Abstract: The invention relates to a method for amelioration of neurological outcome in humans with spinal cord damage by administration of ganglioside GM1. Another object of the present invention is to provide combination therapies for the treatment of spinal cord damage comprised of the administration of the ganglioside GM1 and other drugs which have therapeutical benefit in patients with spinal cord damage, preferably methylprednisolone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions containing an autocross-linked form of hyaluronic acid as a first component in a mixture with a second component noncross-linked hyaluronic acid, and possibly also in combination with another pharmacologically active substance. These compositions can be used in the treatment of arthropathies due to their unique viscoelastic properties.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical preparations are described, comprised of salts of hyaluronic acid with a basic anesthetic containing aliphatics and/or amino groups, particularly salts with benzydamine or bupivacaine.

Abstract: Inter and/or intramolecular cross-linked esters of acid polysaccharides are disclosed in which a part or all of the carboxy groups are esterified with hydroxyl groups of the same molecule and/or of different molecules of the acid polysaccharide. These inner cross-linked esters of polysaccharide acids are useful in the field of biodegradable plastic materials, to manufacture sanitary and surgical articles, in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields, in the food industry and in many other industrial fields.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic use of phosphoryl-L-serine-N-acyl-sphingosine comprising a mixture of compounds of instant formula I or II that are herein disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides new gels in the form of highly hydrated self-supporting film, comprising one or more alkaline alginates, an alkaline earth alginate, a polyalcohol and a natural, synthetic or semisynthetic polymer of hydrophilic nature, and their preparation process. These polysaccharide-matrix gels in highly hydrated self-supporting film form are suitable for use as covering and protection materials for cutaneous lesions and/or pathologies in that they are obtainable in self-supporting form in the desired thickness, are transparent, flexible, have good mechanical characteristics, are adaptable to the lesion surface without strongly adhering to it, and are permeable to gas but are impermeable to liquids and bacteria; one or more pharmacologically active substances can also be incorporated in the gel.

Abstract: The process of the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a ganglioside mixture, free from contaminants associated with non-conventional, life-threatening viruses, without altering the biological and pharmacological characteristics of the mixture on the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Abstract: Novel derivatives of lysophingolipids free from sialic acids which are N-acyllysosphingolipids having one of the two formulae: ##STR1## in which --A-- stands for the group --CH.dbd.CH-- or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, n.sub.1 is a whole number of between 6 and 18, n.sub.2 is a whole number of between 11 and 15, X is a hydrogen atom or the residue of a monosaccharide or a disaccharide or phosphorylcholine and R represents an alkyl radical derived from a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms substituted by one or more polar groups. The lysosphingolipid derivatives of the invention exhibit an inhibiting action on protein-kinase C activation and, thus, can be utilized in therapies for various pathologies of the nervous system.

Abstract: New polysaccharide esters are disclosed, and more precisely esters of acidic polysaccharides chosen from the group formed by carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethyl starch and carboxymethylchitin. These new esters and some esters of the type already known are useful as medicaments, for the manufacture of pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations, in the field of biodegradable plastic materials and, therefore, for the manufacture of medical, surgical and sanitary articles, as well as numerous other industrial sectors in the place of acidic polysaccharides now in common use.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for obtaining, from transformed cells, the polypeptide called nerve growth factor (.beta.-NGF), and more precisely to the process for obtaining, by recombinant DNA technology using genetic constructions insertible in appropriate eukaryotic cell lines, the biologically active human mature form (.beta.-subunit).

Abstract: Two pharmaceutically useful fractions of hyaluronic acid are obtained comprising a first fraction with a molecular weight between 50,000 and 100,000 which is useful for wound healing, and a second fraction having a molecular weight between 500,000 and 730,000 which is useful for intraocular and intraarticular injections.In addition, pharmaceutical preparations for topical administration are provided containing a pharmacologically active substance together with hyaluronic acid or a molecular weight fraction thereof. The hyaluronic acid may be in the form of the free acid or may be a salt with an alkali or alkaline earth metal, magnesium, aluminum or ammonium, or in the form of a salt with one or more pharmacologically active substances.

Abstract: Partial esters of alginic acid and salts thereof possess important bioplastic and pharmaceutical qualities and are useful in various fields including medical, surgical, cosmetics and foods.

Abstract: Total and partial esters of alginic acid which possess important bioplastic and pharmaceutical qualities and are useful in various fields including medical, surgical, cosmetics and foods.

Abstract: The invention concerns the esters of hyaluronic acid in which all or only a portion of the carboxylic groups of the acid are esterified, and the salts of the partial esters with metals or with pharmacologically acceptable organic bases. The compounds possess interesting and precious bioplastic and pharmaceutical properties and may be used in innumerable fields, including cosmetics, surgery and medicine. The invention also includes pharmaceutical preparations containing, as an active ingredient, one or more hyaluronic acid esters, or a salt thereof as described above, as well as medicaments containing:1) a pharmacologically active substance or an association of pharmacologically active substances and2) a carrying vehicle containing a total or partial ester of hyaluronic acid. The invention includes also various uses of the hyaluronic esters or of the above mentioned medicaments, such as in medicine, surgery or cosmetics.

Abstract: A novel neuronotrophic factor having a molecular weight of about 14,000 to 17,000 daltons and an isoelectric point of about 10 is prepared by homogenization of mammalian brain tissue, particularly bovine brain tissue, acid precipitation of the homogenate thus produced, dialysis of the resulting supernatant with dialysis membranes having a molecular weight cut-off of between 5 and 10 kilodaltons and chromatographic fractionation upon molecular weight permeation of the dialyzed supernatant thus produced. The neuronotrophically active fractions may be further purified by cation exchange chromatography with a gradient of ammonium acetate buffer. The neuronotrophic factor of the invention is useful in the treatment of various neuropathological conditions.

Abstract: The invention concerns the esters of hyaluronic acid in which all or only a portion of the carboxylic groups of the acid are esterified, and the salts of the partial esters with metals or with pharmacologically acceptable organic bases. The compounds possess interesting and precious bioplastic and pharmaceutical properties and may be used in innumerable fields, including cosmetics, surgery and medicine. The invention also includes pharmaceutical preparations containing, as an active ingredient, one or more hyaluronic acid esters, or a salt thereof as described above, as well as medicaments containing:1) a pharmacologically active substance or an association of pharmacologically active substances and2) a carrying vehicle containing a total or partial ester of hyaluronic acid. The invention includes also various uses of the hyaluronic esters or of the above mentioned medicaments, such as in medicine, surgery or cosmetics.

Abstract: A method and pharmaceutical composition are provided for the treatment of autonomic nervous system abnormalities caused by Chagas' diseases by the administration of gangliodises, particularly a mixture of ganliosides GM.sub.1, GD.sub.1a, GD.sub.1b, and GT.sub.1b.

Abstract: Two pharmaceutically useful fractions of hyaluronic acid are obtained comprising a first fraction with a molecular weight between 50,000 and 100,000 which is useful for wound healing, and a second fraction having a molecular weight between 500,000 and 730,000 which is useful for intraocular and intraarticular injections.In addition, pharmaceutical preparations for topical administration are provided containing a pharmacologically active substance together with hyaluronic acid or a molecular weight fraction thereof. The hyaluronic acid may be in the form of the free acid or may be a salt with an alkali or alkaline earth metal, magnesium, aluminum or ammonium, or in the form of a salt with one or more pharmacologically active substances.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the purification of Nerve Growth Factor (.beta. subunit) by subunit exchange chromatography.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is provided comprising inner ester ganglioside derivatives useful for its peripheral analgesic-antiinflammatory activity in treating pain caused by pathologies of the peripheral nervous system and which can advantageously be administered orally.