The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

University of California

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

The General Hospital Corporation

Columbia University

The Penn State Research Foundation

Thomas Jefferson University

National Jewish Medical and Research Center

Jeffrey M Drazen

Jonathan S Stamler

Daniel Simon

Robert Brown

Adam Slivka

Joseph Loscalzo

Andrew David Luster

David R Beier

Koichiro Asano

Kwang-Ho In

Craig M Lilly

James Grobholz

Homer A Boushey

Joeseph Loscalzo

Vern Chinchilli

Richard Martin

Jean G Ford

James E Fish

Robert Lemanske

Methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating asthma are provided. The methods involve the discovery of a correlation between an eotaxin gene polymorphism and the ocurrence of asthma.

Methods for diagnosis, prediction and treatment of asthma and other inflammatory conditions based on eotaxin coding sequence polymorphism

Methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating asthma are provided. The methods involve the discovery of a correlation between an eotaxin gene polymorphism and the occurrence of asthma.

The present invention provides identification of sequence polymorphisms in the 5-lipoxygenase gene that are present in general and asthmatic populations. The invention provides methods associated with correlating such polymorphisms with asthmatic phenotype and responsiveness to therapy. In particular, the invention demonstrates that individuals with reduced 5-lipoxygenase expression (or activity) are less responsive to treatment with 5-lipoxygenase inhibiters.

5-Lipoxygenase gene polymorphisms and their use in classifying patients

The present invention provides a novel method for identifying individuals who are likely to have negative responses to regular administration of .beta.-agonists. The invention also provides kits useful for this purpose.

Diagnosing asthma patients predisposed to adverse .beta.-agonist

Identification of asthma patients who are candidates for effective

Methods of relaxing corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, treating disease states responsive to prevention or relaxation of undesirable contractions of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle and of treating male impotence by administering an S-nitrosothiol such as a low molecular weight S-nitrosothiol, S-nitroso-ACE-inhibitor or S-nitroso-protein.

Treatment of male impotence with s-nitrosylated compounds

S-nitrosothiols exert a potent relaxant effect, mediated both by guanylate cyclase, and a cGMP-independent mechanism, upon non-vascular smooth muscle. Such types of smooth muscle include airway, gastrointestinal, bladder, uterine and corpus cavernosal. Thus, S-nitrosothiols may be used for the treatment or prevention of disorders associated with relation of smooth muscle, such as airway obstruction, and other respiratory disorders, bladder dysfunction, premature labor and impotence. Additionally, S-nitrosothiols may be used to alleviate smooth muscle contraction and spasm, and thus facilitate procedures involving diagnostic instrumentation, such as endoscopy, bronchoscopy, laparoscopy and cystoscopy. S-nitrosothiols also increase the binding affinity between hemoglobin and oxygen, and therefore, may be used to improve hemoglobin-oxygen binding, and oxygen transport to bodily tissues.

S-nitrosothiols as smooth muscle relaxants and therapeutic uses thereof

S-nitrosothiols exert a potent relaxant effect, mediated both by guanylate cyclase, and a cGMP-independent mechanism, upon non-vascular smooth muscle. Such types of smooth muscle include airway, gastrointestinal, bladder, uterine and corpus cavernosal. Thus, S-nitrosothiols may be used for the treatment or prevention of disorders associated with relaxation of smooth muscle, such as airway obstruction, and other respiratory disorders, bladder dysfunction, premature labor and impotence. Additionally, S-nitrosothiols may be used to alleviate smooth muscle contraction and spasm, and thus facilitate procedures involving diagnostic instrumentation, such as endoscopy, bronchoscopy, laparoscopy and cystoscopy. S-nitrosothiols also increase the binding affinity between hemoglobin and oxygen, and therefore, may be used to improve hemoglobin-oxygen binding, and oxygen transport to bodily tissues.

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Winchester, MA, United States of America

Jeffrey M Drazen