Abstract: The present invention concerns the hydrochloride of the compound (5-[4-(6-methoxy-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-ylmethoxy)benzyl]thiazolidin-2,4-dione) of the following structure (I) which exhibits an excellent hypoglycemic activity and the like.

Abstract: Substituted fused heterocyclic compounds of the formula (I) and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof: wherein R1 is a group of the formula (II) or (III): R4 is a substituted phenyl or a pyridyl which may have a substituent. R5 is hydrogen or the like. R6 is hydrogen, a C1-6 alkyl group or the like. D is oxygen or sulfur. E is a CH group or nitrogen. R2 is hydrogen or the like. R3 is a 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylmethyl group or the like. A is a C1-6 alkylene group. B is oxygen or sulfur. These compounds and salts are useful as the active ingredient of pharmaceutical compositions which can be used to treat patients because these compounds and salts have excellent insulin-resistance improving action, lipid-peroxide-production inhibitory action, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory action and the like.

Abstract: Insulin sensitivity enhancers, such as troglitazone, have the ability to treat and/or prevent hyperuricemia and may thus be used for the therapy or prophylaxis of such diseases as gout, urinary calculus, hyperuricemic nephropathy and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising as its active ingredients one or more drugs selected from the group consisting of angiotensin II receptor antagonists and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and one or more insulin resistance improving agents exhibits excellent arteriosclerotic progress inhibitory effects, and is useful as a drug, particularly as a drug for the prevention or treatment of arteriosclerosis. The invention also provides a method for the treatment or prophylaxis of arteriosclerosis by administering in combination (i) at least one of said angiotensin II receptor antagonists or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and (ii) one or more insulin resistance improving agents to a mammal suffering from or susceptible to arteriosclerosis.

Abstract: A method for preventing or treating autoimmune diseases (excluding type I diabetes) by administering an insulin resistance improving substance as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Compound of formula (I): ##STR1## [wherein: X represents an unsubstituted or substituted indolyl, indolinyl, azaindolyl, azaindolinyl, imidazopyridyl or imidazopyrimidinyl group; Y represents an oxygen or sulphur atom; Z represents a 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylidenylmethyl, 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 2,4-dioxooxazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 3,5-dioxooxadiazolidin-2-ylmethyl or N-hydroxyureidomethyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, an aralkyl group or a unsubstituted or substituted amino group; and m is an integer of from 1 to 5] have hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic activities.

Abstract: Phenylalkylcarboxylic acid compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group and the like, R.sup.2 represents an alkylene group, R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom and the like, X represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group and the like, Y represents an oxygen atom and the like, Z represents an alkylene group and the like, and W represents an alkyl group and the like),the pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof or the pharmacologically acceptable esters thereof are useful as therapeutic or preventive agents for hyperglycemia and the like.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## [wherein: X represents an unsubstituted or substituted indolyl, indolinyl, azaindolyl, azaindolinyl, imidazopyridyl or imidazopyrinidinyl group; Y represents an oxygen or sulfur atom; Z represents a 2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenylmethyl, 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 2,4-dioxooxazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 3,5-dioxo-oxadiazolidin-2-ylmethyl or N-hydroxyureidom ethyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, an aralkyl group or a unsubstituted or substituted amino group; and m is an inzeger of from 1 to 5] have hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic activities.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkyl; R.sup.2 is alkylene; R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, halogen, nitro group, amino group, monoalkylamino, dialkylamino, aryl, or aralkyl; X is aryl, or aromatic heterocyclic; Y is oxygen, sulfur or a group of formula >N--R.sup.4, in which R.sup.4 is hydrogen, alkyl or acyl; and Z is a group of formula (Za), (Zb), (Zc) or (Zd): ##STR2## and salts thereof can be used to treat or prevent are included those arising from hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), insulin resistant non-IGT (NGT), non-diagnostic glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, diabetic complications, fatty liver, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); in addition the compounds of the present invention have aldose reductase inhibitory activity.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## ?wherein: X represents an unsubstituted or substituted indolyl, indolinyl, azaindolyl, azaindolinyl, imidazopyridyl or imidazopyrimidinyl group; Y represents an oxygen or sulfur atom; Z represents a 2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenylmethyl, 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 2,4-dioxooxazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 3,5-dioxo-oxadiazolidin-2-ylmethyl or N-hydroxyureidomethyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, an aralkyl group or a unsubstituted or substituted amino group; and m is an integer of from 1 to 5! have hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic activities.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## ?wherein: X represents an optionally substituted benzimidazole group; Y represents an oxygen or sulfur atom; Z represents a 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylidenylmethyl, 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 2,4-dioxooxazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 3,5-dioxooxadiazolidin-2-ylmethyl or N-hydroxyureidomethlyl group; R represents hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, hydroxy, nitro, amino or aralkyl; and m is an integer from 1 to 5!; have valuable activity for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a variety of disorders, including one or more of: hyperlipemia, hyperglycemia, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), insulin resistance and diabetic complications.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: X represents an unsubstituted or substituted indolyl, indolinyl, azaindolyl, azaindolinyl, imidazopyridyl or imidazopyrimidinyl group; Y represents an oxygen or sulfur atom; Z represents a 2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenylmethyl, 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 2,4-dioxooxazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 3,5-dioxo-oxadiazolidin-2-ylmethyl or N-hydroxyureidom ethyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, an aralkyl group or a unsubstituted or substituted amino group; and m is an integer of from 1 to 5 have hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic activities.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are hydrogen or alkyl and R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl or various organic groups are effective against osteoporosis at doses at which they also effectively control diabetes.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkyl; R.sup.2 is alkylene; R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, halogen, nitro group, amino group, monoalkylamino, dialkylamino, aryl, or aralkyl; X is aryl, or aromatic heterocyclic; Y is oxygen, sulfur or a group of formula >N--R.sup.4, in which R.sup.4 is hydrogen, alkyl or acyl; and Z is a group of formula (Za), (Zb), (Zc) or (Zd): ##STR2## and salts thereof can be used to treat or prevent are included those arising from hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), insulin resistant non-IGT (NGT), non-diagnostic glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, diabetic complications, fatty liver, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); in addition the compounds of the present invention have aldose reductase inhibitory activity.

Abstract: Insulin sensitizers, especially thiazolidinedione compounds, such as troglitazone, are useful for the treatment and prevention of pancreatitis.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## ?wherein: X represents an unsubstituted or substituted indolyl, indolinyl, azaindolyl, azaindolinyl, imidazopyridyl or imidazopyrimidinyl group; Y represents an oxygen or sulfur atom; Z represents a 2,4-dioxo-thiazolidin-5-ylidenylmethyl, 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 2,4-dioxooxazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 3,5-dioxooxadiazolidin-2-ylmethyl or N-hydroxyureidomethyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, an aralkyl group or a unsubstituted or substituted amino group; and m is an integer of from 1 to 5! have hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic activities. Disclosed also are intermediate compounds for the preparation of compounds of formula I.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkyl; R.sup.2 is alkylene; R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, halogen, nitro group, amino group, monoalkylamino, dialkylamino, aryl, or aralkyl; X is aryl, or aromatic heterocyclic; Y is oxygen, sulfur or a group of formula >N-R.sup.4, in which R.sup.4 is hydrogen, alkyl or acyl; and Z is a group of formula (Za), (Zb), (Zc) or (Zd): ##STR2## and salts thereof can be used to treat or prevent are included those arising from hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), insulin resistant non-IGT (NGT), non-diagnostic glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, diabetic complications, fatty liver, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); in addition the compounds of the present invention have aldose reductase inhibitory activity.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## Z is a group of formula (iii), (iv),: ##STR2## and salts, esters and solvates thereof and pro-drugs therefor are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a variety of disorders, including one or more of: hyperlipemia, hyperglycemia, obesity, glucose tolerance insufficiency, insulin resistance and diabetic complications.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## [wherein: X represents an unsubstituted or substituted indolyl, indolinyl, azaindolyl, azaindolinyl, imidazopyridyl or imidazopyrimidinyl group; Y represents an oxygen or sulfur atom; Z represents a 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylidenylmethyl, 2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 2,4-dioxooxazolidin-5-ylmethyl, 3,5-dioxooxadiazolidin-2-ylmethyl or N-hydroxyureidomethyl group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, an aralkyl group or a unsubstituted or substituted amino group; and m is an integer of from 1 to 5] have hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic activities.

Abstract: Thiazolidine derivatives of formula (I): ##STR1## (in which: R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 are each hydrogen or alkyl; and R.sup.3 is hydrogen, aliphatic acyl, alkoxy-carbonyl, or arylcarbonyl and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are anti-hypertensive agents and are useful in the treatment of obesity-related hypertension.