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Cannabis has a multitude of properties and many potentialities, especially in the treatment of various disorders and chronic pain. Now authorized in many countries for therapeutic purposes, an experiment is currently underway in France on the use of cannabis for medical use validated by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM). Among its many best-known compounds are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major addictive psychotropic drug, and cannabidiol (CBD), non-addictive, not covered by narcotics legislation, which is the subject of a real craze, but which also has psychoactive effects that deserve to be known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L’incivisme en milieu scolaire est l’un des phénomènes actuels qui constituent un véritable poison qui infecte et affecte le travail dans le milieu scolaire au Burkina Faso et précisément dans l’arrondissement 6 de la commune de Ouagadougou. Malgré l’effort de l’autorité et de ses partenaires dans la lutte contre le fléau, on assiste chaque jour à toutes sortes de déviance, de malversation entre les acteurs dans les enceintes scolaires. Les manifestations vont du manque de respect de l’autorité de l’enseignant jusqu’aux assassinats en passant par la prise de stupéfiants. L’objectif de ce travail est donc d’analyser les origines de ce phénomène qui paraît bien s’installer majestueusement dans le milieu scolaire en général et bien entendu ici, dans les établissements scolaires du primaire et du post-primaire de l’arrondissement 6 de la commune de Ouagadougou. Pour appréhender les représentations sociales et comprendre la raison fondamentale de l’existence et de la persistance du phénomène, la méthode mixte (qualitative et quantitative) a été privilégiée. Ainsi, il ressort de l’analyse que l’incivisme est une donnée anthropologique fondamentale qui paraît être un sujet de l’histoire et il faut le penser comme liberté. L’étude a surtout montré que les mobiles du phénomène sont divers et sont à rechercher dans les facteurs administratif, institutionnel, pédagogique, psychologique et social. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: Nous rapportons le cas d'un jeune homme de 19 ans ayant ingéré un raticide, l'alphachloralose, et présentant un toxidrome compatible avec cette intoxication. L'analyse toxicologique des urines et du lavage d'estomac rapporte néanmoins l'ingestion de plusieurs toxiques (amphétamines, cannabis et benzodiazépines). Un suivi psychiatrique et une prise en charge en adddictologie ont ainsi pu être mis en place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents Pharmacovigilance briefs, which includes Opioid hypogonadism, a frequent and often side effect unrecognized Opiates, whether used as analgesics or as a treatment substitution, can be responsible for hypogonadism. The prevalence of hypogonadism varied by 19 percent at 86 percent during treatment with a opioid analgesic for pain non-cancerous depending on the threshold testosterone used to defi ne hypogonadism.

Introduction: In toxicology, vitreous humor is used mainly for ethanol determinations, and more recently in studies focusing on drug determinations and correlation of concentrations with other matrices. Objectives: Our goal was to establish different cases where vitreous humor may be useful in forensic toxicology. Previous studies were referenced to know which drugs (licit or illicit) can or cannot be detected. Here, we discuss the results obtained in different studies and describe cases analyzed in our laboratory where vitreous humor results were useful for case interpretation. Methods: Vitreous humor was screened for alcohol, amphetamine, cocaine, opiates, cannabinoids and psychoactive drugs. Results: Amphetamines are easily detected in vitreous humor with no post-mortem changes. Opiates poorly distribute into vitreous humor, but the half-life of 6-monoacetylmorphine was reported to be longer in vitreous humor than in blood. Cocaine and benzoylecgonine can be found in vitreous humor. On the contrary, cannabinoids are not detectable in vitreous humor. Conclusion: Vitreous humor has advantages over other matrices in terms of stability and it is relatively exempt from post-mortem redistribution. However, interest is limited by the lack of data for most drugs. Literature is scarce on diffusion of prescription medicines in vitreous humor and interpretation of concentrations in the absence of references is difficult. Toxicologists should be encouraged to analyze vitreous humor and publish their results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Studies on infant outcomes of opiate-dependent pregnant women find a high rate of premature mother–child separation and to a lesser extent developmental delay. The specific role of in utero heroin exposure in the determination of the developmental outcome seems to be less important than the home environment. Objective: Describe the health and development of 5-year-old children whose drug-addict mothers allowed an early multidisciplinary intervention (medical and psychological) in the maternity hospital and neonatology. Patients and methods: Thirty-seven children (62% of the initial cohort) were seen in consultation with their parents. Growth and development was compared with a control group of 374 children of the same age. Comparisons were made between the children''s and parents’ state (social, medical, drug addiction, etc.) upon discharge from the maternity hospital and 5years later. A study was conducted on those lost to follow-up. Results: The rate of placement in 5years was very low (13%). Seven children showed a developmental delay, 21 no disorder, and nine some problems. Anxiety (37%) and overweight (48%) were the only disorders differentiating them from the control group. Compliance with the care provided in the maternity hospital was the only item significantly related to the development of the 5-year-old children (P =0.05). Discussion: The hypothesis of an attachment disorder in those with the greatest need is raised. The likely relations between the quality of the care in the maternity hospital, mother–child relations, and the attrition of the cohort are also discussed. Conclusion: Management of the symptoms as well as social and psychological care during pregnancy and neonatal hospitalization for opiate-dependent pregnant women facilitates a long-lasting relation with childhood professionals, avoids court-ordered placements, and reduces the appearance of developmental disorders in these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction. – Codeine is an opioid drug used as an antitussive and an analgesic. One of the metabolic pathways of codeine leds to morphine formation: the cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP450-2D6) catalyses the transformation of codeine to morphine. Synthesis of facts. – This complex pathway exhibits a great variability among individuals. The global distribution in the population can be divided into three groups according to their metabolic capacities, i.e. low, normal and high metabolizers. The genetic polymorphism partly explains this great heterogeneity. Moreover, health conditions as well as environment are involved. Conclusion. – This variability is important for interpretation of doping control based on the urinary determination of codeine and morphine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives. – To study the compliance of prescription, the efficacity and the adverse events of oral morphine used in the pediatric emergency departement (ED) in traumatic pains. Method. – This prospective study was conducted in the ED from october 2002 to september 2003. Children aged six months to 16 years with a visual analogic scale (VAS) score higher than 70 or with a traumatic member deformation received oral morphine (0,5 mg/kg). Pain was assessed every 30 minutes using two scales: behavioral observation by the faces scale and objective pain scale (OPS) for children less than five years, behavioral observation by the faces scale and self-report by VAS for children older than five years. The compliance of prescription, the pain scores and the adverse events were studied. Results. – Ninety-one children received oral morphine and seventy-four children were studied. Seventy per cent of prescriptions were in accordance with the recommandations. For patients younger than five years a rapid decrease of pain was observed in thirty minutes. The pain''s reduction was respectively 79 and 84% with faces scale and OPS when they left ED. For children older than five years, pain''s reduction was more important and more rapid when pain assessment was made by nurses than when it was self-reported in the first hour (pain reduction 58,2 and 36,1%). When leaving, pain reduction was the same with the two different assessments. No major adverse event was noted. Conclusion. – Use of oral morphine in ED is simple, with a few numbers of adverse events. None was severe. Efficiency is correct after 30 to 60 minutes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Maternal opioid abuse during pregnancy results in 60 to 95% of neonatal withdrawal. The literature review on the evaluation of the severity of the related symptoms and treatments used shows an absence of consensus.Materials and methods. – To survey the management of the neonatal withdrawal a questionnaire was sent to French and other European pharmacists.Results. – Fifty-eight questionnaires were returned, 37 from France. In 74%, a written protocol about the management of the neonatal withdrawal was available. The severity of the symptoms was assessed using the Finnegan ‘s scale in 55% of the cases and the treatment was a substitute opiate in 72.5%. In 64% of the cases, this drug was an oral morphine solution: a hydrochloride solution in France and a sulfate solution in other E.U countries at the most common dose of 0.5 to 1mg kg –1d–1 and 0.24mg kg–1 d–1 respectively.Discussion. – The solution used in France is contra-indicated in infants less than six months and the presentation is not adapted to this use.Conclusion. – This morphine survey points out that a preparation intended for infants should be developed and licensed in this indication to improve the use of treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction. – Corticoids have an action on the central nervous system via receivers with high and low affinity. Synthesis of the facts. – On animal models (rodent), the self-administration of psychoactives substances, like cocaine, the amphetamine, the opioides, morphine alcohol, increases in the situations of stress or after corticoid administration acute, then returns in a basal state, on man. The chronic administration of corticoids or the repeated stresses involve, via a high and persistent cortisolemy a reinforcement of this effect and its fast reinstalment after weaning. Conclusion. – These results obtained on animal models are alarming if it were to be checked, even partially, at the man. The prevalence of stressing situations and long term treatments by corticoids in the practice of sport on a high level would be likely to be worsening factors and largely ignored while taking psychoactive substances, whether for entertaining or doping reasons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A 35-year-old man developed two episodes of postoperative pancreatitis. The first one occurred after knee surgery and the second one 6 years after surgery for excision of haemorrhoids. Induction of anaesthesia associated propofol 200 mg and sufentanil 15 μg. Anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane administered through a laryngeal mask. The possible association between the drugs used during anaesthesia and the postoperative pancreatitis is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of our network “Motherhood and Addiction Alsace” is to take care of opiates addicted pregnant women in order to permit the birth of a healthy child, raised by stabilized parents both on drug use and psychosocial status. A couple, both on methadone treatment, with chronic hepatitis for the husband had access to an in vitro fertilization program thanks to the network care. The difficulties on the path to parenthood, the adequate use of painkillers, neonatal care and the use of a coordinated action of all health professionals are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]