Membrane trafficking of the δ-opioid receptor (DOR) from intracellular compartments to plasma membrane in central neurons, induced by various pathological conditions such as long-term opioid exposure, represents unique receptor plasticity involved in the mechanisms of long-term opioid effects in opioid addiction and opioid treatment of chronic pain. However, the signaling pathways coupled to th...

postconditioning is a simple and safe strategy for cardioprotection and infarct size limitation. our previous study showed that oxytocin (ot) exerts postconditioning effect on ischemic/reperfused isolated rat heart. the aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of ot receptor, mitochondrial atp-sensitive potassium channel (mkatp), nitric oxide (no) and cyclooxygenase (cox) pathways i...

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) metabolizes L-tryptophan to kynurenines (KYN), inducing T-cell suppression either directly or by altering antigen-presenting-cell function. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of prostaglandins, is over-expressed by several tumours. We aimed at determining whether COX-2 inhibitors down-regulate the IFN--induced expression of ID...

Brief History. The use of medicinal substances for the treatment of pain and fever dates to ancient Egyptian and Grecian civilizations, where dried myrtle leaves or bitter extracts from the bark of poplar trees were used to treat back and abdominal pain. The Ebers papyrus from ancient Egypt (1850 B.C.) is the oldest preserved medical text and contains the first record documenting the use of pla...

Arachidonic acid metabolism plays an important role in acute ischemic syndromes affecting the coronary or cerebrovascular territory, as reflected by biochemical measurements of eicosanoid biosynthesis and the results of inhibitor trials in these settings. Two cyclooxygenase (COX)-isozymes have been characterized, COX-1 and COX-2, that differ in terms of regulatory mechanisms of expression, tiss...

Cardiovascular risk led to the withdrawal of Vioxx (rofecoxib) in 2004. Some related drugs also increase cardiovascular risk and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors that remain on the market, including unselective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), have not been exonerated. This article reviews if new evidence should change clinical and regulatory practice. Substantial COX-2 inhibiti...

Animal studies suggest that prostanoids (i.e., such as prostacyclin) may sensitize or impair baroreceptor and/or baroreflex responsiveness depending on the site of administration and/or inhibition. We tested the hypothesis that acute inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), the rate-limiting enzyme in prostanoid synthesis, impairs baroreflex regulation of cardiac period (R-R interval) and muscle sym...

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and sulfinpyrazone compete dose-dependently with arachidonate for binding to platelet cyclooxygenase. Such a process closely follows systemic plasma drug concentrations and is reversible as a function of drug elimination. Peak inhibition and extent of its reversibility at 24 hr varies consistently with individual pharmacokinetic profile. Inhibition of platel...

Recent scientific advancements have sparked an increasing trend of returning to nature. Scientists worldwide prefer natural medical derivatives over synthetic ones due fewer side effects. Green tea is abundant in bioactive components and vitamins. Although most green were thought be absorbed inadequately by oral administration, they are essential for better health. In the present study, silico ...