Cardiac toxicity of coxibs: mechanisms of development and their prevention

Development of highly selective COX-2 inhibitors – coxibs has proved a decreased risk of gastrointestinal toxicity, which was typical for non-selective NSAIDS, according to the evidence-based medicine. But such situation caused an imbalance in the impact on the synthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites: inhibition of COX-2 vasodilatatory prostacyclins and activation of thromboxane synthesis by platelets, which is accompanied by the increase in the frequency of thrombotic complications – myocardial infarctions and strokes. Some meta-analyses have proved this association: the higher is COX-2 inhibitors selectivity – the higher are CV-risks and cardiovascular toxicity of coxibs. Discontinuation or limitation of indications of coxibs, assessment of risk / benefit ratio is recommended in the conditions of comorbidity of CVS pathology, pain syndromes in rheumatology. Drugs of choice are moderately selective COX-2 inhibitors = meloxicam and nimesulide

Assessing written work by determining competence to achieve the module-specific learning outcomes.

This chapter describes lasers and other sources of coherent light that operate in a wide wavelength range. First, the general principles for the generation of coherent continuous-wave and pulsed radiation are treated including the interaction of radiation with matter, the properties of optical resonators and their modes as well as such processes as Q-switching and mode-locking. The general introduction is followed by sections on numerous types of lasers, the emphasis being on todayʼs most important sources of coherent light, in particular on solid-state lasers and several types of gas lasers. An important part of the chapter is devoted to the generation of coherent radiation by nonlinear processes with optical parametric oscillators, difference- and sum-frequency generation, and high-order harmonics. Radiation in the extended ultraviolet (EUV) and x-ray ranges can be generated by free electron lasers (FEL) and advanced x-ray sources. Ultrahigh light intensities up to 1021 W/cm2 open the door to studies of relativistic laser–matter interaction and laser particle acceleration. The chapter closes with a section on laser stabilization