Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Medicine and Health Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Quadruple Convergence – Rising Cannabis Prevalence, Intensity, Concentration And Use Disorder Treatment, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse Jan 2021

Quadruple Convergence – Rising Cannabis Prevalence, Intensity, Concentration And Use Disorder Treatment, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In collating and synthesizing several data sources on cannabis exposure, Manthey and colleagues have elegantly compiled a foundational resource for subsequent epidemiological studies on cannabis use [1]. The study includes an impressive body of evidence on cannabis use prevalence (in the month and year prior to interview), high risk cannabis use (daily or near daily), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC—the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis) concentration in European cannabis herb and processed resin (cannabis concentrates), and treatment demand for Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). All four domains studied show a modest to dramatic increases across 2010-2019.


Causal Inference Multiple Imputation Investigation Of The Impact Of Cannabinoids And Other Substances On Ethnic Differentials In Us Testicular Cancer Incidence, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse Jan 2021

Causal Inference Multiple Imputation Investigation Of The Impact Of Cannabinoids And Other Substances On Ethnic Differentials In Us Testicular Cancer Incidence, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Ethnic differences in testicular cancer rates (TCRs) are recognized internationally. Cannabis is a known risk factor for testicular cancer (TC) in multiple studies with dose-response effects demonstrated, however the interaction between ancestral and environmental mutagenic effects has not been characterized. We examined the effects of this presumed gene-environment interaction across US states. Methods: State based TCR was downloaded from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) website via SEERStat. Drug use data for cigarettes, alcohol use disorder, analgesics, cannabis and cocaine was taken from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health a nationally representative study conducted annually by …


Identification And Characterisation Of Putative Drug Binding Sites In Human Atp-Binding Cassette B5 (Abcb5) Transporter, Lokeswari P. Tangella, Mahreen Arooj, Evelyne Deplazes, Elin S. Gray, Ricardo L. Mancera Jan 2021

Identification And Characterisation Of Putative Drug Binding Sites In Human Atp-Binding Cassette B5 (Abcb5) Transporter, Lokeswari P. Tangella, Mahreen Arooj, Evelyne Deplazes, Elin S. Gray, Ricardo L. Mancera

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Author(s) The human ATP-binding cassette B5 (ABCB5) transporter, a member of the ABC transporter superfamily, is linked to chemoresistance in tumour cells by drug effluxion. However, little is known about its structure and drug-binding sites. In this study, we generated an atomistic model of the full-length human ABCB5 transporter with the highest quality using the X-ray crystal structure of mouse ABCB1 (Pgp1), a close homologue of ABCB5 and a well-studied member of the ABC family. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to validate the atomistic model of ABCB5 and characterise its structural properties in model cell membranes. Molecular …


Positive Drug Stories: Possibilities For Agency And Positive Subjectivity For Harm Reduction, Liam B. Engel, Stephen J. Bright, Monica J. Barratt, Matthew M. Allen Jan 2021

Positive Drug Stories: Possibilities For Agency And Positive Subjectivity For Harm Reduction, Liam B. Engel, Stephen J. Bright, Monica J. Barratt, Matthew M. Allen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

People who use drugs understand drugs and drug use in ways that are often different to the way knowledge of drug use is constructed within the dominant medico-legal discourse. Their experiences are, more often than not, represented in negative ways within dominant discourse, a disconnect that can create adverse consequences for people who use drugs, through the production of stigma and shame leading to poor health and social outcomes. A key difference in how drugs are understood by people who use drugs is the capacity of the former to recognize positive aspects of drug use and create more agentic subjectivities …


Cannabinoid Exposure As A Major Driver Of Pediatric Acute Lymphoid Leukaemia Rates Across The Usa: Combined Geospatial, Multiple Imputation And Causal Inference Study, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary K. Hulse Jan 2021

Cannabinoid Exposure As A Major Driver Of Pediatric Acute Lymphoid Leukaemia Rates Across The Usa: Combined Geospatial, Multiple Imputation And Causal Inference Study, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary K. Hulse

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) is the commonest childhood cancer whose incidence is rising in many nations. In the USA, between 1975 and 2016, ALL rates (ALLRs) rose 93.51% from 1.91 to 3.70/100,000 < 20 years. ALL is more common in Caucasian-Americans than amongst minorities. The cause of both the rise and the ethnic differential is unclear, however, prenatal cannabis exposure was previously linked with elevated childhood leukaemia rates. We investigated epidemiologically if cannabis use impacted nationally on ALLRs, its ethnic effects, and if the relationship was causal. Methods: State data on overall, and ethnic ALLR from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results databank of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) were combined with drug (cigarettes, alcoholism, cannabis, analgesics, cocaine) use data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health; 74.1% response rate. Income and ethnicity data was from the US Census bureau. Cannabinoid concentration was from the Drug Enforcement Agency Data. Data was analyzed in R by robust and spatiotemporal regression. Results: In bivariate analyses a dose-response relationship was demonstrated between ALLR and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), cocaine and cannabis exposure, with the effect of cannabis being strongest (β-estimate = 3.33(95%C.I. 1.97, 4.68), P = 1.92 × 10− 6). A strong effect of cannabis use quintile on ALLR was noted (Chi.Sq. = 613.79, P = 3.04 × 10− 70). In inverse probability weighted robust regression adjusted for other substances, income and ethnicity, cannabis was independently significant (β-estimate = 4.75(0.48, 9.02), P = 0.0389). In a spatiotemporal model adjusted for all drugs, income, and ethnicity, cannabigerol exposure was significant (β-estimate = 0.26(0.01, 0.52), P = 0.0444), an effect increased by spatial lagging (THC: β-estimate = 0.47(0.12, 0.82), P = 0.0083). After missing data imputation ethnic cannabis exposure was significant (β-estimate = 0.64(0.55, 0.72), P = 3.1 × 10− 40). 33/35 minimum e-Values ranged from 1.25 to 3.94 × 1036 indicative of a causal relationship. Relaxation of cannabis legal paradigms had higher ALLR (Chi.Squ.Trend = 775.12, P = 2.14 × 10− 112). Cannabis legal states had higher ALLR (2.395 ± 0.039 v. 2.127 ± 0.008 / 100,000, P = 5.05 × 10− 10). Conclusions: Data show that ALLR is associated with cannabis consumption across space-time, is associated with the cannabinoids, THC, cannabigerol, cannabinol, cannabichromene, and cannabidiol, contributes to ethnic differentials, demonstrates prominent quintile effects, satisfies criteria for causality and is exacerbated by cannabis legalization.


Effect Of Goji Berry On The Formation Of Extracellular Senile Plaques Of Alzheimer's Disease, Warnakulasuriya M. A. D. B. Fernando, Ke Dong, Rosalie Durham, Regine Stockmann, Vijay Jayasena Jan 2021

Effect Of Goji Berry On The Formation Of Extracellular Senile Plaques Of Alzheimer's Disease, Warnakulasuriya M. A. D. B. Fernando, Ke Dong, Rosalie Durham, Regine Stockmann, Vijay Jayasena

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and a major source of morbidity and mortality. Currently, no therapy nor drug can cure or modify AD progression, but recent studies suggest that nutritional compounds in certain foods can delay or prevent the onset of AD. Diets with high antioxidants is one of the examples which is believed to influence AD pathogenesis through direct effect on amyloid beta levels. Compared to other fruits and vegetables, goji berry (GB) has high levels of polyphenolic substances with antioxidant activities which have shown some positive effects on cognitive function while its mechanism …