Use of anabolic agents, anti-catabolic agents, antioxidant agents, and analgesics for protection, treatment and repair of connective tissues in humans and animals

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions for the modulation of inflammation in connective tissues in humans and animals and the modulation of markers of such inflammation, including COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, p38, and chemokines, comprising any or all of anabolic, anti-catabolic, anti-oxidant and analgesic agents, including aminosugars, S-adenosylmethionine, arachadonic acid, GAGs, including pentosan, collagen type II, tetracyclines or tetracycline-like compounds, diacerin, super oxide dismutase, L-ergothioneine, methylsulfanylmethane, one or more avocado / soybean unsaponifiables, and an analgesic, e.g., acetaminophen, and to methods of treating humans and animals by administration of these novel compositions to humans and animals in need thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 824,498, filed Apr. 15, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 192,318, filed Jul. 11, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 274,881, filed Mar. 23, 1999, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 088,205, filed Jun. 5, 1998, entitled “A COMPOSITION OF ACETAMINOPHEN, AN AMINOSUGAR AND A GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN,” and which further is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 249,335, filed Feb. 12, 1999, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 074,594, filed Feb. 13, 1998, entitled “THE USE OF ANABOLIC AGENTS, ANTI-CATABOLIC AGENTS, ANTIOXIDANT AGENTS, AND ANALGESICS FOR PROTECTION, TREATMENT AND REPAIR OF CONNECTIVE TISSUES IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS.” The disclosures of the above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entire...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022] It is a further object of the present invention to provide compositions to repair, treat, and prevent damage to connective tissue in humans and animals that contain one or more of the elements sele...

Problems solved by technology

The state of health exists when there is a balance between these two processes, and derangements of the balance produce disease.

Indeed, inflammation is not easily categorized as strictly anabolic or catabolic—it may have either effect.

However, naturally occurring “subclinical” deficiencies of eicosanoids probably contribute significantly to disease, and are under diagnosed.

It has long been known that corticosteroid drugs, which are strongly anti-inflammatory, also delay healing and decrease the production of extracellular matrix components.

Numerous studies have shown that NSAIDs, like corticosteroids, can decrease the synthesis of matrix components by connective tissue cells, because they inhibit prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase, and thus block the cyclooxygenase pathway.

Kent et al. examined the effects of AA in lapine cartilage and found a positive effect, although previous and subsequent research failed to confirm this.

These variable results are not unexpected, since the balance between anabolic and catabolic processes in the body is delicate and easily perturbed.

This damage is the result of the effects of free radicals, substances that have an unpaired electron.

Free radicals cause cellular damage because they are highly chemically reactive.

The deficiency of electrons in turn makes the cell structure unstable and cell dysfunction occurs, including manufacture of abnormal proteins, cell rupture, and cell death.

The actions and interactions of these compounds are complex.

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