“Despite the fact that the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) plays a pivotal role in emotional memory processing in different regions of the brain, its function in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) remains unknown. Here, using contextual fear conditioning in rats, we showed that a post-training intra-RSC infusion of the CB1R antagonist AM251 impaired, and the agonist CP55940 improved, long-term memory consolidation. Additionally, a post-reactivation infusion of AM251 enhanced memory reconsolidation, while CP55940 had the opposite effect. Finally, AM251 blocked extinction, whereas CP55940 facilitated it and maintained memory extinguished over time. Altogether, our data strongly suggest that the cannabinoid system of the RSC modulates emotional memory.”
Effectiveness and Tolerability of THC/CBD Oromucosal Spray for Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity in Italy: First Data from a Large Observational Study.
“The prospective, non-interventional Mobility Improvement (MOVE) 2 study was designed to provide real life data on clinical outcomes of patients with treatment-resistant multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity receiving routine treatment with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC):cannabidiol (CBD) oromucosal spray (Sativex®), subsequent to its approval in European countries.
In everyday clinical practice in Italy, THC:CBD oromucosal spray provided symptomatic relief of MS spasticity with good tolerability in a relevant number of previously resistant patients.”
Cannabidiol as potential treatment in refractory pediatric epilepsy.
“In recent years there has been great scientific and public interest focused on the therapeutic potential of compounds derived from cannabis for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children.
From in vitro and in vivo studies on animal models, cannabidiol (CBD) appears to be a promising anticonvulsant drug with a favorable side-effect profile.
In humans, CBD efficacy and safety is not supported by well designed trials and its use has been described by anecdotal reports.
It will be necessary to investigate CBD safety, pharmacokinetics and interaction with other antiepileptic drugs alongside performing double-blinded placebo-controlled trials in order to obtain conclusive data on its efficacy and safety in children.”
Cannabis Use Can Improve Effectiveness of Hepatitis C Therapy
“Recent research by Diana L. Sylvestre, MD, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues suggests that the use of cannabis during hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment may offer symptomatic and virological benefit to some patients by helping them maintain adherence to the challenging and often painful medication regimen.”
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2006/09/6514/cannabis-use-can-improve-effectiveness-hepatitis-c-therapy
Cannabis use improves retention and virological outcomes in patients treated for hepatitis C
“Despite the widespread use of polypharmacy, the management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment-related side-effects is often incomplete, and many patients turn to cannabis for symptom relief.
Our results suggest that modest cannabis use may offer symptomatic and virological benefit to some patients undergoing HCV treatment by helping them maintain adherence to the challenging medication regimen.”
Dietary Supplement Therapies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
“Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are chronic relapsing and remitting chronic diseases for which there is no cure.
The treatment of IBD frequently requires immunosuppressive and biologic therapies which carry an increased risk of infections and possible malignancy.
There is a continued search for safer and more natural therapies in the treatment of IBD.
This review aims to summarize the most current literature on the use of dietary supplements for the treatment of IBD. Specifically, the efficacy and adverse effects of vitamin D, fish oil, probiotics, prebiotics, curcumin, Boswellia serrata, aloe vera and cannabis sativa are reviewed.”
Seeing over the horizon – targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of ocular disease.
“The observation that marijuana reduces intraocular pressure was made by Hepler and Frank in the 1970s. Since then, there has been a significant body of work investigating cannabinoids for their potential use as therapeutics.
To date, no endocannabinoid system (ECS)-modulating drug has been approved for clinical use in the eye; however, recent advances in our understanding of the ECS, as well as new pharmacological tools, has renewed interest in the development of ocular ECS-based therapeutics.
This review summarizes the current state-of-affairs for the use of ECS-modulating drugs for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular inflammatory and ischemic disease.”
Cannabinoid CB1 receptors and mTORC1 signalling pathway interact to modulate glucose homeostasis.
“The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an inter-cellular signalling mechanism that is present in the islets of Langerhans and plays a role in the modulation of insulin secretion and beta-cell mass expansion.
The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a key intra-cellular pathway involved in energy homeostasis and known to importantly affect pancreatic islet’s physiology.
These findings suggest a functional interaction between the ECS and the mTORC1 pathway within the endocrine pancreas and at the whole organism level, which could have implications for the development of new therapeutic approaches for pancreatic beta-cell diseases.”
Cannabidiol-2′,6′-dimethyl ether stimulates body weight gain in apolipoprotein E-deficient BALB/c. KOR/Stm Slc-Apoe(shl) mice.
“The biological activities of cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotropic constituent of the fiber-type cannabis plant, have been examined in detail (e.g., CBD modulation of body weight in mice and rats).
However, few studies have investigated the biological activities of cannabidiol-2′,6′-dimethyl ether (CBDD), a dimethyl ether derivative of the parent CBD.
We herein focused on the effects of CBDD on body weight changes in mice, and demonstrated that it stimulated body weight gain in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient BALB/c. KOR/Stm Slc-Apoe(shl) mice, especially between 10 and 20 weeks of age.”
Cannabinoids for nausea and vomiting in adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy.
“Cannabis has a long history of medicinal use.
Cannabis-based medications (cannabinoids) are based on its active element, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and have been approved for medical purposes.
Cannabinoids may be a useful therapeutic option for people with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting that respond poorly to commonly used anti-emetic agents (anti-sickness drugs).
Cannabis-based medications may be useful for treating refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.”