Retinoblastoma (Rb) is a rare form of cancer that rapidly develops from the immature cells of a retina, the light-detecting tissue of the eye. It is the most common primary malignant intraocular cancer in children, and it is almost exclusively found in young children.Though most children survive this cancer, they may lose their vision in the affected eye(s) or need to have the eye removed.Almost half of children with retinoblastoma have a hereditary genetic defect associated with retinoblastoma. In other cases, it is caused by a congenital mutation in the chromosome 13 gene 13q14 (retinoblastoma protein). Signs and symptoms
Retinoblastoma is universally known as the most intrusive intraocular cancer among children. The chance of survival and preservation of the eye depends fully on the severity. Retinoblastoma is extremely rare as there are only about 200 to 300 cases every year in the United States. Looking at retinoblastoma globally, only 1 in about 15,000 children have this malignancy but these numbers continuously increase.Intraocular malignancies are more curable rather than extraocular malignancies due to early diagnosis and an early treatment prognosis. During infant screenings, if they incorporate an eye screening like they do a hearing screening, it can be detected at an earlier age, therefore, preventing its spread. Leucocoria is the primary indication of retinoblastoma and is when the cancer is still intraocular, meaning inside the eye. When light is reflected by the white tumor, the view of the red retina is blocked.
Nabiximols, a combined THC and cannabidiol (CBD) product that is formulated as an oral (buccal) spray, has been shown to improve withdrawal symptoms without improving abstinence rates. Oral CBD has not shown efficacy in reducing the signs or symptoms of cannabis use, and likely has no benefit in cannabis use withdrawal symptoms. The CB-1 receptor antagonist rimonabant has shown efficacy in reducing the effects of cannabis in users, but with a risk for serious psychiatric side effects.Naltrexone, a mu opioid receptor antagonist, has shown mixed results for cannabis use disorder—both increasing the subjective effects of cannabis when given acutely, but potentially decreasing the overall use of cannabis with chronic administration. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown some limited benefit in decreasing cannabis use in adolescents, though not with adults. Lithium, a mood stabilizer, has shown mixed results for treating symptoms of cannabis withdrawal, but is likely ineffective. Quetiapine, a second-generation antipsychotic, has been shown to treat cannabis withdrawal related insomnia and decreased appetite at the expense of exacerbating cravings. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide that the body produces, has shown some benefit in reducing the use of cannabis when administered intranasally in combination with motivational enhancement therapy sessions, though the treatment effect did not persist between sessions.Finally, CB1 antagonists such as rimonabant have been tested for utility in CUD. These drugs are effective at blocking the subjective effects of cannabis intoxication as well as the somatic components. This is accomplished by preventing THC binding to the CB1 receptor, effectively eliminating the ability to get high.