The Endocannabinoid system : a look back and ahead

Over the last few decades research on the cannabinoids has gone through several distinct phases: A. Research on plant cannabinoids (mostly on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)) B. Research on endogenous cannabinoids (mostly on anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG)) C. Research on endogenous anandamide-like endogenous fatty acid amides with amino acids and ethanol amines.peer-reviewe

CBD

A comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the possible benefits of CBD, describing findings from both preclinical and human clinical studies. CBD (cannabidiol), a nonintoxicating compound derived from the cannabis plant, can be found in products ranging from lotion and smoothies to chewable gummies and pet treats. It's been promoted—but not always scientifically validated—as a treatment for medical conditions including psychosis, anxiety, pain, and even cancer. In this book, three leading cannabis researchers look at the science of CBD, offering a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the possible benefits of CBD and describing their findings from both preclinical and human clinical studies. As it turns out, the current CBD fad has some basis in preclinical animal research that indicates potential beneficial effects. Clinical studies, hampered by regulations governing research with cannabis, have lagged behind the basic animal research. The authors examine what research shows about chemical and pharmacological aspects of CBD and CBD's interaction with THC, the main psychotropic compound found in cannabis. They go on to review the current state of knowledge about CBD's effectiveness in treating epilepsy, cancer, nausea, pain, anxiety, PTSD, depression, sleep disorders, psychosis, and addiction

A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study

BACKGROUND. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonpsychoactive phytocannabinoid used in multiple sclerosis and intractable epilepsies. Preclinical studies show CBD has numerous cardiovascular benefits, including a reduced blood pressure (BP) response to stress. The aim of this study was to investigate if CBD reduces BP in humans. METHODS. Nine healthy male volunteers were given 600 mg of CBD or placebo in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Cardiovascular parameters were monitored using a finometer and laser Doppler. RESULTS. CBD reduced resting systolic BP (–6 mmHg; P < 0.05) and stroke volume (–8 ml; P < 0.05), with increased heart rate (HR) and maintained cardiac output. Subjects who had taken CBD had lower BP (–5 mmHg; P < 0.05, especially before and after stress), increased HR (+10 bpm; P < 0.01), decreased stroke volume (–13 ml; P < 0.01), and a blunted forearm skin blood flow response to isometric exercise. In response to cold stress, subjects who had taken CBD had blunted BP (–6 mmHg; P < 0.01) and increased HR (+7 bpm; P < 0.05), with lower total peripheral resistance. CONCLUSIONS. This data shows that acute administration of CBD reduces resting BP and the BP increase to stress in humans, associated with increased HR. These hemodynamic changes should be considered for people taking CBD. Further research is required to establish whether CBD has a role in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders

e-Mazing - Juego de autoaprendizaje en terminales móviles

¿Te gustan los juegos? En este artículo se describirá el resultado de un Proyecto de Final de Carrera de la EPSC: un videojuego educativo para teléfonos móviles. Los juegos y más concretamente los videojuegos, pueden ser herramientas muy potentes de aprendizaje, debido a la alta capacidad de atención y concentración que muestra el usuario durante su curso. Siendo uno de los propósitos llegar a un público amplio y heterogéneo, se ha escogido el teléfono móvil como plataforma de la aplicación, por su gran penetración en nuestra vida cotidiana, ya que presenta la posibilidad de usarlo en cualquier momento y lugar. Estos son los principios de e-Mazing. Primero, se desarrollará ePeer Reviewe

Inactivation of anandamide signaling : A continuing Debate

Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Design and development of a dynamic mobile guide using recommendations from affine users

Desarrollo de guía turística dinámica sobre dispositivos móviles. Soporte de geolocalización, sistema de recomendación y afinidad entre usuarios.[ANGLÈS] This project describes the development of LiveGuide, a touristic guide for mobile devices focused on dynamic information and personalized recommendations of new locations. With LiveGuide, people will carry the guide content within their mobile phones or tablets and will have to interact with it, by means of comments, ratings and real GPS position in order to progress and unlock new content. The guide information is stored in a central server and can be easily expanded and modified, allowing clients to synchronize their local databases against it. In addition, the information from affine users is analyzed and, using a recommendation system, users will get a proposal of new places that may find interesting. This feature, linked to a self-categorization of the users, provides a personalized experience for every client. The mobile software is developed with a higher layer framework that abstracts the native layer (PhoneGap), allowing portability to any platform, and includes a native background service for controlling the GPS position of the client.[CASTELLÀ] En este proyecto se desarrolla LiveGuide, una guía turística para dispositivos móviles que hace especial énfasis en el dinamismo y personalización de las localizaciones recomendadas a los usuarios. Con LiveGuide, las personas tendrán el contenido de la guía en sus teléfonos móviles o tablets y deberán interactuar con él, mediante comentarios, puntuaciones y posicionamiento real GPS para avanzar y desbloquear nuevos contenidos. La información de la guía es almacenada en un servidor central y puede ser expandida y modificada fácilmente, posibilitando a los clientes sincronizar sus versiones locales. Los usuarios participan con un sistema de puntuación y opiniones que determina en todo momento la valoración de cada localización individual. Además, la información enviada por usuarios afines es analizada y, a través de un sistema de recomendaciones, a los clientes se les proponen nuevos sitios que podrían ser de su interés. El software móvil se ha desarrollado con un framework de alto nivel que abstrae la capa nativa (PhoneGap), permitiendo la portabilidad a cualquier plataforma, y mediante un servicio nativo que se ejecuta en segundo plano y controla la posición GPS del cliente.[CATALÀ] Aquest projecte descriu LiveGuide, una guia turística per dispositius mòbils amb especial èmfasi en el dinamisme i personalització de les localitzacions recomanades als usuaris. Amb LiveGuide els clients tindran accés al contingut de la guia en el seus telèfons o tablets i, mitjançant comentaris, votacions i posicionament, podran desbloquejar noves localitzacions al seu abast. Les dades de la guia son emmagatzemades en un servidor central, que pot actualitzar-les fàcilment i sincronitzar les versions locals dels usuaris. Els usuaris participen amb un sistema de puntuació i opinions que determina la valoració de cadascun dels llocs. A més a mes, les dades enviades pels usuaris afins són analitzades i, mitjançant el sistema de recomanacions, els clients reben propostes de llocs més adients que potser seran del seu interès. El software mòbil s'ha desenvolupat amb un framework d'alt nivell (PhoneGap) que permet la potabilitat senzilla a qualsevol plataforma mòbil amb un mínim d'esforç. Finalment, un servei natiu s'executarà en segon pla per controlar la posició GPS del client

Learning Maze (Juego de aprendizaje)

Desarrollo de un juego tipo rogue para un sistema de aprendizaje de diversas temáticas basado en flashcard. El juego ha de ser portable para un gran número de dispositivos móviles

Prospects for Creation of Cardioprotective Drugs Based on Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists

Cannabinoids can mimic the infarct-reducing effect of early ischemic preconditioning, delayed ischemic preconditioning, and ischemic postconditioning against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. They do this primarily through both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Cannabinoids are also involved in remote preconditioning of the heart. The cannabinoid receptor ligands also exhibit an antiapoptotic effect during ischemia/reperfusion of the heart. The acute cardioprotective effect of cannabinoids is mediated by activation of protein kinase C, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and p38 kinase. The delayed cardioprotective effect of cannabinoid anandamide is mediated via stimulation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway and enhancement of heat shock protein 72 expression. The delayed cardioprotective effect of another cannabinoid, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is associated with augmentation of nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression, but data on the involvement of NO synthase in the acute cardioprotective effect of cannabinoids are contradictory. The adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ channel is involved in the synthetic cannabinoid HU-210-induced cardiac resistance to ischemia/reperfusion injury. Cannabinoids inhibit Na+/Ca2+ exchange via peripheral cannabinoid receptor (CB2) activation that may also be related to the antiapoptotic and cardioprotective effects of cannabinoids. The cannabinoid receptor agonists should be considered as prospective group of compounds for creation of drugs that are able to protect the heart against ischemia–reperfusion injury in the clinical setting. </jats:p

New insights into the yin and yang of the endocannabinoid system in health and disease.

This article is part of a themed section on Endocannabionoids, of which the author is guest editor. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v173.7/issuetoc