Abstract: The present disclosure concerns peptide compounds of formula I or II and combinations thereof that can be administered orally for promoting endogenous steroid, and particularly testosterone, production: (I) A-Xaa1-Xaa2-Xaa3-Xaa4-Xaa5-Xaa6-Xaa7-Xaa8-B (II) A-Xaa1-XaaA-XaaB-Xaa2-Xaa3-Xaa4-Xaa5-Xaa6-Xaa7-XaaC- XaaD-XaaE-Xaa8-B

Abstract: The present disclosure provides agents capable of promoting endogenous steroid production (such as endogenous testosterone production) without altering the endogenous luteinizing hormone. The present disclosure also provides associated therapeutic methods as well as screening assays for identifying further therapeutic agents for the prevention, treatment and/or alleviations of symptoms associated with hypogonadism.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides agents capable of promoting endogenous steroid production (such as endogenous testosterone production) without altering the endogenous luteinizing hormone. The present disclosure also provides associated therapeutic methods as well as screening assays for identifying further therapeutic agents for the prevention, treatment and/or alleviations of symptoms associated with hypogonadism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, reagents, and kits for assessing organ damage, such as damage due to ischemia reperfusion injury, in the course of a transplantation therapy and/or for assessing organ regeneration following transplantation therapy. The invention provides a method for determining an index of organ health in the course of transplantation therapy comprising measuring the expression level of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) in the organ. Measuring the expression level of PBR is also useful for assessing the progress of organ regeneration in the course of transplantation therapy by comparing the index of organ health. The expression level of PBR may be used as a predictor of the outcome of transplantation therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, reagents, and kits for assessing organ damage, such as damage due to ischemia reperfusion injury, in the course of a transplantation therapy and/or for assessing organ regeneration following transplantation therapy. The invention provides a method for determining an index of organ health in the course of transplantation therapy comprising measuring the expression level of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) in the organ. Measuring the expression level of PBR is also useful for assessing the progress of organ regeneration in the course of transplantation therapy by comparing the index of organ health. The expression level of PBR may be used as a predictor of the outcome of transplantation therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, reagents, and kits for assessing organ damage, such as damage due to ischemia reperfusion injury, in the course of a transplantation therapy and/or for assessing organ regeneration following transplantation therapy. The invention provides a method for determining an index of organ health in the course of transplantation therapy comprising measuring the expression level of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) in the organ. Measuring the expression level of PBR is also useful for assessing the progress of organ regeneration in the course of transplantation therapy by comparing the index of organ health. The expression level of PBR may be used as a predictor of the outcome of transplantation therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, reagents, and kits for assessing organ damage, such as damage due to ischemia reperfusion injury, in the course of a transplantation therapy and/or for assessing organ regeneration following transplantation therapy. The invention provides a method for determining an index of organ health in the course of transplantation therapy comprising measuring the expression level of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) in the organ. Measuring the expression level of PBR is also useful for assessing the progress of organ regeneration in the course of transplantation therapy by comparing the index of organ health. The expression level of PBR may be used as a predictor of the outcome of transplantation therapy.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic method for treating at least one symptom of a neurological disorder or disease such as Alzheimer's disease in a mammal, such as a human, wherein the toxicity of a pathogen of ? amyloid peptide and/or glutamate in mammalian cells is implicated and inhibition of the subsequently-induced pathological pathways is desired comprising administering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effective amount of an N-arylamide or an (N-aminoalkyl)benzamide, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, reagents, and kits for assessing organ damage, such as damage due to ischemia reperfusion injury, in the course of a transplantation therapy and/or for assessing organ regeneration following transplantation therapy. The invention provides a method for determining an index of organ health in the course of transplantation therapy comprising measuring the expression level of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) in the organ. Measuring the expression level of PBR is also useful for assessing the progress of organ regeneration in the course of transplantation therapy by comparing the index of organ health. The expression level of PBR may be used as a predictor of the outcome of transplantation therapy.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic method for treating at least one symptom of Alzheimer's disease in a mammal, such as a human, wherein the toxicity of a pathogen of ? amyloid peptide mammalian cells is implicated and inhibition of the subsequently-induced pathological pathways is desired comprising administering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effective amount of a benzoylpiperazine derivative, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A novel method for treating a mammal exposed to an exogenous neurotoxic agent is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic method for preventing or treating a pathological condition or symptom in a mammal, such as a human, wherein the infectivity of a pathogen such as a retrovirus toward mammalian cells is implicated and inhibition of its infectivity is desired comprising administering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effective amount of a benzoylquinuclidine derivative that inhibits pathogenic infectivity, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts

Abstract: The invention features methods for treating neurotoxicity associated with therapeutic agents, e.g., chemotherapeutic agents, and compositions and kits for use therein. The methods employ an extract of Ginkgo biloba to mitigate the neurotoxic effects of the therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The expression and subcellular localization of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors (PBR) is shown in this application to correlate with the metastatic potential of cells, and increased cell proliferation. Inhibition of PBR expression, function or stability results in a decrease in cell proliferation. Compositions and methods for regulating and/or monitoring PBR and its expression are useful for the detection, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of solid tumors, in particular, breast cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic method for preventing or treating a pathological condition or symptom in a mammal, such as a human, wherein the infectivity of a pathogen such as a retrovirus toward mammalian cells is implicated and inhibition of its infectivity is desired comprising administering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effective amount of procaine, procainamide or an analog thereof that inhibits pathogenic infectivity, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A novel compound and method for preventing or treating neurodegenerative diseases by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and binding the sigma-1 receptor are disclosed. Dimethylcarbamic acid 2,3-bis-dimethylcarbamoyloxy-6-[4-(4-ethyl-piperazin-yl)-butyryl]-phenyl ester and its derivatives represent a novel therapeutic strategy against ?-amyloid peptide induced neurotoxicity, in inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, in improving cholinergic transmission, in binding the sigma-1 receptor, and in releasing a metabolite that is active both as a sigma-1 receptor ligand and an antioxidant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cortisol-modulating compounds, including but not limited to benzamide and benzoic acid derivatives such as procaine and procaine derivatives, utilized in compositions and methods for treating cortisol-mediated disorders, including but not limited to age-related depression, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic method for preventing or treating a pathological condition or symptom in a mammal, such as a human, wherein the infectivity of a pathogen such as a retrovirus toward mammalian cells is implicated and inhibition of its infectivity is desired comprising administering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effective amount of an N-benzamide derivative of a piperazinyl amide of an amino acid thereof that inhibits pathogenic infectivity, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention also provides a therapeutic method for preventing or treating a neuropathological condition or symptom in a mammal, such as human, comprising administering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effective amount of an N-benzamide derivative of a piperazinyl amide of an amino acid thereof, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of the extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves or isolated Ginkgolide B (GKB), a component of the extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves in a method for decreasing the expression of peripheral-type benzodiazepine_receptor (PBR) in cells of a patient in need thereof. Further, the present invention is directed to the use of the extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves or isolated GKB in a method for decreasing the proliferation of cancer cells in a patient. More particularly, the present invention is directed to the use of the extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves or isolated GKB in a method of decreasing cancer cell proliferation in a patient wherein the cancer cell is human breast cancer cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic method for treating at least one symptom of a neurological disorder or disease such as Alzheimer's disease in a mammal, such as a human, wherein the toxicity of a pathogen of ? amyloid peptide and/or glutamate in mammalian cells is implicated and inhibition of the subsequently-induced pathological pathways is desired comprising administering to a mammal in need of such therapy, an effective amount of an N-arylamide or an (N-aminoalkyl)benzamide, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.