The invention provides for treating HBV or HDV infection or inhibiting human sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (hNTCP) with a polymeric bile acid or salt thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polymeric bile acid or salt thereof, and a second HBV or HDV medicament.

The invention relates to compounds, compositions and polymers comprising a first component adapted to promote germination of Clostridium difficile (C.diff) and a second component which acts as an antimicrobial agent. Said compounds, compositions and polymers are useful for destroying C.diff where conventional antimicrobial agents are unsuccessful. The compositions can be formulated as coating or materials which actively destroy C.diff which come into contact with it. The germination promotion is induced by bile salts. The invention also relates to the use of such materials as a treatment for C.diff associated diseases and toxic megacolon.

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, Y, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are as defined herein. The compounds are intermediates in the synthesis of synthetic bile acids.

##STR00001##

Described herein are neuroactive steroids of the Formula (I):

##STR00001##

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein , A, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are as defined herein. Such compounds are envisioned, in certain embodiments, to behave as GABA modulators. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the present invention and methods of use, e.g., for treating a subject suffering from a disease or disorder described herein.

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein R is hydrogen or alpha-hydroxy, the hydroxyl group in position 7 is in the alpha or beta position; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or amino acid conjugates thereof.

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein R is hydrogen or alpha-hydroxy, the hydroxyl group in position 7 is in the alpha or beta position; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or amino acid conjugates thereof.

The present invention regards nanoparticles comprising a sterol and a component derived from Quillaja saponaria Molina selected from quillaja acid and quillaja saponin, which nanoparticles do not comprise a phospholipid. It also relates to a composition comprising the nanoparticles, and the use thereof as adjuvant, especially in vaccines, as carriers for amphipathic or hydrophobic molecules and as agents for treatment of cancer. Further, it regards a method for producing the phospholipid-free nano particles, a method for the treatment of cancer and a method for assessing the applicability of the cancer treating method.

The present invention regards nanoparticles comprising a sterol and a component derived from Quillaja saponaria Molina selected from quillaja acid and quillaja saponin, which nanoparticles do not comprise a phospholipid. It also relates to a composition comprising the nanoparticles, and the use thereof as adjuvant, especially in vaccines, as carriers for amphipathic or hydrophobic molecules and as agents for treatment of cancer. Further, it regards a method for producing the phospholipid-free nano particles, a method for the treatment of cancer and a method for assessing the applicability of the cancer treating method.

A method for preparing oryzanol from oryzanol-containing soapstock as a raw material includes the following steps: 1) alkali-alcohol thermal dissolution; 2) heat-preserved fine filtration; 3) heat-preserved ultrafiltration membrane separation; 4) heat-preserved decolorization; 5) acid neutralization and filtration; 6) washing; and 7) drying. The temperatures of the step 1) to the step 4) are controlled at 50-60° C. The method has a heat preservation operation at 50-60° C., membrane separation, decolorization and washing, to finally prepare a white powdered product. The purity of product oryzanol is greater than 98% and the yield is greater than 73%. The method does not use toxic or combustible or explosive organic solvents such as methanol, ether, hexane and solvent oil, so that the product use safety is improved; the production process is simple, has low requirements on production equipment, is easy to operate and realize, and is low in production cost and suitable for industrial production.

A method for preparing oryzanol from oryzanol-containing soapstock as a raw material includes the following steps: 1) alkali-alcohol thermal dissolution; 2) heat-preserved fine filtration; 3) heat-preserved ultrafiltration membrane separation; 4) heat-preserved decolorization; 5) acid neutralization and filtration; 6) washing; and 7) drying. The temperatures of the step 1) to the step 4) are controlled at 50-60° C. The method has a heat preservation operation at 50-60° C., membrane separation, decolorization and washing, to finally prepare a white powdered product. The purity of product oryzanol is greater than 98% and the yield is greater than 73%. The method does not use toxic or combustible or explosive organic solvents such as methanol, ether, hexane and solvent oil, so that the product use safety is improved; the production process is simple, has low requirements on production equipment, is easy to operate and realize, and is low in production cost and suitable for industrial production.