Cyclooxygenase (COX) -1 and COX-2 are expressed in airway cells, where their activities influence functions such as airway hyperreactivity. Clinical data show that mixed COX-1/COX-2 inhibitors such as aspirin, but not COX-2 selective inhibitors such as rofecoxib, induce bronchoconstriction and asthma in sensitive individuals. This anomaly has not yet been explained. Here, we have used tissue fr...

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are some of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide. Nonselective cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibitors impair bone healing by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effect of etoricoxib, a new selective COX-2 inhibitor, on bone heali...

OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) on islet hormone secretion in vitro and on pancreatic islet blood flow in vivo. METHODS Insulin release was measured in a static incubation system of islets isolated from Wistar-F rats after inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 with SC 560 (COX-1), FR 122047 (COX-1), rofecoxib (COX-2), or indomethacin (both COX-1 and COX-2). In ...

stituent found in the spice tumeric, which is a dried powder from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. Several in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated suppression, retardation, or inversion of carcinogenesis. Furthermore, it also exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-infectious activities and wound healing properties. Inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism by curcumin ha...

Cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2. The inducible isoform, COX-2, promotes colorectal tumorigenesis, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) that selectively inhibit this isoform are chemopreventive in murine models of intestinal tumorigenesis. To establish a mechanism for their chemopreventive properties, we examined the effect of a ...

Prostaglandins (PGs) have proven important during parturition, but inhibition of PG production treating preterm labor (PTL) results in significant maternal and fetal side effects. We hypothesize that specific inhibition of either cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 or -2 may result in separation of therapeutic and toxic effects. We demonstrate that COX-2, but not COX-1, is induced during inflammation-mediat...

Nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors are potent tocolytic agents but have adverse effects on the fetal ductus arteriosus. We hypothesized that COX-2 inhibitors may not affect the ductus if the predominant COX isoform is COX-1. To examine this hypothesis, we used ductus arteriosus obtained from late-gestation fetal lambs. In contrast to our hypothesis, fetal lamb ductus arteriosus expres...

Treatment of pain in rheumatoid arthritis must take into account the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risk of individual patients. Adequate results are not yet available, and until they are, treatment recommendations must take into account, not only the more favourable gastrointestinal risk profile of selective COX-2 inhibitors, but also the potential atherothrombotic risk of any NSAID or se...

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) have been identified as pacemaker cells in the upper urinary tract and urethra, but the role of ICCs in the bladder remains to be determined. We tested the hypotheses that ICCs express cyclooxygenase (COX), and that COX products (prostaglandins), are the cause of spontaneous rhythmic contraction (SRC) of isolated strips of rabbit bladder free of urothelium. SR...