Abstract: The polysaccharide fraction of tamarind gum, a product of natural origin obtained from the seeds of Tamarindus indica, is used for the production of a thickened ophthalmic solution having a pseudoplastic rheological behaviour and mucoadhesive properties. Said solution is useful as artificial tear and as vehicle for sustained release ophthalmic drugs. The concentrations of tamarind seed polysaccharide preferably employed in ophthalmic preparations for use as artificial tears, i.e. as products for replacing and stabilising the natural tear fluid, particularly indicated for the treatment of dry eye syndrome, are comprised between 0.7 and 1.5% by weight. The concentrations of tamarind seed polysaccharide preferably employed in the production of vehicles (i.e. delivery systems) for ophthalmic drugs, having the function of prolonging the permanence time of said medicaments at their site of action, are comprised between 1 and 4% by weight.

Abstract: A method for preventing the sickling of sickle cells in a patient having sickle cell disease, the method which comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein X.sup.- is selected from the group consisting of iodide, chloride, bromide, hydroxyl, nitrite, phosphate and acetate.

Abstract: The steroid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), when administered by feeding or by subcutaneous injection, significantly improves the host response to viral infection. Experimental animal data shows that, with infection (100,000 plaque forming units/animal) of a human coxsackievirus B4 strain, which causes mortality in about 90% of infected animals, mortality was reduced to 37% when animals were treated with DHEA. Moreover, DHEA induced an 80% elevation in the number of antibody forming cells, particularly in cells forming gamma globulin M (early antibodies), and gamma globulin G (secondary antibodies). This elevation in the number of antibody forming cells was evident only in DHEA treated and virus infected animals, but not in uninfected animals treated with DHEA or in infected animals not treated with DHEA. In virus infected and DHEA treated animals there was also an elevation in the number of monocyte cells, the particular white blood cell associated with a resistance to this infection.

Abstract: Muramyl peptide derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## wherein "Ala" is ##STR2## "isoGln" is ##STR3## R.sup.1 is R.sub.3 O-- or ##STR4## (k is an integer from 8 to 12; q is an integer from 10 to 22) or R.sub.3 is ##STR5## (m is an integer from 11 to 17; n is an integer from 11 to 17)]; and R.sub.2 is hydrogen atom or --CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.p --CH.sub.3 (p is an integer from 8 to 22); which act on in vivo immunomechanism of human beings and livestock (in particular cells relevant immune responses) and are useful as imminoregulating agents.

Abstract: 2-Pyrazoline derivatives of the formula (A): ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is a pyridyl, a pyrazyl or an alkoxyl group; and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, a pyridyl, a furyl, phenyl or a substituted phenyl group, and to a process for producing the same. Therapeutic agents for treating cerebrovascular diseases containing, as the active ingredient, a 2-pyrazoline derivative represented by the formula (G): ##STR2## where R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, acetyl, an alkoxycarbonyl, an amino, benzoyl, a substituted benzoyl, a pyridylcarbonyl, a furylcabonyl, a thienylcarbonyl, a pyrazylocarbonyl, an N-substituted carbamoyl, an N-substituted thiocarbamoyl, or carboxyl group; and R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, a pyridyl, a thienyl, a furyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl or a substituted phenyl group or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: Nasal administration of benzodiazepines is described as providing improved therapeutic effects as compared to conventional delivery techniques. The compositions comprise a benzodiazepine hypnotic in a pharmaceutically acceptable nasal carrier.