John E. Casida This is Me

Education

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1. 1. www.lipidmedicine.com

   www.lipidmedicine.com/index.ph - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/7/2008   Last Visited: 7/7/2008

   John E. Casida

2. 2. www.cannabisnews.com

   www.cannabisnews.com/news/thre - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/27/2008   Last Visited: 4/28/2008

   And John Casida, senior author of the paper in the April 27 issue of Nature Chemical Biology, stressed that his team "report new fundamental mechanistic discoveries on the cannabinoid system, rather than proposing a medicine or treatment."Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, can relieve both pain and anxiety but, unfortunately, also results in cognitive problems such as memory loss.In fact, one recent study found that multiple sclerosis patients who smoke marijuana in search of symptom relief are more likely to suffer cognitive shortfalls and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.Casida and his colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., found that organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents blocked the breakdown of certain enzymes, which has the end result of stimulating the cannabinoid receptors in the brain.OP nerve agents work like OP pesticides, leading to an excess of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous system.In this experiment, using mice, the OP compounds had the therapeutic effects of THC (pain relief, lower body temperatures) without the cognitive drawbacks."We find that that a single organophosphorus compound is capable of eliciting full-blown cannabinoid effects that mirror those of direct cannabinoid receptor stimulators such as THC," said Casida, who is director of the Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory at Berkeley."We believe our compound does not act directly on the cannabinoid receptors, but instead elicits its effects by blocking the enzymes that degrade the endogenous cannabinoids . . . which in turn stimulate the cannabinoid receptors in the brain.""Blocking these enzymes not only raises endogenous cannabinoid signaling power but also lowers arachidonic acid levels, which may be relevant for pain relief," Casida added.The arachidonic acid pathway is involved in pain and inflammation.

3. 3. David Dohn, Ph.D.

   www.ptrlwest.com/david_dohn.ht - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/7/2007   Last Visited: 6/29/2008

   Postdoctoral Research at the University of California, Berkeley (Laboratory of Professor John Casida) (1984-1987).
   
   Zeneca Ag Products (formerly ICI).Positions of increasing responsibility, finishing as a Group Leader in the Environmental Sciences Department (1987-1999).