The invention describes families of compounds that utilize multihydroxyl phenyl groups to provide adhesive properties. An alarm circuit includes a timer, an alarm and a timer resetter. The tunneling shaft assembly includes a tunneling shaft having proximal and distal extremities. Handles resist falling of the user and provide added buoyancy should a fall occur. The inventive compounds comprise an immunomodulatory action andor an action that inhibits the release of cytokines and are thus suited for treating diseases associated with a disorder of the immune system, particularly immunologically mediated inflammatory diseases .