Introduction: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most used drugs in equine medicine, mainly used to treat inflammation, endotoxemia, pain or fever. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenases which induce to synthesize prostanoids. But NSAIDs have side effects to renal functions too. Objectives: The current study was carried out to investigate the effects of the most common used NSAIDs on urinary parameters in horses. Materials and Methods: Thirty healthy horses were used as a control group and 20 horses with left dorsal displacement, left ventral impaction or lameness of using either flunixin meglumine (FM), metamizole (MZ) or phenylbutazone (PHZ) have been assigned to groups 1, 2 or 3, respectively. Creatinine, urea nitrogen, glucose, protein and electrolytes were measured in serum and urine including GGT using an automatic analyzer. Fractional excretions (FE) of sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphate, in addition to urinary protein (U-Pro):U-Cr and urinary gamma glutamyl transferase (U-GGT):U-Cr ratios were calculated. Urinary mucus and IgA concentrations were measured and their ratios to the urinary creatinine were calculated. The data were statistically analyzed using Shapiro-Wilks test, descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance and Dunn’s test. Significance was set at P £ 0.05. Results: The FEMg was significantly higher in group 3 (P < 0.033) compared to the control group. The U-GGT:U-Cr ratio was also significantly higher in group 3 (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. The U-Pro:U-Cr ratio was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.007 and P < 0.001, respectively) than in the control group. PHZ group had a significantly increase in mucus:U-Cr ratio (P < 0.005). Significant increases were observed regarding the IgA:U-Cr ratio in groups 1 (P < 0.007) and 2 (P < 0.014). Conclusions: Long-term use of PHZ has an influence on the renal ascending limb of the loop of Henle, and all these drugs could have effects on the proximal tubules. Phenylbutazone causes an increase in urinary mucus secretion, probably as a protective mechanism against the necrotic effect in renal pelvis of PHZ. Parameters such as U-Pro:U-Cr and U-GGT:U-Cr ratios and FEMg are helpful in detecting these renal abnormalities.

Chronic inflammation is intimately linked with cancer development and progression and therefore reducing or eliminating inflammation represents a logical treatment and prevention strategy. Studies have shown that anti-inflammatory agents have anti-tumour effects in cancers, with reduced metastases and mortality. Current use of anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment and prevention of cancer is limited by their toxicity and side effects. The emerging field of nanotechnology allows the fundamental properties of a drug to be altered, creating a product with improved reactivity and bioavailability, leading to more targeted treatments and reduced dosage. In the present study, the genotoxic effects of three commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs; aspirin, ibuprofen and hydrocortisone, in their bulk and nano forms were evaluated on peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy donors using the comet assay and the micronucleus assay. In order to determine any anti-cancer effects, these agents were also tested in peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with haematological cancers. The glucocorticoid hydrocortisone was also evaluated for anti-oxidant capacity. Our results demonstrate that the nano versions of each drug produced a different response than the bulk counterpart, indicating that a reduction in particle size had an impact on the reactivity of the drug. Our results also indicate that the nano versions of each drug were less genotoxic than the bulk formulation, further emphasising the potential of nanoparticles as an improvement to current treatment options. We also found an anti-oxidant effect with hydrocortisone, with a more profound effect seen with the nano formulation.

No description available.

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 increases cardiovascular deaths. Identifying a biomarker of COX-2 is desirable but difficult, since COX-1 and COX-2 ordinarily catalyze formation of an identical product, prostaglandin H2. When acetylated by aspirin, however, COX-2 (but not COX-1) can form 15(R)-HETE, which is metabolized to aspirin-triggered lipoxin (ATL), 15-epi-lipoxin A4. Here we have used COX-1- and COX-2-knockout mice to establish whether plasma ATL could be used as a biomarker of vascular COX-2 in vivo. Vascular COX-2 was low but increased by LPS (10 mg/kg; i.p). Aspirin (10 mg/kg; i.v.) inhibited COX-1, measured as blood thromboxane and COX-2, measured as lung PGE2. Aspirin also increased the levels of ATL in the lungs of LPS-treated wild-type C57Bl6 mice (vehicle: 25.5±9.3 ng/ml; 100 mg/kg: 112.0±7.4 ng/ml; P<0.05). Despite this, ATL was unchanged in plasma after LPS and aspirin. This was true in wild-type as well as COX-1−/− and COX-2−/− mice. Thus, in mice in which COX-2 has been induced by LPS treatment, aspirin triggers detectable 15-epi-lipoxin A4 in lung tissue, but not in plasma. This important study is the first to demonstrate that while ATL can be measured in tissue, plasma ATL is not a biomarker of vascular COX-2 expression.—Kirkby, N. S., Chan, M. V., Lundberg, M. H., Massey, K. A., Edmands, W. M. B., MacKenzie, L. S., Holmes, E., Nicolaou, A., Warner, T. D., Mitchell, J. A. Aspirin-triggered 15-epi-lipoxin A4 predicts cyclooxygenase-2 in the lungs of LPS-treated mice but not in the circulation: implications for a clinical test.

<b>Background:</b> Comparative assessments of the vascular and upper gastrointestinal risks of different regimens of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are required. <b>Methods:</b> Meta-analyses were conducted, using individual participant data where possible, of placebo-controlled trials of a selective cyclo-oxygenase [COX]-2 inhibitor ('coxib') or traditional NSAID, or randomised trials of a coxib versus traditional NSAIDs. A prespecified subdivision of traditional NSAID regimens of those with antiplatelet activity (mainly naproxen) and those without (mainly diclofenac) was made. Primary outcomes were major vascular events (MVEs; nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke or vascular death) and upper gastrointestinal complications (UGICs; perforation, obstruction or bleed). <b>Findings:</b> Searches identified 788 trials: 200 comparisons of a coxib vs placebo (88,604 participants, mean follow-up 0.60 years), 206 comparisons of a traditional NSAID vs placebo (43,482 participants, 0.46 years) and 149 comparisons of a coxib vs traditional NSAID (137,466 participants, mean follow-up 0.95 years). Compared to placebo, allocation to a coxib increased the risk of MVEs (rate ratio 1.38, 95&percnt; CI 1.14-1.66), vascular mortality (1.58, 1.11-2.24) and UGICs (1.81, 1.17-2.81). Overall, in the population studied, coxibs were associated with three additional major vascular events (one fatal) and two (rarely fatal) upper gastrointestinal complications per 1000 person-years exposure. There was no evidence of heterogeneity by duration of follow-up, coxib type, dose (other than for celecoxib), or patient characteristics, for the primary outcomes. The risk of MVEs for traditional NSAIDs without antiplatelet activity (mostly diclofenac 75mg bd or ibuprofen 800mg tds) were comparable to coxibs (1.40, 1.15-1.72); but the risk of UGICs (1.98, 1.39-2.84) was significantly greater. For traditional NSAIDs with antiplatelet activity (mostly naproxen 500mg bd) there were no significant excess of MVEs (0.84, 0.66-1.08), but UGICs were substantially increased (4.06, 2.85-5.78). Both coxibs and traditional NSAIDs increased risk of hospitalisation for heart failure by about two-fold. <b>Interpretation:</b> The vascular and upper gastrointestinal risks of coxibs and high-dose tNSAID regimens can be predicted, allowing the choice of analgesia to be tailored for particular patients.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

As prostaglandinas (PGs) são derivadas do metabolismo do ácido aracdônico pela via das enzimas cicloxigenases (COX-1 e COX-2) e participam do controle do metabolismo ósseo. Os anti-inflamatórios não-esteroidais (AINEs), inibidores das COX, podem interferir negativamente com a formação óssea, atrasando o reparo de fratura de ossos longos, a fusão espinhal e a osseointegração de implantes. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar, quantitativamente, o efeito de diferentes tipos de AINEs (convencional, preferencial e seletivo para COX-2), assim como de um analgésico com efeito anti-inflamatório fraco, sobre o reparo ósseo alveolar, em ratos machos. Os animais foram divididos em 5 grupos experimentais: a) controle (administração de 1 mL água/dia), b) cetorolaco de trometamina (inibidor não-seletivo COX-1/COX-2; ingestão de 4 mg/kg/dia), c) nimesulida (inibidor preferencial de COX-2; ingestão de 5 mg/kg/dia), d) paracetamol (efeito anti-inflamatório fraco; ingestão de 80 mg/kg/dia), e) etoricoxibe (inibidor seletivo de COX-2; ingestão de 10 mg/kg/dia). As dosagens foram baseadas em trabalhos experimentais da literatura e na equivalência com a terapêutica humana. A administração foi realizada por gavage gástrica, iniciando logo após a extração do incisivo superior direito e seguindo por um periódo de 14 dias, após o que os ratos foram sacrificados, as hemi-maxilas contendo os alvéolos em reparação foram coletadas e processadas para inclusão em parafina, orientada de maneira a permitir cortes semi-seriados longitudinais de 6 &mu;m de espessura (a intervalos de 60 &mu;m), que foram corados pela hematoxilina e eosina. O percentual de tecido ósseo neoformado foi estimado por método de contagem diferencial de pontos, utilizando-se um microscópio óptico munido de câmera digital de vídeo para captura de imagens e um programa para histometria. Foram contados cerca de 1200 pontos (1182,9 ± 47,6 pontos; média ± EPM) no terço cervical alveolar de cada animal, em cerca de 8 secções histológicas intercaladas (8,6 ± 0,3 secções; média ± EPM). Após a aplicação de teste que comprovou a normalidade de todas as distribuições (teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov, p > 0,10) aplicou-se a Análise de Variância (gl=4; F = 1,52; x2 = 0,13), que comprovou que o tratamento com os diferentes tipos de AINEs não interferiu com a formação óssea reparacional, neste modelo experimental. Os presentes resultados, obtidos em animais, não devem ser diretamente extrapolados para humanos, nem conduzir a uma inferência sobre o uso de AINEs na clínica odontológica. No entanto, as numerosas evidências experimentais e clínicas de que os diferentes tipos de AINEs podem ter efeitos indesejados na clínica ortopédica, somadas ao número reduzido de estudos voltados especificamente para a área odontológica, indicam a necessidade de mais investigações nessa área, com variação dos parâmetros experimentais e das ferramentas de avaliação, antes que se descarte a possibilidade de que os AINEs possam ter efeitos indesejados em procedimentos odontológicos que necessitam de formação óssea, principalmente no caso de utilização prolongada. / The cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 and COX-2 catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PGs), eicosanoids important for control of bone metabolism. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are COX inhibitors, may negatively interfere with bone formation and delay long bone fracture healing, spinal fusion and implant osseointegration. The aim of the present study was to investigate quantitatively whether different types of NSAIDs (conventional, preferential and COX-2-selective), as well as an analgesic drug with a weak anti-inflammatory action, can hinder alveolar bone healing, in male rats. The animals were divided in 5 experimental groups: a) control (oral administration of 1 mL water/day), b) cetorolac (non-selective COX-1/COX-2 inhibito - 4 mg/kg/day oral dose), c) nimesulide (preferential COX-2 inhibitor - 5 mg/kg/day oral dose), paracetamol (weak anti-inflammatory - 80 mg/kg/day oral dose), etoricoxib (selective COX-2 inhibitor - 10 mg/kg/day oral dose). The doses of NSAIDs were compatible to human therapy and in the range of investigations carried out in laboratory animals. The drugs were administered by gavage from the day of extraction of the upper right incisors until death 2 weeks later, when the hemi-maxillae containing the alveolar sockets were collected, decalcified and processed for paraffin embedding. Semi-serial longitudinal 6-&mu;m-thick sections were cut at 60-&mu;m intervals and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The degree of new bone formation inside the alveolar socket was estimated by a differential point-counting method, using an optical microscopy with a digital camera for image capture and a public domain histometry software. A total of 1182,9 ± 47,6 points (mean ± SEM) were counted in the cervical alveolar third, in 8,6 ± 0,3 (mean ± SEM) histological sections per alveolus (final magnification 100x), the percentage of points lying on bone trabeculae being proportional to their volume density. After confirmation of a normal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, p>0,10) and comparison among groups by Analysis of Variance (gl = 4; F = 1,52; x2 = 0,13), histometric data confirmed that none of the anti-inflammatory drugs have detrimental effects in the volume fraction of new bone trabeculae filling the tooth extraction socket. Although experimental results obtained in animals may not be directly extrapolated to human neither induce to inferences about the clinical use of NSAIDs, numerous evidences have confirmed the deleterious effects of NSAIDs in the orthopedic clinic. Considering the reduced amount of studies on this subject pertaining to the dental field, more investigations are needed varying the experimental parameters and techniques, before the possibility of deleterious effects of NSAIDs in dental procedures requiring new bone formation are discharged.

Complexos de rutênio, em razão da menor toxicidade e por poderem exibir atividade citotóxica ou antimetastática, tem sido considerados como alternativas potencialmente promissoras aos complexos de platina para tratamento de câncer. Nosso grupo de pesquisa tem investigado a interação de íons metálicos com fármacos anti-inflamatórios não esteroides (FAINEs) e já obteve sucesso na preparação de metalofármacos de dirutênio(II,III)-FAINEs, os quais se mostraram promissores com relação à atividade frente a modelos de glioma. Com a finalidade de contribuir para o entendimento das propriedades físico-químicas desses complexos, o presente trabalho teve como principal objetivo analisar propriedades consideradas particularmente essenciais a um potencial candidato a fármaco, tais como, estabilidade no estado sólido, lipofilicidade, solubilidade aquosa e dissolução intrínseca. Um complexo inédito de fórmula [Ru2Cl(feno)4], em que feno = fenoprofenato, foi sintetizado e caracterizado por meio de análise elementar, espectroscopia eletrônica, espectroscopia vibracional, difratometria de raios X, análise térmica e espectrometria de massas. Os complexos já testados anteriormente para atividade biológica, [Ru2Cl(ibp)4], ibp = ibuprofenato, e [Ru2(cet)4Cl], cet = cetoprofenato, foram analisados quanto à estabilidade no estado sólido por meio da determinação isotérmica de variação de massa. As lipofilicidades desses dois complexos, juntamente com a dos fármacos de origem e a do precursor sintético [Ru2(O2CH3)4Cl], foram avaliadas pelo método shake flask, e suas solubilidade aquosas foram investigadas em presença de co-solventes alcoólicos. Investigou-se ainda a velocidade de dissolução intrínseca do [Ru2Cl(ibp)4] que se encontra em estágio avançado de estudos biológicos. Os resultados obtidos trazem novas informações sobre o comportamento térmico dos complexos e sobre suas características biofarmacêutica. / Ruthenium complexes, mainly due to the lower toxicity and the cytotoxic and anti-metastatic activities, have been considered as potentially promising alternatives to platinum drugs for cancer treatment. Our research group has investigated the interactions of diruthenium metal cores with anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs (NSAIDs) and succeeded in preparing diruthenium(II,III)-NSAIDs metallodrugs which show promising activity against glioma models. With the aim of elucidating the physico-chemical properties of these complexes, the major objective of the present work was to investigate properties which are considered as essential for a potential candidate to drug, e.g., stability in the solid state, lipophilicity, aqueous solubility and intrinsic dissolution. A new complex of formula [Ru2Cl(feno)4], where feno = fenoprofen, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, X-rays difractommetry, thermal analysis and mass spectrometry. The complexes previously tested for biological properties, [Ru2Cl(ibp)4], ibp = ibuprofenate, and [Ru2(cet)4Cl], cet = cetoprofenate, were inv estigated for the stability in the solid state by isothermal thermogravimetry. The lipophilicity of the se complexes, as well as those of the parent drugs and of the precursor [Ru2(O2CH3)4Cl], was evaluated by the shake flask method, and their aqueous solubility in the presence of alcohol co-solvents was investigated. In addition, the intrinsic dissolution rate was determined for [Ru2Cl(ibp)4], which is undergoing advanced biological studies. The results provide important new information on the thermal behavior of the complexes and also on their biopharmaceutical propertie.

INTRODUÇÃO: A terapia farmacológica de escolha para o tratamento de cães com osteoartrose é o uso de antiinflamatórios não esteroidais. Porém, sua eficácia no controle dos sinais clínicos apresentados pelos animais ainda não foi bem estabelecida em três revisões sistemáticas anteriormente publicadas. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a qualidade metodológica dos ensaios clínicos randomizados controlados sobre o uso dos antiinflamatórios não esteroidais (AINEs) para o tratamento da dor nos cães com osteoartrose; identificar a melhor opção terapêutica; os principais efeitos adversos envolvidos na sua administração e a eficácia e segurança do tratamento a longo prazo. MÉTODOS: A busca dos artigos foi feita em agosto de 2010 no Pubmed, Cab Abstracts e Lilacs. Referências bibliográficas de revisões sistemáticas e de outros artigos relevantes também foram analisadas. Apenas estudos prospectivos, randomizados, controlados e avaliando a eficácia dos antiinflamatórios não esteroidais por meio de desfechos clínicos foram incluídos. A avaliação metodológica dos artigos selecionados seguiu as diretrizes do conselho editorial do grupo de revisão Cochrane (escala van Tulder) e também do CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials). RESULTADOS: Oito artigos que avaliaram quatro AINEs (carprofen, etodolaco, meloxicam e firocoxib) preencheram os critérios de inclusão da presente revisão e foram analisados metodologicamente. No geral, há poucos artigos disponíveis na literatura e os mesmos apresentam várias limitações metodológicas. Os artigos avaliados variaram consideravelmente na forma como mediram a resposta ao tratamento e como descreveram seus resultados. Cinco estudos foram selecionados pois alcançaram a pontuação mínima requerida na avaliação segundo van Tulder. Eles avaliaram a eficácia do carprofen, meloxicam e etodolaco. Os dois artigos que avaliaram o firocoxib não atingiram os critérios mínimos quanto a qualidade metodológica. A subsequente avaliação segundo CONSORT mostrou que os cinco estudos selecionados tiveram outras importantes limitações metodológicas. Em relação a segurança, foram relatados efeitos gastrointestinais leves após o uso do carprofen e do meloxicam. Houve um caso de hepatite idiossincrática ao carprofen e os efeitos adversos após o uso do etodolaco foram urticária, hipoproteinemia e hipoalbuminemia. CONCLUSÃO: É fundamental que sejam publicados estudos de boa qualidade nessa área. Com base na literatura disponível e nos resultados de sua avaliação, pode-se indicar como melhor opção terapêutica para o tratamento de cães com osteoartrose o uso do carprofen em primeiro lugar, em seguida o meloxicam e, em terceiro lugar, o etodolaco. Há, porém ressalvas quanto a essa indicação devido a quantidade de artigos disponíveis, bem como, sua qualidade em termos metodológicos. Não há informações suficientes para que se conclua a respeito dos efeitos da terapia a longo prazo / INTRODUCTION: The pharmacologic therapy most used for treating osteoarthritis in dogs is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, their efficacy in controlling the clinical signs presented by these animals has not been well established in three systematic reviews. PURPOSE: To assess the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating pain in dogs with osteoarthritis, identifying the best therapeutic approaches, the main adverse effects involved in their administration, and the efficacy and safety of long-term treatments. METHODS: A broad search was made in August 2010 in Pubmed, Cab Abstracts, and Lilacs. References from systematic reviews and other relevant papers were also analyzed. Only prospective, randomized, controlled trials evaluating the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugséffectiveness through the use of clinical outcomes were included. The paper´s methodological analysis followed the guidelines for systematic reviews of the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group (van Tulder scale) as well as the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). RESULTS: Eight papers that evaluated 4 NSAIDs (carprofen, etodolac, meloxicam and firocoxib) met the inclusion criteria of this review and were methodologically analyzed. Overall, there are few papers available in the literature, and they have many methodological limitations. The assessed papers varied considerably in how they measured the response to treatment and reported their results. Five studies achieved the minimum score required in the van Tulder´s scale: they evaluated the effectiveness of carprofen, meloxicam and etodolac. The two papers that evaluated firocoxib did not reach the minimum criteria for methodological quality. The subsequent CONSORT evaluation showed that all 5 studies had other methodological limitations. Regarding safety, mild gastrointestinal effects have been reported for both carprofen and meloxicam. There was one case of idiosyncratic hepatitis after the use of carprofen. The adverse effects after the use of etodolac were urticaria, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSION: The publication of methodologically sound studies is crucial in this field. Based on the limited literature and the results of this evaluation, the best therapeutic choice for treating OA in dogs is carprofen, followed by meloxicam and then etodolac. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution, due to the limited number of methodologically sound studies addressing this topic. Furthermore, not enough information is available to draw conclusions about the effects of the long-term use of these drugs

Lors de la liaison d’un glucocorticoïde (GC) naturel ou synthétique (par exemple, la Dexaméthasone) au récepteur des glucocorticoïdes (GR), les GCs régulent l’expression de gènes cibles soit par (i) transactivation par liaison ‘’directe’’ à un élément de liaison à l’ADN de type ‘’(+)GRE’’, (ii) transrépression ‘’directe’’ par liaison à un élément de type ‘’nGRE’’ ou (iii) transrépression ‘’indirecte’’ par interaction physique directe avec des facteurs de transcription pro-inflammatoires tels que AP-1 et NF-κB. Les effets anti-inflammatoires bénéfiques des GCs sont généralement attribués à la transrépression indirecte, alors que nombre de leurs effets secondaires pathologiques indésirables paraissent liés à la transactivation et/ou à la transrépression directe. Notre laboratoire a récemment découvert qu’un composé non-stéroïdien dénommé CpdX ainsi que ses dérivés deutérés, ne présentent ni la fonction de transactivation, ni celle de transrépression directe du GR, tout en stimulant son activité bénéfique de transrépression indirecte. Notre projet a consisté à caractériser un composé non-stéroïdien dit CpdX, ainsi que ses dérivés, quant à leurs activités thérapeutiques et à démontrer qu’elles sont semblables à celles des glucocorticoïdes anti-inflammatoires, couramment utilisés, tout en étant débarrassés de leurs effets pathologiques secondaires, tels que l’ostéoporose, l’atrophie cutanée et le syndrome métabolique. Pour atteindre nos objectifs, nous avons utilisés des modèles de souris présentant soit les affections cutanées (dermatites de contact ou atopique, psoriasis), l'asthme, l’arthrite rhumatismale, la colite ulcérative ou la conjonctivite allergique, associés à des études d’immunologie et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire. Mon travail de thèse a démontré que CpdX, et certains de ses dérivés deutérés, présentent une activité anti-inflammatoire dans le traitement de ces modèles ‘’souris’’ (Partie I). Nous avons aussi montré que le traitement par CpdX et ses dérivés n’induit pas les effets secondaires pathologiques des glucocorticoïdes (Partie II), ouvrait ainsi la vue à une nouvelle ère dans le traitement à long-terme de maladies inflammatoires, sans provoquer les effets pathologiques indésirables des traitements actuels aux glucocorticoïdes. / Upon binding of natural or synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) (e.g. Dexamethasone) to their glucocorticoid receptor (GR), GCs regulate the expression of target genes either by (i) direct transactivation through direct binding to “(+)GRE” DNA binding sites (DBS), (ii) direct transrepression through binding to “IR nGRE” DBSs or (iii) tethered indirect transrepression mediated through interaction with transactivators, such as NFkB, AP1, or STAT3 bound to their cognate DBSs. The beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of GCs have been generally ascribed to tethered transrepression, whereas many of their long-term undesirable side-effects could be due to transactivation and/or direct transrepression. Our laboratory recently reported that a non-steroidal compound, named CpdX, selectively lacks both direct transactivation and direct transrepression functions, while still exerting an indirect transrepression activity. The goal of our project was to characterize CpdX and some of its derivatives as effective anti-inflammatory drugs similar to glucocorticoids, but lacking their main deleterious side-effects, e.g. osteoporosis, skin atrophy and metabolic disorders. To this end, we have used experimental mouse model for skin disorders (atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and psoriasis), asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and allergic conjunctivitis, combined with immunology, molecular and cellular biology. My thesis studies have demonstrated that in mouse models, CpdX and its derivatives exhibit anti-inflammatory activities, which are similar to those of glucocorticoids (Part I). Importantly, we further show that CpdX and its derivatives do not exhibit the long-term debilitating side-effects of glucocorticoids (Part II). Thereby paving the way to a new era in the long-term therapy of major inflammatory diseases.