A Review of Human Studies Assessing Cannabidiol's (CBD) Therapeutic Actions and Potential.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a highly touted product for many different disorders among the lay press. Numerous CBD products are available, ranging from a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved product called Epidiolex to products created for medical marijuana dispensaries and products sold in smoke shops, convenience stores, and over the Internet. The legal status of the non-FDA-approved products differs depending on the source of the CBD and the state, while the consistency and quality of the non-FDA-approved products vary markedly.

How MDMA's pharmacology and pharmacokinetics drive desired effects and harms.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an agent of abuse that has been used by over 16 million Americans. Increased energy, elevated mood, bonding with others, and psychedelic effects are desired effects while liver damage, extended depressed mood, sexual assault, rhabdomyolysis, serotonin syndrome, multiorgan failure, cardiovascular events, arrhythmias, and death are possible adverse effects. These desirable and adverse effects of MDMA are extensions of its fascinating pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic profile.

A clinician's perspective on rating the strength of evidence in a systematic review.

Systematic review is a means of reviewing clearly formulated questions by using an explicit methodology to minimize bias in the location, selection, critical evaluation, and synthesis of research evidence from existing studies. It is not enough, however, to simply know that the best evidence available was captured in a systematic review. Rather, health care decision makers also need to understand what the strength of that evidence is.

Epulis gravidarum manum: pyogenic granuloma of the hand occurring in pregnant women.

Pyogenic granuloma, also known as lobular capillary hemangioma, is a benign vascular tumor of the skin and mucous membranes. Whereas the literature describes pyogenic granulomas of pregnancy as occurring mainly within the gingival or oral mucosa, we present 5 cases of a histologically confirmed pyogenic granuloma on the hands of gravid women, each with no history of antecedent trauma. These tumors failed to resolve spontaneously postpartum necessitating surgical removal.

Electrocardiographic and hemodynamic effects of coenzyme Q10 in healthy individuals: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an endogenous cofactor required for mitochondrial energy production and touted to treat heart failure and prevent statin-induced myopathy. In guinea pig ventricular myocytes, CoQ10 prolongs action potential duration, an effect that might prolong the QTc interval in humans. Additionally, CoQ10 reduced blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.

Acute olanzapine-induced akathisia and dystonia in a patient discontinued from fluoxetine.

The patient with acute extrapyramidal signs and symptoms presents a significant clinical challenge. We present the case of a young man who developed an acute akathisia and dystonia after inadvertent overdose of olanzapine (Zyprexa) in the setting of a recent discontinuation of fluoxetine. The receptor chemistry and mechanisms pertinent to his presentation are reviewed.

Pregnancy-associated coronary artery dissection: a case report.

We describe the case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with a chief complaint of chest heaviness approximately 2 weeks postpartum. She was otherwise healthy with no cardiac risk factors. Coronary angiography revealed a spiral dissection of the left main coronary artery that extended to the left anterior descending coronary artery.

Hemodynamic impact of an ephedra-free multicomponent weight-loss supplement.

Purpose: The effect of Metabolife Ephedra-Free on blood pressure (BP) and hemodynamics was studied.

Methods: Healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to take a single dose of Metabolife Ephedra-Free or matching placebo and then crossed over to the opposite treatment after a seven-day washout period. BP was measured at baseline and one, three, and five hours after administration.