3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid (THC) is a derivative of hydroxycinnamic acids, which have been reported to possess a variety of biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective activities. However, biological activity of THC has not been extensively examined. Recently, we reported that THC possesses anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. However, its precise mechanism by which THC exerts anti-inflammatory action has not been clearly identified. Therefore, the present study was carried out to understand the anti-inflammatory mechanism of THC in BV2 microglial cells. THC effectively suppressed the LPS-induced induction of pro-inflammatory mediators such as NO, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta. THC also suppressed expression of MCP-1, which plays a key role in the migration of activated microglia. To understand the underlying mechanism by which THC exerts these anti-inflammatory properties, involvement of Nrf2, which is a cytoprotective transcription factor, was examined. THC resulted in increased phosphorylation of Nrf2 with consequent expression of HO-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. THC-induced phosphorylation of Nrf2 was blocked with SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, indicating that p38 MAPK is the responsible kinase for the phosphorylation of Nrf2. Taken together, the present study for the first time demonstrates that THC exerts anti-inflammatory properties through the activation of Nrf2 in BV2 microglial cells, suggesting that THC might be a valuable therapeutic adjuvant for the treatment of inflammation-related disorders in the CNS.
Coumaric Acids ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; Microglia ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Tetrahydrocannabinol ; Transcription Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Cannabis sativa, also known as marijuana or hemp, is an annual herb which belongs to Cannabinaceae family. It is often dioecious, originally produced in Central Asia and now is widely distributed in the world, wild or cultivated, with many varieties. As an ancient plant, C.sativa has been used for thousands of years, and its fiber has been used in many aspects, but it is also widely disputed because it contains tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), a psychoactive ingredient. It has been listed as one of the three major drugs by "United Nations Drug Convention", along with heroin and cocaine. Nowadays, with the deepening and comprehensive understanding of C.sativa, it has been widely studied because of its great economic value in the fields of textile, chemicals for daily use, medicine and so on. In this paper, the literature about the chemical compositios and species variation of C.sativa at home and abroad was reviewed in order to provide some reference for its researches.
Cannabis ; Dronabinol

Although various derivatives of caffeic acid have been reported to possess a wide variety of biological activities such as neuronal protection against excitotoxicity and anti-inflammatory property, the biological activity of 3,4,5-trihydroxycinnamic acid (THC), a derivative of hydroxycinnamic acids, has not been clearly examined. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of THC on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. THC significantly suppressed LPS-induced excessive production of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of iNOS, which is responsible for the production of iNOS. THC also suppressed LPS-induced overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in BV2 microgilal cells. Furthermore, THC significantly suppressed LPS-induced degradation of IkappaB, which retains NF-kappaB in the cytoplasm. Therefore, THC attenuated nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, a major pro-inflammatory transcription factor. Taken together, the present study for the first time demonstrates that THC exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of NF-kappaB transcriptional activation in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells.
Caffeic Acids ; Coumaric Acids ; Cytokines ; Cytoplasm ; Neurons ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide ; Tetrahydrocannabinol ; Transcription Factors ; Transcriptional Activation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Most terminally ill cancer patients experience various physical and psychological symptoms during their illness. In addition to pain, they commonly suffer from fatigue, anorexia-cachexia syndrome, nausea, vomiting and dyspnea. In this paper, I reviewed some of the common non-pain symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients, based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines to better understand and treat cancer patients. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom in terminally ill cancer patients. There are reversible causes of fatigue, which include anemia, sleep disturbance, malnutrition, pain, depression and anxiety, medical comorbidities, hyperthyroidism and hypogonadism. Energy conservation and education are recommended as central management for CRF. Corticosteroid and psychostimulants can be used as well. The anorexia and cachexia syndrome has reversible causes and should be managed. It includes stomatitis, constipation and uncontrolled severe symptoms such as pain or dyspnea, delirium, nausea/vomiting, depression and gastroparesis. To manage the syndrome, it is important to provide emotional support and inform the patient and family of the natural history of the disease. Megesteol acetate, dronabinol and corticosteroid can be helpful. Nausea and vomiting will occur by potentially reversible causes including drug consumption, uremia, infection, anxiety, constipation, gastric irritation and proximal gastrointestinal obstruction. Metoclopramide, haloperidol, olanzapine and ondansetron can be used to manage nausea and vomiting. Dyspnea is common even in terminally ill cancer patients without lung disease. Opioids are effective for symptomatic management of dyspnea. To improve the quality of life for terminally ill cancer patients, we should try to ameliorate these symptoms by paying more attention to patients and understanding of management principles.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Anemia ; Anorexia ; Anxiety ; Benzodiazepines ; Cachexia ; Comorbidity ; Constipation ; Delirium ; Depression ; Dyspnea ; Education ; Fatigue ; Gastroparesis ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypogonadism ; Lung Diseases ; Malnutrition ; Metoclopramide ; Natural History ; Nausea ; Ondansetron ; Palliative Care ; Quality of Life ; Stomatitis ; Terminal Care ; Terminally Ill* ; Tetrahydrocannabinol ; Uremia ; Vomiting

Using site-directed mutagenesis technique, I have replaced serine 285 and serine 292 with the alanine, and assessed the binding of agonist and signaling such as the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity.I have found that serine 292 has an important role in the signal transduction of cannabinoid agonists, HU-210 and CP55940, but not in that of aminoalkylindoles derivatives WIN55,212-2. All mutants express well in protein level determined by western blot using monoclonal antibody HA 11 as compared with the wild type receptor.Interestingly, binding affinity of S285A and S292A mutants with classical cannabinoid agonist HU-243 was somewhat decreased. In signaling assay, the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by HU-210, CP55940 and WIN55, 212-2 is the same order in both wild type receptor and S285A mutant receptor. However, S292A have been shown that the inhibition curves of adenylyl cyclase activity moved to the right by HU-210 and CP55940, but those of adenylyl cyclase activity did not by aminoalkylindole WIN55,212-2, which is indicating that this residue is closely related to the binding site with HU-210 and CP55940. In addition, serine 292 might take more important role in CB2 receptor and G-protein signaling than serine 285.
Adenylate Cyclase/*metabolism ; Animals ; Binding, Competitive ; Blotting, Western ; COS Cells ; Cannabinoids/metabolism ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Cyclohexanols/metabolism ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists/metabolism ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Receptors, Cannabinoid ; Receptors, Drug/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Serine/metabolism/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Tetrahydrocannabinol/*analogs&derivatives/metabolism ; Transfection

The etiology of pterygium has given rise to much discussion, innumerable factors has been inculpated. Surgical treatment with beta radiation is at present thc only satisfactory approach, but no surgical technique is universally accepted as being perfect. Recurrences of pterygium are distressing, for the pterygium grows again at a rapid pace and may scon become as large or larger than the original growth. A multiple of different operative techniques has been advocated, but excision of the head of pterygium from the cornea has not been discussed. Author have excised the head of pterygium from limbus to corneal side. Author's method is much more easily and clearly excised than excision of its head from cornea to limbal side.
Beta Particles ; Cornea ; Dronabinol ; Head* ; Pterygium* ; Recurrence

The cutaneous mucinose are a group of connective disorders characterized by the deposition of mucin in the dermis. Thc disease may be a primary (metabolic) or secondary (catabolic). Secondary mucinosis is common in lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis but rare in morphea. We report a case of guttate morphea with secondary cutaneous mucinosis.
Dermatomyositis ; Dermis ; Dronabinol ; Mucinoses* ; Mucins ; Scleroderma, Localized*

Keratoacanthoma is a rapidly growing, usually self-limited, hnil n tumor that has a striking rescmblance clinically ancl histologically to squamous cell carcinoma. Although thc keratoacanthorna is involuted spontaneously, then are several reasons why these lesions should treated. Treatment may hasten resolution, prevent extensive destruction of normal tissue, and improve she overall cosmetic result, and there are norabsolutely reliable diagnostic critcria to differcntiate these lesions from squamous cell carcinom complete excision is currently the choice of treatment or the majority of solitary keratoacanthims. However, this can lead to significant cosmetic or functional dcfects particularly in lesions located on intricate areas of thc face. Effective nonsurgical mclalities are rcquirced in such cases. Herein we report three cases of keratoacanthoma successfully reited by intralesional injection of 5-fluorouracil, and suggest that intralesional injection of 5-fluroiracil is a effective, safead convenient method of treatment for the multiplc keratoacahtnom and solitary lesions which are difficult to remove surgically.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dronabinol ; Fluorouracil* ; Injections, Intralesional* ; Keratoacanthoma* ; Strikes, Employee

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell caircinoma(SCC) often shows acantholysis as a result of degenerative changes of neoplastic cells. Regurding the acantholytic changes of SCC most textbooks and literature describe the acantholysis-associated tubular or alveolar structures, which are diagnostic features of adenoid SCC. But the acantholytic changes of SCC are not always assaciated with tubular or alveolar structres. The general and detailed histologic features of acantholysis of SCC have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the histologic features of acantholysis of SCC . MEHTODS: Twenty six biopsy specimens from 26 patients with SCC were studied for the distributions and sites of acantholysis such as lefts and tubular or alveolar structurs on routine histologic staining. RESULTS: All 26 biopsy specimens showed acantholysis in their tumors ocal acantholysis was found in 12 cases, and diffuse, widesprcad acantholysis was found in 14 cascs. The foci of acantholysis were in the surface epidermis in 9 cases, in the follicular wall in 5 cases, and in both the surface epidermis and the follicuar wall in 12 cases. The types of acantholytic cells were either dyskeratotic cells or non-dyskeratotic squamous cells. Tuthular or alveolar structures were found in 5 cases. Clefts were found in 12 cases, one in the subcomealarea, the other 11 were within tumor mases, and one of them showed Darier-like feature with papillary projections of neoplastic cells into thc lumens. CONCLUSION: The acantholytic hanges of the SCC are more comrr on y found than expected. The acantholytic changes involve not only dyskeratotic cells but also non-dysL eratotic cells and often show glandular structures and clefts.
Acantholysis* ; Adenoids ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Dronabinol ; Epidermis ; Humans

Cutaneous horn is a clinica) diagnosis based upon the presence of a large protuberant mass of keratin. We report a case of cutaneous horn arising from keratoacanthoma in a 76-year old woman. The patient showed a dome-shaped nodule 2n in diameter with a central crater on thc right temple area. A yellow brown colored cornical hyperkeratotic protruding lesion(0.7* 0.7cm size) from the central crater of the nodule was also observed. Histopathological findings of the lesions showed charaeteristic findings of keratoacanfhoma and cutaneous horn. The lesion was removed by surgical excision.
Aged ; Animals ; Diagnosis ; Dronabinol ; Female ; Horns* ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma*