At present, there is a great emphasis of public opinion on the legalisation of medical marijuana, i.e. the top parts of the cannabis plants rich in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Nevertheless, in the cannabis plants, there are many various cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD). Scientific reports to-date indicate the possibility for using pharmacologically active cannabinoids in the treatment of such diseases/symptoms as: anorexia, vomiting, neuropathic pain, inflammatory diseases, multiple sclerosis, degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome), epilepsy, schizophrenia, and obesity. The article presents up-to-date information on the results of experimental studies concerning the effectiveness of cannabinoids, with particular consideration of diseases related with the central nervous system, including epilepsy, neuropathic pain, mental disorders, as well as obesity and anorexia.
Background. The aim of this work was to assess social functioning of elderly people living in rural areas. Material and methods. The authors used own interview questionnaire to collect the data. The study was conducted in 504 citizens, older than 65 years, from eight villages. Results. Women were more frequently widowed than men, had low educational level and lived alone. As most responses showed (51.98%), the received benefits did not cover the respondents’ current needs and 5.95% of them claimed that they were insufficient. The remaining respondents, i.e. 42.06%, stated that the available resources fulfilled their needs. The respondents would also point to family’s aid (n=411; 81.55%) or spouse’s aid (n=147; 29.56%). Only 37 people benefited from social care (n=504; 7.34%), of which 24 (64.86%) claimed that the help provided by social care was insufficient. Conclusions. Old women in rural areas tend to live alone more frequently, are widowed and have lower level of education than men. The received financial benefits do not fully cover current needs of older residents of rural areas regardless of sex. Among people of over 65 years living in rural areas, the majority (81.55%) would point to family support and only 2.18% indicated social care as a source of income.
The aim of the present study was to characterize the anticonvulsant effects of levetiracetam in combination with ethosuximide in the mouse 6 Hz psychomotor seizure model. Limbic (psychomotor) seizure activity was evoked in albino Swiss mice by a current (32 mA, 6 Hz, 3 s stimulus duration) delivered via ocular electrodes; type II isobolographic analysis was used to characterize the consequent anticonvulsant interactions between the drug combinations for fixed-ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:5 and 1:10. With type II isobolographic analysis, the combinations of levetiracetam with ethosuximide for the fixed-ratios of 1:5 and 1:10 were supra-additive (synergistic; P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) in terms of seizure suppression, while the combinations for the fixed-ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 were additive in the mouse 6 Hz psychomotor seizure model. The combinations of levetiracetam with ethosuximide for the fixed-ratios of 1:5 and 1:10 appear to be particularly favorable combinations exerting supra-additive interaction in the mouse 6 Hz psychomotor seizure model. Finally, it may be concluded that because of the synergistic interactions between levetiracetam and ethosuximide, the combination might be useful in clinical practice.
Background. Cancer is the second most common cause of morbidity and mortality in Poland and breast cancer is the most frequent malignant neoplasm occurring in Polish women. The aim of this paper is to analyse life satisfaction in women after mastectomy. Material and methods. The pilot study comprised of women with breast cancer after mastectomy and women in a good overall health. Results. On the basis of the conducted studies, it may be stated that women after mastectomy have a similar life satisfaction level as healthy individuals. The statistically relevant differences have been obtained only in some subscales related to leisure time, residence and parenting attitude. Conclusions. More detailed studies are required to elucidate some subtle differences in life satisfaction between women after a mastectomy and healthy women.