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Cannabis misuse and opioid use disorder (OUD) are highly comorbid but under-treated and associated with poorer outcomes. This paper reports a double-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of single-session, clinician-delivered screening and brief intervention (SBI) for reducing cannabis risk. The primary outcome was the cannabis-specific Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores, measured at three-month post-intervention. The secondary objectives were to determine the efficacy of SBI in reducing the frequency of cannabis use, in risk transition from moderate to low risk, and in prescription and non-prescription opioid use. One hundred forty-three participants were randomly allocated to receive either SBI (n = 72) or control (n = 71) interventions. We performed Per-protocol (PP) (n = 125) and Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (n = 143). We adjusted our analysis for age, sex, and baseline ASSIST score. The ITT showed that the SBI group had a significant reduction (F = 39.46, p <.001, Effect size 0.22) in the mean ASSIST at follow-up. PP analyses too revealed a similar positive effect of SBI (F = 53.1; p <.001, Effect size 0.31). At follow-up, the SBI group had a higher number of days of cannabis abstinence. Care providers and policymakers may consider SBI for cannabis use in individuals on medications for OUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a 2024 Indian study which identified a Fibulin 7 peptide and its possible therapy for inflammation in sepsis. Topics covered include the procedures of the study on the peptide's mechanism of action, and trials with mice which showed that peptide-treated mice had lower immune cell count in blood, and more viable innate cell populations in their bone marrow. Also noted is the need to further study the peptide's application as therapy for sepsis in humans.

The article discusses a 2024 Indian study on the consumption of edible and nutritious snail meat with findings that one bivalve and three gastropod species of snails had high amounts of polyunsaturated acids with possible low cholesterol meat.

The article discusses the expansion of aquaculture in India as of 2024. Topics covered include the profile of aquaculture production and the cultivation of exotic and native tiger shrimps, and the factors of high profitability and freedom from climatic vagaries and irrigation water scarcity in the shift from agriculture to aquaculture. Also noted are the environmental concern of irreversible conversion of agricultural land and the promotion of rainwater harvesting to rejuvenate agriculture.

Background and Aims: Multiple substance use is a common but underrecognized problem in patients on opioid agonist treatment (OAT). Co-occurring substance misuse is associated with poor clinical and psychosocial outcomes. We aimed (a) to determine the effect of screening and brief intervention (SBI) for substance misuse in people on OAT and (b) to qualitatively summarize the implementation of SBI. Methods: We performed a systematic review of clinical trials on the efficacy of SBI for alcohol and drug misuse in participants on OAT. We searched 5 electronic databases and included published studies and unpublished trials. We measured the standardized mean difference in substance risk scores before and after intervention. We also estimated the standardized mean difference in alcohol consumption per day before and after intervention. Results: We included a total of 8 studies; 5 of these were included in the meta-analysis, and all were reviewed for narrative synthesis. We observed a significant change in the pre-post brief intervention substance risk scores with a medium effect size (Hedges g = 0.752, 95% confidence interval, 0.405–1.099). Sensitivity analyses with different pretest-posttest correlations did not change our result. Modest effects of SBI were found in reducing both alcohol and illicit drug risk scores, and among the population on methadone and buprenorphine treatment. We also observed a significant decrease in alcohol consumption per day 3 months after SBI. Studies showed a limited and incomplete screening for substance misuse and delivery of brief intervention in OAT settings. Conclusions: Screening and brief intervention may be a potential treatment for co-occurring substance misuse among patients on OAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the possible use of a nano copper oxide, titanium oxide, and carbon dots combination for the control of biofouling that reduces water flow through cage nets and harm fish health in aquatic environments in India as of 2024.

The article discusses a 2024 Indian study which showed that four drug molecules have potential to inhibit the dual leucine zipper kinase and its downstream signalling pathways which then can help overcome neurodegeneration.

The article discusses the Indian sugarcane planthopper pest that sucks the sap of sugarcane plants and weakens them as of 2024. Topics covered include the possible use of certain fungi to check the pest, their incorporation into crop management, and the varying year to year number of fungus-killed planthoppers. Also noted is the projected development of effective fungi use in sugarcane fields.

The article discusses a 2024 Indian study on how students and faculty are adapting artificial intelligence (AI) in education and how the AI generative tool ChatGPT could boost students' critical thinking with ethical considerations. Topics covered include the occasional use of ChatGPT by more than half of students and faculty for academic tasks, and the close relation of critical thinking, creativity, and learning improvement. Also noted is the need to balance AI with human instruction.