Phagocytosis Assay
Phagocytosis is one of the first lines of defense against invading microorganisms. Macrophages play a central role in this process as a host defends against intruding foreign bodies. This phagocytosis assay was developed in order to further elucidate the level at which macrophage function is compromised, if at all, in the presence of cannabinoids. 3.4.1. Macrophage Treatment With Foreign Antigen 1. Thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from CB2R+ + or CB2R- - are plated and treated with...
Neuropsychological Assessment of Marijuana Users
Neuropsychological procedures are used in an effort to provide an unbiased estimate of the individual's cognitive capacity. In neurology and psychiatry, these tests have been used to help clinicians to better diagnose patients and to provide them with better treatments. We chose to use a fixed battery in our effort to assess neurobehavioral changes that might be associated with the chronic use of marijuana. That battery included tests of language skills, visual and spatial memory, attention,...
Assessing Cannabis Craving in a Treatment Setting
In a treatment or clinic setting, patients are typically assessed with numerous forms, questionnaires, and interviews. To reduce burden on patients, we suggest using the 12-item MCQ rather than the full version. 3.2.1. Training on Completion of MCQ As discussed above Subheading 3.1.3. , patients should be given instructions before completing the MCQ see Note 2 . The use of the MCQ in a treatment setting may be more flexible than in a research setting. A patient's level of craving may be...
Methods for the Synthesis of Cannabinergic Ligands
Nikas, Richard I. Duclos, Jr., and Alexandros Makriyannis During the last decade, numerous cannabinergic ligands with high affinity and selectivity profiles for cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 emerged from rigorously pursued structure-activity relationship studies. This chapter focuses on the synthetic aspects of key cannabi-noid receptor probes representing the different classes of cannabinergic ligands that encompasses classical cannabinoids CCs including some...
