Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting the activation of the NF.kappa.B transcription factor in an animal in need of such treatment comprising the step of administering to said animal a pharmacologically effective dose of curcumin. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of the NF.kappa.B transcription factor in a cell or in an animal in need of such treatment comprising the step of administering to said animal a pharmacologically effective dose of curcumin.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing interstitial cystitits in an individual and a kit for the method, comprising the steps of: obtaining primary cultures of urothelial cells; selecting urothelial cells of basal type and producing secondary cultures; measuring in secondary cultures (1) percentage of single cells and percentage of large colonies; (2) determining proliferative ability; (3) determining differentiation ability; (4) determining the percentage of large colonies that express phosphotyrosine and/or nitrotyrosine; (5) measuring the percentage of apoptotic cells; (6) measuring the percentage of large colonies; and (7) comparing the percentage of the colonies to baseline values of the same parameters determined in samples of similarly cultured urothelial cells taken from individuals not suspected of having interstitial cystitis.