Recent work in our laboratories has shown that a hydrophilic fraction from Cannabis sativa (marihuana) has extremely potent intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering activity as measured in albino rabbits when delivered by intravenous injection. A crude extract reduced IOP by 50-60 per cent (to the episcleral venous pressure) at dosage levels of about 500 micrograms/animal. Fractionation of this material by solvent extraction, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography has produced samples with high activity at 50 micrograms/animal. The active material has been shown to be noncannabinoid and of high molecular weight.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Physiology and pharmacology of aqueous humor inflow.

Recent physiological and pharmacological data pertinent to aqueous humor inflow regulation have been reviewed. New anatomical and electrophysiological data are presented, particularly related to aqueous humor secretion. The action of adrenergic agonists and antagonists is discussed in relation to changes in intraocular pressure, and the effects of a variety of experimental perturbations is presented. The multiple factors which affect aqueous humor inflow are discussed in the context of an evaluation of recent pertinent literature.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The multi-disciplinary role of 'pion factories'.

The multi-disciplinary role of intermediate energy proton accelerators in pure and applied nuclear physics is discussed with particular reference to the experimental programmes at LAMPF (Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility) and SIN (Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research, Zurich).

Elementary Particles↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Creating a career ladder for nursing assistants in long-term care.

This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a career ladder for certified nursing assistants in long-term care. A career ladder is an effective way to maximize the use of unlicensed workers without changing the skill mix (eg, no loss of licensed nursing positions) and allow the licensed nurse more time to perform higher-level clinical tasks, such as assessments, patient education, and documentation. Implementation of an unlicensed worker career ladder also can improve nursing assistant retention.

Career Mobility↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Home health cardiac rehabilitation.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Home Program provides the structural framework for patient access to cardiac recovery in the home setting. Using an interdisciplinary team approach, the program standardizes patient education, establishes a personalized activity program, and provides psychosocial support to the patient and family during the recovery process. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Home Program reduces the cost of delivering healthcare to the cardiac population while improving customer satisfaction, strategically positioning home health agencies for managed care contracts.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of dehydroepiandrosterone on rabbit intraocular pressure.

PURPOSE: The systemic concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone decreases with age in primates while in humans intraocular pressure (IOP) increases with aging. This study was designed to investigate if a relationship existed between dehydroepiandrosterone and IOP in pigmented rabbits. METHODS: Animals were treated unilaterally for 6 weeks with topical 3% dehydroepiandrosterone in 30% 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin; the contralateral eye received vehicle alone. Drops were applied, and IOP measured, twice daily. RESULTS: Small, but statistically significant, drug-related effects were found. IOP was consistently higher in the afternoon; the afternoon minus morning difference in IOP, however, decreased with time. Topical, radioactive drug application indicated very low level penetration into aqueous humor, iris, corneal epithelium, the rest of the cornea, or bulbar conjunctiva. CONCLUSION: The small drug-related effects may be due, in large part, to poor intraocular drug penetration. The circadian rhythm of IOP appears to be time-dependent in chronic studies with a gradual loss of IOP difference between a.m. and p.m. readings.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Human and rabbit corneal endothelial permeability after different chemical forms of glutathione.

This study aimed to compare the effects of reduced glutathione (GSH) with those of S-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)glutathione (DCE-GS) (in rabbits and humans), and different concentrations of the latter (in humans), on corneal endothelial permeability when added to solutions bathing the isolated cornea. Inulin/dextran permeability was determined from stromal- to endothelial-facing surfaces of de-epithelialized corneas. The bathing solution was modified Opeguard(R)-MA (MOMA), an ocular irrigating solution, to which either GSH or another intrinsic tripeptide, DCE-GS, was added. Paired corneas were used to compare either different combinations of GSH with DCE-GS (rabbit or human) or various concentrations of DCE-GS from 0.25 to 2.0 mM (human). Endothelial cyclic AMP levels were determined in cultured rabbit cells. MOMA alone resulted in approximately the same permeability as MOMA + 0.3 mM GSH while the use of 2 mM DCE-GS significantly reduced rabbit (40% maximum, p < 0.00001) and human (30% maximum, p < 0.01) corneal permeability. Human corneal endothelial permeability remained reduced through a range of concentrations of DCE-GS from 0.25 to 2.0 mM DCE-GS. Tissue-cultured rabbit corneal endothelium showed an increase in cyclic AMP after DCE-GS or GSH. DCE-GS potentially offers a viable alternative to GSH for inclusion in ocular irrigating or corneal preservative solutions since it maintains human corneal endothelial permeability at a lower, stable value relative to non-DCE-GS-containing solutions.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Interaction between delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and indomethacin.

The effect of indomethacin on the Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC)-induced fall in rabbit intraocular pressure (IOP) was determined. A 2% suspension of indomethacin was given topically 1 h before intravenous injection of Delta9-THC. IOP was measured hourly and was compared between groups receiving either Delta9-THC alone or Delta9-THC plus indomethacin. A substantial attenuation of the IOP response to Delta9-THC was caused by indomethacin. Delta9-THC may influence IOP at least in part by a prostaglandin-mediated process. Involvement of the cyclooxygenase pathway offers a common explanation for linking several ocular cannabinoid effects. The latter include a fall in IOP, conjunctival hyperemia and minor inflammation.

Administration, Topical↗