Bianca Martin

All Publications

• LUMBAR Syndrome State-Of-The-Art Review: Insights Into a Rare and Complex Condition. Pediatric dermatology Martin, B., Bui, J. K., Corpin, A., Siegel, D. H., Metry, D. W. 2025

  Abstract

  LUMBAR syndrome is a rare condition with natural history and long-term outcomes that have not been well described. This acronym represents the constellation of features associated with the condition: Lower body hemangiomas with Urogenital anomalies and Ulceration, spinal cord Malformations, Bony defects of the spine and lower extremities, and Anorectal, Arterial, and/or Renal anomalies. The associated infantile hemangioma is the most notable feature, which occurs in a segmental pattern affecting the lower half of the body. Recent publications have described the clinical features of LUMBAR syndrome, its overlap with other lower body syndromes, and, notably, a landmark paper establishing diagnostic criteria through Delphi consensus. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the clinical features, diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, treatment options, and outcomes associated with LUMBAR syndrome.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/pde.70024

  View details for PubMedID 40963452

• The Role of Prenatal Exposures in LUMBAR Syndrome Martin, B., Siegel, D. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2025: e12

  View details for Web of Science ID 001549725200042

• Attitudes Regarding Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Among Peer Recovery Coaches JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE Suzuki, J., Loguidice, F., Martin, B. 2023; 17 (1): 101-103

  Abstract

  A growing number of individuals are employed as peer recovery coaches to mentor, support, and educate those in recovery. Despite the robust evidence base for the benefits of medications for treating opioid use disorder (OUD), prior research has identified peers in recovery to hold both positive and negative attitudes toward medications for OUD (MOUDs). We aimed to survey peer recovery coaches in Massachusetts about their attitudes toward working with individuals utilizing MOUDs.All 202 individuals certified as peer recovery coaches in Massachusetts were invited to participate in a brief, anonymous online survey between August and October 2020. The survey collected the respondents' age, sex, certification year, duration of employment as a coach, personal history of substance use disorders, and MOUD treatment.A total of 129 responses were received, representing a 63.9% response rate. Eighty-six (64.3%) reported a personal history of OUD, of whom 64 (74.4%) reported prior MOUD treatment. The majority held positive views about MOUDs, endorsing them as appropriate treatments to achieve sobriety. Coaches with personal history of MOUDs were more likely to report enjoying working with patients on methadone. Coaches without any personal history of OUD or MOUDs were older, more likely to have an alcohol use disorder, and more likely to encourage drug-free treatments before MOUDs and shorter duration of MOUD treatment.Results indicate that peer recovery coaches in Massachusetts hold generally positive attitudes toward MOUDs, but those without any personal history of OUD or MOUDs may be less likely to encourage MOUD treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001025

  View details for Web of Science ID 000925900700029

  View details for PubMedID 35914085

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9889565

• Cannabidiol Effect on Cue-Induced Craving for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder Treated with Buprenorphine: A Small Proof-of-Concept Open-Label Study INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE REPORTS Suzuki, J., Martin, B., Prostko, S., Chai, P. R., Weiss, R. D. 2022; 1 (1): 157-163

  Abstract

  Opioid use disorder (OUD) remains a major public health concern. Despite the use of medications for OUD such as buprenorphine, the current gold-standard treatment, relapse in the context of increased craving remains common. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to reduce cue-induced craving in individuals with OUD, but among those who were not receiving any buprenorphine treatment. This small proof-of-concept open-label study sought to evaluate the effect of CBD on cue-induced craving among individuals with OUD who were being actively treated with buprenorphine.Participants (n = 5) received CBD (Epidiolex®) 600 mg once daily for 3 consecutive days in an open-label manner. Primary outcome was cue-induced craving measured on a visual analog scale of 0 to 10, calculated as the difference in craving in response to drug-related versus neutral cues. The cue-reactivity paradigm was performed at baseline before CBD administration, and was repeated after 3 days of CBD. Secondary outcomes included scores on depression, anxiety, pain, opioid withdrawal, and side effects.All participants were actively taking buprenorphine for an average of 37.8 months (range 1-120 months). Cue-induced craving was significantly lower after CBD dosing compared with baseline (0.4 vs. 3.2, paired t-test, p = 0.0046). No significant changes in scores for depression, anxiety, pain, or opioid withdrawal were noted. CBD was well tolerated, although one participant experienced moderate sedation; otherwise, no other adverse effects were reported.Given the high risk for bias in a small uncontrolled open label study such as this, results must be interpreted with caution. A larger adequately powered trial with a suitable control group is needed to confirm the finding that CBD may help to reduce cue-induced craving among individuals with OUD currently on buprenorphine treatment. Research should further evaluate whether adjunctive use of CBD can improve clinical outcomes for individuals with OUD maintained on buprenorphine. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04192370).

  View details for DOI 10.1089/imr.2022.0070

  View details for Web of Science ID 001285462900003

  View details for PubMedID 36105269

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9462449

• Smartphone Ownership, Smartphone Utilization, and Interest in Using Mental Health Apps to Address Substance Use Disorders: Literature Review and Cross-sectional Survey Study Across Two Sites JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH Hsu, M., Martin, B., Ahmed, S., Torous, J., Suzuki, J. 2022; 6 (7): e38684

  Abstract

  In recent years, there has been increasing interest in implementing digital technologies to diagnose, monitor, and intervene in substance use disorders. Smartphones are now a vehicle for facilitating telepsychiatry visits, measuring health metrics, and communicating with health care professionals. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the movement toward web-based and hybrid clinic visits and meetings, it has become especially salient to assess phone ownership among individuals with substance use disorders and their comfort in navigating phone functionality and using phones for mental health purposes.The aims of this study were to summarize the current literature around smartphone ownership, smartphone utilization, and the acceptability of using smartphones for mental health purposes and assess these variables across two disparate substance use treatment sites.We performed a focused literature review via a search of two academic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) for publications since 2007 on the topics of smartphone ownership, smartphone utilization, and the acceptability of using mobile apps for mental health purposes among the substance use population. Additionally, we conducted a cross-sectional survey study that included 51 participants across two sites in New England-an inpatient detoxification unit that predominantly treats patients with alcohol use disorder and an outpatient methadone maintenance treatment clinic.Prior studies indicated that mobile phone ownership among the substance use population between 2013 and 2019 ranged from 83% to 94%, while smartphone ownership ranged from 57% to 94%. The results from our study across the two sites indicated 96% (49/51) mobile phone ownership and 92% (47/51) smartphone ownership among the substance use population. Although most (43/49, 88%) patients across both sites reported currently using apps on their phone, a minority (19/48, 40%) reported previously using any apps for mental health purposes. More than half of the participants reported feeling at least neutrally comfortable with a mental health app gathering information regarding appointment reminders (32/48, 67%), medication reminders (33/48, 69%), and symptom surveys (26/45, 58%). Most patients were concerned about privacy (34/51, 67%) and felt uncomfortable with an app gathering location (29/47, 62%) and social (27/47, 57%) information for health care purposes.The majority of respondents reported owning a mobile phone (49/51, 96%) and smartphone (47/51, 92%), consistent with prior studies. Many respondents felt comfortable with mental health apps gathering most forms of personal information and with communicating with their clinician about their mental health. The differential results from the two sites, namely greater concerns about the cost of mental health apps among the methadone maintenance treatment cohort and less experience with downloading apps among the older inpatient detoxification cohort, may indicate that clinicians should tailor technological interventions based on local demographics and practice sites and that there is likely not a one-size-fits-all digital psychiatry solution.

  View details for DOI 10.2196/38684

  View details for Web of Science ID 000854081500010

  View details for PubMedID 35797102

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9305402

• Reported drug allergies among patients with opioid use disorder Role for allergy evaluation and intervention ANNALS OF ALLERGY ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY Li, L., Martin, B., Price, C., Suzuki, J., Laidlaw, T. M. 2021; 126 (4): 433-435

  View details for Web of Science ID 000641844200018

  View details for PubMedID 33387617

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8210817

• "Pain is Subjective": A Mixed-Methods Study of Provider Attitudes and Practices Regarding Pain Management in Sickle Cell Disease Across Three Countries JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT Stewart, K. A., Parshad-Asnani, M., Wonkam, A., Bollinger, J., Bitoungui, V., Wonkam-Tingang, E., Powell, J., Desronvil, K., Benson, K. R. K., Clark, A., Katz, M., Martin, B., Peterseim, C., Williams, C., Young, N., Shah, N., Tanabe, P., Babyak, M., Royal, C. D. M. 2021; 61 (3): 474-487

  Abstract

  Sickle cell disease (SCD), an autosomal recessive blood disorder, affects millions of people worldwide. Approximately 80% of all cases are located in Africa.This cross-national, interdisciplinary, collaborative study investigated provider attitudes about, and practices for, managing (assessing and treating) SCD pain.We conducted 111 quantitative surveys and 52 semistructured interviews with health-care providers caring for adults and/or children with SCD in Cameroon, Jamaica, and the U.S.Applying Haywood's scale for assessing SCD provider attitudes, the Jamaica site scored lower on "Negative Attitudes" than the Cameroonian and U.S. sites (P = 0.03 and <0.001, respectively). Providers at the U.S. site scored lower on "Positive Attitudes" than other sites (P < 0.001). "Red Flag" scores at the Cameroon sites were lower than at other sites (P < 0.001). Qualitative results across all three sites describe the current practices for SCD pain management, as well as the challenges surrounding management for health providers, including pain subjectivity, patient-provider and parent-provider relationships, resource availability, perceptions of drug-seeking behavior, and adherence. Providers also spontaneously offered solutions to reported challenges.Overall, findings reveal that SCD provider attitudes toward their patients differed across sites, yet at all three sites, treating SCD pain is multidimensional.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.08.029

  View details for Web of Science ID 000621206400007

  View details for PubMedID 32889040

• Feasibility and Safety of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy in Conjunction With Addiction Treatment for People Who Inject Drugs JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES Price, C. N., Solomon, D. A., Johnson, J. A., Montgomery, M. W., Martin, B., Suzuki, J. 2020; 222: S494-S498

  Abstract

  Research is limited on combining outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) with addiction treatment for people who inject drugs (PWID) with serious infections.This is a retrospective study of PWID (n = 68) requiring intravenous antibiotics evaluated for suitability for our OPAT program with concurrent addiction treatment.Most common infections were bacteremia and/or endocarditis (73.5%), bone and/or joint infections (32.4%), and epidural abscess (22.1%). Of the 20 patients (29.4%) who qualified, 100.0% completed the course of antibiotics, 30.0% experienced a 30-day readmission, and 15.0% relapsed. No overdoses, deaths, or peripherally inserted central catheter-line complications were reported.Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy with addiction treatment may be feasible and safe for PWID with serious infections.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/infdis/jiaa025

  View details for Web of Science ID 000584526700031

  View details for PubMedID 32877541

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7566637

• Impact of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder on Discharge Against Medical Advice Among People Who Inject Drugs Hospitalized for Infective Endocarditis AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS Suzuki, J., Robinson, D., Mosquera, M., Solomon, D. A., Montgomery, M. W., Price, C. D., Johnson, J. A., Martin, B., Liebschutz, J. W., Schnipper, J. L., Weiss, R. D. 2020; 29 (2): 155-159

  Abstract

  The impact of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) on against medical advice (AMA) discharges among people who inject drugs (PWID) hospitalized for endocarditis is unknown.A retrospective review of all PWID hospitalized for endocarditis at our institution between 2016 and 2018 (n = 84).PWID engaged with MOUD at admission, compared with those who were not, were less likely to be discharged AMA but this did not reach statistical significance in adjusted analysis (odds ratio [OR], 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.033-1.41; P  = .11). Among out-of-treatment individuals, newly initiating MOUD did not lead to significantly fewer AMA discharges (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.26-3.7; P = .98).PWID hospitalized for endocarditis are at high risk for discharge AMA but more research is needed to understand the impact of MOUD. (Am J Addict 2020;29:155-159).

  View details for DOI 10.1111/ajad.13000

  View details for Web of Science ID 000506649200001

  View details for PubMedID 31930608

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7035155

• Sexual Orientation, Religious Coping, and Drug Use in a Sample of HIV-Infected African-American Men Living in the Southern USA JOURNAL OF RELIGION & HEALTH Skalski, L. M., Martin, B., Meade, C. S. 2019; 58 (4): 1368-1381

  Abstract

  Religiosity and spirituality are associated with reduced drug use in the general population, but it is unclear whether this relationship generalizes to sexual minorities. This study investigated the relationship between religious coping, drug use, and sexual orientation in a sample of HIV-infected African-American men (40 heterosexuals; 64 sexual minorities). Most participants (76%) reported being "moderately" or "very" religious. We found no main effect of religious coping or sexual orientation on frequency of drug use. However, there was an interaction between positive religious coping and sexual orientation. Among heterosexuals, positive religious coping was inversely associated with frequency of drug use. However, this relationship was not significant among sexual minorities. Findings suggest HIV-infected African-American sexual minorities living in the South may need additional coping resources to decrease vulnerability to drug use.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10943-019-00791-0

  View details for Web of Science ID 000474476400025

  View details for PubMedID 30911875

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6666393

• A Comparison of Motivations for Marijuana Use in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Adults AIDS AND BEHAVIOR Towe, S. L., Horton, O. E., Martin, B., Meade, C. S. 2018; 22 (9): 2807-2814

  Abstract

  While medicinal marijuana use is common among persons with HIV, it is not known whether persons with HIV are more motivated to use marijuana medically compared to HIV-negative counterparts. This study examined motivations for marijuana use in a sample of 94 HIV+ and HIV- adults. Participants used marijuana 21.27 days in the last 30 days on average. HIV+ participants reported using marijuana for medical reasons more often than HIV- participants, but HIV+ and HIV- participants did not differ in other domains. Problematic marijuana use was associated with motives, regardless of HIV status. Motives were associated with mental and physical health functioning, but there were no interactions between motivations and HIV status. Overall this study found that motivations were similar for HIV+ and HIV- participants. Future research including qualitative work to further understand motivations would benefit the field, as would research examining the effectiveness of marijuana in treating physical symptoms.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10461-018-2123-4

  View details for Web of Science ID 000440722600006

  View details for PubMedID 29704162

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6076848