Abstract: A method for inhibiting blood vessel blockage in a mammal particularly after a procedure such as angioplasty, an arterial bypass operation or an allograft transplant operation which comprises: administering to a mammal before, during and/or after the procedure an effective blood vessel blockage inhibiting amount of an octapeptide having the formula ##STR1## wherein each A.sub.1 and A.sub.2, independently, is H, C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.7-10 phenylalkyl, R.sub.1 CO (where R.sub.1 is C.sub.1-20 alkyl, C.sub.3-20 alkenyl, C.sub.3-20 alkinyl, phenyl, naphthyl, or C.sub.7-10 phenylalkyl), or R.sub.2 OCO (where R.sub.2 is C.sub.1-10 alkyl or C.sub.7-10 phenylalkyl), provided that when one of A.sub.1 or A.sub.2 is R.sub.1 CO or R.sub.2 OCO, the other must be H; A.sub.3 is CH.sub.2 A.sub.6 (where A.sub.6 is pentafluorophenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, or phenyl); A.sub.4 is o-, m- or, more preferably, p-substituted X-Phe (where X is a halogen, H, NH.sub.2, NO.sub.2, OH , or C.sub.1-13 alkyl), pentafluoro-Phe, or .beta.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the use of thromboxane as an early indicator for coronary artery thrombosis (acute myocardial infarction), and assays for detecting thromboxane B.sub.2 or a metabolite of TXB.sub.2 or TXA.sub.2.

Abstract: A living tissue or living cell preservation solution comprising an effective amount of a ginkgolide to reduce reperfusion injury in living tissue which has been stored therein and a substance or mixture or substances present in an amount sufficient to produce an osmotic pressure in said solution approximately equal to the osmotic pressure or mammalian cell and a method for preventing or reducing reperfusion injury in transplanted mammalian organs, which comprises contacting an organ prior to reperfusion with an effective amount of a ginkgolide to reduce reperfusion injury in said organ.

Abstract: An intrauterine device for administering drug locally to the uterus at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time is disclosed. The device contains a body of polymer capable of bioeroding in the environment of the uterus over a prolonged period of time. This body has the drug dispersed throughout so that as the body gradually bioerodes, it slowly releases the dispersed drug. In a preferred embodiment, the device releases a uterine contraction-inducing prostaglandin locally to the uterus at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: Polymeric materials having at least one exposed surface rendered as a release means for platelet aggregation inhibiting agent by serving as a reservoir for release of aggregation inhibiting prostaglandin. The polymeric surface can also be both platelet aggregation agent releasing and non-thrombogenic agent releasing by having together on the polymeric surface an aggregation inhibiting prostaglandin and an anti-coagulant which are easily released from the surface when in close contact with the blood, plasma or platelets.