Posts

Cannabinoid Therapeutics in Chronic Neuropathic Pain: From Animal Research to Human Treatment

/by

Despite the importance of pain as a warning physiological system, chronic neuropathic pain is frequently caused by damage in the nervous system, followed by persistence over a long period, even in the absence of dangerous stimuli or after healing of injuries. Chronic neuropathic pain affects hundreds of millions of adults worldwide, creating a direct impact on quality of life. This pathology has been extensively characterized concerning its cellular and molecular mechanisms, and the endocannabinoid system (eCS) is widely recognized as pivotal in the development of chronic neuropathic pain. Scientific evidence has supported that phyto-, synthetic and endocannabinoids are efficient for pain management, while strong data arise from the therapeutic use of Cannabis-derived products. The use of medicinal Cannabis products is directed toward not only relieving symptoms of chronic pain, but also improving several aspects of patients’ welfare. Here, we review the involvement of eCS, along with other cellular and molecular elements, in chronic neuropathic pain pathology and how this system can be targeted for pain management.

Read more

Cannabinoid Conference 2022

/by

Cannabis has a historical role for pharmacological analgesia/anaesthesia, as well as for dental anxiety. Fast-forward to today’s scientific literature, there are many considerations regarding the role of cannabis in dentistry. We examine the role of the endocannabinoid system and its modulation from the dental perspective. Whilst cannabis smoking has been associated with poor dental health, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) intoxication can result in tachycardia and acute hypertension, (which could cause drug-drug interaction with sedation and anaesthesia), some cannabinoids seem to be useful for a promising therapy for a range of different conditions of the oral cavity, such as peri-operative analgesia, several neurologic orofacial disorders, like burning mouth syndrome, or even dental anxiety and mouth inflammations.

Read more

Cannabidiol Interferes with Establishment of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Induced Nausea Through a 5-HT1A Mechanism

/by

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is characterized by intense nausea and vomiting brought on by the use of high-dose Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychotropic compound in cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychotropic compound found in cannabis, has been shown to interfere with some acute aversive effects of THC. In this study, we evaluated if CBD would interfere with THC-induced nausea through a 5-HT1A receptor mechanism as it has been shown to interfere with nausea produced by lithium chloride (LiCl). Since CHS has been attributed to a dysregulated stress response, we also evaluated if CBD would interfere with THC-induced increase in corticosterone (CORT).

Read more

Biphasic effects of cannabis and cannabinoid therapy on pain severity, anxiety, and sleep disturbance: a scoping review

/by

Cannabinoids are being used by patients to help with chronic pain management and to address the 2 primary chronic pain comorbidities of anxiety and sleep disturbance. It is necessary to understand the biphasic effects of cannabinoids to improve treatment of this symptom triad.

Read more

The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

/by

Resting heart rate can predict cardiovascular disease. Heart rate increases with tobacco smoking, but its association with cannabis use is unclear. We studied the association between current and cumulative cannabis use and heart rate. We used data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study, a large prospective cohort of 5115 Black and white women and men followed over 30 years. We explored the association between cannabis exposure and heart rate, adjusted for demographic factors, cardiovascular risk factors, alcohol and other illicit drug use, physical activity, and beta-blockers, in mixed longitudinal models censoring participants with cardiovascular disease.

Read more

Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects of Medicinal Cannabis Use in an Observational Trial

/by

Arthritis and inflammatory conditions require effective therapies, but conventional drugs have side effects. This study explored Cannabis sativa L. essential oil (CSEO) as a safer alternative. A chemical characterization of EO conducted via GC/MS showed the presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (67.63%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (25.91%), and oxygenated monoterpenes (0.99%). The study used three established inflammation induction tests: xylene-induced ear swelling, carrageenan-induced paw inflammation, and inflammation in the paw induced by Freund’s complete adjuvant (CFA). Xylene triggered acute inflammation in the ear, while carrageenan-induced acute inflammatory responses through edema and immune-cell recruitment in the paw.

Read more

A Retrospective Cohort Study That Examined the Impact of Cannabis Consumption on Long-Term Kidney Outcomes

/by

The prevalence of medical cannabis (MC) use in patients with cancer is growing, but questions about safety, efficacy, and dosing remain. Conducting randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) using state-sponsored MC programs is novel and could provide data needed to guide patients and providers.

Read more

A preliminary study evaluating self-reported effects of cannabis and cannabinoids on neuropathic pain and pain medication use in people with spinal cord injury

/by

Approximately 60% of individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) experience neuropathic pain, which often persists despite the use of various pharmacological treatments. Increasingly, the potential analgesic effects of cannabis and cannabinoid products have been studied; however, little research has been conducted among those with SCI-related neuropathic pain. Therefore, the primary objective of the study was to investigate the perceived effects of cannabis and cannabinoid use on neuropathic pain among those who were currently or had previously used these approaches. Additionally, the study aimed to determine if common pain medications are being substituted by cannabis and cannabinoids. Participants (N = 342) were recruited from existing opt-in listserv sources within the United States. Of those, 227 met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The participants took part in an anonymous online survey regarding past and current use of cannabis and their perceived effects on neuropathic pain, including the use of pain medication.

Read more

Cannabis use in Crohn’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)

/by

This meta-analysis aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of cannabis in the management of Crohn’s disease (CD) by synthesizing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). By adhering to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines and registering the study protocol with PROSPERO, this research intends to offer robust, evidence-based recommendations for healthcare practitioners on the therapeutic potential and clinical implications of cannabis use in CD management.

Read more

A narrative review of the ethnomedicinal usage of Cannabis sativa Linnaeus as traditional phytomedicine by folk medicine practitioners of Bangladesh

/by

There is a worldwide interest in the use of Cannabis sativa for biomedicine purposes. Cannabis has ethnomedicinal usage as a natural medicine in Bangladesh and cultivated during the British Empire period for revenues. Folk medicine practitioners (FMPs) from different districts of Bangladesh have been using Cannabis sativa, but until now there have not been any compiled studies particularly regarding this practice. Hence, this review is an effort to retrieve the traditional usage of Cannabis sativa as a phytomedicine from published ethnomedicinal studies.

Read more

Impact of Marijuana Use on Lung Health

/by

The widespread use of marijuana in the context of increasing legalization has both short- and long-term health implications. Although various modes of marijuana use—smoked, vaped, or ingested—may lead to a wide scope of potential systemic effects, we focus here on inhalational use of marijuana as the most common mode with the lung as the organ that is most directly exposed to its effects. Smoked marijuana has been associated with symptoms of chronic bronchitis and histopathologic changes in airway epithelium, but without consistent evidence of long-term decline in pulmonary function. Its role in immunomodulation, both for risk of infection and protection against a hyperinflammatory host response to infection, has been suggested in animal models and in vitro without conclusive extrapolation to humans. Marijuana smoke contains carcinogens like those found in tobacco, raising concern about its role in lung cancer, but evidence is mixed and made challenging by concurrent tobacco use.

Read more

A Cross-Sectional and Prospective Comparison of Medicinal Cannabis Users and Controls on Self-Reported Health

/by

Despite widespread legalization, the impact of medicinal cannabis use on patient-level health and quality of life (QOL) has not been carefully evaluated. The objective of this study was to characterize self-reported demographics, health characteristics, QOL, and health care utilization of Cannabis Users compared with Controls.

Read more