Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for protecting an organ or tissue from inflammation and organ injury following ischemia, reperfusion, and trauma through the administration of an HMGB1 protein within a time period sufficient to protect the organ or tissue from injury.

Abstract: A method of treating ileus in a subject by administering to the subject an effective amount of a pharmacological agent that increases the activity of cholinergic receptor in a subject. Examples of pharmacological agents are brain muscarinic agonist, cholinergic agonist or cholinesterase inhibitor. The methods of the present invention can be used to treat ileus caused by abdominal surgery, or administration of narcotics or chemotherapeutic agents such as during cancer chemotherapy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating acute pancreatitis in a subject. The method comprises the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of an ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid or an amide of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid.

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 mathematical prognostic in which changes in a number of physiologically significant factors are measured and interpolated to determine a “damage fluction” incident to bacterial infection or other serious inflammation, followed by either or both of in vitro or in vivo investigations of a particular active agent (drug) and adjustment of the model so as better to evaluate the particular active agent. By measuring a large number of physiologically significant factors including, but not limited to, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 10 (IL-10), Nitric Oxide (NO), and others, it is possible to predict life versus death by the damage function, dD/dt. To evaluate one or more drug candidates against inflammation, the mathematical model is applied first, followed by in vivo and/or in vitro investigations, and the in vivo and/or in vitro investigations are in turn used to adjust or to enhance, if applicable, the mathematical model as it is applied to the particular drug candidate.

Abstract: A method of prophylaxis or treatment of inflammatory conditions, including, but not limited to, intestinal epithelial inflammation due to intestine-specific conditions (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) or systemic causes of inflammation (e.g., endotoxemia, sepsis, hemorrhagic shock/resuscitation or pancreatitis) is disclosed. In the method of the invention, an affected patient is administered a therapeutically effective amount of a composition including an NAD-related compound, in a form that is accessible to a receptor molecule, conveyed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier vehicle. NAD-related compounds include nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR), or functionally equivalent analogues, derivatives, metabolites or agonists thereof or prodrugs therefor.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition comprising an alkyl, aralkyl, alkoxyalkyl or carboxyalkyl ester of 2ketoalkanoic acid and a component for inducing and stabilizing the enol resonance form of the ester at physiological pH values is disclosed. The composition of the invention further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carier vehicle in which the enol resonance form of the ester is stabilized at physiological pH values. Formulations containing the compositions of the invention permit the successful use of 2-ketoalkanoic acid esters, e.g., pyruvic acid esters, to treat, e.g., is chemic events, shock, organ reanimation, resuscitation and other recognized pyruvate-effective treatments. The compositions of the inventions are also useful in a process for preserving organ parts, organs or limbs removed from a living mammal and in need of preservation, e.g., for later transplantation to an organ recipient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating acute alcoholic hepatitis in a subject. The method comprises the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of an ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid or an amide of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid.