Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing and treating elastin fiber injuries. In additional preferred embodiments, the present invention relates to methods of validating candidate compounds for use in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, refractory asthma, and other related diseases. Examples of such methods include determining if the candidate compound decreases the degradation of elastic fiber in a patient administered the candidate compound by measuring, using mass spectrometry, a marker of elastic fiber degradation in a sample of a body fluid or a tissue of the patient. The invention provides that a decrease in the presence of the marker compared to a control validates that the candidate compound is effective to treat, prevent, or ameliorate the disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition with the structure(L).sub.m (E).sub.nwherein (L).sub.m and (E).sub.n are bound as a complex, wherein L is a lipophilic compound; wherein E is a nonlipophilic, ionic, inorganic ester of an organic compound; and wherein m and n are each integers which may be the same or different.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition with the structure(L).sub.m (E).sub.nwherein m and n are each integers, and m and n are different or the same; L is an ampholytic lipid or polymer, or a nonampholytic lipid with hydrophobic properties; E is a nonlipophilic ionic inorganic ester of an organic compound, E having the structural formulaZ.sup.+q R-Y-X-(O).sub.p.sup.-qwherein R is an organic moiety; Y is oxygen, sulfur or a substituted nitrogen, X is sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen or boron; p is the integer 2 or the integer 3; Z is hydrogen or a metal, and Q is an integer indicating the elecrical charge.Suitable ampholytic lipids are phospholipids, sulfatides, and sphingomyelins. The esters can be sulfate or phosphate esters of steroid hormones. The compositions are useful for example, for altering the solubility properties of the esters, and for developing controlled-delivery systems for pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A polymeric reagent for the isolation and protection of carbonyl compounds comprising a polymer having a functional group of the formula --ONH.sub.2 covalently attached to the polymer where the functional group is capable of reacting with a carbonyl group of a carbonyl compound when a solution containing the carbonyl compound contacts the polymeric reagent is disclosed along with methods of using this reagent.