Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of treating psoriatic pruritus by topical administration of a cartilage extract to the affected areas of a patient's skin and a topical composition for use in practicing the method.

Abstract: The methods of the present invention relate to administering to a mammal afflicted with osteoarthritis an effective amount of poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG), partially depolimerized poly-NAG, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of poly-NAG, or mixtures thereof, to treat osteoarthritis and/or alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis such as pain, joint tenderness and swelling and impaired joint mobility. The present invention also comprises solid and liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising poly-NAG, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and mixtures thereof. These dosage forms may be administered orally and by-injection to treat osteoarthritis and/or alleviate the symptoms thereof.

Abstract: The methods of the present invention relate to administering to a mammal afflicted with osteoarthritis an effective amount of poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (poly-NAG), partially depolimerized poly-NAG, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of poly-NAG, or mixtures thereof, to treat osteoarthritis and/or alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis such as pain, joint tenderness and swelling and impaired joint mobility. The present invention also comprises solid and liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising poly-NAG, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and mixtures thereof. These dosage forms may be administered orally and by-injection to treat osteoarthritis and/or alleviate the symptoms thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing finely divided cartilage powder from raw cartilage including the steps of mechanically trimming raw cartilage from an animal body, and granulating the raw cartilage into granules having an average size of from about 4 mm to 8 mm diameter. The granules are then subjected to azeotropic extraction, the extraction conducted with an extracting agent which both forms an azeotrope with water and solubilizes fat. The granules are then separated from the extracting agent, and milled to an average size of from about 40 to 70.mu. diameter.Also disclosed is a method of separating calcium compounds from cartilage including the steps of mechanically trimming raw cartilage from an animal body, granulating the raw cartilage into granules having an average size of from about 4 to 8 mm diameter, and partially drying the granules to produce a friable calcified outer layer on each granule.