Science
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Inhibition of cyclooxygenase by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the periphery is commonly accepted as the primary mechanism by which these agents produce a selective attenuation of pain (analgesia). NSAIDs are now shown to exert a direct spinal action by blocking the excessive sensitivity to pain (hyperalgesia) induced by the activation of spinal glutamate and substance P receptors. These findings demonstrate that the analgesic effects of NSAIDs can be dissociated from their anti-inflammatory actions. Spinal prostanoids are thus critical for the augmented processing of pain information at the spinal level.
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Figure 2 on page 523 of the Report "Magnetoferritin: In vitro synthesis of a novel magnetic protein" by F. C. Meldrum et al. (24 July, p. 522) was incorrect. The correct figure is printed below. [See figure in the PDF file].