scholarly journals New Insights in the Involvement of the Endocannabinoid System and Natural Cannabinoids in Nicotine Dependence

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13316
Author(s):  
Rocio Saravia ◽  
Marc Ten-Blanco ◽  
Inmaculada Pereda-Pérez ◽  
Fernando Berrendero
Keyword(s):  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Tobacco Smoke ◽  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Tobacco Addiction ◽  
The World ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Nicotine, the main psychoactive component in tobacco smoke, plays a major role in tobacco addiction, producing a high morbidity and mortality in the world. A great amount of research has been developed to elucidate the neural pathways and neurotransmitter systems involved in such a complex addictive behavior. The endocannabinoid system, which has been reported to participate in the addictive properties of most of the prototypical drugs of abuse, is also implicated in nicotine dependence. This review summarizes and updates the main behavioral and biochemical data involving the endocannabinoid system in the rewarding properties of nicotine as well as in nicotine withdrawal and relapse to nicotine-seeking behavior. Promising results from preclinical studies suggest that manipulation of the endocannabinoid system could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating nicotine addiction.

Relation between the Tolerance Questionnaire (Nicotine Dependence) and Assessment of Carbon Monoxide in Smokers Who Participated in Treatment for Smoking

1995 ◽  
Vol 77 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1299-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisardo Becoña ◽  
M. Pilar García
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Tobacco Smoke ◽  
Objective Measurements ◽  
Stop Smoking ◽  
Tobacco Addiction ◽  
Physiological Assessment ◽  
Expired Air

It is very important to have objective measurements of nicotine dependence or tobacco addiction, especially in the treatment of smokers. The most utilized physiological assessment is the carbon monoxide (one of the components of tobacco smoke) in expired air. A noninvasive measure of nicotine dependence is the Fagerström's Tolerance Questionnaire. In our study we compared responses on the Tolerance Questionnaire of 217 smokers who participated in a treatment to stop smoking and also measurements of carbon monoxide in expired air (evaluated with a Mini Smokerlyzer EC-50). Analysis showed the utility of the Tolerance Questionnaire in the discrimination of number of cigarettes smoked prior to and after treatment and at follow-up.

Mirtazapine attenuates nicotine-seeking behavior in rats

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1010-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Barbosa-Méndez ◽  
Alberto Salazar-Juárez
Keyword(s):  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Antidepressant Drugs ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Ratio Schedule ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Background: Nicotine is the major psychoactive component of tobacco. A number of pharmacological therapies have been evaluated, with poor results. Given the lack of success of these therapies, several authors have proposed alternative therapeutic strategies. One of these is the use of antidepressant drugs that may have a specific effect on the neural pathways or receptors underlying nicotine addiction. Mirtazapine is an antagonist of α2 NE receptors (noradrenergic receptor), 5-HT2A/C and 5-HT3 receptors and has demonstrated efficacy in reducing behavioral effects induced by drugs of abuse in human and animal models. Aims: In this study, we evaluated the effect of chronic dosing of mirtazapine during extinction on the re-acquisition of nicotine-seeking in rodents. Methods: We used the nicotine self-administration paradigm to assess the effects of mirtazapine on rats trained to self-administer nicotine under a pharmacological fixed-ratio schedule. Mirtazapine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered during extinction. Results: In this work, we found that mirtazapine attenuates the re-acquisition of nicotine-seeking responses. Conclusions: These results support the use of mirtazapine in clinical controlled trials as a useful therapy that prolongs and increases rates of preventing relapse into nicotine intake in humans.

scholarly journals Interactions of neuroimmune signaling and glutamate plasticity in addiction

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra D. Gipson ◽  
Scott Rawls ◽  
Michael D. Scofield ◽  
Benjamin M. Siemsen ◽  
Emma O. Bondy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Glutamate Signaling ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Glutamate System ◽  
Chronic Use

AbstractChronic use of drugs of abuse affects neuroimmune signaling; however, there are still many open questions regarding the interactions between neuroimmune mechanisms and substance use disorders (SUDs). Further, chronic use of drugs of abuse can induce glutamatergic changes in the brain, but the relationship between the glutamate system and neuroimmune signaling in addiction is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to bring into focus the role of neuroimmune signaling and its interactions with the glutamate system following chronic drug use, and how this may guide pharmacotherapeutic treatment strategies for SUDs. In this review, we first describe neuroimmune mechanisms that may be linked to aberrant glutamate signaling in addiction. We focus specifically on the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, a potentially important neuroimmune mechanism that may be a key player in driving drug-seeking behavior. We highlight the importance of astroglial-microglial crosstalk, and how this interacts with known glutamatergic dysregulations in addiction. Then, we describe the importance of studying non-neuronal cells with unprecedented precision because understanding structure-function relationships in these cells is critical in understanding their role in addiction neurobiology. Here we propose a working model of neuroimmune-glutamate interactions that underlie drug use motivation, which we argue may aid strategies for small molecule drug development to treat substance use disorders. Together, the synthesis of this review shows that interactions between glutamate and neuroimmune signaling may play an important and understudied role in addiction processes and may be critical in developing more efficacious pharmacotherapies to treat SUDs.

scholarly journals Effects of cannabis on visual function and self-perceived visual quality

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Ortiz-Peregrina ◽  
Carolina Ortiz ◽  
Miriam Casares-López ◽  
José R. Jiménez ◽  
Rosario G. Anera
Keyword(s):  
Contrast Sensitivity ◽  
Visual Function ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Visual Quality ◽  
Night Vision ◽  
Baseline Session ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Visual Effects ◽  
The World ◽  
Visual Parameter

AbstractCannabis is one of the most used drugs of abuse in the world. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of smoking cannabis on vision and to relate these to those perceived by the user. Thirty-one cannabis users participated in this study. Visual function assessment was carried out in a baseline session as well as after smoking cannabis. We evaluated static visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereoacuity, accommodative response, straylight, night-vision disturbances (halos) and pupil size. The participants were also divided into two groups depending on whether they perceived their vision to have worsened after smoking cannabis. A logistic regression analysis was employed to identify which visual test could best predict self-perceived visual effects. The study found that smoking cannabis has significant adverse effects on all the visual parameters analyzed (p < 0.05). Self-perceived visual quality results revealed that about two thirds of the sample think that smoking cannabis impairs their vision. Contrast sensitivity, specifically for the spatial frequency 18 cpd, was identified as the only visual parameter significantly associated with self-perceived visual quality (Odds Ratio: 1.135; p = 0.040). Smoking cannabis is associated with negative effects on visual function. Self-perceived visual quality after smoking cannabis could be related to impaired contrast sensitivity.

scholarly journals Exposure to tobacco smoke during the early postnatal period modifies receptors and enzymes of the endocannabinoid system in the brainstem and striatum in mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 302 ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Helena Torres ◽  
Natalia Trigo Balestrin ◽  
Lídia Emmanuela Wiazowski Spelta ◽  
Stephanie de Oliveira Duro ◽  
Marco Pistis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Smoke ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Early Postnatal Period

scholarly journals P.039 mTOR inhibitors as a new therapeutic strategy in treatment resistant epilepsy in hemimegalencephaly: a case report

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (S2) ◽  
pp. S23-S23
Author(s):  
Q Xu ◽  
H Sarnat ◽  
S Uliel-Sibony ◽  
C Boelman ◽  
M Connolly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Refractory Epilepsy ◽  
Focal Cortical Dysplasia ◽  
Mtor Inhibitors ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
First Time

Background: Hemimegalencephaly (HME) is a hamartomatous malformation of one cerebral hemisphere, resulting in refractory epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autistic features. Hemispherectomy is the definitive treatment, but there is risk of high morbidity and mortality, especially when done in early infancy. Various preclinical studies have shown that dysregulation of the mTOR pathway has an integral role in the development of various epilepsy syndromes, including tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), focal cortical dysplasia and HME. Recently, mTOR inhibitors were proven to be effective in treating seizures in TSC. Methods: We present a case of a 6 day old female with refractory epilepsy despite the trial of 9 anti-seizure medications and the ketogenic diet. As the patient was awaiting epilepsy surgery, an mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin was initiated. Results: After 1 week of the initiation, she had over a 50% reduction in seizures. At two weeks, the parents felt that for the first time, she was making developmental gains. She also appeared brighter and more interactive. Due to her response to treatment, her hemispherectomy was deferred to when she is older, so there will be a decreased risk of complications from the surgery. Conclusions: This case exemplifies how mTOR inhibitors should be considered as a treatment option for patients with HME and refractory epilepsy.

scholarly journals Central post stroke pain: What are the new insights?

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
I Putu Eka Widyadharma ◽  
◽  
Clarissa Tertia ◽  
IA Sri Wijayanti ◽  
Jimmy FA Barus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Syndrome ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
General View ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Relieve Pain ◽  
Peripheral Mechanism ◽  
Quality Life ◽  
The World ◽  
Stroke Lesion ◽  
The One

Stroke causes disability with high morbidity and mortality in the world, causes a variety of disabilities and symptoms including disturbances in motor function, sensory, and cognitive. Sensory disability in post stroke patient can be categorized into two group; the one is stimulated by peripheral mechanism which we often called post stroke pain, and another one is stimulated by central mechanism which we called central post stroke pain (CPSP). Pain after stroke is usually underdiagnosed and poorly understood. In 1906, CPSP was called the thalamus pain syndrome by Dejerine and Roussy, but then it is known that CPSP can also developed in extra-thalamic stroke lesion. The prevalence of CPSP is approximately 1-12% in all around the world. CPSP occurs in one-third of overall post-stroke pain cases. In most cases, the onset of CPSP is within 1 month and then the incidence decreases with time. The most common manifestations are allodynia and dysesthesia. The pathophysiology itself remains clearly unknown in detail. Various theories such as central sensitization, disinhibition of medial thalamus, and central imbalance theory thought to be contribute in CPSP pathophysiology. This complexity make CPSP very difficult to manage. Some pharmacotherapies and non-pharmacotherapies have been studied to relieve pain in order to improve the quality life of CPSP sufferers. The aim of this article is to discuss the general view of central post stroke pain to increase the understanding and awareness of health giver in order to give sooner and better management for patient that can affect prognosis of the patient.

scholarly journals A HYPOTHETICAL DESIGN TO INHIBIT COVID 19 DISEASE DISASTER BY DIAGRAMMATIC MODEL

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-324
Author(s):  
Deepanwita Deka ◽  
◽  
Avra Pratim Chowdhury ◽  
Arabinda Ghosh ◽  
Moni P Bhuyan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Disease Clusters ◽  
The World ◽  
Public Health Hazards ◽  
And Control ◽  
Present World ◽  
Day By Day ◽  
High Range

SARS-CoV-2 is a new entity in the globe studied vigorously in the present world. The estimated populations are around 47 million people who are affected by the virus and around 300,000 (16th May 2020) deaths resulted from the outbreak. The rate might keep on increasing due to the non-availability of a proper vaccine, following proper management with epidemiological studies, and displacement of contact individuals as a source of transmission in particular viral-prone regions. CoVID 19 is on its vigorous spread leading to a global impact on lots of sectors. The outreaching impacts play a role in international politics, scientific developments, and economic crises over the world, and global relations among the countries. This model attempts to determine the possible impacts and outcomes of the Pandemic over the international level and some possible ways to handle it effectively. An unpredictable catastrophe in the present scenario of the world is following a high range of public health hazards. Analytical plotted data assembles for imposing in multidisciplinary segments to cure and control morbidity, a mortality rate of disease clusters, and hotspots zone. The contagious outbreak was reprogrammed as a pandemic from Wuhan in China through the transmissible chain of human contacts. Currently, the infective chain is spreading day by day with high morbidity in the United States, Europe, Scandinavian countries, and India. The transmissible chain of the virus needs to break until any effective medicine or vaccine is launched.

scholarly journals Skin and Gut Microbiome in Psoriasis: Gaining Insight Into the Pathophysiology of It and Finding Novel Therapeutic Strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lihui Chen ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Wu Zhu ◽  
Yehong Kuang ◽  
Tao Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Intestinal Microbiome ◽  
Core Microbiome ◽  
The Core ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Gaining Insight

Psoriasis affects the health of myriad populations around the world. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, and the exact driving factor remains unclear. This condition arises from the interaction between hyperproliferative keratinocytes and infiltrating immune cells, with poor prognosis and high recurrence. Better clinical treatments remain to be explored. There is much evidence that alterations in the skin and intestinal microbiome play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and restoration of the microbiome is a promising preventive and therapeutic strategy for psoriasis. Herein, we have reviewed recent studies on the psoriasis-related microbiome in an attempt to confidently identify the “core” microbiome of psoriasis patients, understand the role of microbiome in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and explore new therapeutic strategies for psoriasis through microbial intervention.

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