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 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.