Predictors of Pharmacy Students' Attitudes About the Therapeutic Use of Psilocybin

Background Psilocybin has been studied for its potential therapeutic benefits, particularly for the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. While more research is needed as psilocybin-assisted therapy becomes more prevalent, future pharmacists will probably be involved at some level. At present, pharmacists receive minimal training on psilocybin, and little is known about their attitudes toward its use for medical purposes. Findings from recent clinical studies have attempted to establish the safety and medical efficacy of psilocybin, leading to an increased interest in therapeutic psilocybin use in the United States. This study aimed to assess if self-assessed knowledge of psilocybin, concerns about adverse effects, and opinions about legalization will make statistically significant contributions to pharmacy students' attitudes about psilocybin use in practice. Methods Pharmacy students' self-assessed knowledge, concern for potential adverse effects, and perceptions of psilocybin were investigated using a cross-sectional survey study design. Data were collected from March 13 to April 7, 2023, from a convenience sample of 161 pharmacy students enrolled in an accredited pharmacy school in the southern region of the United States using a 41-item anonymous quantitative survey developed by the researchers that contained validated scales. The survey was delivered electronically. Multiple regression modeling was conducted to determine if self-assessed knowledge, concerns for adverse effects, and opinions about legalization would predict pharmacy students' attitudes about therapy-assisted psilocybin use. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the authors' university. Results The mean age of the 161 participants was 24 years (SD = 2.981; range 20-40 years). Twenty (12.4%) participants reported previous use of psilocybin for recreational purposes and two (1.2%) reported having used it therapeutically. Many (n =121; 75.2%) of the participants believed that psilocybin should be decriminalized for therapeutic use, but only 54 (33.5%) thought it should be decriminalized for recreational use. A multiple linear regression model predicting "attitudes about psilocybin" (dependent variable) produced significant results: (F(4, 122) = 40.575, p < 0.001), with an R2 = 0.571 (adjusted R2 = 0.557). Greater "self-assessed knowledge about psilocybin," less "concern about possible negative effects," greater "belief in the decriminalization of psilocybin for recreational use," and greater "belief in the decriminalization of psilocybin for therapeutic use" (all independent variables) were associated with more positive perceptions about medical psilocybin. The percentage of variance in the scores accounted for by the model was 57%. Conclusions Pharmacy students may lack information and training regarding psilocybin and report a desire to learn more about it. Their attitudes about medical psilocybin may be driven by this desire to learn in addition to concerns about adverse effects and legalization issues. Due to the dearth of published information regarding the knowledge and acceptance of psilocybin as a viable treatment option for patients, further research in psychedelic-assisted treatments may be warranted.

Predictors of Medical Students' Perceptions of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Use in Medical Practice

Background Psilocybin use, along with other psychedelics, has seen an increased interest among professionals in the medical community due to its potential therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders (SUD), and palliative care. While it is certain that more research is necessary as psychedelic-assisted therapy becomes more prevalent, it will most likely be future physicians at the forefront of this neoteric care. Currently, physicians receive minimal training because of psilocybin's contextual information and its current enlistment as a Schedule 1 drug per the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Schedule 1 drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. As a rule, formal education on psilocybin is not included in medical school curricula, and very little is known about how medical students perceive it. The aim of this study was thus to assess current medical students' perceptions of their knowledge, concern for possible negative effects, and perceptions about medical psilocybin to provide a deeper understanding of which factors may predict their overall perceptions of its future therapeutic use. Methods Medical students' knowledge, concern for potential adverse effects, and perceptions of medical psilocybin were investigated using a cross-sectional survey study design. Data were collected in January 2023 from a convenience sample of United States medical students in years one to four of their program using a 41-item anonymous quantitative online survey. Multivariate linear regression modeling was performed to determine if perceived knowledge and beliefs about legalization would predict medical students' attitudes about psilocybin use for therapeutic purposes. Results Two hundred and thirteen medical students completed the survey. Seventy-three percent (n=155) were osteopathic medical students (OMS), and 27% (n=58) were allopathic medical students (MDS). Regression modeling produced a statistically significant equation: (F(3, 13) = 78.858, p < .001), with an R² = 0.573 (adjusted R² = 0.567), indicating that greater (perceived) knowledge about medical psilocybin, less concern for its possible adverse effects, and greater belief in the legalization of psilocybin for recreational use significantly contributed to positive perceptions of psilocybin use in medical practice. Conclusions In this sample, medical students with greater self-assessment of their knowledge about medical psilocybin, less concern for its potential adverse effects, and more positive views about recreational psilocybin legalization predicted positive attitudes about its medical use. Interestingly, although some participants had positive perceptions about the legalization of psilocybin for medical use, endorsing its legalization for recreation was related to greater positive attitudes toward medical psilocybin in general, a finding that appears to be somewhat counterintuitive. More research is warranted to further explore medical trainees' attitudes toward it, as psilocybin is a promising therapeutic intervention. If medicinal psilocybin continues to gain attention among patients and physicians alike, it will be imperative to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy, proper use, dosing, and potential for negative effects, in addition to preparing students to endorse therapeutic psilocybin when warranted.

Preliminary results of complete delayed primary bladder exstrophy reconstruction in male patients

INTRODUCTION

The success of primary bladder closure in bladder exstrophy (BE) is the determining factor for future capacity and continence. In recent years, owing to the unsatisfactory results of staged repair, complete delayed primary reconstruction has gained prominence.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze short-term results in male patients with BE undergoing delayed primary closure and compare them with early bladder closure as part of staged repair in our healthcare facility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The success of bladder closure, postoperative management, complications, and hydronephrosis was assessed over a 12-month follow-up period in both groups: early primary closure (group A) and delayed primary closure (group B).

RESULTS

In group A (n=13), mean age at closure was 25 hours and mean pubic diastasis was 32 mm. Patients had respiratory support and muscle relaxation for an average of 4 days postoperatively. Closure success was 85%, and 1 patient presented maintained hydronephrosis beyond the first 6 months. In group B (n=6), mean at closure was 58 days, and mean pubic diastasis was 34 mm. Patients had epidural analgesia and no respiratory support postoperatively. Closure success was 100%. 33% had transient hydronephrosis, and 1 patient (17%) presented maintained bilateral hydronephrosis. The same immobilization technique was used in both groups for 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed primary reconstruction is safe as it allows for closure success without increasing complications as compared to staged repair. A long-term follow-up is required to assess urinary continence, esthetic results, and genital functionality.

Pilonidal sinus in pediatric age: primary vs. secondary closure

INTRODUCTION

Pilonidal sinus (PS) is a highly frequent condition in teenagers. There is no consensus on which type of closure should be carried out following surgical removal. Our objective is to compare primary closure (PC) results with secondary closure (SC) or deferred closure results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients undergoing surgery for PS between 2013 and 2018 were studied and classified according to the type of closure. Presence of infection at removal, recurrence rate, pre- and postoperative antibiotic treat-ment, number of previous drainages, and sinus size were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 57 patients (29 of whom women), 29 were treated using PC and 28 using SC. Mean age was 14±1 years in the PC group, and 16±1 years in the SC group. PC patients presented a postoperative partial dehiscence rate of 26%. No statistically significant differences were found between groups regarding the presence of infection at surgery, recurrence rate, postoperative antibiotic treat-ment, number of previous drainages, and sinus size (p>0.05). The SC group re-quired more postoperative dressings [4 (0-6) vs. 8 (2-11) (p<0.01)] and longer time to healing [60 days (9-240) vs. 98 days (30-450) (p<0.01)].

CONCLUSIONS

1 out of 4 PS patients with PC presents postoperative partial dehiscence. However, PC involves fewer subsequent dressings and shorter heal-ing times as compared to SC.

Tat is a multifunctional viral protein that modulates cellular gene expression and functions

The human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) has developed several strategies to condition the host environment to promote viral replication and spread. Viral proteins have evolved to perform multiple functions, aiding in the replication of the viral genome and modulating the cellular response to the infection. Tat is a small, versatile, viral protein that controls transcription of the HIV genome, regulates cellular gene expression and generates a permissive environment for viral replication by altering the immune response and facilitating viral spread to multiple tissues. Studies carried out utilizing biochemical, cellular, and genomic approaches show that the expression and activity of hundreds of genes and multiple molecular networks are modulated by Tat via multiple mechanisms.

[Predictive factors of gangrenous post-appendectomy intra-abdominal abscess. A case-control study]

BACKGROUND

Acute appendicitis is the most frequent surgical urgency in children. Frequently, it can be complicated with an intraabdominal abscess that will require a longer and expensive treatment. Our aim is to know if it is possible to predict this complication before its beginning.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective case-control study with patients treated between 2011 and 2016, paired according to their own characteristics (age, sex and weight), clinical aspects (symptoms, time of their onset, physical examination) and type of appendicitis (gangrenous). The main variable was the appearance of an intraabdominal abscess in the postoperative period (cases). Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed, with a statistical significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

We included 54 cases and 108 controls. The occurrence of intraabdominal abscess was significantly associated with preoperative hyponatremia (p < 0.001), elevated CRP (p < 0.05), appendix perforation (p < 0.001) and wound infection (p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis dismissed the value of the CRP as an abscess predictor but showed association in the other three variables cited before. There was no association with the presence of generalized peritonitis at the intervention or the type of surgical approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Appendix perforation, infection of the surgical wound and hyponatremia at diagnosis are predictive factors for the appearance of a postoperative intraabdominal abscess after acute gangrene appendicitis. We believe that early identification would favor the secondary prevention of this complication and the decrease of its morbidity.

Solution of an insight problem at different age levels

The purpose was to study performance on an insight problem by 3- to 25-yr.-olds. A task involving restructuring and requiring two wooden blocks be fitted together to form a tetrahedron was presented to five groups of 20 subjects each from kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, high school, and a university. The frequencies of solvers within each group increased from the first age group to the third but then remained constant. Solution times and frequencies of solutions attempted were not significantly different among the five groups. Perhaps insight does not follow the same developmental trend as other thinking processes.