Abstract: The invention pertains to compound of Formula (I) wherein X, Y, Z, R1, R2, R3, R4, A, and A? are described herein. Formula (I) compounds can be used in pharmaceutical compositions, useful for the treatment of disease, in particular cardiovascular conditions and more particularly cardiomyopathies, as well as other related conditions.

Abstract: Provided is a method of treating or preventing a cardiomyopathy associated with activation of at least one kinase in the MAP kinase signaling pathway in heart tissue by providing to a subject an inhibitor of at least one kinase in the ERK signaling pathway or in the JNK signaling pathway, or both. In some embodiments, the cardiomyopathy is associated with one or more mutations in the LMNA gene, which encodes A-type nuclear lamins, or in the EMD gene, which encodes an inner nuclear membrane protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing hepatitis C virus infection in a subject which comprises administering an effective amount of an agent to the subject, wherein the agent is capable of specifically binding to the HCV core protein so as to inhibit hepatitis C virus replication. The present invention also provides a method for determining whether a compound can treat or prevent hepatitis C virus infection in a subject, wherein the compound treats or prevents hepatitis C virus infection by specifically inhibiting the binding of HCV core protein and said agent so as to suppress hepatitis C virus replication. The present invention further provides a composition for inhibiting cell growth, comprises a HCV core protein or a variant thereof, wherein said HCV core protein or its variant inhibit cancer cell growth by inhibiting the cellular DEAD box proteins.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the molecular characterization of the nuclear antigen recognized by atypical p-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) in order to better diagnose patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis (UC), and autoimmune liver diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Molecular characterization of the target antigen comprises preparing cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts of human neutrophils, human HL-60 and murine 32D myeloid cells. Proteins should then be resolved by 1 and 2 dimensional gel electrophoresis and reactive proteins can then be detected by immunoblotting with sera from individuals, making certain to have both normal and disease controls. Atypical p-ANCA should then be affinity purified against the reactive protein and investigated for their immunofluorescence pattern using confocal microscopy.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the molecular characterization of the nuclear antigen recognized by atypical p-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) in order to better diagnose patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis (UC), and autoimmune liver diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Molecular characterization of the target antigen comprises preparing cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts of human neutrophils, human HL-60 and murine 32D myeloid cells. Proteins should then be resolved by 1 and 2 dimensional gel electrophoresis and reactive proteins can then be detected by immunoblotting with sera from individuals, making certain to have both normal and disease controls. Atypical p-ANCA should then be affinity purified against the reactive protein and investigated for their immunofluorescence pattern using confocal microscopy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing hepatitis C virus infection in a subject which comprises administering an effective amount of an agent to the subject, wherein the agent is capable of inhibiting the attachment of hepatitis C virus onto cells by specifically binding to the hepatitis C virus envelope E2 protein so as to treat or prevent hepatitis C virus infection.