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Biomedical subjects

John Zajicek

Publications and source records attributed to John Zajicek.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The use of cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis.

Naturally occurring cannabinoids including Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol as well as endocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids may have a role in modulating experimental models of multiple sclerosis. Recent clinical studies to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis have shown varying results, which may reflect issues relating to the way in which such studies were conducted. There is now increasing interest in the potential role of cannabinoids not only in symptom relief, but also for their possible neuroprotective actions.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Quantifying drug-induced dyskinesias in the arms using digitised spiral-drawing tasks.

In this study, we quantify the severity of drug-induced dyskinesias in the arms of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using digitised spiral-drawing tasks. Two spiral drawings, namely a circular and a square spiral, are designed to, respectively, represent the continuous and discrete arm motions, and the size of the spiral is decided so that both the distal and proximal arm joints are involved. Fifteen PD patients, average disease duration 14.4+/-7.4 years, were assessed 30 min after a levodopa challenge whilst performing circular and square spiral-drawing tasks. The velocity of drawing movements was computed and the amplitude of the involuntary dyskinetic movements was measured as the standard deviation of the drawing velocity (SD-DV). The mean amplitude of dyskinetic movements was compared between arms and tasks and was correlated with clinical measures including the Bain dyskinesia scale and the total unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) score. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the amplitude of dyskinesias either between the arms or between the continuous (circular) and discrete (square) spiral drawings in this group of PD patients, but interestingly the interaction between arm and drawing pattern was significant. Significant correlations were found between the magnitude of dyskinesia measured from the spiral-drawing tasks and both the 'on' or 'off' UPDRS and also the Bain dyskinesia scale. We conclude that the drawing tasks may be used to provide an objective method of quantifying the severity of drug-induced dyskinesias in the arm in PD patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Cannabinoids for treatment of spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (CAMS study): multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is associated with muscle stiffness, spasms, pain, and tremor. Much anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabinoids could help these symptoms. Our aim was to test the notion that cannabinoids have a beneficial effect on spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis. METHODS: We did a randomised, placebo-controlled trial, to which we enrolled 667 patients with stable multiple sclerosis and muscle spasticity. 630 participants were treated at 33 UK centres with oral cannabis extract (n=211), Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC; n=206), or placebo (n=213). Trial duration was 15 weeks. Our primary outcome measure was change in overall spasticity scores, using the Ashworth scale. Analysis was by intention to treat. FINDINGS: 611 of 630 patients were followed up for the primary endpoint. We noted no treatment effect of cannabinoids on the primary outcome (p=0.40). The estimated difference in mean reduction in total Ashworth score for participants taking cannabis extract compared with placebo was 0.32 (95% CI -1.04 to 1.67), and for those taking Delta9-THC versus placebo it was 0.94 (-0.44 to 2.31). There was evidence of a treatment effect on patient-reported spasticity and pain (p=0.003), with improvement in spasticity reported in 61% (n=121, 95% CI 54.6-68.2), 60% (n=108, 52.5-66.8), and 46% (n=91, 39.0-52.9) of participants on cannabis extract, Delta9-THC, and placebo, respectively. INTERPRETATION: Treatment with cannabinoids did not have a beneficial effect on spasticity when assessed with the Ashworth scale. However, though there was a degree of unmasking among the patients in the active treatment groups, objective improvement in mobility and patients' opinion of an improvement in pain suggest cannabinoids might be clinically useful.

Cannabidiol↗