PURPOSE NSAIDs constitute an important class of drugs with therapeutic applications that have spanned several centuries. Treatment of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) starting from the classic drug aspirin to the recent rise and fall of selective COX-2 inhibitors has provided an enthralling evolution. Efforts to discover an ultimate magic bullet ...

PURPOSE To assess the risk of gastrointestinal perforation, ulcers, or bleeding (PUB) associated with the use of conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and selective COX-2 inhibitors, with or without PPIs compared with conventional NSAIDs. METHODS A case-control study was performed within conventional NSAIDs and/or selective COX-2 inhibit...

BACKGROUND The differential effects of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors compared with nonspecific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) on platelet aggregation and prostacyclin/thromboxane balance have led to concerns that COX-2 inhibitors may increase the risk for cardiovascular thrombotic events. Empirical studies have generally been limited to analyses of secondary end ...

Intestinal smooth muscle plays a major role in the repair of injured intestine and contributes to the prostanoid pool during intestinal inflammatory states. Cyclooxygenase (COX), which catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids exists in two isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contributions of COX-1 and COX-2 in the production of p...

Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1/2) catalyze the initial step in the formation of prostaglandins. Very recently their role in carcinogenesis has become more evident. They influence apoptosis, angiogenesis, and invasion, and play a key role in the production of carcinogens. Usually, a high level of COX-2 expression is found in cancer cells. Large epidemiological trials studying users and non-users...