Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide growth factor derived from colostrum (CDGF) having defined chemical and biological characteristics. The factor may be prepared from porcine or bovine colostrum and pharmaceutical uses thereof may include combatting invasion of the body by pathogens, wound healing, promoting organ growth and development and promoting adaption of the gastrointestinal tract to diet change.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods to assess connective tissue, especially bone, metabolism in disease or to monitor therapy, which method comprises assessing the levels of native free collagen-derived crosslinks in biological fluids, especially urine. The method can be enhanced by concomitantly determining the levels of an indicator of bone formation in biological fluids of the same individual and assessing the differences between the degradation marker and the formation indicator. Antibodies which are specifically immunoreactive with forms of crosslinks which occur free in biological fluids are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods to assess connective tissue, especially bone, metabolism in disease or to monitor therapy, which method comprises assessing the levels of native free collagen-derived crosslinks in biological fluids, especially urine. The method can be enhanced by concomitantly determining the levels of an indicator of bone formation in biological fluids of the same individual and assessing the differences between the degradation marker and the formation indicator. Antibodies which are specifically immunoreactive with forms of crosslinks which occur free in biological fluids are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods to assess connective tissue, especially bone, metabolism in disease or to monitor therapy, which method comprises assessing the levels of native free collagen-derived crosslinks in biological fluids, especially urine. The method can be enhanced by concomitantly determining the levels of an indicator of bone formation in biological fluids of the same individual and assessing the differences between the degradation marker and the formation indicator. Antibodies which are specifically immunoreactive with forms of crosslinks which occur free in biological fluids are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic uses of clenbuterol in humans and animals. The uses include retarding or reversing muscular atrophy of denervated muscle, alleviating or reversing loss of function arising from surgical or accidental muscular trauma, and alleviating or reversing the loss of muscle function arising from a humorally mediated catabolic state or from temporary disuse of the muscle. Clenbuterol can be mixed with a beta-adrenergic antagonist to obviate or mitigate unwanted side effects without excessively inhibiting the desired therapeutic effects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic uses of beta-adrenergic antagonists other than clenbuterol in humans and animals. The uses include retarding or reversing muscle disease such as muscular dystrophy, alleviating or reversing peripheral nervous system disease, alleviating or reversing central nervous system disease, retarding or reversing muscular atrophy of denervated muscle, alleviating or reversing loss of function arising from surgical or accidental muscular trauma, and alleviating or reversing the loss of muscle function arising from a humorally mediated catabolic state or from temporary disuse of the muscle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic uses of clenbuterol in humans and animals. The uses include retarding or reversing muscle disease such as muscular dystrophy, alleviating or reversing peripheral nervous system disease, and alleviating or reversing central nervous system disease.

Abstract: A method of monitoring collagen degradation, comprising assaying a biological fluid sample which contains a fragment of collagen including lysyl pyridinoline or hydroxylysyl pyridinoline or a substituted form thereof, a method of determining the tissue origin or degraded collagen thereby.