Entries by Site Administrator

Cannabinoid CB2 receptors regulate central sensitization and pain responses associated with osteoarthritis of the knee joint.

Authors: James J. Burston, Devi Rani Sagar, Pin Shao, Mingfeng Bai, Emma King, Louis Brailsford, et al
PLoS One, 25 November 2013

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the joint is a prevalent disease accompanied by chronic, debilitating pain. Recent clinical evidence has demonstrated that central sensitization contributes to OA pain. An improved understanding of how OA joint pathology impacts upon the central processi…

Enhancing the activity of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids in vitro through modifications to drug combinations and treatment schedules.

Authors: Katherine Ann Scott, Sini Shah, Angus George Dalgleish, Wai Man Liu
Anticancer Research, October 2013

Cannabinoids are the bioactive components of the Cannabis plant that display a diverse range of therapeutic qualities. We explored the activity of six cannabinoids, used both alone and in combination in leukaemic cells. Cannabinoids were cytostatic and caused a simultaneous ar…

Pregnancy, breast-feeding, and marijuana: a review article.

Authors: Meg Hill, Kathryn Reed
Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, October 2013

Marijuana is a commonly used drug. At present, it remains an illegal substance in most areas of the United States. Recent controversy regarding the perceived harms of this drug has resulted in debate in both legal and medical circles. This review examines evidence regarding th…

Comparison of the analgesic effects of dronabinol and smoked marijuana in daily marijuana smokers.

Authors: Ziva D. Cooper, Sandra D. Comer, Margaret Haney
Neuropsychopharmacology, September 2013

Recent studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids to treat pain, yet none have compared the analgesic effectiveness of smoked marijuana to orally administered Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; dronabinol). This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-dumm…

Cannabinoids: well-suited candidates for the treatment of perinatal brain injury.

Authors: David Fernández-López, Ignacio Lizasoain, Maria Ángeles Moro, José Martínez-Orgado
Brain Sciences, 10 July 2013

Perinatal brain injury can be induced by a number of different damaging events occurring during or shortly after birth, including neonatal asphyxia, neonatal hypoxia-ischemia and stroke-induced focal ischemia. Typical manifestations of these conditions are the presence of glut…

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The impact of marijuana use on glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance among US adults.

Authors: Elizabeth A. Penner, Hannah Buettner, Murray A. Mittleman
The American Journal of Medicine, July 2013

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding the relationship between cannabinoids and metabolic processes. Epidemiologic studies have found lower prevalence rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus in marijuana users compared with people who have never used marijuana, suggestin…

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Cannabinoids inhibit energetic metabolism and induce AMPK-dependent autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells.

Authors: I. Dando, M. Donadelli, C. Costanzo, E. Dalla Pozza, A. D’Alessandro, L. Zolla, M. Palmieri
Cell Death & Disease, 13 June 2013

The anti-tumoral effects of cannabinoids have been described in different tumor systems, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but their mechanism of action remains unclear. We used cannabinoids specific for the CB1 (ACPA) and CB2 (GW) receptors and metabolomic analyses to unra…

Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption

Authors: D. Mark Anderson, Benjamin Hansen, Daniel I. Rees
The Journal of Law and Economics, May 2013

To date, 19 states have passed medical marijuana laws, yet very little is known about their effects. The current study examines the relationship between the legalization of medical marijuana and traffic fatalities, the leading cause of death among Americans ages 5–34. The firs…

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Does using marijuana increase the risk for developing schizophrenia?

Authors: A. Eden Evins, Alan I. Green, John M. Kane, Sir Robin M. Murray
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, April 2013

As more US states and other countries consider legalizing marijuana, clinicians need to know the possible effects of this drug. Research has shown a connection between marijuana use and an increased risk for schizophrenia in young people who are vulnerable to developing psycho…

Role of Cannabinoids in Pain Management

Authors: Ethan B. Russo, Andrea G. Hohmann
Comprehensive Treatment of Chronic Pain by Medical, Interventional, and Integrative Approaches, 2013

It is a curious fact that we owe a great deal of our insight into pharmacological treatment of pain to the plant world. Willow bark from Salix spp. led to development of aspirin and eventual elucidation of the analgesic effects of prostaglandins and their role in inflammation…