ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Our study sought to further characterize patterns of medical cannabis use in elderly cancer patients. Furthermore, we sought to assess efficacy of medical cannabis for the treatment of pain, nausea, anorexia, insomnia and anxiety in elderly cancer patients. BACKGROUND: Medical cannabis use is growing for symptom management in cancer patients, but limited data exists on the safety or efficacy of use in elderly patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review assessing changes in numerical symptom scores reported at clinic visits before and after medical cannabis initiation. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in pain, nausea, appetite, insomnia or anxiety scores reported before and after initiation of medical cannabis. Oil was the most common form used, followed by vape, and the most common ratios used were high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cannabidiol (CBD) and equal parts THC/CBD products. CONCLUSION: This study did not find a statistically significant change in symptom scores with medical cannabis use, although further study is warranted given the limitations of the present study. Elderly patients most commonly are using equal parts THC/CBD or high THC ratio products initially.
Subject(s)
Cannabidiol , Cannabis , Medical Marijuana , Neoplasms , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Humans , Aged , Medical Marijuana/therapeutic use , Retrospective Studies , Pain , Nausea/drug therapy , Neoplasms/complications , Neoplasms/therapy , Dronabinol/adverse effectsSubject(s)
Galectin 3/blood , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/blood , Biomarkers/blood , Blood Proteins , Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation , Follow-Up Studies , Galectins , Humans , New York/epidemiology , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/mortality , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/therapy , Predictive Value of Tests , Prospective Studies , Survival Rate/trendsABSTRACT
A 26-year-old man with a medical history of gout and morbid obesity presented with a 7-day history of decreased sensation to light touch and temperature from the feet to the level of the nipples. He also noted incomplete voiding. Laboratory investigations showed an elevated serum uric acid level (10.4 mg/dL, reference range: 3.8-8.7 mg/dL) as well as negative rapid plasma reagin and rheumatoid factor. MRI showed inflammatory changes on multiple spinal levels. Laminectomy was performed, with follow-up biopsy revealing multiple multinucleated giant cells and monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. He was ultimately diagnosed with spinal gout. Patient's symptoms did not resolve immediately after surgery. Yet with the administration of intravenous glucocorticoids and a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, he slowly regained sensation, leaving the hospital with complete resolution of symptoms.
