title: Medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain

authors: McKinnon, Marion

abstract: Neuropathic pain is caused by a dysfunction of the nervous system. It differs from normal pain sensations as it is no longer protective and can be present in the absence of a stimulus. It affects eight percent of the population worldwide and has several causes. Diabetes is the most prevalent cause, with about half of those diagnosed developing diabetic neuropathy. Other causes are genetic diseases (e.g. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), immune disorders or medications (e.g. chemotherapy drugs) or injury. Neuropathic pain, regardless of its cause, is often poorly managed leading to poor quality of life for those patients. The currently available analgesic options show little efficacy and are often dose-limiting due to adverse effects. Treatments that improve efficacy or offer lower adverse effects need to be investigated; one such potential treatment is medicinal cannabis. To this end, cannabis isolates and a high CBD whole extract were tested to determine efficacy to relieve neuropathic pain symptoms in a pre-clinical mouse model of neuropathy.
A dose-response trial using gene expression biomarkers was completed in wildtype mice. This was to determine what doses of orally administered CBD (25 - 150 mg/kg) in an olive oil vehicle had a biological effect in the dorsal root ganglia of peripheral nerves of mice. CBD (6.25 - 100 mg/kg), a high CBD whole extract (containing CBD 12.5 mg/kg and THC 0.867 mg/kg) and a pure CBD:THC mix (at the same concentrations) were then used to determine efficacy in ameliorating neuropathic pain in a CMT2A mouse model. Finally, a single high-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy mouse model was characterised to determine the parameters of peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain symptoms in male wildtype B6:D2 mice. 
A pure isolate of 12.5 mg/kg CBD showed the greatest efficacy in treating thermal hyperalgesia symptoms in CMT2A mice. This paralleled a clinically relevant dose of gabapentin (40mg/kg) in efficacy for improving thermal hyperalgesia, both as a single dose and in multiple doses across eight hours. Of the cannabinoids tested, high CBD whole extract showed greater efficacy in improving thermal hyperalgesia symptoms in CMT2A mice, with a wider therapeutic window than either CBD alone or CBD:THC. This indicates that in addition to THC, other components in cannabis may contribute to efficacy, or be the result of an entourage effect. 
Characterisation of the diabetic neuropathy model was completed, with two-thirds of the mice developing high blood glucose (≥ 17 mmol/L) within two weeks of a single high dose of streptozotocin. All diabetic mice showed thermal hyperalgesia symptoms and 40% of those also developed mechanical allodynia; with symptoms evident from as early as week four post- streptozotocin. There was no loss of motor function seen across the trial period of 13 weeks. Sciatic nerve tissue taken from these mice showed a marked loss of acetylated alpha-tubulin in both proximal and distal sciatic nerves when compared to the wildtype control group.

text: Medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain Neuropathic pain is caused by a dysfunction of the nervous system. It differs from normal pain sensations as it is no longer protective and can be present in the absence of a stimulus. It affects eight percent of the population worldwide and has several causes. Diabetes is the most prevalent cause, with about half of those diagnosed developing diabetic neuropathy. Other causes are genetic diseases (e.g. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), immune disorders or medications (e.g. chemotherapy drugs) or injury. Neuropathic pain, regardless of its cause, is often poorly managed leading to poor quality of life for those patients. The currently available analgesic options show little efficacy and are often dose-limiting due to adverse effects. Treatments that improve efficacy or offer lower adverse effects need to be investigated; one such potential treatment is medicinal cannabis. To this end, cannabis isolates and a high CBD whole extract were tested to determine efficacy to relieve neuropathic pain symptoms in a pre-clinical mouse model of neuropathy.
A dose-response trial using gene expression biomarkers was completed in wildtype mice. This was to determine what doses of orally administered CBD (25 - 150 mg/kg) in an olive oil vehicle had a biological effect in the dorsal root ganglia of peripheral nerves of mice. CBD (6.25 - 100 mg/kg), a high CBD whole extract (containing CBD 12.5 mg/kg and THC 0.867 mg/kg) and a pure CBD:THC mix (at the same concentrations) were then used to determine efficacy in ameliorating neuropathic pain in a CMT2A mouse model. Finally, a single high-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy mouse model was characterised to determine the parameters of peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain symptoms in male wildtype B6:D2 mice. 
A pure isolate of 12.5 mg/kg CBD showed the greatest efficacy in treating thermal hyperalgesia symptoms in CMT2A mice. This paralleled a clinically relevant dose of gabapentin (40mg/kg) in efficacy for improving thermal hyperalgesia, both as a single dose and in multiple doses across eight hours. Of the cannabinoids tested, high CBD whole extract showed greater efficacy in improving thermal hyperalgesia symptoms in CMT2A mice, with a wider therapeutic window than either CBD alone or CBD:THC. This indicates that in addition to THC, other components in cannabis may contribute to efficacy, or be the result of an entourage effect. 
Characterisation of the diabetic neuropathy model was completed, with two-thirds of the mice developing high blood glucose (≥ 17 mmol/L) within two weeks of a single high dose of streptozotocin. All diabetic mice showed thermal hyperalgesia symptoms and 40% of those also developed mechanical allodynia; with symptoms evident from as early as week four post- streptozotocin. There was no loss of motor function seen across the trial period of 13 weeks. Sciatic nerve tissue taken from these mice showed a marked loss of acetylated alpha-tubulin in both proximal and distal sciatic nerves when compared to the wildtype control group.

year: 2024

title: Fostering energy awareness in residential homes using mobile devices

authors: Reinhart, Florian

subjects: Mobile technology

abstract: There is considerable global effort being made towards identifying ways of reducing energy consumption to cope with growing demands. Although there is potential for energy saving in many sectors, our focus is on reducing energy consumption in residential homes. We have developed a system which combines home automation and energy usage monitoring technologies. The system offers a range of tools designed for mobile devices to assist users with monitoring their energy usage and provides mechanisms for setting up and controlling home appliances to conserve energy. In this paper we describe our system and a user study we have conducted to evaluate its effectiveness. The findings of the study show the potential benefits of this type of mobile technology.

text: Fostering energy awareness in residential homes using mobile devices There is considerable global effort being made towards identifying ways of reducing energy consumption to cope with growing demands. Although there is potential for energy saving in many sectors, our focus is on reducing energy consumption in residential homes. We have developed a system which combines home automation and energy usage monitoring technologies. The system offers a range of tools designed for mobile devices to assist users with monitoring their energy usage and provides mechanisms for setting up and controlling home appliances to conserve energy. In this paper we describe our system and a user study we have conducted to evaluate its effectiveness. The findings of the study show the potential benefits of this type of mobile technology.

year: 2013-10-16

title: Te Piringa

authors: Dickson, Matiu

abstract: Māori have an oral tradition, that is, the transfer of knowledge within and between generations, which was carried out orally by way of story-telling or the more formal speech-making. Ngā korero purākau are the stories and whaikōrero is formal talking on the marae or ancestral gathering places of Māori people. The value of public speaking is expressed in the saying: Ko te kōrerote kai a te Rangatira – (The chiefs thrive on talking and debating). This article looks at the transfer of knowledge to the next generation.

text: Te Piringa Māori have an oral tradition, that is, the transfer of knowledge within and between generations, which was carried out orally by way of story-telling or the more formal speech-making. Ngā korero purākau are the stories and whaikōrero is formal talking on the marae or ancestral gathering places of Māori people. The value of public speaking is expressed in the saying: Ko te kōrerote kai a te Rangatira – (The chiefs thrive on talking and debating). This article looks at the transfer of knowledge to the next generation.

year: 2010