Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Study rationale Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a life-threatening complication of end-stage liver disease characterized by the rapid decline of kidney function. Herein, we explored the therapeutic potential of targeting the cannabinoid-2 receptor (CB2-R) utilizing a commonly used mouse model of liver fibrosis and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Methods Gene expression analysis, histological evaluation, determination of serum levels of renal injury-biomarkers were used to characterize the BDL-induced organ injury; laser speckle analysis to measure microcirculation in the kidneys. Key results We found that liver injury triggered marked inflammation and oxidative stress in the kidneys of BDL-operated mice. We detected pronounced histopathological alterations with tubular injury paralleled...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction: Medical cannabinoids have received significant mainstream media attention in recent times due to an evolving political and clinical landscape. Whilst the efficacy of cannabinoids in the treatment of some childhood epilepsy syndromes is increasingly recognized, medical cannabinoids may also have potential clinical roles in the treatment of older adults. Prescribing restrictions for medical cannabinoids in certain jurisdictions (including the UK) has recently been relaxed. However, few geriatricians have the detailed knowledge or awareness of the potential risks or rewards of utilizing cannabinoids in the older person; even fewer geriatricians have direct experience of using...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Recently, there have been increasing indications that the endocannabinoid (eCB) system is involved in vision. Multiple research teams studied the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) expression and function in the mouse retina. Here, we examined the consequence of CB2R modulation on visual acuity using genetic and pharmacologic tools. We found that Cnr2 knockout mice show an enhanced visual acuity, CB2R activation decreased visual acuity while CB2R blockade with the inverse agonist AM630 increased it. The inhibition of 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) synthesis and degradation also greatly increased and decreased visual acuity, respectively. No differences were seen when the cannabinoid...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Lung injury associated with cannabinoid oil vaping is rapidly becoming a serious public health concern. We describe the clinical and radiographic presentations of 5 patients with lung injury associated with vaping cannabinoid oils seen at a single institution. Results Of the 5 patients with suspected vaping-associated lung injury seen at our institution, 4 required supplemental oxygen, and all these 4 were admitted to the hospital. Three patients required admission to the intensive care unit. None of the patients required mechanical ventilation. All patients demonstrated a consistent radiologic appearance of diffuse bilateral ground-glass lung opacities that spared the extreme periphery. Three patients underwent bronchoalveolar lavage, which revealed...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract The cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) is the most abundant G protein-coupled receptor in the brain and plays crucial roles in emotion and behavior by modulating or mediating synaptic transmission and plasticity. Differences in CB1R density between male and female rodents may be associated with distinct behavioral phenotypes. In the rat brain, CB1R expression is significantly lower in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala of estrus females than in males. However, differences in CB1R distribution due to sex over the whole mouse brain are still largely unknown. Here, we systemically investigated the expression of CB1R mRNA in...

Abstract Background The pharmacological treatment for autism spectrum disorders is often poorly tolerated and has traditionally targeted associated conditions, with limited benefit for the core social deficits. We describe the novel use of a cannabidiol-based extract that incidentally improved core social deficits and overall functioning in a patient with autism spectrum disorder, at a lower dose than has been previously reported in autism spectrum disorder. Case presentation The parents of a 15-year-old boy, of South African descent, with autism spectrum disorder, selective mutism, anxiety, and controlled epilepsy, consulted a medical cannabis physician to trial cannabis extract to replace seizure medications. Incidentally, at a very...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabinol (CBN) is a degradation product of the cannabis metabolite Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The CBN concentration in cannabis leaves ranges between 0.1 and 1.6% (w/w of dry weight); it increases as the plant ages and its formation is affected by the storage conditions. As CBN has not been extensively studied so far, the need to examine its impact in vivo is imperative due to the increasing use of cannabis globally. In the study herein, the CBN toxicity, effects on heart physiology, morphological malformations, behavioral changes and alterations in metabolic pathways of zebrafish larvae upon CBN exposure to sublethal concentrations were examined. The...

ABSTRACT Sleep is a vital function of the nervous system that contributes to brain and bodily homeostasis, energy levels, cognitive ability, and other key functions of a variety of organisms. Dysfunctional sleep induces neural problems and is a key part of almost all human psychiatric disorders including substance abuse disorders. The hypnotic effects of cannabis have long been known and there is increasing use of phytocannabinoids and other formulations as sleep aids. Thus, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of the neurobiological basis of cannabis drug effects on sleep, as well as the role of the endogenous cannabinoid system in sleep physiology....

Abstract Cannabinoids are increasingly-used substances in the treatment of chronic pain, some neuropsychiatric disorders and more recently, skin disorders with an inflammatory component. However, various studies cite conflicting results concerning the cellular mechanisms involved, while others suggest that cannabinoids may even exert pro-inflammatory behaviors. This paper aims to detail and clarify the complex workings of cannabinoids in the molecular setting of the main dermatological inflammatory diseases, and their interactions with other substances with emerging applications in the treatment of these conditions. Also, the potential role of cannabinoids as antitumoral drugs is explored in relation to the inflammatory component of skin cancer. In vivo and...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disorder characterized by pruritus, erythema and excoriation. While AD has a multifactorial etiology, neuro-signaling pathways are now recognized to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of AD, particularly pruritus. Neuromodulators, such as topical naltrexone, are being utilized in AD treatment. Another class of neuromodulator, Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of itch, excoriation and erythema in AD patients. Phytocannabinoids including cannabidiol (CBD) are becoming increasingly accessible to the public and continue to be advertised for their efficacy to treat inflammatory skin disorders such as eczema....