Development of a Vaping Machine for the Sampling of THC and CBD Aerosols Generated by Two Portable Dry Herb Cannabis Vaporisers.

Cannabis sativa is known for its recreational use, but also for its therapeutic potential. There has been wide discussion over the use of cannabis for medical purposes in recent years, especially because a consensus has not been reached regarding its risk/benefit balance. Among the more common modes of administration, vaping with a vaporiser is most frequently used for self-medication. Vaping seems to be a better alternative to preventing adverse health effects due to toxic compounds produced during combustion when cannabis is smoked. However, the delivery kinetics and efficiency of most portable vaporisers are not fully characterised with an appropriate vaping regime. This determination requires a specific vaping machine operating under realistic puffing conditions. In this study, a vaping machine was conceived to fit with the common uses of portable vaporisers that requires conditions different from those used for electronic cigarettes. The experimental setup in this study was optimised to sample aerosolised cannabinoids. The delivery kinetics, efficiency, and decarboxylation yields of two commercially available vaporisers (DaVinci® and Mighty Medic®) were evaluated for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Among all tested sampling supports, the glass fibre filter is the most efficient medium to collect mixed THC and CBD aerosols. From the delivery kinetics of cannabinoids, a single-parameter model was used to calculate the extraction coefficient of each vaporiser. The results show that the Mighty Medic® vaporiser had a higher extraction coefficient (0.39) and a more immediate release of cannabinoids than the DaVinci® vaporiser (0.16), which had a gradual and slower rate of vaporisation. This parameter could be a quantitative input in pharmacokinetic models of administration of volatile compounds using vaporisers and a useful tool for the comparison of vaporisers.

Fine Manual Dexterity Assessment After Autologous Neural Cell Ecosystem (ANCE) Transplantation in a Non-human Primate Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Background. Autologous neural cell ecosystem (ANCE) transplantation improves motor recovery in MPTP monkeys. These motor symptoms were assessed using semi-quantitative clinical rating scales, widely used in many studies. However, limitations in terms of sensitivity, combined with relatively subjective assessment of their different items, make inter-study comparisons difficult to achieve. Objective. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of MPTP intoxication in macaque monkeys on manual dexterity and assess whether ANCE can contribute to functional recovery. Methods. Four animals were trained to perform 2 manual dexterity tasks. After reaching a motor performance plateau, the animals were subjected to an MPTP lesion. After the occurrence of a spontaneous functional recovery plateau, all 4 animals were subjected to ANCE transplantation. Results. Two of 4 animals underwent a full spontaneous recovery before the ANCE transplantation, whereas the 2 other animals (symptomatic) presented moderate to severe Parkinson's disease (PD)-like symptoms affecting manual dexterity. The time to grasp small objects using the precision grip increased in these 2 animals. After ANCE transplantation, the 2 symptomatic animals underwent a significant functional recovery, reflected by a decrease in time to execute the different tasks, as compared with the post-lesion phase. Conclusions. Manual dexterity is affected in symptomatic MPTP monkeys. The 2 manual dexterity tasks reported here as pilot are pertinent to quantify PD symptoms and reliably assess a treatment in MPTP monkeys, such as the present ANCE transplantation, to be confirmed in a larger cohort of animals before future clinical applications.

[Pseudotumor cerebri secondary to consumption of minocycline in a pediatric patient]. / Pseudotumor cerebral secundario al consumo de minociclina en un paciente pediátrico.

Pseudotumor cerebri is a syndrome characterized by an elevated intracranial pressure greater than 20 cmH2O with ventricles and cerebrospinal fluid of normal characteristics. Consumption of minocycline have been described among the causes associated with this syndrome. We present a 13-year old female patient with a history of acne treated with minocycline who began with severe headache, diplopia and blurred vision. The diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri was made, indicating the immediate antibiotic suspension and the beginning of the treatment with acetazolamide. Although the pathogenesis of pseudotumor cerebri is not fully known, an association with minocycline has been observed. This antibiotic is often used by health professionals for the management of acne, so it is important to consider its complications before being prescribed.

El pseudotumor cerebral se caracteriza por una elevación de la presión intracraneal mayor de 20 cmH2O, con ventrículos y líquido cefalorraquídeo de características normales. El consumo de minociclina es una de las causas asociadas a este síndrome. Presentamos una paciente de 13 años de edad con antecedentes de acné tratado con minociclina. Comenzó con cefalea intensa, diplopía y visión borrosa. Se constató el diagnóstico de pseudotumor cerebral y se indicó la suspensión inmediata del antibiótico y el inicio del tratamiento con acetazolamida. Aunque la patogénesis de pseudotumor cerebral no es totalmente conocida, se ha observado una asociación con el empleo de minociclina. Este antibiótico es de uso frecuente para el manejo del acné, por lo que es importante considerar sus complicaciones antes de ser prescrito.

Pseudotumor cerebral secundario al consumo de minociclina en un paciente pediátrico / Pseudotumor cerebri secondary to consumption of minocycline in a pediatric patient

El pseudotumor cerebral se caracteriza por una elevación de la presión intracraneal mayor de 20 cmH2O, con ventrículos y líquido cefalorraquídeo de características normales. El consumo de minociclina es una de las causas asociadas a este síndrome. Presentamos una paciente de 13 años de edad con antecedentes de acné tratado con minociclina. Comenzó con cefalea intensa, diplopía y visión borrosa. Se constató el diagnóstico de pseudotumor cerebral y se indicó la suspensión inmediata del antibiótico y el inicio del tratamiento con acetazolamida. Aunque la patogénesis de pseudotumor cerebral no es totalmente conocida, se ha observado una asociación con el empleo de minociclina. Este antibiótico es de uso frecuente para el manejo del acné, por lo que es importante considerar sus complicaciones antes de ser prescrito.

Pseudotumor cerebri is a syndrome characterized by an elevated intracranial pressure greater than 20 cmH2O with ventricles and cerebrospinal fluid of normal characteristics. Consumption of minocycline have been described among the causes associated with this syndrome. We present a 13-year old female patient with a history of acne treated with minocycline who began with severe headache, diplopia and blurred vision. The diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri was made, indicating the immediate antibiotic suspension and the beginning of the treatment with acetazolamide. Although the pathogenesis of pseudotumor cerebri is not fully known, an association with minocycline has been observed. This antibiotic is often used by health professionals for the management of acne, so it is important to consider its complications before being prescribed.