Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I)

##STR00001##

and therapeutic methods of treatment with compounds of formula (I), wherein L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.4, R.sup.1, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, and s are as defined in the specification. Compounds of formula (I) are EP4 agonists useful in the treatment of glaucoma, neuropathic pain, and related disorders.

A surgical or arthroscopic method for resurfacing at least one surface of a hip joint of a human patient, using a medical device comprising an artificial hip joint surface, wherein the hip joint surface comprising an acetabulum surface and a caput femur surface, said method comprising the steps of: creating at least one hole passing into the hip joint, dissecting and preparing the hip joint, introducing at least one artificial hip joint surface, comprising at least one of an artificial acetabulum surface and an artificial caput femur surface, wherein said at least one artificial hip joint surface, comprising a first sealing member, creating a sealed hollow space between said first sealing member and one of the acetabulum surface or said artificial acetabulum surface and one of the caput femur surface or said artificial caput femur surface, selecting at least one artificial hip joint surface and injecting a material into said hollow space.

A surgical or arthroscopic method for resurfacing at least one surface of a hip joint of a human patient, using a medical device comprising an artificial hip joint surface, wherein the hip joint surface comprising an acetabulum surface and a caput femur surface, said method comprising the steps of: creating at least one hole passing into the hip joint, dissecting and preparing the hip joint, introducing at least one artificial hip joint surface, comprising at least one of an artificial acetabulum surface and an artificial caput femur surface, wherein said at least one artificial hip joint surface, comprising a first sealing member, creating a sealed hollow space between said first sealing member and one of the acetabulum surface or said artificial acetabulum surface and one of the caput femur surface or said artificial caput femur surface, selecting at least one artificial hip joint surface and injecting a material into said hollow space.

Film forming gel compositions, useful in creating conformable and flexible gel bandages, can be formulate from a film-forming polymer, a tackifier, and a volatile solvent. The film forming gels can also include antiseptics, cationic polymer coagulants, fillers, and other additives. The gel compositions form relatively thick films when dried on tissue, and can exhibit enhanced breathability to promote wound healing.

An adhesive wafer for an ostomy device, the wafer comprising a skin-facing adhesive layer, a backing layer on a part of the non-skin-facing side of the adhesive layer, and a hole for accommodating a stoma. On the central portion of the wafer is located a release layer being configured to release a neutralizer. The release layer is in direct contact with the adhesive layer. The neutralizer is capable of neutralizing or at least minimizing the level of skin or adhesive aggressiveness of the output.

The present disclosure is generally directed to an embolic material which, in some embodiments, may be in the form of a microsphere or a plurality of microspheres. The embolic material generally comprises carboxymethyl chitosan (CCN) crosslinked with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). In some embodiments, the embolic material may further comprise a therapeutic agent, such as doxorubicin.

An embodiment includes a system comprising: a monolithic shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having first and second states; wherein the SMP foam includes: (a) polyurethane, (b) an inner half portion having inner reticulated cells defined by inner struts, (c) an outer half portion, having outer reticulated cells defined by outer struts, surrounding the inner portion in a plane that provides a cross-section of the SMP foam, (d) hydroxyl groups chemically bound to outer surfaces of both the inner and outer struts. Other embodiments are discussed herein.

An ostomy device includes a nonwoven element having a water-soluble component and a releasable material. When the ostomy device is applied to a user and stomal output contacts the distal surface of the nonwoven element, the water-soluble component dissolves and releases the releasable material from the nonwoven element to neutralize at least one of enzyme activity and pH of the stomal output.

A tissue adhesive for contacting a tissue site, the tissue adhesive comprising: a mixture of natural polymers; and an activating agent enhancing the adhesive properties of the mixture of natural polymers. And a tissue adhesive for contacting a tissue site, the tissue adhesive comprising: a mixture of natural polymers; and an aqueous solution of a water soluble starch or a water soluble starch derivative which forms a gel with the addition of the mixture of natural polymers.

Compositions and methods related to hydrogel tissue sealants are generally described. In certain embodiments, a hydrogel forming composition is provided in dry form (e.g., as one or more powder mixtures) and comprises at least an electrophilic polymer crosslinking agent and a nucleophilic polymer such as a protein that is capable of crosslinking with the crosslinking agent. One or more solvents able to dissolve the crosslinking agent and the protein can be provided and used to dissolve the hydrogel forming composition to facilitate crosslinking.