Medical Cannabis and the Effects of Cannabinoids on Fighting Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Parkinson's, and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases


Book Description

Research on the therapeutic efficacy of cannabinoids has demonstrated that cannabidiol (CBD), either alone or in 1:1 mixtures with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can effectively treat animals in experimental models of neuroinflammatory, demyelinative, neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, and neoplastic diseases. Short-term, small-scale, human cohorts, observational studies, randomized, non-randomized, placebo-controlled, and uncontrolled clinical trials have provided low-certainty and moderate-certainty evidence that medical marijuana can reduce spasticity, neuropathic pain, neuroinflammation, anxiety, sleep disturbance, urinary bladder dysfunction, frequency and duration of seizure, tumor size, and metastasis as well as promote overall cancer survival. Medical Cannabis and the Effects of Cannabinoids on Fighting Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Parkinson's, and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases presents the findings from clinical and basic medical scientists who are investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cannabinoid-mediated inhibition of innate and adaptive immune responses, mobilization of myeloid-derived immunosuppressive cells, enhancement of neuroprotection, facilitation of oligodendrocyte survival, promotion of CNS progenitor cell differentiation to support regeneration and remyelination, arrest of tumor cell proliferation, decrease in tumor cell adhesion, disruption of tumor angiogenesis, inhibition of endothelial cells, and prevention of cancer metastasis by inhibition of cell migration. The chapters further discuss pharmacologic challenges and precisely how the delicate balance between the opposing effects of various types of cannabinoid receptors can be controlled by manipulating specific membrane channels and signaling pathways to achieve favorable long-term clinicopathologic outcomes in oncology and neurology. Covering topics such as neurodegenerative diseases, spectroscopic applications, and ethical issues, this premier reference source is an essential resource for medical professionals, pharmacists, hospital administrators, government officials, students and faculty of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.




The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids


Book Description

Significant changes have taken place in the policy landscape surrounding cannabis legalization, production, and use. During the past 20 years, 25 states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis and/or cannabidiol (a component of cannabis) for medical conditions or retail sales at the state level and 4 states have legalized both the medical and recreational use of cannabis. These landmark changes in policy have impacted cannabis use patterns and perceived levels of risk. However, despite this changing landscape, evidence regarding the short- and long-term health effects of cannabis use remains elusive. While a myriad of studies have examined cannabis use in all its various forms, often these research conclusions are not appropriately synthesized, translated for, or communicated to policy makers, health care providers, state health officials, or other stakeholders who have been charged with influencing and enacting policies, procedures, and laws related to cannabis use. Unlike other controlled substances such as alcohol or tobacco, no accepted standards for safe use or appropriate dose are available to help guide individuals as they make choices regarding the issues of if, when, where, and how to use cannabis safely and, in regard to therapeutic uses, effectively. Shifting public sentiment, conflicting and impeded scientific research, and legislative battles have fueled the debate about what, if any, harms or benefits can be attributed to the use of cannabis or its derivatives, and this lack of aggregated knowledge has broad public health implications. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids provides a comprehensive review of scientific evidence related to the health effects and potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis. This report provides a research agendaâ€"outlining gaps in current knowledge and opportunities for providing additional insight into these issuesâ€"that summarizes and prioritizes pressing research needs.




Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis


Book Description

At the last Annual Representative Meeting of the British Medical Association a motion was passed that `certain additional cannabinoids should be legalized for wider medicinal use.'' This report supports this landmark statement by reviewing the scientific evidence for the therapeutic use of cannabinoids and sets the agenda for change. It will be welcomed by those who believe that cannabinoids can be used in medical treatment. The report discusses in a clear and readable form the use and adverse effects of the drug for nausea, multiple sclerosis, pain, epilepsy, glaucoma, and asthma.




Marijuana As Medicine?


Book Description

Some people suffer from chronic, debilitating disorders for which no conventional treatment brings relief. Can marijuana ease their symptoms? Would it be breaking the law to turn to marijuana as a medication? There are few sources of objective, scientifically sound advice for people in this situation. Most books about marijuana and medicine attempt to promote the views of advocates or opponents. To fill the gap between these extremes, authors Alison Mack and Janet Joy have extracted critical findings from a recent Institute of Medicine study on this important issue, interpreting them for a general audience. Marijuana As Medicine? provides patientsâ€"as well as the people who care for themâ€"with a foundation for making decisions about their own health care. This empowering volume examines several key points, including: Whether marijuana can relieve a variety of symptoms, including pain, muscle spasticity, nausea, and appetite loss. The dangers of smoking marijuana, as well as the effects of its active chemical components on the immune system and on psychological health. The potential use of marijuana-based medications on symptoms of AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and several other specific disorders, in comparison with existing treatments. Marijuana As Medicine? introduces readers to the active compounds in marijuana. These include the principal ingredient in Marinol, a legal medication. The authors also discuss the prospects for developing other drugs derived from marijuana's active ingredients. In addition to providing an up-to-date review of the science behind the medical marijuana debate, Mack and Joy also answer common questions about the legal status of marijuana, explaining the conflict between state and federal law regarding its medical use. Intended primarily as an aid to patients and caregivers, this book objectively presents critical information so that it can be used to make responsible health care decisions. Marijuana As Medicine? will also be a valuable resource for policymakers, health care providers, patient counselors, medical faculty and studentsâ€"in short, anyone who wants to learn more about this important issue.




Digital Twins and Healthcare: Trends, Techniques, and Challenges


Book Description

The healthcare industry is starting to adopt digital twins to improve personalized medicine, healthcare organization performance, and new medicine and devices. These digital twins can create useful models based on information from wearable devices, omics, and patient records to connect the dots across processes that span patients, doctors, and healthcare organizations as well as drug and device manufacturers. Digital twins are digital representations of human physiology built on computer models. The use of digital twins in healthcare is revolutionizing clinical processes and hospital management by enhancing medical care with digital tracking and advancing modelling of the human body. These tools are of great help to researchers in studying diseases, new drugs, and medical devices. Digital Twins and Healthcare: Trends, Techniques, and Challenges facilitates the advancement and knowledge dissemination in methodologies and applications of digital twins in the healthcare and medicine fields. This book raises interest and awareness of the uses of digital twins in healthcare in the research community. Covering topics such as deep neural network, edge computing, and transfer learning method, this premier reference source is an essential resource for hospital administrators, pharmacists, medical professionals, IT consultants, students and educators of higher education, librarians, and researchers.




Impact of AI and Robotics on the Medical Tourism Industry


Book Description

In the ancient world, health seekers traversed vast distances to pursue well-being. Fast forward to the 21st century, and the concept of medical tourism has evolved into a global industry worth billions of dollars. The burgeoning demand for quality healthcare has pushed traditional boundaries, necessitating a more sophisticated and interconnected healthcare ecosystem. Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into medical practices empowers individuals to actively manage their health while providing healthcare practitioners with invaluable insights for tailored patient care. Impact of AI and Robotics on the Medical Tourism Industry delves into the transformative impact of AI and robotics on this dynamic sector. It explores how AI can encourage and assist patients in their health plans while augmenting healthcare practitioners' capabilities to utilize specific patient data to offer unique guidance. It dissects real-world examples, such as Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's integration of robotic surgery, showcasing how these technologies revolutionize traditional medical practices.




Advanced Bioinspiration Methods for Healthcare Standards, Policies, and Reform


Book Description

Bioinspiration is recognized by the World Health Organization as having great promise in transforming and democratizing health systems while improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of standard healthcare in order to offer patients the tremendous opportunity to take charge of their own health. This phenomenon can enable great medical breakthroughs by helping healthcare providers improve patient care, make accurate diagnoses, optimize treatment protocols, and more. Unfortunately, the consequences can be serious if those who finance, design, regulate, or use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for health do not prioritize ethical principles and obligations in terms of human rights and preservation of the private life. Advanced Bioinspiration Methods for Healthcare Standards, Policies, and Reform is the fruit of the fusion of AI and medicine, which brings together the latest empirical research findings in the areas of AI, bioinspiration, law, ethics, and medicine. It assists professionals in optimizing the potential benefits of AI models and bioinspired algorithms in health issues while mitigating potential dangers by examining the complex issues and innovative solutions that are linked to healthcare standards, policies, and reform. Covering topics such as genetic algorithms, health surveillance cameras, and hybrid classification algorithms, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for AI specialists, hospital administrators, health professionals, healthcare scientists, students and educators of higher education, government officials, researchers, and academicians.




Exploring Future Opportunities of Brain-Inspired Artificial Intelligence


Book Description

Applying mechanisms and principles of human intelligence and converging the brain and artificial intelligence (AI) is currently a research trend. The applications of AI in brain simulation are countless. Brain-inspired intelligent systems will improve next-generation information processing by applying theories, techniques, and applications inspired by the information processing principles from the brain. Exploring Future Opportunities of Brain-Inspired Artificial Intelligence focuses on the convergence of AI with brain-inspired intelligence. It presents research on brain-inspired cognitive machines with vision, audition, language processing, and thinking capabilities. Covering topics such as data analysis tools, knowledge representation, and super-resolution, this premier reference source is an essential resource for engineers, developers, computer scientists, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.




Green AI-Powered Intelligent Systems for Disease Prognosis


Book Description

Experts in Medicine are under new pressures of advancing their studies while also reducing the impact they leave on the environment. Researchers within the fields of bio-neuro informatics, healthcare, engineering, and medical sciences require a dynamic platform that bridges the realms of academia, science, industry, and innovation. Green AI-Powered Intelligent Systems for Disease Prognosis facilitates a crossroads for a diverse audience interested in these two seldom coalesced concepts. Academicians, scientists, researchers, professionals, decision-makers, and even aspiring scholars all find a space to contribute, collaborate, and learn within the platform that this book provides. The book's thematic coverage is unequivocally compelling; by exploring the intersections of bio-neuro informatics, healthcare, engineering, and medical sciences, it captures the spirit of interdisciplinary research. It delves into well-established domains while also casting a spotlight on emerging trends that have the potential to reshape our understanding of these fields. Two prominent tracks form the backbone of the book's content. The first covers the Bioinformatics and Data Mining of Biological Data (BiDMBD), and unravels the intricacies of biomedical computation, signal analysis, clinical decision support, and health data mining. This approach holds a treasure trove of insights into the mechanisms of health data acquisition, clinical informatics, and the representation of healthcare knowledge. The second covers Biomedical Informatics and is a symposium of computational modeling, genomics, and proteomics. Here, the fusion of data science with medical sciences takes center stage.




Modern Technology in Healthcare and Medical Education: Blockchain, IoT, AR, and VR


Book Description

The integration of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) with Artificial Intelligence (AI) has immense potential to have beneficial effects for institutions of healthcare and medical education. However, this integration has become so complex, it presents numerous challenges across various domains. Researchers and practitioners often need help to keep pace with the rapid advancements of technologies and applications. Issues such as privacy, security, scalability, and optimization of AR/VR setups remain critical concerns for healthcare industry professionals and academics alike. There needs to be a comprehensive resource that addresses these challenges, if we expect the field to grow in an effective and responsible manner. Modern Technology in Healthcare and Medical Education: Blockchain, IoT, AR, and VR offers a solution to these challenges. By providing insights from researchers and experts in the field, this book serves as a valuable reference for addressing real-world problems. This book is a must-have resource for doctoral and post-doctoral researchers, undergraduate and postgraduate students, industry professionals, and government agencies working in AR/VR. It provides a roadmap for future research and development in this rapidly evolving field. It covers a wide range of topics, including enhancements in AR/VR, AI integration, task-specific training, and applications in healthcare and education.