In carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the median nerve is compressed at the level of the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This entrapment manifests as unpleasant symptoms, such as burning, tingling, or numbness in the palm that extends to the fingers. As the disease progresses, afflicted individuals also report decreased grip strength accompanied by hand weakness and restricted movement. The first half of this review elaborates on CTS pathology by providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the etiology, relevant anatomy, and disease mechanism. CTS is considered the most common entrapment neuropathy, affecting around 3-6% of the adult population. Further, CTS prevalence has seen a dramatic increase in the last few decades paralleling the growth of everyday technology usage. Despite how common it is to have CTS, it can be quite challenging for physicians to make a definite diagnosis due to differentials that present with overlapping symptoms. Even more difficult can be deciding on a course of treatment that is the most effective and considerate of patient needs. Thus arises the need for clear clinical direction, and hence we end with a discussion around such guidelines that serve as a starting point toward effective diagnoses and patient treatment.

Elder abuse can present in many forms, including physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, and neglect. Many studies estimate that about 10% of all people over the age of 65 experience some form of abuse. These rates are often higher in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, despite government regulations aimed toward addressing this issue. Because patients who experience abuse tend to have higher rates of hospitalization and mortality, it is important for physicians to be able to accurately identify cases of abuse. However, many studies have found that healthcare professionals are often undertrained and ill-equipped in diagnosing elder abuse. In this article, we outline tools that may be able to aid healthcare professionals in their diagnoses, such as survey-based methodology and common physical signs of abuse. In addition, we propose evidence-based solutions, including the use of multidisciplinary teams and increased training on the subject, so that healthcare professionals can more easily identify victims of abuse. Essentially, it is our hope that this article further spotlights elder abuse and its challenges, while serving as a guide to healthcare professionals.

Over the last decade, opioid use around the world has risen considerably and is projected to continue to rise at an alarming rate. As opioid use rises, so too does the number of people who suffer from opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid overdose-related deaths. As science and medicine progresses, new medications and therapies have arisen in order to help treat patients suffering from addiction. Treatment can be split into two main domains: pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Buprenorphine and methadone, currently the most prescribed medications for patients suffering from OUD, have been shown to be extremely effective in clinical trials but have significant real-world limitations. Geographical disparities between various locations, physician stigma with prescribing these medications, and training required to prescribe medication can make access to these treatments difficult for patients. Non-pharmacological interventions have also been shown to help with limited efficacy when combined with pharmacological interventions. However, the time and resources required to implement these strategies may be a difficult barrier to overcome. In this review, we assess pharmacological interventions, non-pharmacological treatments, examine barriers to treatment for patients, and propose solutions to bypass these barriers.

Substance abuse has been an intractable societal concern in the US for more than half a century. The recent opioid epidemic has only accentuated this problem. Adolescents are significant long-term contributors to the crisis due to their susceptibilities to drug abuse and impressionable age. This review examines the particular vulnerabilities of the adolescent brain to drug abuse and the risk and protective factors thereof, especially in light of the Rat Park studies. In addition, the article provides an overview of the evidence-based prevention program registries and offers detailed summaries of two: Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development (Blueprints) and the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP). By combining inputs from Blueprints and WSIPP, five programs with the highest benefit-cost ratios (BCR) were identified: Functional Family Therapy, Positive Family Support, Lifeskills Training, Positive Action, and Good Behavior Game. In light of their outstanding characteristics, these programs are poised to be widely implemented and to make a measurable difference in the fight against substance and opioid abuse.

In order to prescribe an antibiotic, a physician must go through a series of decision-making processes that involve both the drug and the host. In this review article, we outline exactly what those decision-making processes are and some of their limitations. Before a medication can be prescribed, a physician has to determine if the antibiotic works against the host pathogen. To do this, basic science techniques are employed including phenotypic methods such as broth dilution methods, Kirby-Bauer susceptibility testing, Epsilometer test (E-test), and genotypic methods such as the new and upcoming automated tests. After determining if a drug has potential to work, the physician must consider the drug’s mechanism of action in order to determine a dosing regimen. Some groups of drugs should be administered at high concentrations infrequently, others should be given more frequently in smaller doses, and others lie somewhere between this spectrum. Finally, external factors such as the patient's age, especially for pediatrics and geriatrics patients, need to be considered, as these groups have the highest health care burden but are among the most vulnerable when it comes to the side effects of drugs.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral infection that, when transmitted through the exchange of certain bodily fluids, destroys various immune cells and contributes to an overall weakened immune system. If left untreated, HIV progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) - a chronic, life-threatening condition that puts patients at risk for opportunistic infections. Since the emergence of HIV nearly a century ago, the world has seen tremendous advances in elucidating its pathology and progression. These advances have been accompanied by an increased understanding of how subsequent effects and symptoms manifest in afflicted individuals. These discoveries, coupled with the ever-improving technologies and methodologies used for detection and treatment, provide the scientific and medical community with a solid grasp of HIV. Despite this significant headway, there is still much progress to be made; medical advances have allowed people with HIV to manage their disease and live a longer, healthier life, but a definite cure is yet to be found. Thus, the following literature review serves as both an extensive compendium of our current understanding of HIV - its pathology, testing/detection, repercussions, and treatment - and an acknowledgement of the areas that still require further research.