The Effects of Perioperative Peripheral Nerve Blocks on Peri- and Postoperative Opioid Use and Pain Management.

INTRODUCTION: The amount of peri- and post-operative use of opioids for pain management, and the duration in which they are used following surgery, are positively associated with the likelihood of subsequent opioid use and addiction. Aware of this issue, many clinicians are seeking ways to reduce opioid use while maintaining adequate pain management. Recent evidence suggests that peripheral nerve block utilization may present a viable mechanism by which clinicians can accomplish this goal. METHODS: Ovid MEDLINE and Pubmed databases were searched to identify relevant articles. Using the advanced search option, the key terms "opioid," "morphine," "nerve block," "peripheral anesthesia," "pain management," "preoperative,", "intraoperative," and "postoperative" were used and combined with the Boolean terms "AND" and "OR." This review examines the extant literature surrounding the use of peripheral nerve blocks in relation to patient-reported pain scores, intraoperative opioids, postoperative opioids, patient-controlled analgesic with opioids, and opioid consumption once the patient has left the hospital. Further, the effect peripheral nerve blocks have on postoperative physical therapy, surgery related complications, and overall patient satisfaction are briefly discussed. RESULTS: The use of perioperative peripheral nerve blocks decreases opioid consumption not only in the postoperative period, but also intraoperatively as well. The most significant decrease in opioid consumption is seen in the first 24-72 hours postoperatively. Patient reported pain scores were also lower in patients who received peripheral nerve blocks. DISCUSSION: Despite relatively robust efficacy data, utilization of peripheral nerve blocks is not ubiquitous; the potential reasons for which are also discussed. Lastly, clinical recommendations based on the available data are provided.

Alzheimer's Disease, Inflammation, and the Role of Antioxidants.

The World Health Organization refers to Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a global health priority. As the average age of the world's population is increasing, so too is the rate of AD. There are an estimated 47 million people globally who have been diagnosed with AD dementia, and researchers have yet to figure out the root cause. All misfolded aggregate proteins that are involved in neurodegenerative disorders (amyloid-ß, Huntington's tau, α-synuclein) induce oxidative stress. It is that oxidative stress that leads to inflammation and, in conjunction with amyloid protein and tau hyperphosphorylation, progresses to and exacerbates AD. The consumption of antioxidants and nutrients, specifically vitamin E, caffeine, and turmeric, may slow the progression of AD and can be found in a wide variety of dietary foods. This review explores the role of inflammation on AD, the antioxidants that can potentially combat it, and future directions of how the treatment of the disease can be better understood.

Health Care Workers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Related to COVID-19 in Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care.

Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted on a global scale, the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of the health care workers who provide the care at the end of life have not been evaluated. Objectives: To assess and understand palliative medicine and hospice care health care workers' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to COVID-19. Design: A web-based survey was created. Primary outcomes included attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge. Secondary outcomes included comparison in between health care workers who described themselves at high risk versus not at high risk of complications related to COVID-19 infection. Setting/Subjects: In total, 1262 adult hospice workers in the United States were invited. Results: A total of 348 workers completed the survey. Of them, 321 were analyzed, 54.52% were over the age of 50 years, 84.74% were females, 41.75% were nurses, 29.6% were administrative staff, and 6.54% were physicians. Of these workers, 39.56% considered themselves at high risk to develop complications related to COVID-19 infection, 74.46% felt neutral to uncomfortable treating these patients, 77.57% believed that the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) was adequate, 89.41% supported the risk-reduction strategies, 84.73% obtained information from health authorities, 25.55% from social media, 31.46% believed COVID-19 was likely created in a laboratory or intentionally, and 66.14% of hospice workers who considered themselves at high risk of complications felt available PPE was adequate to protect them compared with 85.05% of responders who did not consider themselves at high risk (p < 0.0001). The majority of respondents were incorrect in seven of the eight clinical scenarios. Conclusion: Improving staff knowledge and information related to COVID-19 would enhance staff safety, improve patient care, and relieve anxiety.

A Brief Tutorial on Manuscript Preparation: From Journal Selection to Manuscript Review.

Description This article is designed to introduce the novice researcher to the process of journal selection, manuscript submission and manuscript review. PubMed indexing, journal readership, scope, focus, impact factor, fees and acceptable manuscript types are discussed in the first section. The remainder of this article focuses on manuscript preparation, submission and review, including formatting, pre-submission inquiry, submission portals, and the manuscript review process. Specific recommendations are provided to assist the reader in navigating these stages.