Cost-effectiveness of the START hospital addiction consultation service for opioid use disorder treatment

JAMA Network Open

About The Study:

 In this trial-based economic evaluation, Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Team (START; a hospital-based addiction consultation service) was a cost-effective approach for addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) in the inpatient setting by increasing the initiation of medication for OUD and linkage to OUD-focused care after discharge.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Adeyemi Okunogbe, MBChB, PhD, email yemiokunogbe@gmail.com.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.11324)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Media advisory: This study is being presented at the 2026 Society of General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting.

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article 

 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.11324?guestAccessKey=1b34668e-afe8-4888-aa3d-dd05b3b83eff&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=050726

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication. 

---

Journal

JAMA Network Open

 

Toxic mercury exposure might harm the body’s metabolism, study finds

University of Bristol

 

Exposure to one of the most toxic forms of mercury (methylmercury) may also disrupt the body’s metabolic health, according to the findings of a new international study. The research, involving University of Bristol scientists and published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, found the element may have wider health effects than previously known.

Methylmercury can accumulate in water environments and enter the food chain. Human exposure is of particular concern in communities affected by contaminated rivers, industrial pollution, artisanal gold mining and environmental disasters. Mercury pollution is usually associated with damage to the brain and nervous system. This new study suggests that methylmercury may also disrupt the body’s metabolic health, affecting the liver, fat tissue biology and cardiovascular disease risk in vulnerable populations.

The study is a collaboration of researchers with expertise in toxicology, tissue biology, metabolism, computational modelling and advanced image analysis, from the University of Bristol (UK), the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, and the University of California, USA.

The team looked at a protein called apolipoprotein E (ApoE), which helps the body transport fats and cholesterol around the bloodstream. ApoE also plays a role in inflammation, liver health and heart disease risk. The study aimed to find out whether differences in this protein could make some people more vulnerable to the harmful effects of methylmercury.

The team wanted to find out whether a person’s ApoE type affects how their body responds to mercury exposure. Using computer modelling, the researchers explored how methylmercury might interact with different human ApoE forms. Their results suggested that two forms, ApoE2 and ApoE3, may bind more strongly to methylmercury, while another form, ApoE4, did not show stable binding.

The team then sought to explore whether differences in ApoE biology influence how individuals respond to mercury exposure. To explore this further, researchers used animal models (mice) that do not produce ApoE and are commonly used to study problems with blood fats and heart disease risk.

When these models were exposed to methylmercury, they experienced more negative health effects than expected. These effects included higher levels of cholesterol and blood fats, signs of liver damage, increased stress on cells, and alterations in body fat. Overall, the findings suggest that when ApoE is not working properly, the body may be less able to cope with mercury exposure, making the body more vulnerable to the harmful effects of mercury.

The team then studied mice lacking ApoE. When methylmercury exposure was combined with ApoE deficiency, the animals showed stronger signs of metabolic disruption, including higher cholesterol and triglycerides, increased markers of liver injury, oxidative stress and changes in white fat tissue.

Dr Augusto Coppi, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Bristol and co-lead of the study, said: “Mercury pollution is usually viewed through the lens of neurotoxicity, but our findings suggest that its impact may reach much further. Our study indicates that methylmercury can interact with key biological systems involved in cholesterol handling, liver health and fat tissue function.

“In simple terms, the findings suggest a possible double hit: methylmercury exposure on one side and pre-existing vulnerability in lipid metabolism on the other. Together, these factors may place greater stress on organs and tissues involved in metabolic and cardiovascular health.

“Bristol’s expertise in 3D quantitative image analysis is enabling the team to examine tissue architecture in far greater detail — moving beyond whether organs simply look abnormal to measuring how methylmercury exposure and ApoE-related vulnerability may alter metabolically important tissues. This ongoing work will support deeper tissue-level interpretation and help clarify the study’s potential translational relevance for public health.”

The authors emphasize that the study should not cause alarm about normal dietary choices, but it does highlight the need to understand how pollution, genetics, nutrition and metabolic health may interact.

The findings are especially relevant for future research into people already at higher risk of metabolic or cardiovascular disease, including those with high cholesterol, liver stress or ApoE-related vulnerability. They may also help guide future nutritional or public health strategies for populations exposed to high levels of mercury contamination.

Professor Reinaldo B. Oriá, corresponding and co-lead author from the Federal University of Ceará, said: “This work reflects the value of long-standing international collaboration. By combining expertise across countries and disciplines, we were able to ask not only whether methylmercury is toxic, but who may be more vulnerable and how future interventions might reduce that risk.”

This was a preclinical study using a high-dose methylmercury exposure model. The findings should not be directly extrapolated to everyday low-level exposure in the general population. Further studies, including research in human populations, are needed.

Paper

‘In silico ApoE isoform interactions with methylmercury (MeHg) and in vivo MeHg intoxication effects on epididymal white fat tissue and liver function in young ApoE knockout mice’ by Augusto Coppi, Reinaldo B. Oria et al. in Chemical Research in Toxicology.

Ends

Further information

This work combined molecular modeling techniques and experimental biology to study the selective interactions of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) isoforms with methylmercury (MeHg). The authors used in silico methods, including semi-empirical calculations, Density Functional Theory (DFT), and topological analyses, as well as Quantum Atom-in-Molecule Theory (QTAIM) and Non-covalent Interactions (NCI) to demonstrate that ApoE isoforms exhibit distinct interaction patterns with MeHg that may affect health outcomes in highly exposed individuals.

 

Further information

Ends

Notes to editors

For further information or to arrange an interview with Dr Augusto Coppi, please contact Joanne Fryer [Mon to Weds], email joanne.fryer@bristol.ac.uk or Caroline Clancy-Cottle [Weds to Fri], email caroline.clancy@bristol.ac.uk in the University of Bristol News and Content Team.

Issued by the Research News and Content team at the University of Bristol

---

Journal

Chemical Research in Toxicology

DOI

10.1021/acs.chemrestox.5c00450 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

‘In silico ApoE isoform interactions with methylmercury (MeHg) and in vivo MeHg intoxication effects on epididymal white fat tissue and liver function in young ApoE knockout mice’

Article Publication Date

5-May-2026

 

Feeling regret? Your feelings may mellow as you age

Age and the passage of time shape how we feel about our past decisions, study finds

American Psychological Association

FacebookX

BlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

Older adults report fewer recent regrets than younger adults, finds research published by the American Psychological Association. In addition, although older and younger adults report a similar number of long-term regrets, older adults experience less anger and frustration when they think about those mistakes and missed chances. The research highlights how both age and time shape our emotional responses to past decisions.

“Regrets are incredibly common. Almost all of us experience big regrets in our personal and professional lives – from marrying the wrong person to never finishing college,” says lead author Julia Nolte, PhD, of Tilburg University in the Netherlands. “The good news is that for many of us, the experience of regret seems to become less negative with age.”

The research was published in the journal Emotion.

In the study, the researchers surveyed 90 U.S. adults ages 21 to 89, asking them to list up to five recent regrets (from the past year) and five long-term regrets. Then, the researchers asked participants to focus on their most significant long-term regret and most significant recent regret, describing and rating those in detail. Participants rated the regrets on factors such as how long ago they occurred, what emotions they evoked and how controllable they felt – how much they felt they could to do manage the regret, either by changing their decision or by changing how they felt about it. Participants also described how they were coping with these regrets and how they might handle similar situations in the future.

The researchers found that older adults reported fewer and less emotionally intense recent regrets. They also found that older adults also tended to regret “missed chances” – times when they failed to act – more often than they regretted taking a wrong action.

More work is needed to understand exactly why aging changes the experience of regrets or whether the differences may reflect generational shifts rather than age differences, according to Nolte. Further research could also explore whether regret fulfills the same psychological purpose for younger and older adults, she says.

“It is assumed that regret helps us make better choices moving forward,” Nolte says. “But older adults may derive other benefits from regret, such as a chance to reflect or look for meaning.”

Article: “Adult Age Differences in the Response to and Regulation of Recent Versus Long-term Regrets,” by Julia Nolte, PhD, Tilburg University, Justine L. Lewis, PhD, Tompkins Cortland Community College, and Corinna E. Löckenhoff, PhD, Cornell University. Emotion, published online May 7, 2026. 

CONTACT: Julia Nolte, PhD, can be reached at j.nolte@tilburguniversity.edu

---

Journal

Emotion

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Adult Age Differences in the Response to and Regulation of Recent Versus Long-term Regrets

Article Publication Date

7-May-2026

 

New study: Women are 60 percent more likely to be injured in car accidents than men

A study by TU Graz, financed by the Austrian Road Safety Fund (VSF), shows that women have a 60 per cent higher injury risk in car accidents compared to men. This is especially true for female passengers and older women

Graz University of Technology

Facebook

WeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Corina Klug is a researcher at the Institute for Vehicle Safety at TU Graz in Austria. Image source: Lunghammer - TU Graz

view more 

Credit: Lunghammer - TU Graz

Cars have become increasingly safe over the past few decades. However, not all groups of people benefit equally from this. Researchers at the Institute of Vehicle Safety at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) have now analysed Austrian accident data for the years 2012 to 2024 and reconstructed individual accidents in detail. The results of the study show that when two occupants of different sex are in the vehicle, women are significantly more likely to suffer injuries than men. In concrete terms, their risk of injury is greater by a factor of 1.6.

Same speed, more serious consequences

Women suffer noticeably more severe injuries than male occupants even at lower collision speeds. The risk of being seriously injured or killed is more than twice as high for them in these cases. “Our analyses show that women are injured disproportionately more often, especially in the chest, spine, arms and legs,” says the project coordinator, Corina Klug from the Institute of Vehicle Safety at TU Graz. The higher injury risk for women is particularly evident in the 50+ age group.

In the study, real accidents were reconstructed and simulated with virtual human models in different sitting positions. This made it possible to objectively compare the stresses that affect the female and male body. In addition to the significantly higher risk of injury for women, the study shows that the seating position on the passenger side has a massive influence on the risk of injury. This applies to both women and men, but women are more likely to ride in the passenger seat than men. “We’ve all seen a passenger seat positioned far back or even reclined. However, airbags and seat belts are not designed for such non-standard positions,” explains Corina Klug. The good news is that consumer protection (Euro NCAP) has already taken up this issue and has been carrying out tests on both dummies and human models in different seat positions since the beginning of the year.

“Women are not little men”

It is clear that there is a need to catch up with regard to the safety of women in vehicles. For decades, the 50th percentile man – the statistical “average man” – was defined as the global benchmark for safety. This male reference figure is deeply rooted in the historically evolved vehicle approval procedure and still shapes the test methods today. Models that correspond to the average male body are primarily used for the vehicle approval procedure. Even the so-called “female” dummy is merely a scaled-down version of the male model and also corresponds to a very small woman – 95 per cent of women are taller and heavier than this reference point. This also applies to the improved dummies whose use is currently being discussed. Specific anatomical characteristics of average women – such as pelvic width, chest circumference and shoulder geometry – are currently not realistically represented by any dummy for frontal or side crashes. Currently, there are only dummies of the average woman for rear-end collisions; these were developed as part of EU projects. But, they are not yet in use.

The biomechanical differences therefore remain largely unconsidered methodologically, which limits the transferability of the test results to the actual injury risk of women. “Women are not little men. And models of very small, petite women are often unable to represent what we observe in the accidents,” Corina Klug summarises.

Clear recommendations: intelligent safety systems, more realistic tests

TU Graz derives clear recommendations from the study. Safety systems such as seat belts and airbags must become more intelligent. So-called adaptive belt-force limiters limit how strongly a belt restrains people in the event of a collision and automatically adapt these forces to the severity of the accident, the occupants’ physique and sitting position. In order for such systems to be available in more vehicles, they must also be evaluated in consumer protection and ideally in vehicle approval procedures. More realistic tests are also needed. Future approval procedures should stipulate different body shapes and more realistic seating positions. “Virtual, biomechanically realistic human models are a key component here. We can use computer simulations to significantly expand the historically male-centred and rigid test procedures,” says Corina Klug. The virtual models are able to not only simulate a wide variety of body shapes, but also enable different seating positions in the vehicle to be analysed without additional tests in the crash laboratory.

Positioning belts correctly

An often underestimated factor is the position of the belt on the body and the friction between the person in the car and the seat or belt. Thick winter jackets or blankets impair the transmission of force, which means that the body can slip under the belt in the event of an impact. This so-called ‘submarining’ can lead to serious internal injuries, as the belt does not act on the stable pelvic bone but in the region of the vulnerable soft tissue. “In addition to design measures to ensure that safe seating positions are also comfortable seating positions, more information is needed on the correct seat adjustment and belt position,” emphasises Corina Klug. “It is important not to sit too far back, to straighten the backrest and to position the belt so that the lap belt lies on the pelvic bone and the shoulder belt runs over the collarbone. This is the best way for the restraint systems to fulfil their function and, in the case of an accident, to slow the person down as gently as possible.”

The study “DIVERSE: Differences between men and women in vehicle occupant protection” was financed by the Austrian Road Safety Fund (VSF) and carried out under the leadership of the Institute of Vehicle Safety at TU Graz. Download the barrier-free final report of the entire study at: https://www.bmimi.gv.at/verkehrssicherheit/beratung-foerderung/vsf/publikationen/forschungsarbeiten/103_diverse.html (German only)

 

The study reconstructed real-life accidents, including through crash tests conducted at the Institute for Vehicle Safety at TU Graz.

 

Photo of a crash test at the Institute for Vehicle Safety at TU Graz.

Credit

VSI - TU Graz

---

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

DIVERSE – Unterschiede zwischen Männern und Frauen im Fahrzeug-Insassenschutz

 

Tuberculosis risk: promising approaches for screening and prediction

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

BlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

LMU researchers evaluate host-response test for tuberculosis in high-risk household contacts in Africa

Household contacts of people with tuberculosis (TB) have a high risk of getting TB themselves, at around 2 percent. It is currently difficult to detect TB in its early stages, or predict who will go on to have TB, and therefore preventive treatment is not widely used. Most contacts are asymptomatic and current approaches rely mainly on symptom-based screening and sputum testing, which often miss early or hidden disease. As a result, many infections are only identified once the disease has progressed.

A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases by LMU scientists Professor Katharina Kranzer, Dr Norbert Heinrich, and colleagues within the ERASE-TB consortium explores a different approach: host-response assays. The researchers assessed whether a blood-based 3-gene host-response test can detect active tuberculosis and help predict future disease. Unlike standard tests that detect the bacteria directly, these assays measure the body’s immune response, which may allow earlier identification of infection and people at higher risk of disease.

Large-scale study in African households

In a large prospective study funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2), the team evaluated the Cepheid Xpert MTB Host Response (MTB-HR) blood test in more than 2,000 household contacts in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Participants aged 10 years and older were followed for up to two years with regular clinical, imaging, and laboratory assessments. At each visit, a finger-prick blood sample was analysed using the GeneXpert platform.

The MTB-HR assay showed good accuracy for detecting active tuberculosis and was able to distinguish well between individuals with and without disease. Its ability to predict future disease was moderate, performing best shortly before disease onset but less precise when predicting TB onset longer in the future. The test’s positive predictive value for incident was higher than that of currently used immunological tests, although overall it did not meet WHO criteria as a stand-alone screening or predictive tool.

Improving the effectiveness of tuberculosis prevention

The findings suggest that immune-based tests may help both to detect active tuberculosis and to identify people who are at risk of developing the disease in the future. The researchers highlight that household contacts are often asymptomatic at the time of screening, despite potential infection. Current standard tests have limited ability to predict who will progress to active disease.

Overall, the study provides important evidence that host-response assays could contribute to more targeted screening and prevention strategies, potentially reducing unnecessary preventive treatment and improving the efficiency of tuberculosis control efforts. At the same time, the researchers underscore the importance of assessing such tools in the real-world settings where they are intended to be used.

---

Journal

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

DOI

10.1016/S1473-3099(26)00114-3 

Article Title

Diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis host response 3-gene cartridge among tuberculosis household contacts in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe: a prospective, longitudinal, diagnostic and prognostic accuracy cohort study

 

Large-scale multi-omics study aims to decode aging in the Indian population

“India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition, with its elderly population projected to exceed 347 million by 2050”

Impact Journals LLC

Facebook

WeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Figure 1. Study team and collaborative framework of the BHARAT study. Schematic representation of the hub-and-spoke collaborative model underpinning the BHARAT study, conducted under the Longevity India initiative. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) functions as the central hub, providing advanced laboratory infrastructure, centralized biobanking, AI/ML and computational frameworks, and secure data storage and governance. Multiple regional clinical partners serve as spokes, facilitating participant recruitment, clinical phenotyping, and the collection of primary data and biospecimens.

view more 

Credit: Copyright: © 2026 Asthana et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

“India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition, with its elderly population projected to exceed 347 million by 2050.”

BUFFALO, NY — May 7, 2026 — A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on April 24, 2026, titled “The BHARAT study: a multi-modal, multi-omics investigation of aging signatures in the Indian population.”

The study was led by first author Suramya Asthana and corresponding author Deepak Kumar Saini from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The authors introduce the BHARAT Study (Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions), India’s first large-scale, discovery-driven multi-omics cohort focused on understanding biological aging in the Indian population. The initiative was developed to address a major gap in aging research, as most existing biological age models and aging datasets have been derived primarily from Western populations.

The BHARAT study is a multi-center, cross-sectional observational cohort that integrates clinical, molecular, lifestyle, and environmental data from participants across diverse demographic groups in India. The initiative aims to enroll healthy volunteers spanning multiple age groups, with balanced rural-urban and sex representation. Biological samples—including blood, urine, stool, cheek swabs, and hair—will undergo extensive multi-omics profiling, including epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, metagenomics, and immune phenotyping.

“By generating interoperable, high-resolution data suited for mechanistic modelling and machine learning, BHARAT contributes a resource of global relevance that would be capable of refining universal models of aging biology while revealing novel, population-specific pathways that inform prevention and intervention strategies.”

The initiative uses a hub-and-spoke framework centered at the Indian Institute of Science, which serves as the central hub for biobanking, multi-omics analysis, computational integration, and AI-driven modeling. Clinical and community partners across India contribute participant recruitment, clinical assessments, and biological sampling, enabling the study to capture the country’s extraordinary genetic, environmental, dietary, and socioeconomic diversity.

A major focus of the study is the development of population-specific biological aging signatures and predictive models tailored to Indian populations. Researchers aim to identify biomarkers associated with resilience, frailty, and age-related decline while also recalibrating biological clocks that may not accurately reflect aging trajectories in non-Western populations. The study further seeks to establish standardized reference datasets and create scalable infrastructure for future longitudinal aging research in India.

Importantly, the BHARAT study combines untargeted discovery-based omics technologies with advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches. By integrating molecular data with clinical and lifestyle information, the initiative aims to improve understanding of how biological aging is shaped by genetics, environment, nutrition, infection burden, and social determinants of health.

Overall, this study establishes a comprehensive framework for aging research in one of the world’s most diverse populations. By generating large-scale, population-specific biological datasets, the BHARAT initiative may help advance precision aging research, improve risk prediction models, and support the development of more personalized approaches to healthy aging and disease prevention.

Paper DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206373           

Corresponding author: Deepak Kumar Saini – deepaksaini@iisc.ac.in 

Abstract video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH2AbitDURQ

Keywords: aging, protocol, multi-omics, population study, biomarker discovery

Click here to sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article.

______

To learn more about the journal, please visit www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us on social media:

• Bluesky
• ResearchGate
• Facebook
• X
• Instagram
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Reddit
• Pinterest
• Spotify, and available wherever you listen to podcasts

Click here to subscribe to Aging-US publication updates.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

---

Journal

Aging-US

DOI

10.18632/aging.206373 

Method of Research

News article

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

The BHARAT study: a multi-modal, multi-omics investigation of aging signatures in the Indian population

Article Publication Date

24-Apr-2026

COI Statement

DKS is a scientific advisor for Biopeak Wellness and the Founder of Rejuvome Therapeutics. These companies have no role in the current study design. None of the industry partners has any role in the study design or interpretation. Other academic authors have no conflicts to declare.