Abstract: A method for treating a respiratory conditions comprises applying peripheral blood from a patient or subject to an apheresis column loaded with a solid support comprising one or more binding reagents capable of specifically binding to a chemokine receptor, optionally the chemokine receptor CCR2, CCR1, CCR3, CCR5, CXCR1, CXCR2 and/or CCR7 immobilized directly or indirectly on the support thus removing one or more chemokine receptor, optionally CCR2, CCR1, CCR3, CCR5, CXCR1, CXCR2 and/or CCR7 expressing cells from the peripheral blood of the patient or subject. Various companion diagnostic methods and useful binding reagents are also described.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to compounds and their combination for use in the prevention or therapy of a subject suffering from an autoimmune disease such as diabetes type 1. Provided are antagonists of T-cells that are used in combination with antagonists of the cytokine CXCL10, sequentially or concomitantly, in a subject suffering from an autoimmune disease, in particular diabetes type 1.

Abstract: A method for treating mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder comprises applying peripheral blood from a patient or subject to an apheresis column loaded with a solid support comprising a binding reagent capable of specifically binding to a chemokine receptor, optionally the chemokine receptor CCR9, CCR1, CCR3 and/or CCR5 immobilized directly or indirectly on the support thus removing chemokine receptor, optionally CCR9, CCR1, CCR3 and/or CCR5 expressing cells from the peripheral blood of the patient or subject. Various companion diagnostic methods and useful binding reagents are also described.

Abstract: A method for treating cancer comprising applying peripheral blood from a patient or subject to an apheresis column loaded with a solid support comprising one or more binding reagents capable of specifically binding to a chemokine receptor, optionally the chemokine receptor CCR7, CCR5, CCR6, CCR8, CXCR4, CXCR7, CCR4, CCR9, CCR10, CXCR3 or CXCR5 or to a Treg receptor immobilized directly or indirectly on the support thus removing one or more chemokine receptor, optionally CCR7, CCR5, CCR6, CCR8, CXCR4, CXCR7, CCR4, CCR9, CCR10, CXCR3 or CXCR5 or Treg receptor expressing cells from the peripheral blood of the patient or subject. Various companion diagnostic methods and useful binding reagents are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides for methods of producing human monoclonal antibodies to human nucleolin, cells producing such antibodies, and the antibodies themselves. Also provided are methods of using the antibodies in diagnosing and treating malignant and non-malignant diseases wherein cells that express nucleolin on the cell surface contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of interleukin-2 (IL-2) for treating a food allergy, either by inducing non-specific tolerance against food allergens, or in a desensitization protocol in combination with a food allergen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining predisposition of a subject to developing renal dysfunction induced by physical trauma, hypotension, sepsis and/or septic shock syndrome, wherein the method comprises the steps of:—a. determining the level of an anti-inflammatory cytokine present in a sample taken from the subject prior to physical trauma, prior to a hypotensive event, prior to sepsis, and/or prior to septic shock syndrome; b. determining if the subject is predisposed to developing renal dysfunction following physical trauma, hypotension, sepsis and/or septic shock syndrome on the basis of the level of an anti-inflammatory cytokine determined in step a).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for protein manufacture wherein the protein is expressed in a host cell, and in a more specific manner relates to a method for manufacturing a protein that results in reduced levels of product-related impurities.

Abstract: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is often associated with damage to remote organs, such as lungs or heart. AKI induces kidney tubular necrosis as well as NETosis, programmed neutrophil death leading to neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Histones released during NETosis induces further formation of NETs, which is damaging to renal tissues and remote organs. Circulating trap-forming neutrophils directly injured the lung, while other dead tissue releases contributed to injury in other organs. Suppressing renal necroinflammation using inhibitors of NET formation, tubular cell necrosis or extracellular histones prevented kidney as well as remote organ injuries. Dual inhibition of neutrophil trap formation together with tubular cell necrosis had an additive protective effect.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to determining whether or not a human receiving a therapy (e.g., an anti-VEGF therapy such as a bevacizumab therapy) has developed or is at risk for developing proteinuria. For example, methods and materials for detecting urinary podocytes to determine whether or not a human receiving anti-VEGF therapy has or is at risk for developing proteinuria or kidney injury are provided.

Abstract: A method of treating fulminant hepatic failure in a subject, includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition to the subject, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a DLL4 cytokine. A method of treating liver failure, sub-acute liver failure, chronic liver failure or acute-on-chronic liver failure in a subject, includes administering an therapeutically effective amount of a DLL4 cytokine to the subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for predicting whether an individual having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is likely to respond to vedolizumab treatment. Also provided are methods for predicting whether an individual with IBD such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis will develop autoantibodies against vedolizumab. The present invention also provides a treatment regimen for an IBD patient which includes measuring the level of one or more predictive markers of response to vedolizumab prior to administering the anti-?4?7 integrin drug.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the generation of antibodies, e.g., monoclonal antibodies including fully human monoclonal antibodies, that recognize Jagged 1 and/or Jagged 2, to antibodies, e.g., monoclonal antibodies including fully human antibodies that recognize Jagged 1 and/or Jagged 2, and nucleic acid molecules that encode antibodies, e.g., nucleic acid molecules that encode monoclonal antibodies including fully human cross-reactive antibodies that recognize both Jagged 1 and Jagged 2, and to methods of making the anti-Jagged antibodies and methods of using the anti-Jagged antibodies as therapeutics, prophylactics, and diagnostics. The invention also relates generally to activatable antibodies that include a masking moiety (MM), a cleavable moiety (CM), and an antibody (AB) that specifically bind to Jagged 1 and Jagged 2, and to methods of making and using these activatable anti-Jagged antibodies in a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and prophylactic indications.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing, treating, and preventing catabolism-related vitamin D deficiency and related disorders, related compositions, apparatus and kits, are disclosed. A method involves measuring CYP24 expression and/or activity, or a proxy thereof such as FGF23 level, in a patient and correlating abnormally elevated CYP24 expression and/or activity with catabolism-related vitamin D deficiency or with susceptibility for catabolism-related vitamin D deficiency. In response to abnormally elevated CYP24 expression and/or activity, the method further includes administering a CYP24 inhibitor to the vitamin D deficient or at-risk patient, and preferably avoiding activation of the vitamin D binding receptor, such as by avoiding administration of active vitamin D compounds to such patients. Optionally, a vitamin D prohormone or prohormone can be administered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for promoting the proliferation of stem cells derived from bone marrow using a palmultang extract, and more specifically, to a composition for promoting the proliferation of stem cells derived from bone marrow by administering a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to a subject and then administering the palmultang extract to the subject. The composition of the present invention remarkably reduces side effects, such as enlargement of the spleen, which are caused by the administration of G-CSF alone for proliferation and differentiation of the stem cells, through administration in combination with the palmultang extract, thereby further promoting the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved uses of GLP-1 peptides in oral therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing and/or prognosing renal dysfunction. The method comprises the steps of: —(a) determining the level of an anti-inflammatory cytokine present in a urine sample from a subject prior to physical trauma, prior to a hypotensive event, prior to sepsis, and/or prior to septic shock syndrome; (b) determining the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine present in a urine sample from the subject following physical trauma, following or during a hypotensive event, following or during sepsis, and/or following or during septic shock syndrome; (c) calculating the difference between the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine determined in step a) from the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine determined in step b), and (d) providing a diagnosis and/or prognosis on the basis of a comparison between the difference calculated in step c) and the difference calculated in step c) when steps a) and b) are practiced on a control group.

Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence is provided that encodes a chimeric protein comprising a ligand that comprises a naturally occurring or modified follicle stimulating hormone sequence, e.g., an FSHp sequence, or fragment thereof, which ligand binds to human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor, linked to either (a) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes an extracellular hinge domain, a transmembrane domain, a co-stimulatory signaling region, and a signaling endodomain; or (b) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a ligand that binds to NKG2D. The vector containing the nucleic acid sequence, the chimeric proteins so encoded, and modified T cells expressing the chimeric protein, as well as method of using these compositions for the treatment of FSHR-expressing cancers or tumor cells are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a prophylactic agent or therapeutic agent for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, containing as an active ingredient a binding inhibitor that inhibits interaction between activin and activin A receptor type I (ACVR1), or an expression suppressor that suppresses expression of activin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for the prevention or treatment of diabetes comprising a long-acting insulin conjugate and a long-acting insulinotropic peptide conjugate, and a therapeutic method for the treatment of diabetes, and more particularly, concurrent administration of the long-acting insulin conjugate and the long-acting insulinotropic peptide conjugate inhibits weight gain caused by insulin treatment, and vomiting and nausea caused by insulinotropic peptide treatment, and reduces the required dose of insulin, thereby remarkably improving drug compliance. Moreover, each of the long-acting insulin conjugate and the long-acting insulinotropic peptide conjugate of the present invention is prepared by linking insulin or insulinotropic peptide with an immunoglobulin Fc region via a non-peptidyl linker, thereby showing improved in-vivo duration of efficacy and stability.