The present invention provides compounds having the general structural formula (I) [formula should be inserted here] and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of any of a number of conditions or diseases involving elevated levels of aldosterone or abnormal or excessive fibrosis, such as kidney disease and hypertension.

A medicinal agent for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases caused by EP.sub.4 receptor activation. A compound having antagonistic activity against the EP.sub.4 receptor is contained as an active ingredient in the medicinal agent. The compound represented by the following general formula (I) as defined in the specification, a salt, an N-oxide, or a solvate thereof, or a prodrug of these is useful as a medicinal component having antagonistic activity against the EP.sub.4 receptor for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases caused by EP.sub.4 receptor activation.

##STR00001##

Bifunctional compounds that increase uric acid excretion and reduce uric acid production, and monofunctional compounds that either increase uric acid excretion or reduce uric acid production. Methods of using these compounds for reducing uric acid levels in blood or serum, for treating disorders or uric acid metabolism, and for maintaining normal uric acid levels in blood or serum are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the bifunctional and monofunctional compounds are also provided.

Provided herein are substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-ylamine compounds, for example, of formula (A), and pharmaceutical compositions thereof; and methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a Janus kinase-mediated disease.

##STR00001##

Circular nucleic acid vectors that provide for persistently high levels of protein expression are provided. The circular vectors of the subject invention are characterized by being devoid of expression-silencing bacterial sequences, where in many embodiments the subject vectors include a unidirectional site-specific recombination product hybrid sequence in addition to an expression cassette. Also provided are methods of using the subject vectors for introduction of a nucleic acid, e.g., an expression cassette, into a target cell, as well as preparations for use in practicing such methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including both research and therapeutic applications. Also provided is a highly efficient and readily scalable method for producing the vectors employed in the subject methods, as well as reagents and kits/systems for practicing the same.

The present invention relates to the use of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) as a marker for identifying and/or isolating adult multipotential cells. The present invention also relates to cell populations enriched by methods of the present invention and therapeutic uses of these cells.

A method has been developed of preventing or limiting formation of adhesions by administering to a site in need thereof, in the absence of or after bleeding or leakage of fluid has been substantially stopped, a self-assembling material which forms a barrier to formation of adhesions.

In certain embodiments, the self assembling materials are peptidomimetics, nucleotidomimetics, di- and triblock copolymers, N-alkylacrylamides, or dendimers. These materials are also useful in a method for regeneration or repair of tissue or cells forming tissue.

Described herein is a cyclodextrin containing polymer conjugate.

The object of the present invention relates to the new and surprising use of sulfated hyaluronic acid (HAS) as regulator agent of the cytokine activity (pro- and antiinflammatory) and consequently the use of HAS for the preparation of a new medicine for the prevention and treatment of pathologies associated with the activation and/or deficiency of cytokines of a pro- and antiinflammatory nature. The Applicant has in fact discovered its exclusive capacity in modulating the activity of these particular proteins, it has studied the action mechanism and demonstrated the substantial difference between the different sulfated types known in the state of the art, but above all it has demonstrated an unexpectedly high activity of HAS vs different types and strains of Herpes virus, HIV, Cytomegalovirus and the virus of vesicular stomatitis.

The present invention provides compositions and formulations of compounds having formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, wherein p, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and B are as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of any of a number of injuries, conditions or diseases in which HGF/SF or the activities thereof, or agonists or antagonists thereof have a therapeutically useful role. In addition, methods are provided for treating such diseases or diseases starting at a time after the onset of the injury, condition or disease.

##STR00001##