A method of treating acute respiratory distress syndrome. The method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a CXCR4 inhibitor.

The present disclosure provides inhibitors of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) having a structure according to the following formula:

##STR00001##

or a salt or solvate thereof, wherein ring A, C.sup.a, C.sup.b, Z, R.sup.5, W and Cy are defined herein. The disclosure further provides pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds of the present disclosure and methods of making and using the compounds and compositions of the present disclosure, e.g., in the treatment and prevention of various disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.

A process for making nanoparticles of biocompatible materials is described, wherein an aqueous reaction mixture comprising cerous ion, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, an oxidant, water, and optionally citric acid, is provided along with temperature conditions to directly form within the reaction mixture, a stable dispersion of cerium oxide nanoparticles. Biocompatible nanoparticles comprised of cerium oxide, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, and optionally citric acid, are described. An increase in catalase-like enzyme activity is demonstrated by cerium oxide nanoparticles prepared with citric acid and ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid.

The present invention relates to compositions, methods and kits for the treatment of fibrosis. In particular, the compositions, methods and kits are particularly useful, but not limited to, the treatment of cardiac fibrosis. The invention provides a method of treating fibrosis in an individual comprising administering an inhibitor of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), thereby treating fibrosis.

A polypeptide containing an antibody Fc region variant which has an amino acid sequence in which an amino acid alteration at position 238 according to EU numbering is combined with other specific amino acid alteration(s), was found to have decreased binding activities to all activating FcγRs, in particular FcγRIIa (R type), while maintaining its FcγRIIb-binding activity, when compared to a polypeptide containing a native IgG Fc region.

Compounds that inhibit PI3Kδ activity, including compounds that selectively inhibit PI3Kδ activity, are disclosed. Methods of inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta isoform (PI3Kδ) activity, and methods of treating diseases, such as disorders of immunity and inflammation in which PI3Kδ plays a role in leukocyte function, using the compounds also are disclosed.

Methods and composition for delivery of enzymes to a subject's airway. In some aspects, nebulized composition of enzymes, such as plasminogen activators are provided. In further aspects perfluorocarbon compositions comprising enzymes, such as plasminogen activators are provided. Compositions may, in some aspects, be used for the treatment of lung infections or acute lung injury, such as inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI).

The invention provides methods and compositions for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of respiratory tract diseases. Specifically, the invention provides diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of respiratory infections using bitter and sweet taste signal transduction pathways. In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for treating a respiratory infection by administering a composition to the respiratory tract of a subject in an amount capable of activating bitter taste signaling and/or inhibiting sweet taste signaling. The composition comprises at least a bitter receptor agonist and, optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for delivering the composition to the respiratory tract. In another aspect, the invention relates to a composition for treatment of a respiratory infection. Such composition comprises at least a bitter receptor agonist and, optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for delivering the composition to the respiratory tract.

The present invention relates to pyrrolidine sulfonamide analogs, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as TRPV4 antagonists.

The present invention relates to MASP-3 inhibitory antibodies and compositions comprising such antibodies for use in inhibiting the adverse effects of MASP-3 dependent complement activation.