Unresponsiveness to cannabinoids and reduced addictive effects of opiates in CB1 receptor knockout mice

The function of the central cannabinoid receptor (CB1) was investigated by invalidating its gene. Mutant mice did not respond to cannabinoid drugs, demonstrating the exclusive role of the CB1 receptor in mediating analgesia, reinforcement, hypothermia, hypolocomotion, and hypotension. The acute effects of opiates were unaffected, but the reinforcing properties of morphine and the severity of the withdrawal syndrome were strongly reduced. These observations suggest that the CB1 receptor is involved in the motivational properties of opiates and in the development of physical dependence and extend the concept of an interconnected role of CB1 and opiate receptors in the brain areas mediating addictive behavior.     

Research in Copenhagen hospitals--a bibliometric evaluation

The aim of this study was to measure size and quality of the research carried out in Copenhagen (H:S) hospitals using conventional bibliometry. Based on the H:S-report on scientific publications in 1995, the research performed in each hospital and each department has been measured as the sum of publications and as journal impact factor score. Publication numbers and impact factor score varied eighty-fold between the individual H:S-hospitals. With a close relation between publication numbers and impact factor score, the Rigshospital produced 60%, Hvidovre Hospital 20% and Bispebjerg Hospital 11%, while the four remaining hospitals (Frederiksberg Hospital, the Copenhagen Community Hospital, Sct. Hans Hospital and Sundby Hospital) together produced 9% of the research. The departmental research activities as such showed correlation neither to clinical specialty nor to specific hospitals. In conclusion, the Rigshospital is responsible for most of the research in H:S. Generally, departments headed by university professors showed the highest research activity.