Assessment of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in saliva and blood after oral administration of medical cannabis with respect to its effect on driving abilities.

Medical cannabis has recently been legalized in many countries, and it is currently prescribed with increasing frequency, particularly for treatment of chronic pain resistant to conventional therapy. The psychoactive substance delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) contained in cannabis may affect driving abilities. Therefore, the aims of this study (open-label, monocentric, nonrandomized) were to evaluate blood and saliva concentrations of THC after oral administration of medical cannabis and to assess the time needed for THC levels to decline below a value ensuring legal driving. The study involved 20 patients with documented chronic pain using long-term medical cannabis therapy. They were divided into two groups and treated with two different doses of cannabis in the form of gelatin capsules (62.5 mg or 125 mg). In all patients, the amount of THC was assessed in saliva and in blood at pre-defined time intervals before and after administration. THC levels in saliva were detected at zero in all subjects following administration of both doses at all-time intervals after administration. Assessment of THC levels in blood, however, showed positive findings in one subject 9 h after administration of the lower dose and in one patient who had been given a higher dose 7 h after administration. Our finding suggested that for an unaffected ability to drive, at least 9-10 h should elapse from the last cannabis use.

[How is the Czech oocyte donor? The analysis of their profile]. / Jaká je ceská dárkyne oocytu?Analýza profilu.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate (a) the basic socio-demographic characteristics of Czech oocytes donors, (b) their attitudes towards anonymous or nonanonymous donation and (c) their motivations to donate oocytes. DESIGN: Original article. SETTING: Clinic of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology Zlin. METHODS: A total of 215 oocytes donors participated in this study, which was undertaken in years 2015-2016. The data were obtained by an anonymous questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyzed the data. CONCLUSION: The results show that (a) mean age of oocytes donors was 26 years. Single women (60%) with secondary level education (57%) prevailed. More than half of them (55%) had at least one child on their own. About 39% of donors were fully employed, 29% women on maternity leave and 16% students. (b) For the majority of participants the anonymity is very important. Almost 55% of oocyte donors prefer to stay in anonymity and 20% were not sure. In case that anonymity would be abolished, only 20% of the Czech oocyte donors would be willing to donate. There were no differences based on education (p = 0,358), age (p = 0,112), marital (p = 0,741) and maternal status (p = 0,691). (c) The main motivation to donation was altruism (helping infertile people), no less important factors were the finantial motivation and the testing own fertility. The altruistic motivation to donate was significantly related to the wish to remain anonymous (p = 0,0002). CONCLUSION: The typical Czech oocyte donor is young, mainly altruistic woman with her own child who wants to stay in anonymous relation to the couple whom she is helping as well as to the possible genetic offspring.