Abstract: A method of alleviating a fibrotic disease selected from lung fibrosis and liver cirrhosis in a warm blooded animal, which comprises administering an effective amount of at least one compound having the formula (I) in which X stands for the oxygen or sulphur atom or for the imino (—NH—) or sulphonyl (—SO2—) radical, Y stands for a direct linkage, or for the oxygen or sulphur atom or for the sulphonyl (—SO2—) radical or for the radical of the formula —CR1R2—, wherein R1 and R2 which may be the same or different are hydrogen, alkyl or aryl radicals or R1 and R2 may be joined together to form a cycloalkyl ring, n is an integer having the value 0 or 1, provided that when n is 0, Y stands for the oxygen or sulphur atom or for the sulphonyl (—SO2—) radical, or an ester, amide or salt thereof.

Abstract: A method of alleviating loosening of prosthetic joints by administering an effective amount of at least one compound having the formula (I) in which X stands for the oxygen or sulphur atom or for the imino (—NH—) or sulphonyl (—SO2—) radical, Y stands for a direct linkage, or for the oxygen or sulphur atom or for the sulphonyl (—SO2—) radical or for the radical of the formula —CR1R2—, wherein R1 and R2 which may be the same or different are hydrogen, alkyl or aryl radicals or R1 and R2 may be joined together to form a cycloalkyl ring, n is an integer having the value 0 or 1, provided that when n is 0, Y stands for the oxygen or sulphur atom or for the sulphonyl (—SO2—) radical, or an ester, amide or salt thereof.