Os seguintes parâmetros foram investigados para a síntese do resinato de diclofenaco colestiramina: sal precursor, concentração inicial, tempo de contato, velocidade de agitação e temperatura. Dos estudos de equilíbrio, foi verificado que os íons diclofenaco foram sorvidos em dois tipos de sítios diferentes da resina e puderam ser adequadamente representados pela soma de dois termos, derivado do modelo de Boyd, para quimissorção, e Langmuir, para fisissorção. Os dados cinéticos foram ajustados pelos modelos de: pseudo-primeira ordem, pseudo-segunda ordem e difusão intrapartícula. O modelo de pseudo-segunda ordem ajustou-se aos dados experimentais para todo o período de sorção com alto coeficiente de correlação linear. Equações foram desenvolvidas a partir do modelo de pseudo-segunda ordem e puderam predizer a quantidade de íons diclofenaco sorvida em qualquer tempo para a concentração inicial de 7,5 g.L-1. Os resultados dos parâmetros termodinâmicos sugeriram que o processo de sorção é resultante de difusão e reação química em relação à temperatura. / The following parameters were investigated for the synthesis of diclofenac-cholestyramine resinate: diclofenac salt precursor, initial diclofenac concentration, contact time, stirring speed and temperature. From equilibrium studies was verified that the diclofenac ions were adsorbed on two different sites of the resin and may be adequately represented by the sum of two terms, derived from the Boyd model, for chemisorption, and Langmuir, for physisorption. The kinetic data were fitted to the pseudo-first, pseudo-second and intraparticle diffusion models. The pseudo-second order model was found to fit the experimental data for the entire sorption period with high coefficient of determination. Equations were developed using pseudo-second order model and could predict the amounts of diclofenac ions adsorbed at any contact time for the initial concentration of 7,5 g.L-1. The results of thermodynamic parameters suggest that the sorption process results for both diffusion and chemical bonding processes in relation to the temperature.

This research has been undertaken to evaluate factors with an association with the practice of self-medication amongst respondents living within three cities within Kurdistan. The research was designed to be a cross-sectional one by arranging for data collection through the direct interviewing of respondents via the use of a questionnaire that had been prepared previously. In total, the investigation involved 627 pharmacist participants, 647 general participants, and 28 interviewees from various age groups. An explanatory design is a mixed methods approach with two phases, with quantitative data collection in the first phase, and qualitative data collection in a second; data collection was conducted using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. The primary reason for self-medication practice was that participants with previous experience of attending to the same disease. The information source regarding self-medicated drugs were previous prescriptions, community pharmacies and friends. The most common indication for self-medication was the common cold or fever/headache/infection, the drugs used to treat these conditions being most commonly antibiotics, then painkillers and preparations for coughs. From the general public, a sample of 647 participants was taken that consisted of 38.4% females and 61.6% males, with participant ages ranging from 18-70 years. Within the study, 12.4% of the cohort had a degree level of education from a university. Moreover, 243 participants had the belief that it was an acceptable practice to purchase antibiotics without a prescription. Self-medication was practiced by 14/28 of the interviewees, and 28/28 (100%) of the interviewees held the belief that the pharmacy always has someone with knowledge of medicines, and who can advise and provide medication. There were 627 pharmacist participants, of which 28.1% were female and 71.9% were male, and 57.2% of them holding a Diploma in Health Institution, and 39.2% of them having a Bachelors Pharmacy degree. 20.7% of participants disagreed with keeping records for the dispensing of drugs, and approximately 20% of participants had little or no ideas regarding the characteristics of pharmacy practice that are considered professional. It was discovered that, if asked by the customer, advice was provided by 82.5% of community pharmacists. The sale of antibiotics was the most common, followed by pain-killers. A 95.5% proportion of pharmacists sold all of the medicines as OTC medicine without prescription. In conclusion, medicines are used by the people of Kurdistan in an inventive way, with suggestions provided by lay people and members of family or friends, which is acted upon without a qualified healthcare professional being consulted.

Este trabalho prospectivo, duplo-cego randomizado, avaliou o efeito da analgesia preemptiva do cetoprofeno e do parecoxibe. Sessenta pacientes foram submetidos à cirurgia para remoção de terceiros molares inferiores bilaterais inclusos, sendo operado um lado de cada vez. O paciente foi seu próprio controle. Os pacientes foram separados em dois grupos de 30 pacientes. No grupo parecoxibe, na primeira operação foi usado o parecoxibe ou placebo, endovenoso, 30 minutos antes da cirurgia e imediatamente após a operação foi feita a administração do placebo ou parecoxibe, garantindo ao paciente receber parecoxibe antes ou após a operação. O lado oposto foi operado após duas semanas da primeira cirurgia e o paciente que havia recebido parecoxibe antes e placebo depois da operação recebeu placebo antes e parecoxibe depois da operação e o que havia recebido placebo antes e parecoxibe depois recebeu parecoxibe antes e placebo depois. Nos 30 pacientes do grupo cetoprofeno, o modelo foi o mesmo, substituindo-se apenas o parecoxibe pelo cetoprofeno. O paciente pôde utilizar como medicação resgate a dipirona, sempre que necessário para controlar a dor pós-operatória. Após a operação foi fornecido para todos os pacientes um questionário, contendo a escala analógica visual (EAV), a escala descritiva de dor (EDD) e uma tabela para informar o consumo de medicação resgate. Foi avaliada a dor pós-operatória por meio da EAV, da EDD e pelo consumo de medicação resgate. Não houve diferença estatisticamente relevante quanto a intensidade da dor com o uso do parecoxibe ou do cetoprofeno antes ou depois do procedimento cirúrgico. Ao comparar a analgesia proporcionada pelo cetoprofeno e pelo parecoxibe os resultados mostraram que o parecoxibe administrado antes do procedimento cirúrgico foi mais eficaz do que o cetoprofeno no controle da dor na quarta hora do pós-operatório (p=0,041), mas foi menos eficaz após 24h (p=0,003). Quando se comparou a analgesia proporcionada por esses fármacos usados após a operação, o parecoxibe foi mais eficaz do que o cetoprofeno após 6 e 8h do procedimento (p=0,003 e 0,023, respectivamente). / This is a prospective, double-blind randomized, cross over experiment, to evaluate the effect of the preemptive analgesia of ketoprofen and parecoxib. Sixity patients who had gone though surgery for removal of the impacted mandibular bilateral third molar teeth, having one side operated each time, were evaluated. The patients were separated in groups of 30, in the parecoxib group (P). On the first operation parecoxib or placebo were used 30 minutes before the surgery. Immediately after the operation, placebo or parecoxib were administred, so that the patient who had received parecoxib before the operation or after it. The opposite side was operated two weeks after the first surgery and the patients who received parecoxib before and placebo after operation received placebo before and parecoxib after operation and patients who received placebo before and parecoxib after received parecoxib before and placebo after, under the same method. In the group C (n= 30), the model was the same, using ketoprofen instead parecoxib. The patient could use dipyrone as rescue medication, in the event of postoperative pain. A questionnaire was provided to the patient after each surgery, containing a visual analogic scale, a descriptive pain scale and a table to inform the consum of rescue medication. The postoperative pain was evaluated by visual analogic scale, descriptive pain scale and rescue medicine consum. There was no statistically relevant difference as pain intensity with use of parecoxib or ketoprofen before or after the surgical procedure. Comparing ketoprofen analgesia against parecoxib analgesial, the results shown that the administration of parecoxib before the surgical procedure had a major efficacy than ketoprofen in pain control by the fourth hour post operatory (p=0,041), but was less efficient after 24 hours (p=0,003). When comparing the analgesic effect of both drugs after the operation, parecoxib was more effective than ketoprofen six and eight hours after the procedure (p=0,003 and 0,023, respectively).

Introdução: Atualmente, o diagnóstico das reações de hipersensibilidade a anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais (AINEs) baseia-se na história relatada pelo paciente e, em determinados casos, é realizado o Teste de Provocação. Todavia, este teste pode expor os pacientes a riscos graves, inclusive anafilaxia. Em busca de ferramenta mais segura, tem-se estudado o Teste de Ativação de Basófilos (BAT). Trata-se de um teste in vitro, no qual é possível testar diversos estímulos em uma única amostra de sangue, avaliando a ativação dos basófilos (indicativo de reação de hipersensibilidade), através do aumento da expressão de moléculas na superfície desses leucócitos, como o CD63. Objetivo: Padronizar e validar o BAT para ácido acetilsalicílico (AAS), diclofenaco, dipirona e paracetamol em pacientes com hipersensibilidade a AINEs. Metodologia: Participaram 20 (testados com os quatro AINEs) + 33 (testados somente com AAS) pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Imunologia Clínica e Alergia do HCFMUSP, que apresentaram manifestações cutâneas em até 24 horas após exposição a um ou múltiplos AINEs, bem como 13 (quatro AINEs) + 26 (AAS) controles. A técnica consistiu em incubar sangue total com os AINEs já mencionados e, depois, marcar as amostras com anticorpos monoclonais (CD45, anti-IgE e CD63) para posterior leitura por citometria de fluxo. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com as histórias clínicas e os testes de provocação oral, quando realizados. Resultados: Utilizando os critérios de positividade do BAT empregados na literatura (isto é, porcentagem de CD45+IgE+highCD63+ e índice de estimulação), a sensibilidade e a especificidade variaram de acordo com o AINE: para ácido acetilsalicílico foram 75,0% e 16,7%, respectivamente, diclofenaco, 100% e 0%, dipirona, 23,5% e 66,7%, paracetamol, 40,0% e 42,9%. Após a realização de curvas dose-resposta e tempo-resposta somente com AAS, foi encontrado novo critério de positividade: média de intensidade de fluorescência (MFI) menor do que 6575 representava BAT positivo; com isso, os valores de sensibilidade e especificidade foram: 84,4% e 34,6%, respectivamente. O BAT foi mais sensível em pacientes cuja última reação ocorreu há menos de um ano da data de execução do BAT (93,7%). Conclusão: Devido aos baixos valores de sensibilidade e/ou especificidade, não foi possível padronizar e, por conseguinte, validar o BAT para ácido acetilsalicílico, diclofenaco, dipirona e paracetamol. / Introduction: Currently, the diagnosis of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) hypersensivitity is based on patients´ clinical history and drug provocation tests, which are done in selected cases. Nevertheless, this test may expose patients to severe risks, including anaphylaxis. Looking for a safer tool, Basophil Activation Test (BAT) for allergy diagnosis has been studied in the last years. It is an in vitro method where a wide variety of stimuli can be tested, incubating them with the patient\'s blood sample, and observing basophil activation (indication of hypersensitivity) through upregulation of CD63 (or other basophil activation markers) on this leucocyte\'s membrane. Objective: To standardize and validate BAT stimulated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), diclophenac, dipyrone and paracetamol in NSAID hypersensitive patients. Methods: Patients which reported immediate reactions (less than 24 hours) after exposure to one or multiple NSAIDs, with cutaneous symptoms were enrolled from Clinical Immunology and Allergy outpatient clinic from HC-FMUSP. BAT with the four NSAIDs was tested on 20 patients and 13 controls and BAT with ASA only, on 33 patients and 26 controls. BAT consisted of incubating whole blood with NSAIDs, then triple-labeled with monoclonal antibodies (CD45, anti-IgE, CD63) for analysis by flow cytometry. BAT results were compared to clinical history and oral provocation tests, when available. Results: According to literature\'s positivity criteria (percentage of CD45+IgE+highCD63+ and stimulation index), sensitivity and specificity varied according to the NSAID tested: for ASA was 75.0% and 16.7% respectively, diclophenac, 100.0% and 0.0%, dipyrone, 23.5% and 66.7%, paracetamol, 40.0% and 42.9%. A new positivity criterion was possible to be defined after further dose-response and time-response curves only for ASA: Mean Fluorescence Intensity lower than 6575 (positive BAT). Accordingly, new sensitivity and specificity for BAT in ASA hypersensitivity were 84,4% and 34,6%. Patients that presented the last reaction in the last year were more likely to present a positive BAT (93.7%). Conclusion: Due to low values for sensitivity and/or specificity, it was not possible to standardize and validate BAT for ASA, diclophenac, dipyrone and paracetamol.

La maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) est une pathologie neurodégénérative communément caractérisée par une perte progressive de la mémoire. L’étiologie de la MA demeure incertaine à ce jour ce qui complique l’élaboration de stratégies thérapeutiques permettant de l’éradiquer. L’accumulation des échecs thérapeutiques pourrait en partie s’expliquer par le fait que l’hypothèse amyloïde, qui met en avant l’implication prépondérante du peptide bêta-amyloïde (Aβ) dans la physiopathologie de la MA, serait incomplète. En utilisant un modèle murin transgénique de la MA, la souris TgCRND8, j’ai pu compléter l’hypothèse amyloïde en proposant l’implication, en plus de l’Aβ, du fragment carboxy-terminal bêta (β-CTF). Ces deux métabolites amyloïdogéniques de l’APP seraient responsables de l’altération de formes différentes de mémoire. Le dosage de ces métabolites dans l’hippocampe, suite au traitement chronique des souris avec un inhibiteur de β ou de γ-secrétase, a mis en évidence que le β-CTF serait responsable de l’atteinte de la mémoire impliquée dans la détection du remplacement d’un objet, alors que l’Aβ perturberait la mémoire permettant la détection du déplacement d’un objet. Ces travaux suggèrent qu’il serait judicieux de développer de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques qui diminuent à la fois les niveaux cérébraux des deux fragments amyloïdogéniques, le β-CTF et l’Aβ. / Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative pathology commonly characterized by a progressive memory loss. To these days, AD’s etiology has remained unclear which complicates the development of therapeutic strategies enabling to eradicate the pathology. The accumulation of therapeutic failures could partly be explained by the fact that the amyloid hypothesis, which highlights the leading involvement of the amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) in the physiopathology of AD, could be incomplete. Using a transgenic mouse model of AD, the TgCRND8 mice strain, I expanded the amyloid hypothesis, suggesting the involvement of the beta carboxy-terminal fragment (β-CTF), in addition to Aβ. These two amyloidogenic metabolites could be responsible for the alteration of different forms of memory. The dosage of these metabolites, after mice chronic treatment with either a β- or a γ-secretase inhibitor, highlighted the fact that β-CTF could be responsible for the deterioration of the memory involved in the detection of the replacement of an object. As for Aβ, it could disrupt the memory allowing the detection of the displacement of an object. This work suggests that it would be judicious to develop therapeutic strategies reducing brain levels of both amyloid fragments, β-CTF and Aβ.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substances became a very frequently used and constantly evolved group of the drugs, particularly in a human medicine. The risk of their penetration into the environment, especially to the water environment, is rising during the recent years. The diploma thesis is focused on a selection of appropriate separation method and optimization of analytical procedure for the identification and determination of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in sewage and surface waters. Salicylic acid, ketoprofen, diclofenac and ibuprofen were chosen from the wide range of NSAIDs as the most widespread agents of this drugs group in the medical practice. The method was optimized and elaborated using the model water samples. This method was used for determination of the analytes contained in the real water samples. Waste water samples were taken from the large-scale wastewater treatment plant in Brno-Modřice and surface water samples were taken from the Highlands river Křetínka. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for the real samples treatment and preconcentration, the determination was performed using the high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy method (LC-MS).

This work is based on the current issue of increasing concentrations of pharmaceutical residues in various components of the environment. These new environmental contaminants continuously enter the environment. The most affected environmental component is the aquatic environment. This study is focused on the development and optimization of reliable analytical method, which can determine selected drugs in the aquatic environment (waste waters and surface waters) qualitatively and quantitatively. The target compounds were selected mainly from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID): salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, clofibric acid, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, caffeine, naproxen, mefenamic acid, ketoprofen and diclofenac. NSAIDs are one of the most used drugs in Czech Republic. For the final analysis of this study was used the comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection Time-of-Flight (GCxGC-TOF MS). It is a very sensitive and reliable analytical method for trace and ultra-trace analysis. Simultaneously, solid phase extraction (SPE) and derivatization are optimized in this work. Optimized analytical method including SPE, derivatization with MSTFA (N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide) and final analysis by GCxGC-TOF MS were applied successfully for the analysis of real samples. Samples of waste water were collected from the waste water treatment plant in Brno – Modřice and samples of surface water were collected from two river streams Svratka and Svitava in Moravian region. The range of concentrations of selected drug residues varied from one to tens of g/L in wastewater and from tens to hundreds of ng/L in surface waters. The degree of wastewater and surface waters contamination by drug residues is assessed in conclusions of the work. Simultaneously, spontaneous degradation of selected drugs in water and removal efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant is assessed in conclusions of the work. The developed method is usable for monitoring and environmental analysis of water ecosystems. It is usable not only for selected drugs, but even for other organic compounds with similar properties.

La prévalence de l’arthrose féline augmente fortement avec l’âge atteignant plus de 80% des chats de plus de 11 ans. L'arthrose induit une douleur chronique s’exprimant par des changements de comportements et une diminution de la mobilité. Il n'existe aucun outil validé pour évaluer la douleur chronique associée à l’arthrose chez le chat. Conséquemment, aucun traitement ciblant cette douleur n’a pu être validé. Notre hypothèse de recherche est que la douleur arthrosique chez le chat induit des handicaps fonctionnels, des changements neurophysiologiques et un état d'hypersensibilité qu'il faut évaluer pour quantifier de manière fiable cette douleur et ses répercussions sur la qualité de vie de l'animal. Nos objectifs étaient 1) de développer des outils adaptés aux chats mesurant les handicaps fonctionnels grâce à des outils cinématiques, cinétiques et de suivi de l'activité motrice ; 2) de caractériser les changements fonctionnels et neurophysiologiques secondaires à la douleur arthrosique et de tester avec ces outils un traitement analgésique à base d'anti-inflammatoire non stéroïdien ; 3) de développer une technique adaptée aux chats pouvant caractériser la présence du phénomène de sensibilisation centrale à l'aide d'une évaluation de la sommation temporelle mécanique ; 4) de tester la possibilité de mesurer le métabolisme glucidique cérébral par tomographie d’émission par positrons comme marqueur des changements supraspinaux secondaires à la chronicisation de la douleur. Grâce au développement d’outils de mesure de douleur chronique objectifs, sensibles et répétables nous avons caractérisé la douleur chez les chats arthrosiques. Ils présentent des signes de boiterie quantifiée par une diminution de l’amplitude de l’articulation ou par une diminution de la force verticale d’appui au sol et une diminution de l’activité motrice quotidienne. Ces deux derniers outils ont permis de démontrer qu’un anti-inflammatoire non stéroïdien (le méloxicam) administré pendant quatre semaines réduit la douleur arthrosique. De plus, grâce au développement de tests sensoriels quantitatifs et à l'utilisation d'imagerie cérébrale fonctionnelle, nous avons démontré pour la première fois que la douleur arthrosique conduisait à des modifications du système nerveux central chez le chat. Particulièrement, les chats arthrosiques développent le phénomène de sensibilisation centrale mis en évidence par un seuil de retrait aux filament de von Frey diminué (mesure réflexe) mais aussi par une facilitation de la sommation temporelle mécanique (mesure tenant compte de la composante cognitive et émotionnelle de la douleur). L'augmentation du métabolisme cérébral dans le cortex somatosensoriel secondaire, le thalamus et la substance grise périaqueducale, souligne aussi l'importance des changements liés à la chronicisation de la douleur. Un traitement analgésique adapté à l’arthrose permettra d’améliorer la qualité de vie des chats atteints, offrira une option thérapeutique valide aux praticiens vétérinaires, et profitera aux propriétaires qui retrouveront un chat actif et sociable. La découverte de l'implication du phénomène de sensibilisation central combiné à l'investigation des changements cérébraux secondaires à la douleur chronique associée à l'arthrose par imagerie fonctionnelle ouvre de nouvelles avenues de recherche chez le chat (développement et/ou validation de traitements adaptés à l'état d'hypersensibilité) et les humains (potentiel modèle naturel de douleur chronique associée à l'arthrose). / Feline osteoarthritis prevalence increases with age, up to 80% in cats aged 11 years old and more. Osteoarthritis is associated with chronic pain expressing as altered behaviour and a decrease in mobility. Currently, there is no validated technique to evaluate osteoarthritis-associated chronic pain in cats. This situation leads to an absence of approved medication for the treatment of OA-associated chronic pain in cats. Our hypothesis states that osteoarthritis-associated pain in cats is expressed as physical disabilities, neurophysiologic changes, hypersensibility, which need to be assessed to quantify adequately this pain and its impact on quality of life. Our objectives were 1) to develop a cat adapted method to assess physical disabilities using kinematics, kinetics and motor activity evaluations; 2) to describe functional and neurophysiologic changes related to osteoarthritis-associated pain, and to test a non steroidal anti-inflammatory based analgesic treatment; 3) to develop a cat adapted method to detect central sensitisation using mechanical temporal summation; 4) to test the feasibility of measuring carbohydrate brain metabolism using positron emission tomography as a marker of supraspinal changes-associated with pain chronicity. Using objective chronic pain evaluation tools determined as sensitive and repeatable, we characterized feline osteoarthritis-associated pain. Cats afflicted with osteoarthritis presented lameness characterised by decreased joint amplitude, or decreased peak ground reaction vertical force, and decreased motor activity. Using the two latter tools, we demonstrated the efficacy of a non steroidal anti-inflammatory (meloxicam) to alleviate osteoarthritis-associated pain after four weeks of administration. Moreover, using quantitative sensory testing and brain functional imaging, we demonstrated for the first time, that osteoarthritis-associated pain in cats led to central nervous system changes. Specially, cats afflicted with osteoarthritis developed central sensitisation as indicated by a decreased von Frey withdrawal threshold (a reflex evaluation), and also by a facilitated mechanical temporal summation (an approach allowing to take into account affective and cognitive dimensions of pain). The increase of brain metabolism in the secondary somatosensory cortex, thalamus and periaqueductal grey matter also highlighted the importance of pain chronicity related changes. Using an analgesic treatment built to alleviate osteoarthritis-associated pain will improve cats quality of life, will help veterinarians, and will benefit owners who will retrieve an active and social cat. Demonstrating both the importance of central sensitisation and assessment of brain changes related to osteoarthritis-associated chronic pain using brain functional imaging opens new research opportunities in cats (development and/or validation of hypersensitivity related treatments), and humans (potential natural model of osteoarthritis-associated pain).

No / Resveratrol, an activator of histone deacetylase Sirt-1, has been proposed to have beneficial health effects due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol and the intracellular signaling pathways involved are poorly understood. An in vitro model of human tenocytes was used to examine the mechanism of resveratrol action on IL-1beta-mediated inflammatory signaling. Resveratrol suppressed IL-1beta-induced activation of NF-kappaB and PI3K in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with resveratrol enhanced the production of matrix components collagen types I and III, tenomodulin, and tenogenic transcription factor scleraxis, whereas it inhibited gene products involved in inflammation and apoptosis. IL-1beta-induced NF-kappaB and PI3K activation was inhibited by resveratrol or the inhibitors of PI3K (wortmannin), c-Src (PP1), and Akt (SH-5) through inhibition of IkappaB kinase, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, and inhibition of nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, suggesting that PI3K signaling pathway may be one of the signaling pathways inhibited by resveratrol to abrogate NF-kappaB activation. Inhibition of PI3K by wortmannin attenuated IL-1beta-induced Akt and p65 acetylation, suggesting that p65 is a downstream component of PI3K/Akt in these responses. The modulatory effects of resveratrol on IL-1beta-induced activation of NF-kappaB and PI3K were found to be mediated at least in part by the association between Sirt-1 and scleraxis and deacetylation of NF-kappaB and PI3K. Overall, these results demonstrate that activated Sirt-1 plays an essential role in the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol and this may be mediated at least in part through inhibition/deacetylation of PI3K and NF-kappaB.

Modifying the metabolism of the body’s own endocannabinoids is a novel approach for analgesia. Two key catabolic enzymes are fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and inflammation-inducible cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). The cellular uptake of the key endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) has been found to be regulated by its FAAH-catalysed intracellular degradation, but COX-2 has not been investigated in this respect. We aimed to find out whether or not COX-2 in an in vitro inflammation setting would be able to gate AEA uptake. To achieve this, C6 cells and Raw 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS/INF-γ and lysates then analyzed by immunoblot in order to verify COX-2 expression. AEA cellular uptake was quantified using a radioassay with [3H]-AEA. It was found that COX-2 was not inducible in C6 cells using the LPS/INF-γ conditions studied, while it was inducible in Raw 264.7 cells. AEA uptake in the COX-2-induced Raw 264.7 cells was not reduced by inhibitors of this enzyme. FAAH appeared to be down-regulated in the stimulated Raw 264.7 cells, and this was reflected in an overall lower AEA uptake. Our interpretation of the data points to FAAH as gating AEA uptake. Additional experiments are required to validate our findings by verifying significance.