Here, Audrey Chagnot and Axel Montagne discuss the structural and functional features of the blood–brain barrier and the association of its disruption with various pathologies.

Moretti et al. show a gut bacterial consortium (L. mucosae and L. ruminis) producing serotonin, increasing fecal serotonin and enteric neuron density and normalizing intestinal motility in mice. Reduc...

Objectives The prevalence of analgesic opioid (AO) misuse among patients with cancer-related chronic pain remains poorly understood, and no screening tool has been validated for this population. The Prescription Opioid Misuse Index (POMI), an eight-item self-administered questionnaire, was developed for chronic non-cancer pain. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the POMI in a population of patients with chronic cancer-related pain. Methods This prospective observational psychometric study was conducted in two oncology day hospitals at the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital. Eligible patients had active cancer, chronic pain lasting ≥ 3 months and were receiving daily opioid therapy. The POMI questionnaire was completed at inclusion (TEST) and 2 weeks later (RETEST). Psychometric properties were assessed following standard guidelines, including internal consistency, test–retest reliability and external validity using DSM-5 criteria for opioid use disorder as the reference standard. Results A total of 138 patients were included (58% men), with a mean age of 64 ± 10 years. Internal consistency of the POMI was low (Kuder–Richardson coefficient: 0.22). Test–retest reliability, assessed in 68 patients, showed moderate agreement (Lin’s concordance: 0.43 [0.24–0.63]). Correlation between POMI scores and DSM-5 criteria was modest (Spearman’s ρ = 0.25). According to the POMI, 11.6% of patients demonstrated opioid misuse versus 17.4% with DSM-5-defined use disorder. Conclusions The POMI lacks sufficient psychometric validity for use in oncology populations. Future tools should be specifically designed to address the clinical complexity and unique context of chronic cancer-related pain and opioid use.

Even though many years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of infection with SARS-CoV-2 are not completely understood.

Objective To review the microneurography findings of long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID) patients who presented to the clinic with multisystem involvement affecting neurological, cardiovascular, g.....

Patients with advanced, life limiting illness might develop pain or breathlessness, requiring opioids. Opioid neurotoxicities, like sedation and delir…

People with advanced illness at home, and their families, rely on ‘out-of-hours’ services provided by community, primary and specialist palliative car…

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious cause of death worldwide, and an important cause of morbidity among migrants arriving in Australia and New Zealand. The Australasian Clinical Tuberculosi...

To provide goal-concordant care in advanced cancer, treatment intent must be aligned with patients’ care preferences. This cross-sectional analysis finds that compared to patients with other serious ...

‘Blowing the whistle can be a tough gig,’ Adelaide judge says, while Rex Patrick declares Boyle ‘a hero’ for speaking out in 2018