Category Archives: Uncategorized

Cannabidiol improves lung function and inflammation in mice submitted to LPS-induced acute lung injury.

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“We have previously shown that the prophylactic treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) reduces inflammation in a model of acute lung injury (ALI).

In this work we analyzed the effects of the therapeutic treatment with CBD in mice subjected to the model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI on pulmonary mechanics and inflammation.

The results show that CBD decreased total lung resistance and elastance, leukocyte migration into the lungs, myeloperoxidase activity in the lung tissue, protein concentration and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF and IL-6) and chemokines (MCP-1 and MIP-2) in the bronchoalveolar lavage supernatant.

Thus, we conclude that CBD administered therapeutically, i.e. during an ongoing inflammatory process, has a potent anti-inflammatory effect and also improves the lung function in mice submitted to LPS-induced ALI.

Therefore the present and previous data suggest that in the future cannabidiol might become a useful therapeutic tool for the attenuation and treatment of inflammatory lung diseases.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25356537

Endocannabinoids, Related Compounds and Their Metabolic Routes.

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“Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators able to bind to and activate cannabinoid receptors, the primary molecular targets responsible for the pharmacological effects of the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

These bioactive lipids belong mainly to two classes of compounds: N-acylethanolamines and acylesters, being N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), respectively, their main representatives.

During the last twenty years, an ever growing number of fatty acid derivatives (endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like compounds) have been discovered and their activities biological is the subject of intense investigations.

Here, the most recent advances, from a therapeutic point of view, on endocannabinoids, related compounds, and their metabolic routes will be reviewed.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25347455

Type-2 cannabinoid receptor regulates proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and OPG/RANKL ratio of MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to Titanium particles.

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“The type-2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2) is expressed in osteoblasts and plays a role in bone metabolism through regulation on bone mass and bone turnover, but the functional importance of CB2 in osteoblasts under Titanium (Ti) stimulation is incompletely understood.

This study aimed to investigate the CB2 expression in osteoblasts under Ti stimulation and the effects of CB2 activation on proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, mineralization, OPG, and RANKL expression of MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to Ti particles…

In conclusion, CB2 activation has a favorable inhibitory effect on Ti-induced reactions in MC3T3-E1 cell through modulating proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and RANKL expression.

These findings suggest that activation of CB2 might be an effective therapeutic strategy to promote bone formation and reduce bone dissolution.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25292314

Antiestrogenic effects of marijuana smoke condensate and cannabinoid compounds.

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“The antiestrogenic effects of marijuana smoke condensate (MSC) and three major cannabinoids, ie., delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN), were evaluated…

The results showed that MSC induced the antiestrogenic effect via the ER-mediated pathway, while THC, CBD, and CBN did not have any antiestrogenic activity.

This suggests that the combined effects of the marijuana smoke components are responsible for the antiestrogenicity of marijuana use.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16392670

“Antiestrogen treatment of breast cancer: an overview.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7044524

“Newly Found Estrogen Pathway Suggests Novel Breast Cancer Targets”   http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/newly-found-estrogen-pathway-suggests-novel-breast-cancer-targets/81250405/

“New Estrogen Mechanism Holds Novel Cancer Treatment Promise”
http://www.counselheal.com/articles/11565/20140929/new-estrogen-mechanism-holds-novel-cancer-treatment-promise.htm

“CB1 and CB2 receptors are novel molecular targets for Tamoxifen and 4OH-Tamoxifen.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24148245

“Scientists discover new role estrogen plays in cancer growth”  http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/scientists-discover-new-role-estrogen-plays-cancer-growth-article-1.1957877

“Antiestrogen-induced remissions in stage IV breast cancer.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1021225

“Antiestrogenic effects of marijuana smoke condensate and cannabinoid compounds.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16392670

“New estrogen-related breast cancer mechanism detected”   http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283168.php

“Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol targeting estrogen receptor signaling: the possible mechanism of action… Δ(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC), a biologically active constituent of marijuana, possesses a wide variety of pharmacological and toxicological effects (e.g., analgesia, hypotension, reduction of inflammation, and anti-cancer effects).”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25177025

“Anti-Estrogen Drugs to Treat Breast Cancer”  http://www.fccc.edu/cancer/types/breast/treatment/hormonal/anti-estrogen.html

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/breast-cancer/

 

Engineering of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol delivery systems based on surface modified-PLGA nanoplatforms.

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“The objective of this work is to develop a nanoplatform that can potentiate the oral administration of Δ9-tetrahidrocannabinol, a highly lipophilic active agent with very promising antiproliferative and antiemetic activities…

Results were satisfactorily used to define the optimum engineering conditions to formulate surface modified nanoparticles for the efficient oral administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles have been formulated for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol delivery.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25262411

Drug-resistant MS spasticity treatment with Sativex® add-on and driving ability.

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“The aim of the present observational study was to determine the effects of a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex® spray), brand name Sativex® , indicated for drug-resistant MS spasticity, on the driving ability of treated MS patients…

Treatment of MS patients with Sativex® does not negatively impact on driving ability and may improve moderate to severe treatment-resistant MS spasticity.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25208898

Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 Antagonist, AM251, Attenuates Mechanical Allodynia and Thermal Hyperalgesia after Burn Injury.

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“Burn injury causes nociceptive behaviors, and inflammation-related pathologic pain can lead to glial cell activation. This study tested the hypothesis that burn injury activates glial cells, and cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) antagonist, AM251, will decrease burn pain.

CONCLUSIONS::

AM251 inhibited nociceptive behaviors after burn even beyond 7-day period of administration. Although many studies have documented the utility of CB1R agonists, this study indicates that endogenous cannabinoids may have an unexpected pronociceptive effect during development of burn pain, explaining why CB1R antagonist, AM251, improves nociceptive behaviors.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25188001

Growing medicine: Small-scale cannabis cultivation for medical purposes in six different countries.

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“The production and consumption of cannabis for the treatment of medical conditions is of increasing importance internationally…

Growing cannabis for medical purposes was widespread.

The majority of medical growers reported cultivating cannabis for serious conditions…

There is a wider demand for licit access for medical cannabis than currently available…

many medical growers are using cannabis to treat serious medical conditions without proper medical advice and doctor’s guidance.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25123694

Safety and pharmacokinetics of oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy older subjects: A randomized controlled trial.

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“There is a great concern about the safety of THC-based drugs in older people (≥65 years), as most of THC-trials did not include such group. In this phase 1, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial, we evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of three oral doses of Namisol®, a novel THC in tablet form, in older subjects….

In conclusion, THC appeared to be safe and well tolerated by healthy older individuals. Data on safety and effectiveness of THC in frail older persons are urgently required, as this population could benefit from the therapeutic applications of THC.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25035121

Mechanisms of control of neuron survival by the endocannabinoid system.

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“Endocannabinoids act as retrograde messengers that, by inhibiting neurotransmitter release via presynaptic CB(1) cannabinoid receptors, regulate the functionality of many synapses. In addition, the endocannabinoid system participates in the control of neuron survival.

Thus, CB(1) receptor activation has been shown to protect neurons from acute brain injury as well as in neuroinflammatory conditions and neurodegenerative diseases.

Cannabinoid neuroprotective activity relies on the inhibition of glutamatergic neurotransmission and on other various mechanisms, and is supported by the observation that the brain overproduces endocannabinoids upon damage.

Besides promoting neuroprotection, a role for the endocannabinoid system in the control of neurogenesis from neural progenitors has been put forward. In addition, activation of CB(2) cannabinoid receptors on glial cells may also participate in neuroprotection by limiting the extent of neuroinflammation.

Altogether, these findings support that endocannabinoids constitute a new family of lipid mediators that act as instructive signals in the control of neuron survival.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18781978