Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Diseases

In this book, a worldwide panel of leading experts discuss the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of major chronic diseases and the current controversy regarding risk versus benefit of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. The authors provide exciting and enlightening perspectives on COX-2 and related molecular targets in the future of medicine, including historical perspectives.

"The authors provide exciting and enlightening perspectives on COX-2 and related molecular targets in the future of medicine, including historical perspectives on the discovery and development of aspirin, ibuprofen, and compounds that selectively inhibit COX-2, and the potential for development of new compounds with better efficacy and safety in the 21st century. Specific chapters illuminate the role of inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and other life-threatening and debilitating conditions. Experts in cardiovascular medicine explore the "COX-2 controversy" regarding adverse effects of some (not all) selective COX-2 inhibitors on the cardiovasculature. Important findings are documented in cancer research showing that selective COX-2 inhibitors have powerful antineoplastic effects against major forms of cancer. A special section explores the current evidence supporting the role of COX-2 and inflammation in the development of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions and the potential benefit of compounds that modulate COX-2 and other inflammatory cytokines. The final section addresses nutritional modulation of inflammation and the chemopreventive value of anti-inflammatory nutraceutical agents. TOC:From the contents

Historical Perspectives.- Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in the 21st Century.- Inflammatory Mechanisms of Pathogenesis.- Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase Interactions in Cartilage and Meniscus.- Obesity, Inflammation, and Vascular Disease.- Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the Inflammogenesis of Cancer.- Role of COX-2 in Inflammatory and Degenerative Brain Diseases.- Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease: The Coxib Controversy.- Cardiovascular Effects of the Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors.- COX-2 Inhibitors And Cardiovascular Risk.- A Biological Rationale for the Cardiotoxic Effects of Rofecoxib.- Cox-2 Blockade in Cancer Prevention and Therapy.- Cancer Chemoprevention by Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) Blockade.- Strategies for Colon Cancer Prevention.- Inflammation and Neurodegenerative Disease.- NSAIDs for the Chemoprevention of Alzheimer's Disease.- Inflammation in parkinson's disease.- Nutrition, Inflammation and Chronic Disease.- Essential Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Inflammation, Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases.- Nutritional Intervention in Brain Aging.