Abstract: This invention provides concentrated inflammation modifiers obtained from various plant, animal, and mineral sources, and methods for the preparation of such concentrated inflammation modifiers. Also provided are methods of preventing and treating inflammation using the concentrated inflammation modifiers. The invention also provides methods of treating inflammation of the skin and mucosal membranes by administering compositions that contain concentrated inflammation modifiers as active ingredients. The methods are useful for treating inflammatory diseases, as well as for reducing or eliminating inflammation that results from transdermal delivery of a drug, or from cosmetics and skin care products. The concentrated inflammation modifiers and methods are also useful for enhancing wound healing and skin aging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the transdermal administration of alpha-adrenoceptor blocking compounds. The invention provides methods of administering these compounds to a patient in therapeutically effective amounts.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a transdermal patch for the delivery of Compound IV having the formula: ##STR1## to the skin of a patient. The patch comprises a backing layer, a drug depot comprising Compound IV and a permeation enhancer composition.

Abstract: A diffusion test apparatus (2), used to test diffusion of a drug within a vehicle through a test membrane (8), includes a receiver assembly (6) and a donor assembly (4) secured to one another. The receiver assembly includes a number of open-top receiver receptacles (26) arranged in a chosen pattern along its face (12). Similarly, the donor assembly includes a number of open-top donor receptacles (38) arranged along its face (10) in a mirror image of the chosen pattern. The test membrane is captured between the receiver and donor faces. The drug diffuses through the test membrane and into the receiver liquid (53) during an incubation period (62). Samples (66) of the receiver liquid are preferably automatically transferred to a conventional microtiter plate (70) using a programmed liquid transfer system for assay by a scintillation counter (76).

Abstract: A transdermal flux enhancing pharmaceutical composition for transdermal administration to a human or lower animal subject comprising a safe and effective amount of a pharmacologically active compound or a prodrug thereof, an aqueous solvent system comprising from about 15 to 75% by volume of one or more water miscible solvents, and a penetration enhancer selected from certain 1-alkylazacycloheptan-2-ones and cis-olefin compounds of the formulaCH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.x CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.y R.sup.3where R.sup.3 is CH.sub.2 OH, CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 or COR.sup.4 and R.sup.4 is OH or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkoxy, x and y are each an integer from 3 to 13 and the sum of x and y is from 10 to 16; methods for their use in treating various illnesses in a human or lower animal by transdermal administration of said composition.

Abstract: A transdermal flux enhancing pharmaceutical composition for transdermal administration to a human or lower animal subject comprising a safe and effective amount of pharmacologically active compound or a prodrug thereof, an aqueous solvent system comprising from about 15 to 75% by volume of one or more water miscible solvents, and a penetration enhancer selected from certain 1-alkylazacycloheptan-2-ones and cis-olefin compounds of the formulaCH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.x CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.y R.sup.3where R.sup.3 is CH.sub.2 OH, CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 or COR.sup.4 and R.sup.4 is OH or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkoxy, x and y are each an integer from 3 to 13 and the sum of x and y is from 10 to 16; methods for their use in treating various illnesses in a human or lower animal by transdermal administration of said composition.

Abstract: Transdermal flux enhancers such as oleic acid and 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one are used in combination with iontophoresis in the topical administration of pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract: Improved pharmaceutical compositions for the topical administration of a lipophilic, pharmaceutical agent to a human or lower animal subject comprising a safe and effective amount of a pharmaceutical agent, an aqueous solvent system comprising from about 15 to 75% by volume of one or more water miscible solvents, and a compound selected from certain 1-alkylazacycloheptan-2-ones and cis-olefin compounds of the formulaCH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.x CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.y R.sup.3where R.sup.3 is CH.sub.2 OH, CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 or COR.sup.4 and R.sup.4 is OH or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkoxy, x and y are each an integer from 3 to 13 and the sum of x and y is from 10 to 16; and methods for treating disease in a human or lower animal by topical administration of such compositions.