Anxiety, Stress, and Fear Response in Mice with Reduced Endocannabinoid Levels.

Posted on May 20, 2015 by David

Disruption of the endocannabinoid system through pharmacological or genetic invalidation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors has been linked to depression in humans and depression-like behaviors in mice.

We generated and used knockout mice lacking DAGL-α (Dagla-/-) to assess the behavioral consequences of reduced endocannabinoid levels in the brain…

Our findings demonstrate that the deletion of Dagla adversely affects the emotional state of animals and results in enhanced anxiety, stress, and fear responses.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25981172

A CB2-Selective Cannabinoid Suppresses T-Cell Activities and Increases Tregs and IL-10.

Posted on May 20, 2015 by David

“We have previously shown that agonists selective for the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), including O-1966, inhibit the Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR), an in vitro correlate of organ graft rejection, predominantly through effects on T-cells. Current studies explored the mechanism of this immunosuppression by O-1966 using mouse spleen cells…

These data support the potential of CB2-selective agonists as useful therapeutic agents to prolong graft survival in transplant patients, and strengthens their potential as a new class of immunosuppressive agents with broader applicability.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25980325

[Cannabinoids in medicine].

Posted on May 18, 2015 by David

“Cannabinoids have been known for many centuries because of their various effects in healthcare. They are primarily effective in reducing nausea, vomiting, pain, anorexia, spasticity and depression. Some other effects are known, all seem to be mediated by cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system. In the past years, medical use has been proven in several studies. Today, the therapeutical use of cannabinoids in medicine is increasing, and access was made easier. Especially in pain-management and palliative care, they seem to be a valuable therapeutic option.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19165445

Impact of cannabis treatment on the quality of life, weight and clinical disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a pilot prospective study.

Posted on May 17, 2015 by David

“Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients suffer from significant morbidity and diminished life quality.

The plant cannabis is beneficial in various gastrointestinal diseases, stimulating appetite and causing weight gain.

Our aims were to assess whether treatment with inhaled cannabis improves quality of life, disease activity and promotes weight gain in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

Three months’ treatment with inhaled cannabis improves quality of life measurements, disease activity index, and causes weight gain and rise in BMI in long-standing IBD patients.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22095142

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/inflammatory-bowel-disease-2/

A Dramatic Response to Inhaled Cannabis in a Woman with Central Thalamic Pain and Dystonia

Posted on May 17, 2015 by David

“Central pain syndromes (CPS) are difficult to treat… The clinical utility of cannabinoids has been suggested on the basis of anecdotal reports and small clinical studies for a wide range of pain syndromes, including cancer pain, visceral pain, migrain, and pain associated with spasticity. We report a patient with intractable CPS who experienced dramatic relief of pain and dystonia from cannabis… Our case report illustrates improvement in control of central pain and dystonia, and discontinuation of other treatments following cannabis use, suggesting a role for cannabinoids in the management of central pain syndromes with dystonia.”

http://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(02)00426-8/fulltext

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/pain-2/

Endocannabinoid-mediated improvement on a test of aversive memory in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

Posted on May 17, 2015 by David

“Silencing the gene FMR1 in fragile X syndrome (FXS) with consequent loss of its protein product, FMRP, results in intellectual disability, hyperactivity, anxiety, seizure disorders, and autism-like behavior. In a mouse model (Fmr1 knockout (KO)) of FXS, a deficit in performance on the passive avoidance test of learning and memory is a robust phenotype.

We report that drugs acting on the endocannabinoid (eCB) system can improve performance on this test.

Our results indicate that the eCB system is involved in FXS and suggest that the eCB system is a promising target for treatment of FXS.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25979787

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/fragile-x-syndrome-fxs/

Neuroprotective effect of (-)Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced retinal neurotoxicity: involvement of peroxynitrite.

Posted on May 16, 2015 by David

“In glaucoma, the increased release of glutamate is the major cause of retinal ganglion cell death. Cannabinoids have been demonstrated to protect neuron cultures from glutamate-induced death.

In this study, we test the hypothesis that glutamate causes apoptosis of retinal neurons via the excessive formation of peroxynitrite, and that the neuroprotective effect of the psychotropic Delta9-tetrahydroxycannabinol (THC) or nonpsychotropic cannabidiol (CBD) is via the attenuation of this formation.

These results suggest the potential use of CBD as a novel topical therapy for the treatment of glaucoma.

“Cannabinoid components of marijuana, such as (−)Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2, have been shown to prevent glutamate- or NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in isolated neurons or in the brain via activation of the cannabinoid receptor subtype CB1.

…the nonpsychotropic component of marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD), and the synthetic nonpsychotropic cannabinoid, HU-211, as well as THC have been demonstrated as potent antioxidants and/or NMDA receptor antagonists that protect neuron cultures from glutamate-induced death or from oxidative stress.

… we demonstrated that THC and CBD are neuroprotective against NMDA-induced retinal injury and that their protective actions are in part because of an effect in reducing formation of lipid peroxides, nitrite/nitrate, and nitrotyrosine.

In addition to possessing neuroprotective or retinal neuroprotective activity as demonstrated here and elsewhere, cannabinoids such as THC, WIN55,212-2, endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol, as well as nonpsychotropic HU-211 have been demonstrated to induce dose-related reductions in intraocular pressure in human and in animal models.

This suggests that cannabinoids may offer a multifaceted therapy for glaucoma.

In conclusion, our results indicate that lipid peroxidation and ONOO− formation play an important role in NMDA-induced retinal neurotoxicity and cell loss in the retina, and that THC and CBD, by reducing the formation of these compounds, are effective neuroprotectants.

The present studies could form the basis for the development of new topical therapies for the treatment of glaucoma.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1892413/

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/glaucoma-2/

Neuroprotective effects of cannabidiol in endotoxin-induced uveitis: critical role of p38 MAPK activation.

Posted on May 16, 2015 by David

“Degenerative retinal diseases are characterized by inflammation and microglial activation.

The nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), is an anti-inflammatory in models of diabetes and glaucoma.

We tested the hypothesis that retinal inflammation and microglia activation are initiated and sustained by oxidative stress and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, and that CBD reduces inflammation by blocking these processes…

Retinal inflammation and degeneration in uveitis are caused by oxidative stress.

CBD exerts anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects by a mechanism that involves blocking oxidative stress and activation of p38 MAPK and microglia.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19052649

Neuroprotective and blood-retinal barrier-preserving effects of cannabidiol in experimental diabetes.

Posted on May 16, 2015 by David

“Cannabinoids are known to possess therapeutic properties including inhibition of oxidation, NMDA receptor-activation, and inflammation.

The present study evaluates the ability of CBD to reduce oxidative stress, preserve BRB function, and prevent neural cell death in experimental diabetes…

These results demonstrate that CBD treatment reduces neurotoxicity, inflammation, and BRB breakdown in diabetic animals through activities that may involve inhibition of p38 MAP kinase.

The nonpsychotropic CBD is a promising candidate for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective therapeutics.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1592672/

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/diabetes/

Use of Prescription Pain Medications Among Medical Cannabis Patients: Comparisons of Pain Levels, Functioning, and Patterns of Alcohol and Other Drug Use.

Posted on May 16, 2015 by David

“Management of chronic pain is one of the most common reasons given by individuals seeking medical cannabis. However, very little information exists about the concurrent use of cannabis and prescription pain medication (PPM).

This study fills this gap in knowledge by systematically comparing medical cannabis users who use or do not use PPM, with an emphasis on understanding whether concurrent use of cannabis and PPM is associated with more serious forms of alcohol and other drug involvement…

PPM users rated the efficacy of cannabis higher than PPM for pain management and indicated a strong desire to reduce PPM usage.

Use of PPM among medical cannabis users was not identified as a correlate for more serious forms of alcohol and other drug involvement.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25978826