Search results for "Cannabinoid"

Blood endocannabinoid levels in patients with panic disorder.

2020

Abstract Background The development and maintenance of anxiety disorders is not fully understood. There is consensus in the literature that in addition to genetic factors, social, psychological and neurobiological factors are of crucial importance. The present exploratory study investigates the influence of the endocannabinoids (EC) and related N-acylethanolamines (NA) on the maintenance of panic disorder (PD). Methods A total of n = 36 PD and n = 26 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. Baseline characteristics showed no differences between the two groups. The participants were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) for reliable laboratory stress induction. Blood sample…

Spinal Endocannabinoids and CB 1 Receptors Mediate C-Fiber–Induced Heterosynaptic Pain Sensitization

2009

Plastic Pain Perception Drugs and endocannabinoids acting on cannabinoid (CB) receptors have potential in the treatment of certain types of pain. In the spinal cord they are believed to suppress nociception, the perception of pain and noxious stimuli. Pernia-Andrade et al. (p. 760 ) now find that endocannabinoids, which are released in spinal cord by noxious stimulation, may promote rather than inhibit nociception by acting on CB1 receptors. Endocannabinoids not only depress transmission at excitatory synapses in the spinal cord, but also block the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters, thereby facilitating nociception.

Cumyl-PEGACLONE: A comparatively safe new synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist entering the NPS market?

2018

The synthetic cannabinoid 5F-MDMB-PICA: A case series

2020

5F-MDMB-PICA has been detected in products sold on the internet as well as in biological samples since 2016. It is associated with serious adverse health and behavioral effects and even death. Herein we report on twelve cases with proven 5F-MDMB-PICA consumption, including three fatalities, four cases of driving under the influence of drugs and five other criminal acts. In these cases, 5F-MDMB-PICA was detected in postmortem blood or serum. Concentrations ranged from 0.1-16ng/mL. In some blood (serum) and urine samples, the hydrolysis metabolite of 5F-MDMB-PICA (M12) could also be detected. In this case series, co-consumption with other drugs occurred in 9 of 12 cases, most commonly alcohol…

Concentrations of  9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-Nor-9-Carboxytetrahydrocannabinol in Blood and Urine After Passive Exposure to Cannabis Smoke in a C…

2010

Cannabinoid concentrations in blood and urine after passive exposure to cannabis smoke under real-life conditions were investigated in this study. Eight healthy volunteers were exposed to cannabis smoke for 3 h in a well-attended coffee shop in Maastricht, Netherlands. An initial blood and urine sample was taken from each volunteer before exposure. Blood samples were taken 1.5, 3.5, 6, and 14 h after start of initial exposure, and urine samples were taken after 3.5, 6, 14, 36, 60, and 84 h. The samples were subjected to immunoassay screening for cannabinoids and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-nor-hydroxy-Delta(9)-tetra…

Mono-/polyintoxication with 5F-ADB: A case series.

2019

Abstract 5F-ADB is an indazole-based synthetic cannabinoid. In recent years, it has been detected in legal high products as well as in biological samples and is associated with serious adverse health, behavioral effects and even death. Due to the fast pace of the market of synthetic cannabinoids, data on such newly appearing substances are scarce. As pharmacological properties are often investigated in vitro or by using animal experiments, reports on synthetic cannabinoid findings in human samples along with corresponding case history descriptions are valuable for the interpretation of upcoming routine cases. Herein we report five cases with verified 5F-ADB consumption, including three fata…

Altered endocannabinoid-dynamics in craniopharyngioma patients and their association with HPA-axis disturbances.

2021

Objective Patients with craniopharyngioma (CP) frequently suffer from morbid obesity. Endocannabinoids (ECs) are involved in weight gain and rewarding behavior but have not been investigated in this context. Design Cross-sectional single-center study. Methods Eighteen patients with CP and 16 age- and sex-matched controls were included. Differences in endocannabinoids (2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA)) and endocannabinoid-like molecules (oleoyl ethanolamide (OEA), palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), and arachidonic acid (AA) were measured at baseline and following endurance exercise. We further explored ECs-dynamics in relation to markers of HPA-axis activity (ACT…

Soothing the seizures of children.

2008

Endocannabinoids are versatile molecules, regulating a variety of functions in the body. Daniele Piomelli explores how recent clinical trials testing rimonabant, an inhibitor of endocannabinoid signaling, for weight loss emerged from studies of individuals with schizophrenia; such trials have spurred basic research into how endocannabinoids affect both energy use and mood. Beat Lutz and Krisztina Monory examine how rimonabant might prove useful for preventing the development of adult epilepsy in response to fever-induced seizures in infants and young children.

Association of a CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Gene (CNR1) polymorphism with severe alcohol dependence

2002

Abstract Due to the involvement of the endogenous cannabinoid system in brain reward mechanisms a silent polymorphism (1359G/A; Thr453Thr) in the single coding exon of the CB1 human cannabinoid receptor gene ( CNR1 ) was analysed in 121 severely affected Caucasian alcoholics and 136 most likely non-alcoholic controls. The observed frequency of the A allele was 31.2% for controls and 42.1% for alcoholics with severe withdrawal syndromes ( P =0.010). Post-hoc exploration indicated that this allelic association resulted from an excess of the homozygous A/A genotype in patients with a history of alcohol delirium ( P =0.031, DF 2), suggesting s an increased risk of delirium (OR=2.45, 95% CI 1.14…

A53T-Alpha-Synuclein Overexpression Impairs Dopamine Signaling and Striatal Synaptic Plasticity in Old Mice

2010

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder at old age, can be caused by elevated expression or the A53T missense mutation of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (SNCA). PD is characterized pathologically by the preferential vulnerability of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection neurons. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we used two mouse lines overexpressing human A53T-SNCA and studied striatal dysfunction in the absence of neurodegeneration to understand early disease mechanisms. To characterize the progression, we employed young adult as well as old mice. Analysis of striatal neurotransmitter content demonstrated that dopamine (DA…