Evaluating Sativex® in Neuropathic Pain Management: A Clinical and Neurophysiological Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis.

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“Pain is a common symptom of MS, affecting up to 70% of patients.

Pain treatment is often unsatisfactory, although emerging drugs (including cannabinoids) are giving encouraging results.

 The aim of our study was to better investigate the role of Sativex® in improving pain in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by means of either clinical or neurophysiological assessment.

 One month of drug administration in MS patients with neuropathic pain successfully reduced pain rating and improved quality of life.
Our data suggest that Sativex may be effective in improving MS-related neuropathic pain, maybe through its action on specific cortical pathways.”

Effect of cannabinoids on CGRP release in the isolated rat lumbar spinal cord.

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“Cannabinoids produce analgesia through a variety of mechanisms.

It has been proposed that one mechanism is by modulating the release of CGRP in the spinal cord pain pathways.

Previous studies have reported that cannabinoids, particularly CB2 receptor agonists, can modulate CGRP release in the isolated rat spinal cord.

These results question the role of spinal cord cannabinoid receptors in the regulation of CGRP signalling.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26762784

Evaluation of the role of the cannabidiol system in an animal model of ischemia/reperfusion kidney injury.

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“This work aimed to investigate the effects of the administration of cannabidiol in a kidney ischemia/reperfusion animal model…

The cannabidiol treatment had a protective effect against inflammation and oxidative damage in the kidney ischemia/reperfusion model.

These effects seemed to be independent of CB1/CB2 receptor activation.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26761477

“In conclusion, the present study suggests that cannabidiol treatment has a protective effect against inflammation and oxidative damage in the utilized kidney ischemia/reperfusion model.” http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-507X2015000400383&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en

Abrupt Quitting of Long-term Heavy Recreational Cannabis Use is Not Followed by Significant Changes in Blood Pressure and Heart Rate.

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“To shed more light on the role of heart rate and blood pressure during cannabis withdrawal.

Abrupt cessation of recreational long-term daily cannabis use was not followed by significant changes in heart rate, blood and pulse pressure.

Also, these measures were not significantly correlated with the severity of the cannabis withdrawal syndrome.

The cohort’s risk for CVD was moderate (all tobacco using, overweight in 9 of 35 patients and elevation of serum C-reactive protein in many patients).

Its metabolic risk for CVD was minor considering the mostly normal blood pressure, normal serum lipids and glucose.“

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26761126

The emerging role of the cannabinoid receptor family in peripheral and neuro-immune interactions.

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“The classical endogenous cannabinoid (CB) system is composed of the endocannabinoid signalling molecules, 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA) and their G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), CB1 and CB2 which together constitutes the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

However, putative, novel lipid-sensing CB receptors have recently been identified, including the orphan GPR55 and GPR18 receptors that are regulated by cannabinoid-like molecules and interact with CB system.

CB receptors and associated orphan GPCRs are expressed at high levels in the immune and/or central nervous systems (CNS) and regulate a number of neurophysiological processes, including key events involved in neuroinflammation.

As such, these receptors have been identified as emerging therapeutic targets for a number of brain disorders in which neuroinflammation is a key feature, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

This review will consider the role of the widercannabinoid receptor superfamily in mediating immune function with a focus on the immune processes that contribute to neuroinflammatory conditions.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26758668

CB1 receptor blockade counters age-induced insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction.

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“The endocannabinoid system can modulate energy homeostasis by regulating feeding behaviour as well as peripheral energy storage and utilization.

Importantly, many of its metabolic actions are mediated through the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R), whose hyperactivation is associated with obesity and impaired metabolic function.

Herein, we explored the effects of administering rimonabant, a selective CB1R inverse agonist, upon key metabolic parameters in young (4 month old) and aged (17 month old) adult male C57BL/6 mice…

Collectively, our findings indicate a key role for CB1R in aging-related insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction and highlight CB1R blockade as a potential strategy for combating metabolic disorders associated with aging.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757949

Marijuana: A Fifty-Year Personal Addiction Medicine Perspective.

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“As of September 2015, the cultivation, possession, and/or use of marijuana is illegal under U.S. federal law as a Schedule I narcotic; however, it is legal in four states and Washington, D.C. Forty-six states allow some form of medicinal marijuana or decriminalization.

Marijuana has been used medicinally for thousands of years; Marijuana’s regulation by law enforcement in the U.S., rather than the medical community, led to an almost complete halt to academic and scientific research after the 1930s.

The late 1960s saw an upsurge in recreational marijuana use by middle-class youth, the majority of whom experienced minimal adverse effects aside from arrest and attendant legal complications.

Since the mid-1990s, the use of medicinal marijuana for certain conditions has gained increasing acceptance.

In the East, the feeling is primarily that marijuana continue to be proscribed. In the West, where clinicians must face the realities of medicalization, decriminalization, and/or legalization, as well as widespread recreational use, there is more of a movement to minimize adverse effects, particularly on youth.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757396

Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis Oil for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: An-Open Label, Add-On, Pilot Study.

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“Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

OBJECTIVE:

To measure efficacy and safety of medical cannabis oil (MCO) containing THC as an add-on to pharmacotherapy, in relieving behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Eleven AD patients were recruited to an open label, 4 weeks, prospective trial.

RESULTS:

Ten patients completed the trial. Significant reduction in CGI severity score and NPI score were recorded. NPI domains of significant decrease were: Delusions, agitation/aggression, irritability, apathy, and sleep and caregiver distress.

CONCLUSION:

Adding MCO to AD patients’ pharmacotherapy is safe and a promising treatment option.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757043

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/alzheimers-disease-ad/

Cannabinoid receptor-2 agonist inhibits macrophage induced EMT in non-small cell lung cancer by downregulation of EGFR pathway.

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“JWH-015, a cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonist has tumor regressive property in various cancer types.

These data confer the impact of this cannabinoid on anti-proliferative and anti-tumorigenic effects, thus enhancing our understanding of its therapeutic efficacy in NSCLC.

Our findings open new avenues for cannabinoid receptor CB2 agonist-JWH-015 as a novel and potential therapeutic target based on EGFR downregulation mechanisms in NSCLC.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26741322

A cost-effectiveness model for the use of a cannabis-derived oromucosal spray for the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis.

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“Severity of spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) directly correlates with the level and cost of care required.

This study assessed whether a tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol (THC/CBD) oromucosal spray for treatment of moderate-severe MS spasticity is a cost-effective use of healthcare resources in Wales.

The THC/CBD spray was found to be cost-effective for the treatment of spasticity in MS, and dominant, if home carer costs were included.

Use of THC/CBD has the potential to generate cost savings by significantly improving the symptoms of moderate to severe MS spasticity”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26750641

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/multiple-sclerosis-ms/