Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract A number of physiological responses in the central nervous system (CNS) are regulated by the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Inhibition of neuronal excitability via activation of cannabinoid receptors (CBr) constitutes a potential protective response against neurotoxic insults. Oleamide (ODA) is a fatty acid amide with endocannabinoid profile exerting several effects in the CNS, though its neuroprotective properties remain unknown. The tryptophan metabolite quinolinic acid (QUIN) elicits toxic effects via overactivation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAr) after its accumulation in the CNS under pathological conditions. Here, we investigated the protective properties of ODA against the excitotoxic damage induced by...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Purpose: Drug use during pregnancy is a critical global challenge, capable of severe impacts on neonatal development. However, the consumption of cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids is on the rise in pregnant women. Obstetric complications with increased risks of miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, and brain development impairment have been associated with perinatal cannabis exposure, but data on synthetic cannabinoid use during pregnancy are limited. Methods: We reviewed studies that investigated the risks associated with cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid use and those that reported the concentrations of cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids in maternal (breast milk) and neonatal...

Abstract In the process of neonatal encephalopathy, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation have a prominent role after perinatal asphyxia. With the exception of therapeutic hypothermia, no therapeutic interventions are available in the clinical setting to target either the oxidative stress or inflammation, despite the high prevalence of neurological sequelae of this devastating condition. The endocannabinoid system (ECS), recently recognized as a widespread neuromodulatory system, plays an important role in the development of the central nervous system (CNS). This study aims to evaluate the potential effect of the cannabinoid (CB) agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and early inflammatory cytokine production after hypoxia–ischemia...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Purpose: Drug use during pregnancy is a critical global challenge, capable of severe impacts on neonatal development. However, the consumption of cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids is on the rise in pregnant women. Obstetric complications with increased risks of miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, and brain development impairment have been associated with perinatal cannabis exposure, but data on synthetic cannabinoid use during pregnancy are limited. Methods: We reviewed studies that investigated the risks associated with cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid use and those that reported the concentrations of cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids in maternal (breast milk) and neonatal...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to understand the role of cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R) during periodontal inflammation and to identify anti-inflammatory agents for the development of drugs to treat periodontitis (PD). Background Cannabinoid type 2 receptor is found in periodontal tissue at sites of inflammation/infection. Our previous study demonstrated anti-inflammatory responses in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs) via CB2R ligands. Methods Anandamide (AEA), HU-308 (agonist), and SMM-189 (inverse agonist) were tested for effects on IL-1β-stimulated cytokines, chemokines, and angiogenic and vascular markers expressed by hPDLFs using Mesoscale Discovery V-Plex Kits. Signal transduction...

Abstract Preclinical studies highlighted that compounds targeting cannabinoid receptors could be useful for developing novel therapies against neurodegenerative disorders. However, the chronic use of orthosteric agonists alone has several disadvantages, limiting their usefulness as clinically relevant drugs. Positive allosteric modulators might represent a promising approach to achieve the potential therapeutic benefits of orthosteric agonists of cannabinoid receptors through increasing their activity and limiting their adverse effects. The aim of the present study was to show the effects of positive allosteric ligands of cannabinoid receptors on the activity of a potent dual orthosteric agonist for neuroinflammation and excitotoxic damage by excessive glutamate release. The results...

ABSTRACT Background: In 2016, the global number of individuals living with dementia was 43.8 million, representing a 117% increase from 1990—mainly due to increases in aging and population growth. Up to 90% of individuals with dementia experience neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). However, the limitations of current treatments for NPS have drivent he search for safer pharmacotherapies—including cannabinoids. Aim: To assess the efficacy and acceptability of cannabinoids for the treatment of NPS in individuals with dementia. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Setting and participants: Of 6,902 papers, 9 were eligible (n = 205, 44% female, 78 ± 7 years, 85% Alzheimer disease). Trials were...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Dental plaque is a complex biofilm that gets formed on the teeth and acts as a reservoir of different microbes. It is the root cause for the occurrence of several dental problems and diseases, including cavities, bad breath, bleeding gums, tooth decay, and tooth loss. Therefore, it should be regularly removed using suitable oral care aids. Objectives The present study compared the efficacy of oral care products and cannabinoids in reducing the bacterial content of dental plaques. Methods Sixty adults aged 18 to 45 years were categorized into six groups based on the Dutch...

Abstract Background Although cannabis and cannabinoids are widely used with therapeutic purposes, their claimed efficacy is highly controversial. For this reason, medical cannabis use is a broad field of research that is rapidly expanding. Our objectives are to identify, characterize, appraise, and organize the current available evidence surrounding therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids, using evidence maps. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library and CINAHL, to identify systematic reviews (SRs) published from their inception up to December 2017. Two authors assessed eligibility and extracted data independently. We assessed methodological quality of the included SRs using the AMSTAR tool. To illustrate the extent...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Purpose: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with daily marijuana use and is also increasing in parallel with increased marijuana use in the United States. Our study is designed to define the interaction between cannabinoids and HPV-positive HNSCC. Experimental design: The expression of cannabinoid receptors CNR1 and CNR2 was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC data. We used agonists, antagonists, siRNAs, or shRNA-based models to explore the roles of CNR1 and CNR2 in HPV-positive HNSCC cell lines and animal models. Cannabinoid downstream pathways involved were determined by Western blotting and analyzed in a primary HPV HNSCC cohort...