Showing posts with label pathology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pathology. Show all posts

Friday, May 13, 2011

This is your brain on marijuana

The effects of marijuana on the human body are still debated, and anecdotal effects of marijuana use, including euphoria, relaxation, paranoia, memory loss, and hunger, vary among users depending on duration, dosage, and method of use. THC crosses the blood-brain barrier and acts on cannabinoid receptors, which are present in high quantities in areas affecting pleasure, memory, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception. Most effects of use are short-lived, but chronic use prolongs the effects for days or weeks after THC has left the bloodstream. The reversibility of long-term effects is unclear.

Marijuana has effects on neurotransmitter uptake, cerebral blood flow, and brain structure, some of which have been inconclusive in research. 

Friday, April 29, 2011

Causes of pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the pancreas, which may occur in the short (acute) or long term. The inflammation is caused by activation of the enzymes released by the pancreas before they leave the gland, often by blockage of the ducts. Pancreatitis occurs most often in the context of alcohol abuse (70 percent of acute cases in the U.S.) and is thought to have a genetic component. Both acute and chronic forms of pancreatitis occur more often in men than women, and children are rarely affected. The inflammation occurs as a complication of a number of diseases, and even some medical treatments.