Abstract: This invention relates to combinations, compositions, and methods using or having a substituted dialkyl ether, substituted aryl-alkyl ether, substituted dialkyl thioether, substituted dialkyl ketone, or substituted-alkyl compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as an active component for preventing or treating osteoarthritis, preventing or inhibiting cartilage damage, preventing or treating rheumatoid arthritis, improving joint function, alleviating pain, and the like in a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a disease or a disorder responsive to inhibition of nuclear factor-&kgr;B transcription factors comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a sulfonylaminocarbonyl derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The methods of the present invention are useful for treating, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, an autoimmune disease, psoriasis, asthma, a cardiovascular disease, an acute coronary syndrome, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome X, or inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: A method for introducing a scavenger receptor gene into a mammal to make said mammal resistant to atherosclerosis; an artificial scavenger receptor minigene or partial minigene as well as the ectopic expression of a scavenger receptor in the liver of a mammal for the reduction of apo B containing lipoproteins, elevation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and prevention of atherosclerosis; and a method of treating atherosclerosis, hyperbetalipoproteinemia (i.e., high-levels of apolipoprotein (apo) B containing lipoproteins), hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia; hypoalphalipoproteinemia (i.e., low levels of high-density lipoprotein), vascular complications of diabetes, transplant, atherectomy, and angioplastic restenosis in a patient with a therapeutically effective amount of a scavenger receptor gene alone or combined with a ACAT inhibitor, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, a bile acid sequestrant, or lipid regulator, and pharmaceutical delivery methods which include these agents.

Abstract: Inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) are useful to treat and prevent inflammation or atherosclerosis. Preferred inhibitors have a ratio of 5-LO to 15-LO inhibitory activity of at least about 10 or more. Typical 15-LO inhibitors have the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.13 is phenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-nitrophenyl, 2,5-dichlorophenyl, 2-furanyl, 2-thienyl, 3-pyridyl, or 4-pyridyl.