Notes

Carried out Streptococcus pneumoniae disease employing becoming more common antibody secreting tissues.
Adolescence marks a developmental period with heightened vulnerability to alcohol use and its consequences. In this viewpoint paper, we examine the involvement of the alcohol industry in alcohol and other drug (AoD) education from both an alcohol harm reduction and a school-based health education perspective, using the example of the Smashed programme to illustrate our critique. We issue caution to schools that are invited to participate.Aims Personal cannabis use is common across New Zealand, and an upcoming referendum will enable the public to vote on whether this should be legalised. The present research aimed to examine the attitudes of midlife New Zealand adults on cannabis use and legalisation, and to identify potential predictors of those attitudes. Methods At age 40, 899 participants drawn from the Christchurch Health and Development Study were interviewed about the perceived harmfulness of cannabis use, opinions on legalisation for recreational use and supply, and the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. In addition, a range of potential predictors of legislative attitudes were examined. Results We identified a wide range of attitudes across the cohort, however the majority tended to hold a neutral view. More than 80% of the cohort expressed support for medicinal cannabis, while 47.8% supported decriminalisation, and 26.8% expressed support for legalisation for recreational use. The strongest predictors of support for legalisation were prior use of cannabis and other drugs, while additional positive predictors included a history of depression, Māori ancestry, parental drug use, novelty seeking and higher educational attainment. Predictors of more negative attitudes were also identified, and included female gender and having dependent children. Conclusions These findings provide insight into cannabis-related views within the New Zealand context, and may help to predict voting behaviour during the 2020 Cannabis Referendum.Aims To describe health conditions in New Zealand nuclear veterans and their offspring, and examine the utility of tests to assess their heritability. Method An online survey, open to all veterans and offspring, with questions on health conditions, the GHQ12 to measure psychological distress, the Euroquol-5D visual analogue scale (EQ5D VAS) to measure health state, and free text items on veteran support. Results Eighty-three responses (56%) were from veterans, 65 (44%) from offspring. Anxiety and depression were prevalent in both groups, with cancers (n=31, 37%) and joint conditions common in veterans (n=26, 31%). Few offspring reported cancer, rather problems with fertility (n=18, 40%). The free text themes fell into four domains, official commitment, health, emotional and information support; however, little support had been sought. Conclusion Cancers have utility in assessing heritability, but a low prevalence and lack of diagnostic data rules this out. Psychological conditions may be heritable, but the techniques to assess this are still developing. Chromosomal damage in veterans and offspring can be detected, but with present knowledge cannot explain health outcomes. Future work should assemble a veteran and family register with linkage to routine data-sets. Veterans and offspring should be encouraged to seek support.Aims To explore patterns of medicinal cannabis use prior to implementation of the new Medicinal Cannabis Scheme (MCS) in New Zealand. Methods An anonymous online convenience survey of 3,634 last-year medicinal users of cannabis promoted via Facebook™ from May to August 2019. Results Fifty percent of the sample were female, 18% were Māori and the median age was 38 years. The medical conditions for which cannabis was most often used were pain (81%), sleep (66%) and mental health conditions (64%). Respondents perceived cannabis to be an effective therapy and reported reducing use of other pharmaceutical medicines. Fifty-two percent reported side effects from cannabis use, including increased appetite (29%), drowsiness (12%), eye irritation (11%), dependency (10%), memory impairment (10%) and lack of energy (9%). Smoking was the dominant route of administration. Nearly half (47%) had discussed their use of cannabis with a medical professional in the previous year, while 14% had requested a prescription and 5% accessed a prescribed cannabis-based product (mostly oral CBD). Conclusion Respondents self-medicated with cannabis to treat a wide range of health complaints. Only half discussed medicinal cannabis use with their medical professional, and a minority requested a prescription and used a prescribed cannabis-based product.Aim Increasing cigarette prices is one of the most effective strategies to reduce smoking. This study examined changes in smoking intentions of university students following simulated price increases. Method Data came from a 2018 cross-sectional survey of university students. The sample comprised 187 current smokers (47% aged $15.00. Results The proportion of students who would smoke the same amount declined substantially, while students who would switch to e-cigarettes increased by large margins at price increases of $5.00, $10.00 and $15.00. Quit intentions increased at all price levels, but were stronger among younger students and females. Males were almost twice as likely to switch to e-cigarettes as females. learn more Overall, more students would quit than switch to e-cigarettes. Conclusion Results show that increasing cigarette prices by ≥$15.00 per packet could lead to significant reductions in smoking among university students. Follow-up data is required to assess the differential effects of price increases on vaping.Aims The changing medicolegal climate regarding the medicinal use of cannabinoids in New Zealand will increase the likelihood of patients consulting general practitioners (GPs) about these products. Arthritis is a common medical condition for which cannabis-based products are promoted and used; however, doctors' knowledge about the efficacy and safety of these products in the setting of arthritis may be limited. Methods We undertook a rapid review of the medical literature on cannabis-based medicinal products in arthritis. Results Animal studies have identified endocannabinoid pathways in arthritis that are potentially amenable to interventions. One randomised placebo-controlled trial of Sativex® in adults with rheumatoid arthritis has shown some improvements in pain but not in comparison with a standardised pharmacological treatment regimen. Systematic reviews of cannabis-based products in arthritis have determined that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend cannabis-based medicines for routine clinical use.
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