinity alters earthworms ability to respond to stress and biomass differences may be attributed to the “peanut butter on a cracker theory”, wherein nutrients are derived from microbial biofilmshttps://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2023/1137/thumbnail.jp
The REWARDS of Student Literacy Confidence
Get PDFThe effectiveness of reading literacy programs is crucial to the development of reading skills and confidence in students. The National Institute for Direct Instruction has created the Reading Excellence: Word Attack & Rate Development Strategies (REWARDS) program to build literacy confidence in secondary students (NIFDI, n.d.). The purpose of this study is to examine the REWARDS program within various local school districts, utilizing both teacher and student perception on its effectiveness of building literacy confidence and motivation. For students, we utilized a Qualtrics survey containing Likert scale questions from the questionnaire, “The Reader Self-Perception Scale” (Henk & Melnick, 1995), alongside conducting interviews for teachers about their general opinions of the program. Initial results indicate that the reading confidence of students who partake in this intervention is fairly high. These findings will help BOCES decide whether or not they should implement the REWARDS program across all of its school districts.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2023/1143/thumbnail.jp
Sustainability Hub Newsletter - October 2023
Get PDFThis edition of the newsletter features ways to live more sustainably, including a terracycling alternative, seed resources, and instructions to save squash seeds! There\u27s also information on Climate Anxiety, art submissions, a book club, and tips to have a sustainable Halloween! Don’t forget to check the end for upcoming events and announcements
An Implementation of The Method of Moments on Chemical Systems with Constant and Time-dependent Rates
Get PDFAmong numerical techniques used to facilitate the analysis of biochemical reactions, we can use the method of moments to directly approximate statistics such as the mean numbers of molecules. The method is computationally viable in time and memory, compared to solving the chemical master equation (CME) which is notoriously expensive. In this study, we apply the method of moments to a chemical system with a constant rate representing a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) model, as well as another system with time-dependent propensities representing the susceptible, infected, and recovered (SIR) model with periodic contact rate. We assess the accuracy of the method using comparisons with approximations obtained by the stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA) and the chemical Langevin equation (CLE). The VEGF model is of interest because of the role of VEGF in the growth of cancer and other inflammatory diseases and the potential use of anti-VEGF therapies in the treatment of cancer. The SIR model is a popular epidemiological model used in studying the spread of various infectious diseases in a population
Facing a Modern International Issue: The Politics of Biological Warfare in the United States and Korea
Get PDFBiological warfare, which is the deliberate release of infectious toxins or organisms that cause diseases, has historically been a major issue that the international community has strived to resolve. By analyzing peer-reviewed journals and pre-modern documents, this research project challenges the effectiveness of pre-established policies and collaborative efforts to prevent the development and usage of biological warfare. The modern perception of biological warfare is misinterpreted because it has adapted different connotations compared to its origins. The project will engage in a historical examination of the Biological Weapons Convention and historization of major political events, such as the Korean War, to analyze how biological warfare has been characterized and how the policies have been introduced. Reflecting and revisiting the modern biological warfare narrative through inspection of its historical role along with its policies will establish an understanding that biological warfare is a modern issue and must be resolved in new terms.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2023/1040/thumbnail.jp
Implementing Open Source Solutions Within Local Public Health Systems
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for innovation across the globe to respond to healthcare issues ranging from medical device and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages to the maintenance of social distancing measures in communal spaces. Many open-source solutions were developed and implemented in response to these challenges. From contact tracing software to sharing of data and research, open source has played a significant role in responding to the pandemic. To better prepare for future pandemics, more local public health systems should apply these technologies. In this study, I analyze the impact of open-source solutions in public health and explore tools that can be helpful to universities and local communities in the long run. My research aims to promote the use of open-source solutions in local and global communities, to improve the capacity of public health systems to respond to pandemics and other health emergencies.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2023/1039/thumbnail.jp