Abstract: Known or suspected traumatic brain injuries may be treated therapeutically by administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufogenin. A preferred method for determining if a patient has a traumatic brain injury includes obtaining a body specimen from the patient, determining the concentration of marinobufagenin in the body specimen, comparing the concentration of marinobufagenin to the concentration in such body specimens in normal patients, and if the marinobufagenin concentration is substantially above the concentration of a normal patient, concluding traumatic brain injury exists. In a preferred embodiment, a substantial elevation is deemed to be an increase of about 30 percent above the marinobufagenin concentration of a normal patient. The body specimen may be blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: The method of this invention relates a method of diagnosing a patient as having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or treating the patient therapeutically for PTSD. In one embodiment, the treatment involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of bufodienolide antagonist to the patient.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to methods of identifying patients with PE, TBI, or ARDS by detecting elevated levels of MBG, TCINO, and CINO and treating the same with anti-MBG agents.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to methods of identifying patients with essential hypertension by detecting elevated levels of marinobufagenin (MBG) and treating the same with anti-MBG agents.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to methods of identifying patients with essential by detecting elevated levels of marinobufagenin (MBG) and treating the same with anti-MBG agents.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to methods of identifying patients with ARDS by detecting elevated levels of marinobufagenin (MBG) and treating the same with anti-MBG agents.

Abstract: Known or suspected traumatic brain injuries may be treated therapeutically by administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufogenin. A preferred method for determining if a patient has a traumatic brain injury includes obtaining a body specimen from the patient, determining the concentration of marinobufagenin in the body specimen, comparing the concentration of marinobufagenin to the concentration in such body specimens in normal patients, and if the marinobufagenin concentration is substantially above the concentration of a normal patient, concluding traumatic brain injury exists. In a preferred embodiment, a substantial elevation is deemed to be an increase of about 30 percent above the marinobufagenin concentration of a normal patient. The body specimen may be blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: Known or suspected traumatic brain injuries may be treated therapeutically by administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufogenin. A preferred method for determining if a patient has a traumatic brain injury includes obtaining a body specimen from the patient, determining the concentration of marinobufagenin in the body specimen, comparing the concentration of marinobufagenin to the concentration in such body specimens in normal patients, and if the marinobufagenin concentration is substantially above the concentration of a normal patient, concluding traumatic brain injury exists. In a preferred embodiment, a substantial elevation is deemed to be an increase of about 30 percent above the marinobufagenin concentration of a normal patient. The body specimen may be blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: Known or suspected traumatic brain injuries may be treated therapeutically by administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufogenin. A preferred method for determining if a patient has a traumatic brain injury includes obtaining a body specimen from the patient, determining the concentration of marinobufagenin in the body specimen, comparing the concentration of marinobufagenin to the concentration in such body specimens in normal patients, and if the marinobufagenin concentration is substantially above the concentration of a normal patient, concluding traumatic brain injury exists. In a preferred embodiment, a substantial elevation is deemed to be an increase of about 30 percent above the marinobufagenin concentration of a normal patient. The body specimen may be blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating preeclampsia including administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufagenin to a patient having preeclampsia. Effecting the determination of the presence of preeclampsia may be by determining whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist, concluding that preeclampsia does exist. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen containing the protein in determining whether a patient has preeclampsia. In another embodiment, bufodienolide derivatives other than resibufagenin may be employed in lieu of thereof or in combination therewith. In another embodiment, resibufagenin analogues may be employed in the treatment of preeclampsia.

Abstract: A method of preventing preeclampsia including administering to a patient during an early stage of pregnancy a prophylactically-effective amount of resibufogenin. The administration of resibufogenin is periodically repeated. The method serves to prevent hypertension, proteinuria, and intrauterine growth restriction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for determination of marinobufagenin concentration in a body specimen through conjugation of marinobufagenin to a suitable protein, thereby creating a conjugate which will trigger an antibody response in a host. The conjugated marinobufagenin is immunogenic. The antibodies so produced may be employed in an ELISA test to ascertain the concentration of marinobufagenin in a body specimen. A number of unique compounds are created in the process and are disclosed. An ELISA assay may be employed.

Abstract: A method of testing a patient for hypertension includes providing a urine specimen from the patient, performing a first test on the urine specimen to determine if volume expansion hypertension exists by measuring the level of marinobufagenin in the urine specimen, performing a second test on the urine specimen to determine if vasoconstrictive hypertension exists by measuring the level of angiotensinogen in the urine specimen, and performing the first and second tests on the urine specimen substantially simultaneously without either test having an adverse effect on the other test. The tests may employ a test strip having a first region for use in the first test and a second region for use in the second test with each region effecting a visible change if the condition for which the test is being formed is found to exist. A related method of treatment and a related test kit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining if a patient has a traumatic brain injury includes obtaining a body specimen from the patient, determining the concentration of marinobufagenin in the body specimen, comparing the concentration of marinobufagenin to the concentration in such body specimens in normal persons, and if the marinobufagenin concentration is substantially above the concentration of a normal person, concluding traumatic brain injury exists. In a preferred embodiment, a substantial elevation is deemed to be an increase of about 30 percent above the marinobufagenin concentration of a normal person. The body specimen may be blood or urine. If a substantial elevation is deemed to exist, the magnitude from the departure from the concentration of a normal person may be employed in determining the timing and nature of treatment provided to the patient. The method may be repeated at predetermined intervals to monitor changes in the marinobufagenin with time. Corresponding apparatus is provided.

Abstract: A method of treating volume expansion mediated hypertension including administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufogenin to a patient having volume expansion mediated hypertension. A method for the determination of the presence of volume expansion mediated hypertension may be by determining whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist, concluding that volume expansion mediated hypertension does exist. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen in determining whether a patient has volume expansion mediated hypertension. In another embodiment, bufodienolide derivatives other than resibufogenin may be employed in lieu of thereof or in combination therewith. In another embodiment, resibufogenin analogues may be employed in the treatment of volume expansion mediated hypertension.

Abstract: A method of treating preeclampsia including administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufagenin to a patient having preeclampsia. Effecting the determination of the presence of preeclampsia may be by determining whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist, concluding that preeclampsia does exist. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen containing the protein in determining whether a patient has preeclampsia. In another embodiment, bufodienolide derivatives other than resibufagenin may be employed in lieu of thereof or in combination therewith. In another embodiment, resibufagenin analogues may be employed in the treatment of preeclampsia.

Abstract: A method of treating preeclampsia including administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufagenin to a patient having preeclampsia. Effecting the determination of the presence of preeclampsia may be by determining whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist, concluding that preeclampsia does exist. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen containing the protein in determining whether a patient has preeclampsia. In another embodiment, bufodienolide derivatives other than resibufagenin may be employed in lieu of thereof or in combination therewith. In another embodiment, resibufagenin analogues may be employed in the treatment of preeclampsia.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a capillary leak disorder in a patient includes monitoring the marinobufagenin level in blood and/or urine as indicators of vascular permeability and, if a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin exists with respect to that of a normal person, concluding that a capillary leak disorder exists. The method may be employed to diagnose preeclampsia, as well as illnesses or abnormal conditions selected from the group consisting of acute respiratory distress syndrome, hemorrhagic shock, septic, endotoxemia, septicemia, burns.

Abstract: A method of treating preeclampsia including administering a therapeutically effective dose of resibufagenin to a patient having preeclampsia. Effecting the determination of the presence of preeclampsia may be by determining whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist, concluding that preeclampsia does exist. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen containing the protein in determining whether a patient has preeclampsia. In another embodiment, bufodienolide derivatives other than resibufagenin may be employed in lieu of thereof or in combination therewith. In another embodiment, resibufagenin analogues may be employed in the treatment of preeclampsia.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of preeclampsia is provided wherein a determination is made as to whether there has been a substantial elevation in marinobufagenin which may be a blood-derived or urine-derived and if such elevation does exist concluding that preeclampsia does exist in a patient. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing urine, blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen containing the protein in determining whether a patient has preeclampsia. The method may include subsequent therapeutic patient treatment. Related diagnostic apparatus is also provided.