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 refers to pharmaceutical compositions containing monosialoganglioside GM1 or a derivative thereof, namely, the inner ester AGF2 and the methyl ester AGF4, suitable for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. A further object of the present invention is a therapy for Parkinson's disease based on the associated administration of the aforesaid compounds and, in addition, the N-dichloroacetyl lyso GM1 (LIGA 20) with known pharmaceuticals active in the aforesaid treatment, in particular with L-dopa and/or BDNF.

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: Provided are new derivatives of neuraminic acid of formula (I), where Ac represents an acyl residue of an aliphatic, araliphatic, aromatic, alicyclic, or heterocyclic carboxylic acid, including carboxylic amides, their 2-hydrocarbyl-glycosides, and their peracylated derivatives at the hydroxy groups of both these series of amides. These compositions are therapeutically useful in providing a protective effect against the neurotoxicity induced by excitatory amino acids, and can therefore be used in therapies of the central nervous system.

Abstract: Compounds of general formula: ##STR1## where: Ar=phenyl or beta-naphtyl, or aromatic heterocyclic 6-membered ring containing one or two nitrogen atoms;R.sub.1 =one or more substituents of the Ar nucleus, preferably in para position, and selected out of the group consisting of H, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2 --CH--(CH.sub.3).sub.2, O--CH.sub.3, Cl, F, Br, CF.sub.3, NH.sub.2, S--CH.sub.3, CN, NO.sub.2 R.sub.2 =H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ;R.sub.3 = ##STR2## Where R.sub.4 =H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 R.sub.5 =H, CH.sub.3X=none O, S, NH, NCH.sub.3, --CH=CH--, --C.ident.C--Y=O, NH,both in the racemic Form and in the isomeric enantiomeric forms,which produce a nootropic effect, i.e. memory enhancement and learning facilitation, as well as an analgesic effect.

Abstract: Copolymers of the formula: ##STR1## wherein the bonds between the glucoside units are .beta. (1.fwdarw.4), the degree of polymerization referred to a single glucoside unit varies from about 50 to 50,000, R is a free or esterified carboxy group and S is an amino or acylamino group. The part designated by x may vary between about 5% and 100% and that designated by y may vary between about 95% and 0%. At least a part of the R groups are esterified carboxy groups, and at least a part of the S groups are acylamino groups. Salts of these copolymers are also disclosed. The products of the invention are particularly useful in the cosmetic field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new spongy material consisting essentially of hyaluronic acid or its derivatives. The characteristics of the new pharmaceutical preparations consist in assuring high concentrations of active principle for a long period of time, by exploiting the characteristics of slow release of the active principle.The new pharmaceutical preparations can be utilized advantageously in all the numerous situations of microsurgical practice (in particular the ones relating to ear or in odontostomatology), in which it is necessary to use a substance that can be metabolized by the organism and is capable of making easier flap take, reepithelialization of mucous membranes, stabilization of grafts and filling of cavities.The specific use of the new pharmaceutical preparations is particularly important and useful in the various ear pathologies and in the practice of otologic, otoneurosurgical and odontostomatological microsurgery, such as for instance repair of tympanic perforations.

Abstract: Novel ganglioside derivatives comprised of a basic natural or semisynthetic ganglioside, in which the carboxyl group in the sialic part of the natural or semisynthetic ganglioside is converted into a carboxylamide with an aliphatic amino acid with a carboxylic or sulfonic acid function, and salts thereof are prepared. The semisynthetic ganglioside components can be chosen from the group consisting of N-acyl-N-lyso-gangliosides, N'-acyl-N'-lyso-gangliosides and N,N'-diacyl-N,N'-di-lyso-gangliosides, wherein "acyl" designates a moiety of an optionally substituted aliphatic acid. The ganglioside derivatives can be used in pharmaceutical preparations to be used in nervous system pathologies.

Abstract: Acidic polysaccharide esters containing carboxylic groups are useful for protecting against and curing ulcers of the gastro-enteric system. These esters include choline esters with acidic polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, gellan, oxidized cellulose, oxidized chitin, carboxy-hydrocarbyl-cellulose, carboxy-hydrocarbyl-starch and carboxy-hydrocarbyl-chitin, wherein the term hydrocarbyl means the residue of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of by alkyl, aralkyl and cycloalkyl.

Abstract: The use of monosialoganglioside GM.sub.1, of its pharmacologically acceptable salts and of its internal ester derivative for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for preventing the development in man of tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine, of chemically correlated opiates, and of methadone and its derivatives is described.