A variety of diseases and disorders associated with the metabolic pathways involved in the activities of cyclooxygenase and the synthesis of prostaglandins, for example type 2 diabetes mellitus and its sequelae, ischemic vascular diseases, pain associated with inflammation, inflammatory skin conditions, spinal cord injury, peripheral neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as various types of cancer may be treated or prevented by the use of compounds as agents which selectively enhance production of 15-deoxy-prostaglandin J2. The compounds are 7-hydroxy steroids of formula (IV) or a salt or ester thereof: wherein R 1 represents hydrogen or methyl and R 2 , R 3 and R 4 each independently represents an oxo, hydroxy, mercapto, hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy, aryloxy or acyl group.
