Monthly Archives: September 2015

Alteration of delta-6-desaturase (FADS2), secretory phospholipase-A2 (sPLA2) enzymes by Hot-nature diet with co-supplemented hemp seed, evening primrose oils intervention in multiple sclerosis patients.

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“The effect of nutrition and dietary supplements as environmental factors has been suggested as possible factors affecting both disease risk and progression in on the course of multiple sclerosis with complex genetic-risk profiles.

This study was aimed to assess regulation of surface-membrane enzymes such as Delta-6-desaturase (FADS2), secretory Phospholipase A2(sPLA2) by hemp seed and evening primrose oils as well as Hot-natured dietary intervention in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients…

The co-supplemented hemp seed and evening primrose oils with Hot nature diet can have beneficial effects in improving clinical symptoms and signs in RRMS patients which were confirmed by regulation of surface-membrane enzymes.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26365444

Cannabis as a substitute for alcohol and other drugs.

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“This study examined drug and alcohol use, and the occurrence of substitution among medical cannabis patients.

The substitution of one psychoactive substance for another with the goal of reducing negative outcomes can be included within the framework of harm reduction.

Medical cannabis patients have been engaging in substitution by using cannabis as an alternative to alcohol, prescription and illicit drugs.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19958538

“The substitution of one psychoactive substance for another with the goal of reducing negative outcomes can be included within the framework of harm reduction. Medical cannabis patients have been engaging in substitution by using cannabis as an alternative to alcohol, prescription and illicit drugs.

This brings up two important points. First, self determination, the right of an individual to decide which treatment or substance is most effective and least harmful for them. If an individual finds less harm in cannabis than in the drug prescribed by their doctor, do they have a right to choose? Secondly, the recognition that substitution might be a viable alternative to abstinence for those who are not able, or do not wish to stop using psychoactive substances completely.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2795734/

Substituting cannabis for prescription drugs, alcohol and other substances among medical cannabis patients: The impact of contextual factors.

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“The present study examines the use of cannabis as a substitute for alcohol, illicit substances and prescription drugs among 473 adults who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

Substituting cannabis for one or more of alcohol, illicit drugs or prescription drugs was reported by 87% of respondents, with 80.3% reporting substitution for prescription drugs, 51.7% for alcohol, and 32.6% for illicit substances.

Respondents who reported substituting cannabis for prescription drugs were more likely to report difficulty affording sufficient quantities of cannabis, and patients under 40 years of age were more likely to substitute cannabis for all three classes of substance than older patients.

The finding that cannabis was substituted for all three classes of substances suggests that the medical use of cannabis may play a harm reduction role in the context of use of these substances,”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26364922

Cannabinoids for treatment of spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (CAMS study): multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial.

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“Multiple sclerosis is associated with muscle stiffness, spasms, pain, and tremor. Much anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabinoids could help these symptoms.

Our aim was to test the notion that cannabinoids have a beneficial effect on spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis.

There was evidence of a treatment effect on patient-reported spasticity and pain, with improvement in spasticity…

INTERPRETATION:

Treatment with cannabinoids did not have a beneficial effect on spasticity when assessed with the Ashworth scale. However… objective improvement in mobility and patients’ opinion of an improvement in pain suggest cannabinoids might be clinically useful.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14615106

The effect of cannabis on urge incontinence in patients with multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled trial (CAMS-LUTS).

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“To test whether cannabinoids reduce urge incontinence episodes without affecting voiding in patients with multiple sclerosis. This was part of the multicentre trial of the Cannabinoids in Multiple Sclerosis (CAMS) study.

Both active treatments showed significant effects over placebo.

:The findings are suggestive of a clinical effect of cannabis on incontinence episodes in patients with MS. This is in contrast to the negative finding of the CAMS study, where no difference was seen in the primary outcome of spasticity.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16552618

Cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis (CAMS) study: safety and efficacy data for 12 months follow up

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“To test the effectiveness and long term safety of cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis (MS), in a follow up to the main Cannabinoids in Multiple Sclerosis (CAMS) study.

There was suggestive evidence for treatment effects of Δ9-THC on some aspects of disability.

There were no major safety concerns.

Overall, patients felt that these drugs were helpful in treating their disease.

These data provide limited evidence for a longer term treatment effect of cannabinoids.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1739436/

The adverse effects of cannabinoids: implications for use of medical marijuana

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“Wang and colleagues present a systematic review of the research on adverse effects of medical cannabis use.

The authors found that most of the adverse events reported in the randomized clinical trials were not serious; dizziness was the most common.

These findings support the conclusions of the Institute of Medicine, that short-term use of cannabinoids for medical purposes has an acceptable safety profile.

This provides reassurance on the safety of prescribing cannabinoids and the newer cannabis extract for the short-term symptomatic relief…” 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2413322/

Inhaled cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

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“Chronic neuropathic pain, the most frequent condition affecting the peripheral nervous system, remains under-diagnosed and difficult to treat.

Inhaled cannabis may alleviate chronic neuropathic pain.

Our objective was to synthesize the evidence on inhaled cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain.

This novel Bayesian individual patient data meta-analysis of five randomized trials suggests that inhaled cannabis may provide short term relief for one in five to six patients with neuropathic pain.

Pragmatic trials are need to evaluate the long-term benefits and risks of this treatment.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26362106

Past 15-year trends in adolescent marijuana use: Differences by race/ethnicity and sex.

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“The potential for increases in adolescent marijuana use is an important concern given recent changes in marijuana policy.

The purpose of this study was to estimate trends in marijuana use from 1999 to 2013 among a national sample of US high school students…

Despite considerable changes in state marijuana policies over the past 15 years, marijuana use among high school students has largely declined. ”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26361714

Potential Therapeutic Value of a Novel FAAH Inhibitor for the Treatment of Anxiety.

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“Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric diseases with high personal costs and a remarkable socio-economic burden. However, current treatment of anxiety is far from satisfactory.

Novel pharmacological targets have emerged in the recent years, and attention has focused on the endocannabinoid (eCB) system, given the increasing evidence that supports its central role in emotion, coping with stress and anxiety.

In the management of anxiety disorders, drug development strategies have left apart the direct activation of type-1 cannabinoid receptors to indirectly enhance eCB signalling through the inhibition of eCB deactivation, that is, the inhibition of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme.

In the present study, we provide evidence for the anxiolytic-like properties of a novel, potent and selective reversible inhibitor of FAAH, ST4070, orally administered to rodents.

Altogether, ST4070 offers a promising anxiolytic-like profile in preclinical studies, although further studies are warranted to clearly demonstrate its efficacy in the clinic management of anxiety disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26360704