Cannabis. Usos y aplicaciones en la práctica odontológica diaria: revisión de la literatura / Cannabis. Uses and applications in daily dental practice: a review of the literature

La evidencia científica presente en la literatura indica que el cannabis puede ser utilizado con fines terapéuticos para tratar distintas afecciones odontológicas. Dado el acceso sencillo a la cavidad bucal, las distintas formulaciones de cannabis pueden aplicarse de forma tópica. La aplicación local de dosis bajas de cannabis ha demostrado alta efectividad para tratar distintas afecciones bucales, constituyendo un tratamiento seguro con baja probabilidad de generar repercusiones sistémicas indeseadas. En la actualidad, está siendo incorporado a materiales convencionales de uso e higiene odontológica con la finalidad de aprovechar sus efectos terapéuticos. El cannabis tiene múltiples usos en odontología: como componen-te de enjuagues bucales y soluciones para la desinfección de conductos radiculares, en tratamientos de trastornos de ansiedad bucal, como complemento en terapias oncológicas, como analgésico para atenuar el dolor inflamatorio y el neuropático, como miorrelajante y condroprotector para tratar trastornos de articulación témporomandibular (ATM) y bruxismo, como osteomodulador para el tratamiento de patologías que comprometen la integridad ósea, como la enfermedad periodontal y la osteoporosis, y para la cicatrización ósea asociada a fracturas, extracciones dentarias e implantes, y como inmunomodulador con potencial terapéutico para tratar patologías autoinmunes como las enfermedades reumáticas. El trata-miento local con cannabis es efectivo, bien tolerado por el paciente y con pocos efectos adversos. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que el cannabis aporta un enorme abanico de posibilidades terapéuticas para tratar distintas afecciones odontológicas, aunque aún se requiere mayor cantidad de estudios científicos que avalen su utilización en cada situación fisiopatológica particular (AU)

The scientific evidence present in the literature indicates that cannabis can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat different dental conditions. Given the easy access to the oral cavity, the different cannabis formulations can be applied topically. The local application of low doses of cannabis has shown high effectiveness in treating different oral conditions, constituting a safe treatment with a low probability of generating unwanted systemic repercussions. It is currently being incorporated into conventional materials for dental use and hygiene in order to take advantage of its therapeutic effects. Cannabis has multiple uses in dentistry: as a component of mouthwashes and solutions for disinfecting root canals, in the treatment of oral anxiety disorders, as a complement in oncological therapies, as an analgesic to reduce inflammatory and neuropathic pain, as a muscle relaxant and chondroprotective to treat temporomandibular joint disorders and bruxism, as an osteomodulator for the treatment of pathologies that compromise bone integrity, such as periodontal disease and osteoporosis, and or bone healing associated with fractures, dental extractions and implants, and as immunomodulator with therapeutic potential to treat autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatic diseases. Local treatment with cannabis is effective, well tolerated by the patient and with few adverse effects. Local treatment with cannabis is effective, well tolerated by the patient and with few adverse effects. Therefore, it can be concluded that cannabis provides an enormous range of therapeutic possibilities to treat different dental conditions, although more scientific studies are still required to support its use in each particular pathophysiological situation (AU)

The role of the CNR1 gene in schizophrenia: a systematic review including unpublished data

Objective: Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disorder. It is known that a combination of extensive multiple common alleles may be involved in its etiology, each contributing with a small to moderate effect, and, possibly, some rare alleles with a much larger effect size. We aimed to perform a systematic review of association studies between schizophrenia (and its subphenotypes) and polymorphisms in the CNR1 gene, which encodes cannabinoid receptors classically implicated in schizophrenia pathophysiology, as well as to present unpublished results of an association study in a Brazilian population. Methods: Two reviewers independently searched for eligible studies and extracted outcome data using a structured form. Papers were retrieved from PubMed and ISI Web of Knowledge using the search term schizophrenia in combination with CNR1 or CB1 or cannabinoid receptor. Twenty-four articles met our inclusion criteria. We additionally present data from a study of our own comparing 182 patients with schizophrenia and 244 healthy controls. Results: No consistent evidence is demonstrated. Conclusion: Some seemingly positive association studies stress the need for further investigations of the possible role of endocannabinoid genetics in schizophrenia.

Hiposialia por activación de receptores de cannabinoides en la glándula submaxilar: revisión / Hyposialia by cannabinoid receptors activation in the submandibular gland: a review

El presente trabajo aporta evidencia de la presencia de receptores de cannabinoides en la glándula submaxilar de la rata, cuya expresión secircunscribe a componentes acinares y ductales. A su vez, los resultados expuestos confirman la participación de los receptores de cannabinoides en el control de la secreción salival, y por ende aportan una explicación empírica a la hiposialia observada luego del consumo de marihuana

The present study provides evidence for the presence of cannabinoid receptors in rat submandibular gland, whose expression is restricted to acinar and ductal components. In turn, the presented results confirm the involvement of cannabinoid receptors in the control of salivary secretion, and thus provide an empirical explanation to hyposialia observed after marijuana consumption.

Cannabinoids and their medicinal potential.

Cannabis sativa L preparations have been used therapeutically since many years. Inspite of their medicinal value, the danger of its abusive potential led to the ban on its use in clinical practice in many countries. The recent research and in depth knowledge about the cannabinoid system which throw a light on their disease management potential has paved way for the cannabinoids to become a new therapeutic focus of attention. Cannabinoids are a group of compounds that mediate their effects through cannabinoid receptors which include CB1, predominantly expressed in the brain and CB2 which is primarily found in the cells of the immune system. Despite the addictive properties of cannabis, the therapeutic value of cannabinoids is too high to be put aside. Numerous diseases such as anorexia, pain, inflammation, obesity, cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, hepatic disorders, skin related diseases, respiratory disorders like asthma and eye diseases like glaucoma have suggested cannabinoid agonists/ antagonists/ cannabinoids related compounds as potential treatment options. Developments of new specific ligands for the cannabinoid receptors are now underway and it needs to be seen, if in future, they can prove to be a boon for the medical world. The paper reviews the current understanding of the cannabinoid receptors, their ligands and their possible role in various diseases supported by preclinical and clinical studies.

Effect of (-)- Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinoid on the hepatic redox state of mice

(-)-∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), a psychoactive component of marijuana, has been reported to induce oxidative damage in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we administered (∆9-THC to healthy C57BL/6J mice aged 15 weeks in order to determine its effect on hepatic redox state. Mice were divided into 3 groups: (∆9-THC (N = 10), treated with 10 mg/kg body weight (∆9-THC daily; VCtrl (N = 10), treated with vehicle [1:1:18, cremophor EL® (polyoxyl 35 castor oil)/ethanol/saline]; Ctrl (N = 10), treated with saline. Animals were injected ip twice a day with 5 mg/kg body weight for 10 days. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and DNA oxidation were used as biomarkers of oxidative stress. The endogenous antioxidant defenses analyzed were glutathione (GSH) levels as well as enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver homogenates. The levels of mRNA of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 were also monitored. Treatment with ∆9-THC did not produce significant changes in oxidative stress markers or in mRNA levels of CB1 and CB2 receptors in the liver of mice, but attenuated the increase in the selenium-dependent GPx activity (∆9-THC: 8 percent; VCtrl: 23 percent increase) and the GSH/oxidized GSH ratio (∆9-THC: 61 percent; VCtrl: 96 percent increase), caused by treatment with the vehicle. ∆9-THC administration did not show any harmful effects on lipid peroxidation, protein carboxylation or DNA oxidation in the healthy liver of mice but attenuated unexpected effects produced by the vehicle containing ethanol/cremophor EL®.

Mecanismos moleculares de la adicción a la marihuana / Molecular Mechanism of Addiction to Marihuana

Introducción: Desde la antigüedad, la planta Cannabis sativa (cáñamo o marihuana), de la familia Cannabaceae, se ha usado con múltiples fines: industriales, medicinales o religiosos; sin embargo, en los últimos años, el fenómeno de la farmacodependencia ha mostrado una expansión social, y a pesar de las medidas ejercidas para controlarlo, su consumo masivo se ha tendido a incrementar cada vez más en las poblaciones más jóvenes de colombianos. Objetivos: Presentar un enfoque adecuado del paciente que presenta adicción a la marihuana y mostrar diferentes aspectos relacionados con esta sustancia, al tiempo que pone el relieve en el sistema endocanabinoide, para explicar su mecanismo de acción. Método: El artículo presenta las generalidades de la marihuana, su cinética (absorción, distribución, metabolismo y excreción), su toxicodinamia y los efectos de su uso crónico. Conclusiones: Pese a que el consumo de la marihuana se ha aceptado en muchos países, porque produce menos efectos nocivos que otras drogas, sólo entendiendo los mecanismos moleculares de la adicción, en un futuro se podrán diseñar estrategias farmacológicas que disminuyan o eliminen los síntomas de abstinencia que, finalmente, llevan a la perpetuación de la dependencia.

Dating from antiquity, the Cannabis sativa plant (marihuana) of the Cannabaceae family has been put to multiple uses: industrial, medicinal and religious. Lately, however, the phenomenon of addiction has expanded socially and in spite of measures taken to control it, massive consumption of marihuana has grown among Colombian youth. Objectives: To establish an approach that is appropriate for patients addicted to marihuana and to show different aspects related to this substance, as well as to lay significance on the mechanis of action of the endocannabinoid system. Method: The article describes the generalities of marihuana, its kinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion), toxicology and the effects of chronic use. Conclusions: In spite of the fact that marihuana consumption is accepted in several countries, as its effects are considered less deleterious than those of other substances, only by understanding the molecular mechanisms of addiction will it be possible in the future to design pharmacological strategies that will diminish or eliminate marihuana-related withdrawal symptoms.

Unconventional neurotransmitters, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection

Neurotransmitters are also involved in functions other than conventional signal transfer between nerve cells, such as development, plasticity, neurodegeneration, and neuroprotection. For example, there is a considerable amount of data indicating developmental roles for the glutamatergic, cholinergic, dopaminergic, GABA-ergic, and ATP/adenosine systems. In this review, we discuss the existing literature on these "new" functions of neurotransmitters in relation to some unconventional neurotransmitters, such as the endocannabinoids and nitric oxide. Data indicating both transcriptional and post-transcriptional modulation of endocannabinoid and nitrinergic systems after neural lesions are discussed in relation to the non-conventional roles of these neurotransmitters. Knowledge of the roles of neurotransmitters in brain functions other than information transfer is critical for a more complete understanding of the functional organization of the brain and to provide more opportunities for the development of therapeutical tools aimed at minimizing neuronal death.

Advances in the Anandamide / 生物化学与生物物理进展

Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamide), an arachidonic acid derivative, is an endogenous ligand for cannabinoid receptors, which are m embers of the G protein (Gi)-coupled receptors family. Ananamide is mainly foun d in central nervous system, immune system and uterus etc and mimics most of the effects of (－)Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinoid ［(－)Δ9-THC］, a psyco active derivative of marijuana. Fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which is inv olved in hydrolyzing anandamide to arachidonic acid and ethanolamide, may quickl y regulate level of anandamide in vivo.