Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of using a therapeutic composition comprising an ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid for the treatment of cytokine-mediated inflammatory conditions. The cytokine-mediated inflammatory conditions are mediated by, for example, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), interleukin-1? (IL-1?)) or High Mobility Group B-1 (HMGB-1) mediator of inflammation. Exemplary cytokine-mediated inflammatory conditions include, but are not limited to, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis, endotoxic shock, cerebral malaria, silicosis, pulmonary sarcoidosis, bone resorption disease, graft versus host disease, allograft rejections, fever and myalgia due to infection, AIDS related complex (ARC), Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cachexia and septic shock.

Abstract: A method of treating a subject with a cytokine-mediated inflammatory disorder comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable cholinesterase inhibitor, provided that the inhibitor is not galantamine.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient suffering from pancreatitis comprising treating said patient with a therapeutically effective amount of a cholinergic agonist selective for an ?7 nicotinic receptor in an amount sufficient to decrease the amount of the proinflammatory cytokine that is released from a macrophage wherein said condition is acute pancreatitis. The compounds of the present invention include a quaternary analog of cocaine; (1-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)-carbamic acid 1-(2-fluorophenyl)-ethyl ester; a compound of formula (I), a compound of formula (II), a compound of formula (III), a compound of formula (IV), and an oligonucleotide or mimetic capable of attenuating the symptoms of acute pancreatitis wherein the oligonucleotide or mimetic consists essentially of a sequence greater than 5 nucleotides long that is complementary to an mRNA of an ?7 cholinergic receptor. The variables of formulae (I), (II), (III) and (IV) are described herein.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the release of a proinflammatory cytokine in a cell is disclosed. The method comprises treating the cell with a cholinergic agonist. The method is useful in patients at risk for, or suffering from, a condition mediated by an inflammatory cytokine cascade, for example endotoxic shock. The cholinergic agonist treatment can be effected by stimulation of an efferent vagus nerve fiber, or the entire vagus nerve.

Abstract: There is disclosed a complex and a combination of the glycosylated polypeptide fetuin and a therapeutically active small molecule compound having a net positive charge at physiological pH. The presence of fetuin as a drug complex or in combination with the therapeutically active small molecule compound enhances therapeutic activity of the small molecule compound. The present invention further provides a means for screening for therapeutically active small molecule compounds by means of binding to fetuin.