Cannabidiol inhibits lung cancer cell invasion and metastasis via intercellular adhesion molecule-1.

Authors: Robert Ramer, Katharina Bublitz, Nadine Freimuth, Jutta Merkord, Helga Rohde, et al
The FASEB Journal, April 2012

Cannabinoids inhibit cancer cell invasion via increasing tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). This study investigates the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) within this action. In the lung cancer cell lines A549, H358, and H460, cannabidiol…

Cannabinoid-related agents in the treatment of anxiety disorders: current knowledge and future perspectives.

Authors: Simone Tambaro, Marco Bortolato
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery, 1 April 2012

Rich evidence has shown that cannabis products exert a broad gamut of effects on emotional regulation. The main psychoactive ingredient of hemp, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and its synthetic cannabinoid analogs have been reported to either attenuate or exacerbate anxiety an…

Would some cannabinoids ameliorate symptoms of autism?

Authors: Rami Bou Khalil
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, DATE

Dear Sir, There has been a massive growth of public awareness and research funding around autism spectrum disorders (ASD) over the past 10 years. This disorder is one of the groups of neurodevelopmental disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders characterized by thre…

Cannabinoid receptor 2-mediated attenuation of CXCR4-tropic HIV infection in primary CD4+ T cells.

Authors: Cristina Maria Costantino, Achla Gupta, Alice W. Yewdall, Benjamin M. Dale, et al
PLoS One, 2012

Agents that activate cannabinoid receptor pathways have been tested as treatments for cachexia, nausea or neuropathic pain in HIV-1/AIDS patients. The cannabinoid receptors (CB(1)R and CB(2)R) and the HIV-1 co-receptors, CCR5 and CXCR4, all signal via Gαi-coupled pathways. We…

Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia.

Authors: F. M. Leweke, D. Piomelli, F. Pahlisch, D. Muhl, C. W. Gerth, C. Hoyer, J. Klosterkötter, et al
Translational Psychiatry, 20 March 2012

Cannabidiol is a component of marijuana that does not activate cannabinoid receptors, but moderately inhibits the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. We previously reported that an elevation of anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid inversely correlated to psychot…

Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration on human encoding and recall memory function: a pharmacological FMRI study.

Authors: Matthijs G. Bossong, Gerry Jager, Hendrika H. van Hell, Lineke Zuurman, et al
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, March 2012

Deficits in memory function are an incapacitating aspect of various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Animal studies have recently provided strong evidence for involvement of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in memory function. Neuropsychological studies in humans have s…

Decreased prevalence of diabetes in marijuana users: cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III.

Authors: Tripathi B. Rajavashisth, Magda Shaheen, Keith C. Norris, Deyu Pan, et al
BMJ Open, 24 February 2012

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and marijuana use. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994) conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of th…

Birth outcomes associated with cannabis use before and during pregnancy.

Authors: Mohammad R. Hayatbakhsh, Vicki J. Flenady, Kristen S. Gibbons, Ann M. Kingsbury, et al
Pediatric Research, February 2012

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine the association between cannabis use before and during pregnancy and birth outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 26.3% of women reported previous use of cannabis and 2.6% reported current use. Multivariate analysis, controlling for potential con…

School achievement in 14-year-old youths prenatally exposed to marijuana.

Authors: Lidush Goldschmidt, Gale A. Richardson, Jennifer A. Willford, Stevan G. Severtson, Nancy L. Day
Neurotoxicology and Teratology, January-February 2012

The relation between prenatal marijuana exposure (PME) and school achievement was evaluated in a sample of 524 14-year-olds. Women were recruited during pregnancy and assessed, along with their offspring, at multiple phases from infancy to early adulthood. The sample represent…

Prescribing cannabis for harm reduction.

Authors: Mark Collen
Harm Reduction Journal, 1 January 2012

Neuropathic pain affects between 5% and 10% of the US population and can be refractory to treatment. Opioids may be recommended as a second-line pharmacotherapy but have risks including overdose and death. Cannabis has been shown to be effective for treating nerve pain without…

The role of cannabinoids in prostate cancer: Basic science perspective and potential clinical applications.

Authors: Juan A. Ramos, Fernando J. Bianco
Indian Journal of Urology, January 2012

Prostate cancer is a global public health problem, and it is the most common cancer in American men and the second cause for cancer-related death. Experimental evidence shows that prostate tissue possesses cannabinoid receptors and their stimulation results in anti-androgenic…

Potential protective effects of cannabidiol on neuroanatomical alterations in cannabis users and psychosis: a critical review.

Authors: Derik Hermann , Miriam Schneider
Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2012

Cannabis use and the development of schizophrenic psychoses share a variety of similarities. Both start during late adolescence; go along with neuropsychological deficits, reduced activity, motivation deficits, and hallucinations suggesting impairment of similar brain structur…