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Acacia nilotica L., also known as babul, belonging to the Fabaceae family and the Acacia genus, is typically used for ornamental purposes and also as a medicinal plant found in tropical and subtropical areas. This plant is a rich source of bioactive compounds. The current study aimed to elucidate the hypoglycemic, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective potential of A. nilotica's crude methanolic extract. The results of the in vitro antidiabetic assay revealed that methanolic extract of A. nilotica inhibited the enzyme α‐glucosidase (IC50: 33 μg mL−1) and α‐amylase (IC50: 17 μg mL−1) in a dose‐dependent manner. While in the anticholinesterase enzyme inhibitory assay, maximum inhibition was shown by the extract against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (637.01 μg mL−1) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (491.98 μg mL−1), with the highest percent inhibition of 67.54% and 71.50% at 1000 μg mL−1, respectively. This inhibitory potential was lower as compared to the standard drug Galantamine that exhibited 82.43 and 89.50% inhibition at the same concentration, respectively. Moreover, the methanolic extract of A. nilotica also significantly inhibited the activities of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2) and 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LOX) in a concentration‐dependent manner. The percent inhibitory activity of 5‐LOX and COX‐2 ranged from 42.47% to 71.53% and 43.48% to 75.22%, respectively. Furthermore, in silico, in vivo, and clinical investigations must be planned to validate the above‐stated bioactivities of A. nilotica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Rare disease. Background: Gitelman syndrome (GS) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive salt-losing renal tubulopathy. Early-onset GS is difficult to differentiate from Bartter syndrome (BS). It has been reported in some cases that cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, which pharmacologically reduce prostaglandin E2(PGE2) synthesis, are helpful for GS patients, especially in children, but the long-term therapeutic effect has not yet been revealed. Case Report: A 4-year-old boy was first brought to our hospital for the chief concern of short stature and growth retardation. Biochemical tests demonstrated severe hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis. The patient's serum magnesium was normal. He was diagnosed with BS and treated with potassium supplementation and indomethacin and achieved stable serum potassium levels and slow catch-up growth. At 11.8 years of age, the patient showed hypomagnesemia and a genetic test confirmed that he had GS with compound heterozygous mutations in the SLC12A3 gene. At the age of 14.8 years, when indomethacin had been taken for nearly 10 years, the boy reported having chronic stomachache, while his renal function remained normal. After proton pump inhibitor and acid inhibitor therapy, the patient's symptoms were ameliorated, and he continued to take a low dose of indomethacin (37.5 mg/d divided tid) with good tolerance. Conclusions: Early-onset GS in childhood can be initially misdiagnosed as BS, and gene detection can confirm the final diagnosis. COX inhibitors, such as indomethacin, might be tolerated by pediatric patients, and long-term therapy can improve the hypokalemia and growth retardation without significant adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice from the Journal of Neuroinflammation addresses an error in the magnification of Figure 7 in an article titled "Hydrogen sulfide-releasing cyclooxygenase inhibitor ATB-346 enhances motor function and reduces cortical lesion volume following traumatic brain injury in mice." The magnifications of panels B and C were switched, and the revised Figure 7 is provided in the correction. The figure shows histological examination of brain sections after 24 hours, demonstrating brain tissue injury and inflammatory cell infiltration in TBI mice and TBZ-treated mice. ATB-346 treatment reduced the degree of brain injury and inflammatory cell infiltration. The correction is authored by Michela Campolo, Emanuela Esposito, Akbar Ahmad, Rosanna Di Paola, Irene Paterniti, Marika Cordaro, Giuseppe Bruschetta, John L. Wallace, and Salvatore Cuzzocrea. [Extracted from the article]

Genus Salsola (family Amaranthaceae) is one of the most prevailing genera in Saudi Arabia. Although several species were reported for their traditional uses, the majority of Salsola species still need to be phytochemically and biologically explored. The current study presents the GC-MS profiling as well as an in vitro investigation of the bioactivities of the n-hexane extracts from the five Salsola species: Salsola arabica, S. cyclophylla, S. imbricata, S. incanescens and S. villosa. Additionally, the compounds identified in the most active extracts were screened for their interaction with the active sites of cyclooxygenase enzyme isoforms (COX-1 and COX-2). GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane extracts from the five species resulted in the identification of 67 constituents. Oleic acid (75.57%), 1-octadecene (14.46%), cinnamaldehyde α-hexyl (57.15%), octacosyl heptafluorobutyrate (25.36%) and hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (26.15%) represent the major constituents in S. arabica, S. cyclophylla, S. imbricata, S. inscanescence and S. villosa, respectively. Results of bioactivity testing highlighted S. villosa as having the highest anti-oxidant activity (IC50 0.99 ± 0.05 mg/mL), which was closely followed by S. cyclophylla (IC50 1.36 ± 0.06 mg/mL) compared to the IC50 of 0.16 ± 0.01 mg/mL recorded by ascorbic acid. S. villosa was further noted for having the strongest COX-2 inhibitory activity (IC50 4.6 ± 0.13 µg/mL) among the tested extracts followed by S. arabica (IC50 13.1 ± 0.37 µg/mL) and S. cyclophylla (IC50 20.1 ± 0.57 µg/mL). On the other hand, S. imbricata extract displayed the most characteristic inhibition activity against COX-1 (IC50 10.2 ± 0.52 µg/mL), which was non-significant from the standard drug celecoxib. Based upon bioactivity results, the phytoconstituents identified in S. villosa and S. imbricata extracts were investigated for their capability to interact with the active sites of both cyclooxygenase enzyme isoforms adopting molecular docking. Results indicated the possibility to incorporate the compounds to active sites of the enzymes where some of them bind with their polar end into the cavity beyond Arg120 and their aliphatic chain oriented to the catalytically important Tyr385 similar to the natural substrate arachidonic acid, indicating that they could be promising candidates for the future development of selective COX inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two most significant as well as historically important non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), aspirin and ibuprofen, are frequently used to treat fever, pain, and inflammation. By blocking the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX), it can prevent the production of prostaglandin. In an effort to examine the physiochemical and biological properties of some heterocyclic amide derivatives and quantum mechanical computations have been used to analyze the compounds. To clarify the thermochemical, molecular orbital, and equilibrium geometrical features in the gas phase, density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP/6-31G basis set has been used. Binding affinities and modes of heterocyclic amide analogs have been investigated on human cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) proteins (6Y3C and 5F19) using molecular docking as well as nonbonding interactions. Results from geometry and thermochemical analysis support the chemical sustainability of all the structures. Most of the compounds exhibited a significant affinity for binding to the receptor protein (5F19) than the standard drugs aspirin and ibuprofen. The improved pharmacokinetic features of certain derivatives with reduced acute oral toxicity were revealed by ADMET prediction. Overall, four heterocyclic amide analogs 3-6 were found to be more efficient in inhibiting COX-2 (5F19) than COX-1 (6Y3C), suggesting that they may be useful as COX-2-related inflammation drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of androgens in vascular reactivity is controversial, particularly regarding their age-related actions. The objective of this study was to c onduct a temporal evaluation of the vascular reactivity of resistance arteries of young male rats, as well as to understand how male sex hormones can influence the vascula r function of these animals. Endothelium-mediated relaxation was characterized in third-order mesenteric arteries of 10-, 12-, 16-, and 18w (week-old) male rats. Concen tration--response curves to acetylcholine (ACh, 0.1 nmol/L--10 μmol/L) were constructed in arteries previously contracted with phenylephrine (PE, 3 μmol/L), before and after the use of nitric oxide synthase or cyclooxygenase inhibitors. PE concentration--response curves (1 nmol/L--100 μmol/L) were also built. The levels of vascular nitric oxide, su peroxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide were assessed and histomorphometry analysis was performed. The 18w group had impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation. All groups showed prostanoid-independent and nitric oxide-dependent vasodilatory response, although this dependence seems to be smaller in the 18w group. The 18w group had the lowest nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide production, in addition to the highest superoxide anion levels. Besides functional impairment, 18w animals showed morphological differences in third-order mesenteric arteries compared with the other groups. Our data show that time-dependent exposure to male sex hormones appears to play an important role in the development of vascular changes that can lead to impaired v ascular reactivity in mesenteric arteries, which could be related to the onset of age -related cardiovascular changes in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive cholinergic neurotransmission imbalance, with a decrease of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity followed by a significant increase of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in the later AD stages. BChE activity is also crucial for the development of Aβ plaques, the main hallmarks of this pathology. Moreover, systemic copper dyshomeostasis alters neurotransmission leading to AD. In the search for structures targeting both events, a set of novel 6-benzamide purine nucleosides was synthesized, differing in glycone configuration and N7/N9 linkage to the purine. Their AChE/BChE inhibitory activity and metal ion chelating properties were evaluated. Selectivity for human BChE inhibition required N9-linked 6-deoxy-α-d-mannosylpurine structure, while all three tested β-d-derivatives appeared as non-selective inhibitors. The N9-linked l-nucleosides were cholinesterase inhibitors except the one embodying either the acetylated sugar or the N-benzyl-protected nucleobase. These findings highlight that sugar-enriched molecular entities can tune bioactivity and selectivity against cholinesterases. In addition, selective copper chelating properties over zinc, aluminum, and iron were found for the benzyl and acetyl-protected 6-deoxy-α-l-mannosyl N9-linked purine nucleosides. Computational studies highlight molecular conformations and the chelating molecular site. The first dual target compounds were disclosed with the perspective of generating drug candidates by improving water solubility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ibuprofen and aspirin are frequently used to relieve inflammation, pain, and fever. These are the two most significant non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They prevent the development of prostaglandin by blocking the function of cyclooxygenase (COX). The biological and physiochemical aspects of some hetero-cyclic aspirin derivatives have been investigated, and the compounds have been assessed by ibuprofen as well as quantum mechanical computations. Density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP/6-31G+ basis function has been used to elucidate the thermo-chemical, molecular orbital, and optimum geometrical aspects in the gas phase. Using molecular docking and non-bonding interactions, the binding affinities and behaviors of some heterocyclic aspirin analogs have been studied on human cyclooxygenase (COX-1 as well as COX-2) proteins (6Y3C and 5F19). The chemical stability of all structures is supported by geometry and thermo-chemical findings. In contrast to aspirin and ibuprofen, almost all tested analogs exhibited a substantial binding score to the receptor protein (5F19). The ADMET prediction revealed the enhanced pharmacokinetic properties of some derivatives with less acute oral toxicity. Overall, eight heterocyclic aspirin analogues 2-9 were shown to be more effective in inhibiting Cyclooxygenase-2 (5F19) than Cyclooxygenase-1 (6Y3C), indicating that they may be effective as COX-2-related inflammation therapeutic candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a potential solution to the general problem of low solubility, polymorphism and low bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In this work, we report on the synthesis of three pharmaceutically active ILs (API-ILs) based on ibuprofen, one of the most commonly available over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), with imidazolium cations ([C2C1Im][Ibu] and [C2(OH)C1Im][Ibu]) and a cholinium cation ([N1112(OH)][Ibu]). An upgrade to the aqueous solubility (water and biological simulated fluids) for the ibuprofen-based ILs relative to the ibuprofen's neutral and salt form (sodium ibuprofen) was verified. The cytotoxic profiles of the synthesized API-ILs were characterized using two human cells lines, Caco-2 colon carcinoma cells and HepG-2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, up to ibuprofen's maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) without impairing their cytotoxicity response. Additionally, the EC50 in the Caco-2 cell line revealed similar results for both parent APIs and API-ILs. The biocompatibility of the ibuprofen-based ILs was also evaluated through a hemolytic activity assay, and the results showed that all the ILs were hemocompatible at concentrations higher than the ibuprofen Cmax. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory properties of the API-ILs were assessed through the inhibition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation and inhibition of cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). The results showed that [C2C1Im][Ibu], [C2(OH)C1Im][Ibu] and [N1112(OH)][Ibu] maintained their anti-inflammatory response to ibuprofen, with improved selectivity towards COX-2, allowing the development of safer NSAIDs and the recognition of new avenues for selective COX-2 inhibitors in cancer chemotherapy and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulating the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) pathway has improved responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in certain solid tumors, such as melanoma. Little is known about COX-2 inhibition in response to ICIs in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the effect of COX-2 inhibitors on the long-term outcomes of mRCC patients undergoing ICI therapies. Among 211 patients with mRCC, 23 patients were excluded due to loss to follow-up. Among 188 included patients, 120 patients received either an NSAID or aspirin for at least three weeks during ICI therapies. Clear cell histology was present in 96% of cases. The median overall survival (OS) was similar regardless of the COX inhibitor (COXi) (i.e., NSAID or aspirin) use (27 months for COXi vs. 33 months for no-COXi groups; p = 0.73). The no-COXi group showed a trend toward longer median progression-free survival (8 months for COXi vs. 13 months for no-COXi groups; p = 0.13). When looking specifically at NSAID use in a multivariate analysis, NSAID use was associated with a higher risk of progression (HR = 1.52 [95% CI, 1.04–2.22]) and death (HR = 1.60 [95% CI, 1.02–2.52]). In summary, COXis did not improve disease control or survival among patients with mRCC who were undergoing ICI therapies. Instead, the concurrent use of NSAIDs was associated with worse outcomes. Larger studies are needed to validate our observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification and removal of all gross and microscopic tumor to render the patient disease free represents a huge challenge in ovarian cancer treatment. The presence of residual disease is an independent negative prognostic factor. Herein, we describe the synthesis and the "in vitro" evaluation of compounds as cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 inhibitors, the COX-1 isoform being an ovarian cancer biomarker, each bearing fluorochromes with different fluorescence features. Two of these compounds N-[4-(9-dimethylimino-9H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-5-ylamino) butyl]-2-(3,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)isoxazol-5-yl)acetamide chloride (RR11) and 3-(6-(4-(2-(3,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)isoxazole-5-yl)acetamido)butyl)amino-6-oxohexyl)-2-[7-(1,3-dihydro-1,1-dimethyl-3-ethyl 2H-benz[e]indolin-2-yl-idene)-1,3,5-heptatrienyl]-1,1-dimethyl-3-(6-carboxilato-hexyl)-1H-benz[e]indolium chloride, 23 (MSA14) were found to be potent and selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 "in vitro", and thus were further investigated "in vivo". The IC50 values were 0.032 and 0.087 µM for RR11 and 23 (MSA 14), respectively, whereas the COX-2 IC50 for RR11 is 2.4 µM while 23 (MSA14) did not inhibit COX-2 even at a 50 µM concentration. Together, this represented selectivity index = 75 and 874, respectively. Structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) performed with the Fingerprints for Ligands and Proteins (FLAP) software allowed both to differentiate highly active compounds from less active and inactive structures and to define their interactions inside the substrate-binding cavity of hCOX1. Fluorescent probes RR11 and 23 (MSA14), were used for preliminary near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent imaging (FLI) in human ovarian cancer (OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3) xenograft models. Surprisingly, a tumor-specific signal was observed for both tested fluorescent probes, even though this signal is not linked to the presence of COX-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation but have been associated with complications in community-acquired pneumonia. Observations shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 suggested that ibuprofen was associated with an increased risk of adverse events in COVID-19 patients, but subsequent observational studies failed to demonstrate increased risk and in one case showed reduced risk associated with NSAID use. Methods: A 38-center retrospective cohort study was performed that leveraged the harmonized, high-granularity electronic health record data of the National COVID Cohort Collaborative. A propensity-matched cohort of 19,746 COVID-19 inpatients was constructed by matching cases (treated with NSAIDs at the time of admission) and 19,746 controls (not treated) from 857,061 patients with COVID-19 available for analysis. The primary outcome of interest was COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients, which was classified as: moderate, severe, or mortality/hospice. Secondary outcomes were acute kidney injury (AKI), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), invasive ventilation, and all-cause mortality at any time following COVID-19 diagnosis. Results: Logistic regression showed that NSAID use was not associated with increased COVID-19 severity (OR: 0.57 95% CI: 0.53–0.61). Analysis of secondary outcomes using logistic regression showed that NSAID use was not associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (OR 0.51 95% CI: 0.47–0.56), invasive ventilation (OR: 0.59 95% CI: 0.55–0.64), AKI (OR: 0.67 95% CI: 0.63–0.72), or ECMO (OR: 0.51 95% CI: 0.36–0.7). In contrast, the odds ratios indicate reduced risk of these outcomes, but our quantitative bias analysis showed E-values of between 1.9 and 3.3 for these associations, indicating that comparatively weak or moderate confounder associations could explain away the observed associations. Conclusions: Study interpretation is limited by the observational design. Recording of NSAID use may have been incomplete. Our study demonstrates that NSAID use is not associated with increased COVID-19 severity, all-cause mortality, invasive ventilation, AKI, or ECMO in COVID-19 inpatients. A conservative interpretation in light of the quantitative bias analysis is that there is no evidence that NSAID use is associated with risk of increased severity or the other measured outcomes. Our results confirm and extend analogous findings in previous observational studies using a large cohort of patients drawn from 38 centers in a nationally representative multicenter database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is capable of catalysing the oxidative deamination of amines and neurotransmitters. MAO plays a pivotal role in maintaining neurotransmitters linked to neurological disorders viz. Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) etc. Therefore, inhibition of MAO can be implicated to the cure of such diseases. Synthetic MAO inhibitors are known to inhibit MAO activity. However, there are safety issues with synthetic MAO inhibitors and many of their effects are non-selective and irreversible. Contrasting synthetic drugs, plant-derived natural products have been popularized globally owing to their extensive acceptability and applicability, therapeutic potency and minimum side effects which potentiated the possibility of developing reversible, promising MAO inhibitors based on natural products. The present review comprehensively elucidates plant -derived natural reversible MAO inhibitors using the literature from the popular databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science. This literature review reports approximately 51 plants that have been evaluated for MAO inhibitory activity. In addition, 93 plant-derived natural compounds were retrieved as MAO inhibitors. Majority of these investigations predominantly utilized an in vitro approach to evaluate the MAO inhibitors in relation to the developing treatments of related neurological diseases. However, in vivo studies and clinical trials are still lacking in evaluating the botanical-based MAO inhibitors. The aim of this review is to retrieve the recent literature to explore the in vitro and in vivo studies of plant-based natural products as MAO inhibitors, their structure-activity relationship and relevant molecular docking analyses and their roles in the emerging therapy against disorders like AD, and PD. Further, the review also discusses the shortcomings in the existing research in order to generate more coordinated and focused research in future. [Display omitted] • Plant natural products acts as promising MAO-inhibitors. • They are capable of inhibiting both MAO-A and MAO-B. • MAO-inhibition is implicated to the treatment of many neurological diseases. • A number of in vitro and in vivo studies described MAO-inhibition by botanicals [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors are widely used in prescription. They are the choice of drugs worldwide. The drug naproxen, which is a propionic acid nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, is still preferred in arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. The drawback associated with this drug is that it causes nausea, vomiting or gastrointestinal upsets. The cause of gastrointestinal upset may be due to perforation of gastric mucosa or ulceration. To overcome this problem, this is associated with the free carboxylic group present on naproxen. Here the parent drug is modified using glycolic acid precursors with phytophenols. The phytophenols are known for their antioxidant properties and they also reduce ulceration. The glycolic acid spacer provides a single bond rotation that promotes excellent binding with the receptor. The different derivatives of naproxen were designed and screened by computational technique based on virtual screening against human cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme through Auto Dock. The identified derivatives were curtained through Lipinski’s rule of pharmacokinetics. The effective and innocuous molecule was identified. The identified derivative was synthesized, purified, characterized and pharmacological studies were done. The result obtained clearly indicating that there is a depiction in molecular docking and pharmacological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of derivatives of three nonspecific COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen is presented. These acids were connected via an amide bond with an amino acid (L-proline, L-tyrosine, and beta-alanine) used as a linker. The amino acid carboxylic group was esterified with 3,4,5 trimethoxybenzyl alcohol. The activity of the novel derivatives was examined in vivo on carrageenan-induced inflammation, and in vitro, as cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors. It was found that the new compounds were more potent anti-inflammatory agents than the parent drugs. Thus, the ibuprofen (21) and ketoprofen (16) derivatives reduced rat paw edema by 67 and 91% (the reduction by the relevant NSAIDs was 36 and 47%, respectively). They inhibited COX-2 more than the starting drugs (21 by 67%, ibuprofen 46%, 19 by 94%, ketoprofen 49%). Docking of compounds on the active sites of COX-1 and COX-2 reflects their in vitro activity. Thus, 19 adopts an unfavorable orientation for COX-1 inhibition, but it binds effectively in the binding pocket of COX-2, in agreement with the absence of activity for COX-1 and the high inhibition of COX-2. In conclusion, the performed structural modifications result in the enhancement of the anti-inflammatory activity, compared with the parent NSAIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are enzymes involved in a multitude of diseases, and their inhibitors are in clinical use as drugs for the management of glaucoma, epilepsy, obesity, and tumours. In the last decade, multitargeting approaches have been proposed by hybridisation of CA inhibitors (CAIs) of sulphonamide, coumarin, and sulphocoumarin types with NO donors, CO donors, prostaglandin analogs, β-adrenergic blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and a variety of anticancer agents (cytotoxic drugs, kinase/telomerase inhibitors, P-gp and thioredoxin inhibitors). Many of the obtained hybrids showed enhanced efficacy compared to the parent drugs, making multitargeting an effective and innovative approach for various pharmacological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a large group of common over-the-counter and prescription medications. As a group, NSAIDs are a common cause of drug hypersensitivity. However, the challenge is that the spectrum of hypersensitivity reactions to NSAIDs is varied, including classic IgE- and non-IgE-mediated reactions to individual NSAIDs, intolerance to all cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitors (COX-1 inhibitors) and delayed T-cell reactions to single or multiple NSAIDs. Allergy work-up and management differ based on understanding the phenotype and mechanism. In this case series we describe three different reactions to an individual NSAID - diclofenac. This highlights the clinical presentation, work-up and distinct management necessitated by each case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Findings: What is the central question of this study?Arachidonic acid (AA) stimulates NO production in antral mucous cells without any increase in [Ca2+]i. Given that the intracellular AA concentration is too low to measure, the relationship between AA accumulation and NO production remains uncertain. Is AA accumulation a key step for NO production?What is the main finding and its importance?We demonstrated that AA accumulation is a key step for NO production. The amount of AA released could be measured using fluorescence‐HPLC. The intracellular AA concentration was maintained at < 1 μM. Nitric oxide is produced by AA accumulation in antral mucous cells, not as a direct effect of [Ca2+]i. In the present study, we demonstrate that NO production is stimulated by an accumulation of arachidonic acid (AA) mediated via peroxisome proliferation‐activated receptor α (PPARα) and that the NO produced enhances Ca2+‐regulated exocytosis in ACh‐stimulated antral mucous cells. The amount of AA released from the antral mucosa, measured by fluorescence high‐performance liquid chromatography (F‐HPLC), was increased by addition of ionomycin (10 μM) or ACh, suggesting that AA accumulation is stimulated by an increase in [Ca2+]i. The AA production was inhibited by an inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2‐inhα). GW6471 (a PPARα inhibitor) and cPLA2‐inhα inhibited NO synthesis stimulated by ACh. Moreover, indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, stimulated AA accumulation and NO production. However, acetylsalicylic acid did not stimulate AA production and NO synthesis. An analogue of AA (AACOCF3) alone stimulated NO synthesis, which was inhibited by GW6471. In antral mucous cells, indomethacin enhanced Ca2+‐regulated exocytosis by increasing NO via PPARα, and the enhancement was abolished by GW6471 and cPLA2‐inhα. Thus, AA produced via PLA2 activation is the key step for NO synthesis in ACh‐stimulated antral mucous cells and plays important roles in maintaining antral mucous secretion, especially in Ca2+‐regulated exocytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Inflammatory processes in the brain play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Cyclooxygenase inhibitors, such as celecoxib reduce the production of proinflammatory cytokines. This double-blind study aimed to investigate the effects of adding celecoxib to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)on treating OCD. Methods: Sixty patients who met the diagnosis criteria for OCD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -Fourth Edition-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) were recruited in the present study. Two psychiatrists independently confirmed the diagnosis by performing structured interviews. The study participants included 23 patients who received SSRIs and celecoxib (400 mg twice daily) and 22 patients in the control group that received SSRIs and placebo. Moreover, at baseline, in weeks 4, 8, and 12, the explored patients were assessed by a psychiatrist using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BCOS). Results: A significant difference was observed in the change of scores on the Y-BOCS in week 12, compared with the onset of the study between the study groups (t= -8.976, df=38, P=0.001). There was a significant difference between the study groups in obsession (F= 49.19, df= 1, P=0.001), compulsion (F= 13.78, df= 1, P= 0.001), and OCD (F= 57.25, df= 1, P=0.001), i.e., higher in the celecoxib group. Conclusion: This study showed that adjuvant treatment with celecoxib can further improve the symptoms of OCD in individuals receiving SSRIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine Respiratory Syncytial virus (BRSV) is one of the major infectious agents in the etiology of the bovine respiratory disease complex. BRSV causes a respiratory syndrome in calves, which is associated with severe bronchiolitis. In this study we describe the effect of treatment with antiviral fusion protein inhibitor (FPI) and ibuprofen, on gene expression in lung tissue of calves infected with BRSV. Calves infected with BRSV are an excellent model of human RSV in infants: we hypothesized that FPI in combination with ibuprofen would provide the best therapeutic intervention for both species. The following experimental treatment groups of BRSV infected calves were used: 1) ibuprofen day 3–10, 2) ibuprofen day 5–10, 3) placebo, 4) FPI day 5–10, 5) FPI and ibuprofen day 5–10, 6) FPI and ibuprofen day 3–10. All calves were infected with BRSV on day 0. Daily clinical evaluation with monitoring of virus shedding by qRT-PCR was conducted. On day10 lung tissue with lesions (LL) and non-lesional (LN) was collected at necropsy, total RNA extracted, and RNA sequencing performed. Differential gene expression analysis was conducted with Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The most significant differential gene expression in BRSV infected lung tissues was observed in the comparison of LL with LN; oxidative stress and cell damage was especially noticeable. Innate and adaptive immune functions were reduced in LL. As expected, combined treatment with FPI and Ibuprofen, when started early, made the most difference in gene expression patterns in comparison with placebo, especially in pathways related to the innate and adaptive immune response in both LL and LN. Ibuprofen, when used alone, negatively affected the antiviral response and caused higher virus loads as shown by increased viral shedding. In contrast, when used with FPI Ibuprofen enhanced the specific antiviral effect of FPI, due to its ability to reduce the damaging effect of prostanoids and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Electrospun Nanofibrous Composite Membranes for Long-Term Release of Celecoxib for Achilles Tendon Reconstruction Following Injury" discusses the development of a new implantable combination of nanofibers for Achilles tendon reconstruction. The nanofibers, called celecoxib-collagen-bupivacainepoly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (CCBP), show improved therapeutic application and higher load-to-failure values compared to healthy tendons and nanofibers with doxycycline. The authors suggest that CCBP is a promising scaffold for repairing ruptured Achilles tendons and is superior to existing materials. [Extracted from the article]

Transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) is a ligand-gated cation channel that responds to endogenous and exogenous irritants. TRPA1 is expressed on multiple cell types throughout the lungs, but previous studies have primarily focused on TRPA1 stimulation of airway sensory nerves. We sought to understand the integrated physiological airway response to TRPA1 stimulation. The TRPA1 agonists allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and cinnamaldehyde (CINN) were tested in sedated, mechanically ventilated guinea pigs in vivo. Reproducible bronchoconstrictions were induced by electrical stimulation of the vagus nerves. Animals were then treated with intravenous AITC or CINN. AITC and CINN were also tested on isolated guinea pig and mouse tracheas and postmortem human trachealis muscle strips in an organ bath. Tissues were contracted with methacholine, histamine, or potassium chloride and then treated with AITC or CINN. Some airways were pretreated with TRPA1 antagonists, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, the EP2 receptor antagonist PF 04418948, or tetrodotoxin. AITC and CINN blocked vagally mediated bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs. Pretreatment with indomethacin completely abolished the airway response to TRPA1 agonists. Similarly, AITC and CINN dose-dependently relaxed precontracted guinea pig, mouse, and human airways in the organ bath. AITC- and CINNinduced airway relaxation required TRPA1, prostaglandins, and PGE2 receptor activation. TRPA1-induced airway relaxation did not require epithelium or tetrodotoxin-sensitive nerves. Finally, AITC blocked airway hyperreactivity in two animal models of allergic asthma. These data demonstrate that stimulation of TRPA1 causes bronchodilation of intact airways and suggest that the TRPA1 pathway is a potential pharmacological target for bronchodilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevant information about the impacts caused by presence of emerging pollutants in mixtures on the ecological environment, especially on the more vulnerable compartments such as activated sludge (AS) is relatively limited. This study investigated the effect of ibuprofen (IBU) and triclosan (TCS), alone and in combination to the performance and enzymatic activity of AS bacterial community. The assays were carried out in a pilot AS reactor operating for two-weeks under continuous dosage of pollutants. The microbial activity was tracked by measuring oxygen uptake rate, esterase activity, oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities. It was found that IBU and TCS had no acute toxic effects on reactor biomass concentration. TCS led to significant decrease of COD removal efficiency, which dropped from 90% to 35%. Continuous exposure to IBU, TCS and their mixtures increased the activities of glutathione s-transferase (GST) and esterase as a response to oxidative damage. A high increase in GST activity was associated with non-reversible toxic damage while peaks of esterase activity combined with moderate GST increase were attributed to an adaptive response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diclofenac sodium (DS), a potent inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, reduces the release of arachidonic acid and formation of prostaglandins. Being a nonsteroid drug that shows antiinflammatory action, the possible side effects of fetal DS administration gain importance in public and medical applications. Herein, the effects of DS administration (1 mg/kg) during gestational days 5–20 were investigated on the performance of Wistar rat pups in a variety of behavioral tasks. Four-week-old pups were subjected to sensory motor tests, a plus maze, an open field, the Morris water maze, and a radial arm maze. Fetal DS disrupted some sensory motor performances, such as visual placing and climbing in both females and males. In the open field, DS females had a higher level of anxiety and male DS pups habituated to the environment slowly compared to controls. The DS pups showed slower rates of learning, whereas no substantial between-group differences were found in the performance of spatial memory compared to both controls. Furthermore, working memory was negatively affected by fetal DS. In conclusion, it was indicated that DS administration during pregnancy had slight behavioral impacts with a delay in learning and a defect in the short-term memory in juvenile rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work describes the design and synthesis of novel series of ten pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrazolo derivatives. Four compounds 3a , 3d , 4d and 4f were notable for their anti-inflammatory activity that was comparable to that of the clinically available cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib. They are even more potent than non-sterodial anti-inflammatory drug cyclooxygenase inhibitor diclofenac sodium. Our best hit 4d appears to adopt similar binding modes to the standard COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, proposing room for possible selectivity. The in silico findings come in line with the in vitro and in vivo assay results and also suggest that these compounds have the potetntial to be COX-2 selective inhibitors since they have typical binding modes of the benchmark drug celecoxib. • Design and synthesis of novel series of pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrazolo derivatives. • The best hit, 4d with COX-1 IC 50 of 28 µM and COX-2 IC 50 of 23 µM. • 4d adopt similar binding modes to the standard COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib. • 3a , 3d , 4d and 4f exhibited anti-inflammatory activity that was comparable to celecoxib. In this study, the acid chlorides of pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrimidine compounds were prepared and reacted with a number of nucleophiles. The novel compounds were experimentally tested via enzyme assay and they showed cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition activity in the middle micro molar range (4b had a COX-1 IC 50 of 26 µM and a COX-2 IC 50 of 34 µM, 3b had a COX-1 IC 50 of 19 µM and a COX-2 IC 50 of 31 µM, 3a had a COX-2 IC 50 of 42 µM). These compounds were analyzed via docking and were predicted to interact with some of the COX-2 key residues. Our best hit, 4d (COX-1 IC 50 of 28 µM, COX-2 IC 50 of 23 µM), appears to adopt similar binding modes to the standard COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, proposing room for possible selectivity. Additionally, the resultant novel compounds were tested in several in vivo assays. Four compounds 3a (COX-2 IC 50 of 42 µM), 3d , 4d and 4f were notable for their anti-inflammatory activity that was comparable to that of the clinically available COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. Interestingly, they showed greater potency than the famous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, Diclofenac sodium. In summary, these novel pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrimidine analogues showed interesting anti-inflammatory activity and could act as a starting point for future drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inflammatory response is considered a defence mechanism against physical or infectious insults and is prevalent within the central nervous system. Seizures also result in a robust inflammatory cascade, leading to enhanced activation of excitatory synaptic networks. Ample evidence based on animal models of epilepsy has demonstrated that celecoxib, a highly selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, has anticonvulsant effects. We aimed to evaluate the impact of celecoxib on the cortical excitability and electrophysiological properties of the brain in healthy humans. Electroencephalography (EEG) or transmagnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to measure neurophysiological activity. Forty healthy volunteers were randomized to 4 groups (n = 10 in each group): 1) celecoxib and EEG, 2) placebo and EEG, 3) celecoxib and TMS, and 4) placebo and TMS. For the EEG study, resting EEG was performed at baseline just before administering 400 mg of celecoxib or placebo and repeated 4 hours after administration. The subjects took 200 mg of celecoxib or placebo twice a day for 7 subsequent days, and a third EEG was conducted 4 hours after the final dose. Power spectra were compared at each time point. For the TMS study, the resting motor threshold (RMT), motor evoked potential (MEP) peak-to-peak amplitude, and cortical silent period (CSP) were measured at baseline and after taking 200 mg of celecoxib or placebo twice a day for 7 days. Celecoxib did not significantly change brain activity in the EEG study. However, the sum of power recorded from all electrodes tended to increase in the celecoxib group only at 4 hours after administration (p = 0.06). In detail, one dose of celecoxib (400 mg) transiently and significantly increased the alpha band power recorded in the frontal and parietal areas as well as in the whole brain (p = 0.049, 0.017, and 0.014, respectively) and the beta frequency in the central and parietal regions (p = 0.013 and 0.005, respectively), whereas the placebo did not. This effect was abolished after 7 days of treatment. In the TMS study, we found no statistically significant change in the RMT, MEP peak-to-peak amplitude or CSP. This evidence suggests that celecoxib transiently alters the electrophysiological properties of the brain but does not suppress neuronal excitability in healthy humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate is a modified analog of Tiliacorinine, a major compound in Tiliacora triandra. The present study explored the vasorelaxation property of tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate and its mechanism in isolated rat aorta using the organ bath technique. Tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate exhibited concentration-dependent (10−15–10−3.5 M) vasorelaxation in endothelium-intact rings (E max = 93.53 ± 2.79%) and endothelium-denuded rings (E max = 74.31 ± 5.09%). The effects of tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate were attenuated by pre-incubation with N(ω)-nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, endothelium nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) (100 μM), 1 H -[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3- a ]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, soluble quanylylcyclase inhibitor) (1 μM), and 4-aminopyridine (1 mM, K v channel blocker). However, this effect was not impacted by indomethacin (10 μM, cyclooxygenase inhibitor), tetraethylammonium (5 mM, K ca channel blocker), barium chloride (1 mM, K IR channel blocker), or glibenclamide (10 μM, K ATP channel blocker). Moreover, pretreatment with tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate reduced the effect of L-NAME (100 μM) on acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation. Tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate showed inhibitory effects on CaCl 2 -induced contracted rings and reduced the contraction induced by phenylephrine (10 μM) and caffeine (20 mM) in a Ca2+-free solution. The results of this study suggest that tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation through the eNOS/NO/sGC pathway, and also induced endothelium independent vasorelaxation involving the modulation of sGC activity, K v channels, Ca2+ influx through Ca2+ channels and intracellular Ca2+ release. The data concerning the benefits of tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate might be further investigated for the application of tiliacorinine 12′- O -acetate as an antihypertensive compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new series of pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrimidine bearing thiazolidinone moiety were designed and synthesized. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro (COX-1 and COX-2) inhibitory assay . Compounds that showed promising COX-2 selectivity were further subjected to in vivo anti-inflammatory screening applying formalin induced paw edema (acute model) and cotton-pellet induced granuloma (chronic model) assays using celecoxib and diclofenac sodium as reference drugs . The histopathological and ulcerogenic potential were also determined. In vivo anti-inflammatory data showed that compounds 2 , 6 , 7d displayed anti-inflammatory activity higher than both references in the formalin induced paw edema model. On the other hand, compounds 2 , 3d , 3e , 7b and 7d displayed anti-inflammatory activity greater than or nearly equivalent to diclofenac sodium in the cotton pellet-induced granuloma assay. Moreover, most of the tested compounds revealed good gastrointestinal safety profile. Collectively, compounds 2 and 7d were considered as promising candidates in managing both acute and chronic inflammation with safe gastrointestinal margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We recently reported that the nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor ketorolac attenuated sweating but not cutaneous vasodilation during moderate‐intensity exercise in the heat. However, the specific contributions of COX‐1 and COX‐2 to the sweating response remained to be determined. We tested the hypothesis that COX‐1 but not COX‐2 contributes to sweating with no role for either COX isoform in cutaneous vasodilation during moderate‐intensity exercise in the heat. In thirteen young males (22 ± 2 years), sweat rate and cutaneous vascular conductance were measured at three forearm skin sites that were continuously treated with (1) lactated Ringer's solution (Control), (2) 150 μmmol·L−1 celecoxib, a selective COX‐2 inhibitor, or (3) 10 mmol L−1 ketorolac, a nonselective COX inhibitor. Participants first rested in a non heat stress condition (≥85 min, 25°C) followed by a further 70‐min rest period in the heat (35°C). They then performed 50 min of moderate‐intensity cycling (~55% peak oxygen uptake) followed by a 30‐min recovery period. At the end of exercise, sweat rate was lower at the 150 μmol·L−1 celecoxib (1.51 ± 0.25 mg·min−1·cm−2) and 10 mmol·L−1 ketorolac (1.30 ± 0.30 mg·min−1·cm−2) treated skin sites relative to the Control site (1.89 ± 0.27 mg·min−1·cm−2) (both P ≤ 0.05). Additionally, sweat rate at the ketorolac site was attenuated relative to the celecoxib site (P ≤ 0.05). Neither celecoxib nor ketorolac influenced cutaneous vascular conductance throughout the experiment (both P > 0.05). We showed that both COX‐1 and COX‐2 contribute to sweating but not cutaneous vasodilation during moderate‐intensity exercise in the heat in young men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are routinely used in both veterinary and human medicine. Gastrointestinal injury is a frequent adverse event associated with NSAID use and evidence suggests that NSAIDs induce gastrointestinal microbial imbalance (i.e., dysbiosis) in both animals and people. It is unknown, however, whether cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-selective NSAIDs induce dysbiosis, or if this phenomenon occurs in horses administered any class of NSAIDs. Therefore, our objectives were to determine whether the composition and diversity of the fecal microbiota of adult horses were altered by NSAID use, and whether these effects differed between non–selective and COX-2-selective NSAIDs. Twenty-five adult horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: control (n = 5); phenylbutazone (n = 10); or, firocoxib (n = 10). Treatments were administered for 10 days. Fecal samples were collected every 5 days for 25 days. DNA was extracted from feces and the 16S rRNA gene amplified and sequenced to determine the composition of the microbiota and the inferred metagenome. While the fecal microbiota profile of the control group remained stable over time, the phenylbutazone and firocoxib groups had decreased diversity, and alteration of their microbiota profiles was most pronounced at day 10. Similarly, there were clear alterations of the inferred metagenome at day 10 compared to all other days, indicating that use of both non-selective and selective COX inhibitors resulted in temporary alterations of the fecal microbiota and inferred metagenome. Dysbiosis associated with NSAID administration is clinically relevant because dysbiosis has been associated with several important diseases of horses including abdominal pain (colic), colitis, enteric infections, and laminitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance is a ligand-based screening technique that focuses directly on the physical interaction of a macromolecule (protein, enzyme, etc.) and a small ligand. It is a powerful tool in pharmaceutical research. Here, a comparison is reported of the binding characteristics of ibuprofen and a novel anti-inflammatory agent to cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 enzymes as an application of saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance. It has been shown that this novel agent is capable of binding to both isoforms of the cyclooxygenase enzymes. It has also been reported that novel agent binds better to cyclooxygenase-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Combination chemotherapy is a rational strategy to increase patient response and tolerability and to decrease adverse effects and drug resistance. Recently, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been reported to be associated with reduction in occurrence of a variety of cancers including lung cancer. On the other hand, growing evidences suggest that deuterium-enriched water (DEW, D2O) and deuterium-depleted water (DDW) play a role both in treatment and prevention of cancers. In the present study, we examined the effects of DEW and DDW in combination with two NSAIDs, celecoxib and indomethacin, on A549 human non-small lung cancer cell to identify novel treatment options. Materials and. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxicity of celecoxib or indomethacin, alone and in combination with DDW and DEW was determined. The COX-2, MAPK pathway proteins, the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and pro-apoptotic Bax proteins and caspase-3 activity were studied for cytotoxic combinations. Results: Co-administration of selective and non-selective COX-2 inhibitors with DEW led to a remarkable increase in cytotoxicity and apoptosis of A549 cells. These events were associated with activation of p38 and JNK MAPKs and decreasing pro-survival proteins Bcl-2, COX-2 and ERK1/2. Furthermore, the combination therapy activated caspase-3, and the apoptosis mediator, and disabled poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), the key DNA repair enzyme, by cleaving it. Conclusion: The combination of DEW with NSAIDs might be effective against lung cancer cells by influence on principal cell signalling pathways, and this has a potential to become a candidate for chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Current worldwide clinical practice guidelines recommend acetaminophen as the first option for the treatment of acute low back pain. However, there is no concrete evidence regarding whether acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is more effective for treating acute low back pain (LBP) in Japan. The present study aimed to investigate whether acetaminophen treatment for acute musculoskeletal pain was comparable with loxoprofen (a traditional NSAID in Japan) treatment. Methods Of the 140 patients with acute LBP who visited out-patient hospitals, 127 were considered eligible and were randomly allocated to a group taking acetaminophen or one taking loxoprofen. As primary outcome measure, pain intensity was measured using a 0–10-numeric rating scale (NRS). Moreover, pain disability, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, depression, and quality of life, as well as adverse events, were assessed as secondary outcomes. The primary outcome was tested with a noninferiority margin (0.84 on changes in pain-NRS), and the secondary outcomes were compared using conventional statistical methods at week 2 and week 4. Results Seventy patients completed the study (acetaminophen: 35, loxoprofen: 35). The dropout rates showed no significant difference between the two medication-groups. We found that the mean differences of changes in pain-NRS from baseline to week 2 or 4 between the two medication groups were not statistically beyond the noninferiority margin (mean [95% confidence interval]: −0.51 [−1.70, 0.67], at week 2 and −0.80 [−2.08, 0.48] at week 4). There were no consistent differences between the two medication groups in terms of secondary outcomes. Conclusions The results suggest that acetaminophen has comparable analgesic effects on acute LBP, based on at least a noninferiority margin, compared with loxoprofen at 4 weeks. Acetaminophen seems to be a reasonable first-line option for patients with acute LBP in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors were developed in the quest of enhanced analgesic efficacy devoid of gastric side effects. High usage of etoricoxib by prescription as well as self-administered routes has led to increasing reports of side effects and adverse reactions including dermatologic reactions in 0.1%-0.3% of cases. The present report enumerates a case of toxic epidermal necrolysis induced by etoricoxib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Invasive urothelial carcinoma (iUC) is a major cause of death in humans, and approximately 165,000 individuals succumb to this cancer annually worldwide. Comparative oncology using relevant animal models is necessary to improve our understanding of progression, diagnosis, and treatment of iUC. Companion canines are a preferred animal model of iUC due to spontaneous tumor development and similarity to human disease in terms of histopathology, metastatic behavior, and treatment response. However, the comprehensive molecular characterization of canine iUC is not well documented. In this study, we performed transcriptome analysis of tissue samples from canine iUC and normal bladders using an RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach to identify key molecular pathways in canine iUC.Methods: Total RNA was extracted from bladder tissues of 11 dogs with iUC and five healthy dogs, and RNA-Seq was conducted. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to assign differentially expressed genes to known upstream regulators and functional networks.Results: Differential gene expression analysis of the RNA-Seq data revealed 2531 differentially expressed genes, comprising 1007 upregulated and 1524 downregulated genes, in canine iUC. IPA revealed that the most activated upstream regulator was PTGER2 (encoding the prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2), which is consistent with the therapeutic efficiency of cyclooxygenase inhibitors in canine iUC. Similar to human iUC, canine iUC exhibited upregulated ERBB2 and downregulated TP53 pathways. Biological functions associated with cancer, cell proliferation, and leukocyte migration were predicted to be activated, while muscle functions were predicted to be inhibited, indicating muscle-invasive tumor property.Conclusions: Our data confirmed similarities in gene expression patterns between canine and human iUC and identified potential therapeutic targets (PTGER2, ERBB2, CCND1, Vegf, and EGFR), suggesting the value of naturally occurring canine iUC as a relevant animal model for human iUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by re‑experiencing of a traumatic event, avoidance of trauma‑associated stimulation, general changes in mood and cognition, and hyper arousal symptoms. Cyclooxygenase is involved in the production of prostaglandins and thromboxanes, and its inducible form cyclooxygenase‑2(COX‑2), an important mediator of cell injury in inflammation, is primarily expressed in leukocytes and brain cells. The present study investigated the expression of COX‑2 in the hippocampi of rats with PTSD and evaluated the effect of COX‑2 inhibition on PTSD. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control (n=20), PTSD (n=20) and intervention group (PTSD+COX‑2 inhibitor treatment, n=20). The expression of COX‑2 was detected by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining was used to observe the apoptosis of rat hippocampal neurons. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‑α), interleukin (IL)‑6 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were analyzed by ELISA. Nitric oxide (NO) was detected using the Griess test. The behavioral and cognitive function of rats in the PTSD group was significantly decreased compared with the control group, while the behavioral and cognitive function of rats in the intervention group were improved. The COX‑2 mRNA and protein expression levels in hippocampi of rats in the PTSD group were higher than in the control and intervention group. The apoptosis of hippocampus in rats with PTSD was significantly increased compared with the control group and following treatment with COX‑2 inhibitor, apoptosis was decreased. In addition, compared with the control group and intervention group, the levels of TNF‑α, IL‑6, PGE2 and NO in hippocampi of rats were increased in the PTSD group. The present study indicated that COX‑2 may be involved in the pathogenesis of PTSD, and inhibition of its expression serves a neuroprotective role in hippocampi of PTSD rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To characterize the distribution and intensity of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in the eyes of cats with and without uveitis and to determine whether COX-2 expression is correlated with severity of inflammation. SAMPLES Archived ocular tissue specimens from 51 cats with and 10 cats without ocular disease. PROCEDURES Specimens from only I eye were evaluated for each cat. Specimens were stained with H&E stain or immunohistochemical stain for detection of COX-2 and reviewed. For each eye, the type, severity, and distribution of inflammation and the distribution and intensity of COX-2 expression were determined for the uvea and other ocular tissues. Correlation between COX-2 expression and inflammation severity was also assessed. RESULTS COX-2 was not expressed in any nondiseased eye. Of the 51 diseased eyes, 20 had histologic evidence of lymphocytic-plasmacytic uveitis, 13 had neutrophilic uveitis, 11 had diffuse iris melanoma with uveitis, and 7 had diffuse iris melanoma without uveitis. of the 44 eyes with uveitis, COX-2 was detected in the uvea of 16, including II eyes with lymphocytic-plasmacytic uveitis, 4 with neutrophilic uveitis, and I with diffuse iris melanoma-induced uveitis. Inflammation was severe, moderate, or mild in 10, 5, and I of those eyes, respectively. Cyclooxygenase-2 was detected in the cornea of 21 eyes with uveitis and I eye with diffuse iris melanoma without uveitis. Uveitis severity was positively correlated with COX-2 expression in both the uvea and cornea. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that COX-2 is an inflammatory mediator in feline uveitis but not diffuse iris melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Etodolac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which result in inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). The aim of this study is to formulate and evaluate oral disintegrating tablets (ODTs) of etodolac to achieve rapid dissolution, absorption and further improving the bioavailability of the drug. The oral disintegrating tablets were prepared by using Croscarmellose sodium, Sodium starch glycolate and Crospovidone by direct compression method. Taste masking was done by flavouring agents. Drug-polymer complex was then formulated into orally disintegrating tablets by direct compression by using different concentrations of superdisintegrants. Tablets were evaluated for weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, drug content, in vitro disintegration time, wetting time, water absorption ratio, and in vitro dissolution studies. Total nine formulations were prepared (i.e. F1 to F9), out of which tablets with F9 formulation containing 9% crospovidone showed faster disintegration within 15.05 seconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bromfenac is a well-known topical ophthalmic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commercialized in the USA and other regions of the world. A new formulation, 0.075% bromfenac in DuraSite®, was developed to treat postoperative inflammation and reduce pain in patients who have undergone cataract surgery. We hypothesized that efficacy and safety would be enhanced with twice-daily (BID) dosing compared to once-daily (QD) dosing. Methods: This was a multicenter, double-masked, comparative study in which 40 and 45 subjects were randomized to groups receiving BID dosing and QD dosing, respectively. Subjects self-instilled the study drug for 14 days postoperative and were followed for an additional 2-week evaluation phase. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of subjects with an anterior chamber cell (ACC) grade of 0 at day 15. Results: A total of 45 subjects had cleared ACC (grade '0') at day 15, of whom 21 were in the BID group (52.5%) and 24 were in the QD group (53.5%). A secondary analysis found 7/40 (17.5%) subjects in the BID group and 10/45 (22.2%) subjects in the QD group achieved an ACC grade of 0 at day 8. There were more adverse events in the QD group ( n = 16) than in the BID group ( n = 12). Conclusion: Similar outcomes were observed for subjects using Bromfenac 0.075% in DuraSite® in the BID and QD dosing regimens for the treatment of post-cataract surgery inflammation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01190878. Funding: InSite Vision (now a division of Sun Pharma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Postoperative pain is one of the most common manifestations of acute pain and is an important problem faced by patients after surgery. Moreover, neuronal trauma or chemotherapeutic treatment often causes neuropathic pain, which induces disabling and distressing symptoms. At present, treatments of both painful conditions are inadequate. α-Spinasterol, which is well characterized as a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 antagonist, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antinociceptive effects. Therefore, we investigated its antinociceptive potential on postoperative and neuropathic pain, as well as its effect on COX-1 and COX-2 activities.Experimental Approach: Nociceptive responses in a postoperative pain model (surgical incision-induced) or different neuropathic pain models (trauma or chemotherapy-induced) were investigated in mice.Key Results: Oral administration of α-spinasterol reduced postoperative pain, when given as a pre- (0.5 h before incision) or post-treatment (0.5 h after incision), and reduced cell infiltration in the injured tissue. α-Spinasterol also reduced the mechanical allodynia induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation and the mechanical and cold allodynia induced by paclitaxel. Moreover, α-spinasterol inhibited COX-1 and COX-2 enzyme activities without altering the body temperature of animals. Importantly, α-spinasterol did not alter spontaneous or forced locomotor activity. Furthermore, it did not cause gastric damage or liver and kidney changes, nor did it alter cell viability in the cerebral cortex and spinal cord slices of mice.Conclusion and Implications: α-Spinasterol is an effective and safe COX inhibitor with antinociceptive effects in postoperative and neuropathic pain models. Therefore, it is an interesting prototype for the development of novel analgesic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of new 1,3,4-oxadiazole/oxime hybrids were synthesized and designed as potent COX inhibitors. The prepared compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and ulcerogenic activities. The results indicated that the prepared compounds exhibited remarkable anti-inflammatory activity with (69.60–109.60% of indomethacin activity) after 4 h. In vitro COX inhibitory assay showed that compounds 6d and 7h are potent COX inhibitors with IC 50 of (1.10–0.94) and (2.30–5.00) µM on both COX-1 and COX-2 respectively. Compound 7h was found to inhibit both COXs non-competitively with K i values of 73 µM and 89 µM. Most of the tested compounds showed ulcer-free stomachs compared to indomethacin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study suggests that interleukin-31 (IL-31) exerts its effect via indirect mechanisms rather than through direct stimulation of cutaneous nerves. However, the underlying peripheral mechanisms of IL-31-induced itch in the skin remain unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the peripheral mechanisms underlying IL-31-induced itch in mice. IL-31-induced itch-related response was inhibited by anti-allergic drugs (tranilast and azelastine), but not by an H1 histamine receptor antagonist (terfenadine). Furthermore, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (zileuton), but not a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin), and a leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor antagonist (CMHVA) attenuated the action of IL-31. IL-31 receptor-immunoreactivity was observed in the epidermis and primary sensory neurones. IL-31 receptor mRNA was expressed in mouse keratinocytes and dorsal root ganglia neurones. IL-31 increased the production of LTB4 in mouse keratinocytes. These results suggest that IL-31 elicits itch not only through direct action on primary sensory neurones, but also by inducing LTB4 production in keratinocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal diseases are an extensive cause of blindness worldwide and continue to persist as a challenging public health concern. Recently, various lipid-based therapies have been advocated for the modulation of corneal diseases; however, the number of studies is still very limited. Here we focus on developments and challenges on lipid-based therapies for dry eye disease, diabetic neuropathy, and Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. All three diseases are highly prevalent conditions and involve corneal stress and inflammation. Lipid-based therapeutics discussed includes cyclooxygenase inhibitors, essential fatty acids, and resolvin analogs. Lipids also show increasing promise as biomarkers of disease and are explored in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eicosanoids may play a role in ischemic stroke. However, the associations of variants in cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway genes and interaction among these variants with carotid plaque vulnerability are not fully understood. In present study, twelve variants in COX pathway genes were examined using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method in 396 patients with ischemic stroke and 291 controls. Platelet aggregation, platelet-leukocyte aggregates, and urine 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dTxB2) were also measured. According to the results of carotid high-resolution B-mode ultrasound, the patients were stratified into the following groups [i.e., non-carotid plaque and carotid plaque. The carotid plaque was further classified into subgroups of echolucent plaque (ELP) and echogenic plaque (EGP)]. Additionally, gene-gene interactions were analyzed to assess whether there was any interactive role for assessed variants in affecting carotid plaque vulnerability, platelet activation and 11-dTxB2 levels. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of genotypes of the twelve variants between patients and controls. Among 396 patients, 294 cases (74.2%) had carotid plaques (106 had ELP, 188 had EGP). Frequency of PTGS2 rs20417CC, TXAS1 rs2267679TT, TXAS1 rs41708TT, PTGIS rs5602CC, and TXA2R rs1131882TT genotype was significantly higher in patients with plaque compared with patients without plaque, or in patients with ELP compared with patients with EGP. 11-dTxB2 levels, platelet aggregation and platelet-leukocyte aggregates were significantly higher in patients with ELP compared with patients without plaque or with EGP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PTGS2 rs20417CC, TXA2R rs1131882TT, and high-risk interaction among variants in PTGS2 rs20417, TXA2R rs1131882 and TXAS1 rs41708 were independently associated with the risk of ELP after adjusting for confounding variables. The variants in COX pathway genes and the high-risk interactions among variants in PTGS2 rs20417, TXA2R rs1131882 and TXAS1 rs41708 were associated with high 11-dTxB2 and platelet activation, and independently associated with the risk of carotid plaque vulnerability. These variants might be potential markers for plaque instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by hypoxia in patients with chronic liver disease. The mechanism of HPS includes pulmonary vasodilatation, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Prostaglandins synthesized by cyclooxygenases (COX) participate in vascular responsiveness, inflammation and angiogenesis, which can be modulated by COX inhibitors. We therefore evaluated the impact of COX inhibition in rats with common bile duct ligation (CBDL)-induced liver cirrhosis and HPS. Methods: Cirrhotic rats were randomly allocated to receive non-selective COX inhibitor (indomethacin), selective COX-1 inhibitor (SC-560), or COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib) for 14 days. After that, hemodynamic parameters, severity of hypoxia and intrapulmonary shunts, liver and renal biochemistry parameters, histological finding and protein expressions were evaluated. Results: Non-selective COX inhibition by indomethacin improved hepatic fibrosis and pulmonary inflammation in cirrhotic rats with HPS. It also decreased mean arterial blood pressure, portal pressure, and alleviated hypoxia and intrapulmonary shunts. However, indomethacin increased mortality rate. In contrast, selective COX inhibitors neither affected hemodynamics nor increased mortality rate. Hypoxia was improved by SC-560 and celecoxib. In addition, SC-560 decreased intrapulmonary shunts, attenuated pulmonary inflammation and angiogenesis through down-regulating COX-, NFκB- and VEGF-mediated pathways. Conclusion: Selective COX-1 inhibitor ameliorated HPS by mitigating hypoxia and intrapulmonary shunts, which are related to anti-inflammation and anti-angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is known to upregulate the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). We investigated the role of the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling pathway in TNFα-induced RANKL expression in C2C12 and primary cultured mouse calvarial cells. TNFα-induced RANKL expression was blocked by the calcineurin/NFAT pathway inhibitors. TNFα increased NFAT transcriptional activity and subsequent RANKL promoter binding. Mutations in the NFAT-binding element (MT(N)) suppressed TNFα-induced RANKL promoter activity. TNFα increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, which in turn enhanced NFAT transcriptional activity and binding to the RANKL promoter. MT(N) suppressed PGE2-induced RANKL promoter activity. TNFα and PGE2 increased the expression of RANKL, NFAT cytoplasmic-1 (NFATc1), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2); which increment was suppressed by indomethacin, a COX inhibitor. Mutations in the CRE-like element blocked PGE2-induced RANKL promoter activity. PGE2 induced the binding of CREB to the RANKL promoter, whereas TNFα increased the binding of both CREB and NFATc1 to this promoter through a process blocked by indomethacin. The PGE2 receptor antagonists AH6809 and AH23848 blocked TNFα-induced expression of RANKL, NFATc1, and CREB; transcriptional activity of NFAT; and binding of NFATc1 or CREB to the RANKL promoter. These results suggest that TNFα-induced RANKL expression depends on PGE2 production and subsequent transcriptional activation/enhanced binding of NFATc1 and CREB to the RANKL promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myrica rubraSieb. et Zucc. is a valuable fruit tree that is used in Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese traditional medicine. We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity ofM. rubraleaves extracted with four different solvents. Total phenolics were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Extracts were investigated for their inhibitory activity toward the pro-inflammatory enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1, COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). The ethanol extract ofM. rubraleaves demonstrated a strong inhibition of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) biosynthesis catalyzed by both COX-1 (93.42%) and COX-2 (75.71%) and leukotriene B4(LTB4) formation catalyzed by 5-LOX (82.72%). Further we identified selective COX-1 inhibition by then-butanol and aqueous fractions of the ethanol extract (with an IC50for COX-1 inhibition of 1.07 and 0.71 µg mL−1,respectively) and dual 5-LOX/COX inhibition by the ethyl acetate fraction (with an IC50of 3.29 for COX-1, 2.54 for COX-2 and 8.30 µg mL−1for 5-LOX). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COX-2 is a widely studied biological target, since its activity is directly related to the inflammation response. The design of COX-2 selective inhibitors is an ongoing topic in drug design. We performed a quantitative structure–activity relationship and docking studies over a series of benzenesulfonamide derivatives on their inhibition towards COX-1 and COX-2, in order to rationalize their selectivity towards COX-2. Constitutional, topological and molecular property descriptors for the QSAR models and molecular docking calculations were employed. The mathematical model highlighted that lipophilic character and size are the most important features for COX-2 inhibition by benzenesulfonamides. A second QSAR model revealed that the dipole moment, the number of hydrogen bond donors and lipophilicity descriptors of benzenesulfonamides are crucial for their binding to COX-1. Moreover, artificial neural networks were employed to improve the prediction power of the COX-1 inhibition QSAR model. In this sense, we proposed new selective potential inhibitors by introducing different halogens into the benzenesulfonamide scaffold, improving their interactions with key residues of COX-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of 1,3,5-triaryl-4,5-dihydro-1 H -pyrazole 10a – l was designed and synthesized via cyclization of chalcones 8a – f with 4-amino/methanesulfonylphenylhydrazine hydrochloride 9a – b . All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition, anti-inflammatory activity, ulcerogenic liability and analgesic activity. All compounds were more COX-2 inhibitors than COX-1. While most compounds showed good anti-inflammatory activity, the trimethoxy derivatives ( 10a , 10b, 10g and 10h ) were the most potent derivatives (ED 50 = 55.78, 53.99, 67.65 and 69.20 μmol/kg respectively) in comparison with celecoxib (ED 50 = 82.15 μmol/kg). Compounds 10a , 10b, 10g and 10h (ulcer index = 2.68, 1.20, 2.63 and 2.66 respectively) showed less ulceration effect than celecoxib (ulcer index = 2.90). Also, Compounds 10a , 10b, 10g and 10h showed analgesic activity higher than celecoxib and comparable to that of ibuprofen. In addition, molecular docking studies were performed for compounds 10a , 10b, 10g and 10h and the results were in agreement with that obtained from the in vitro COX inhibition assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]