Abstract: A novel therapy concept based on a removal of circulating BSP (bone sialoprotein) from the plasma of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or highly at risk of developing arterial and vascular calcifications. The method comprises method of treatment of extracellular tissue and vascular calcifications, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, and arterial calcification. The beneficial effects of this therapy have been proven by the observed correspondence between levels of circulating free BSP levels and mortality of CKD patients as well as in animal models.

Abstract: A new method of in vitro monitoring and assessing the need of a medication which interferes with the regulation of the parathyroid hormone level in a kidney patient subject to oxidative stress, notably hemodialysis patients. FIG. 1 shows the distribution of n-oxPTH concentrations in 340 hemodialysis patients (224 men and 116 women) with a median age of 66 years (IQR, 56 to 75 years), a median time since initiation of dialysis (dialysis vintage) of 266 days (IQR, 31 to 1209 days), and a median dialysis dose (kt/V) of 1.2 (IQR, 1.1 to 1.3). The cause of chronic kidney disease was nephrosclerosis in 113 cases (33%), diabetic nephropathy in 107 cases (31%), chronic glomerular nephritis in 29 cases (9%), polycystic kidney disease in 9 cases (3%) and other/unknown in 82 cases (24%). The median n-oxPTH concentration was 5.9 ng/L (IQR, 2.4 to 14.0 ng/L). n-oxPTH concentrations were not different in men and women (5.9 ng/L; IQR, 2.4 to 14.2 ng/L; n=224; vs. 5.5 ng/L; IQR, 2.4 to 14.0 ng/L; n=116; p=0.915).

Abstract: A novel therapy concept based on a removal of circulating BSP (bone sialoprotein) from the plasma of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or highly at risk of developing arterial and vascular calcifications. The method comprises method of treatment of extracellular tissue and vascular calcifications, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, and arterial calcification. The beneficial effects of this therapy have been proven by the observed correspondence between levels of circulating free BSP levels and mortality of CKD patients as well as in animal models.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining an antibody or antibody fragment to a conformational epitope specific for misfolded inactive human parathyroid hormone and fragments thereof. The method includes the steps of a) immunizing an animal with an immunogen which comprises oxidized parathyroid hormone or an oxidized fragment of parathyroid hormone, or both; and b) recovering an antibody, antibody fragments, or single chain antibody. The complementary determining region of the recovered antibody, antibody fragment or single chain antibody is capable of specifically recognizing a conformational epitope (antigenic determinant) which is present on oxidized parathyroid hormone and fragments thereof only but not regular bioactive human parathyroid hormone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel therapy concept based on a removal of circulation BSP (bone sialoprotein) from the plasma of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), preferably by plasmapheresis or an administration of antibodies against BSP in plasma. The present invention further provides a BSP absorber material for plasmapheresis and a pharmaceutical composition namely in form of anti-BSP antibodies for direct administration which are biocompatible in humans. The beneficial effects of this therapy have been proven by the observed correspondence between levels of circulating free BSP levels and mortality of CKD patients.

Abstract: Method of diagnosis and prognosis of contrast media induced nephropathy (CIN) including the steps of i) taking a urine sample from a patient exposed to the application of contrast media, notably patients subjected to coronary angiography; ii) assessing the level of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) in the urine sample obtained in step (i); iii) relating the urinary vitamin D binding protein level determined in step (ii) to a pre-selected threshold level. A urinary vitamin D binding protein level higher than the pre-selected threshold level indicates that the patient is at risk of renal failure and in need of a dialysis treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel therapy concept based on a removal of circulation BSP (bone sialoprotein) from the plasma of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), preferably by plasmapheresis or an administration of antibodies against BSP in plasma. The present invention further provides a BSP absorber material for plasmapheresis and a pharmaceutical composition namely in form of anti-BSP antibodies for direct administration which are biocompatible in humans. The beneficial effects of this therapy have been proven by the observed correspondence between levels of circulating free BSP levels and mortality of CKD patients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating and/or preventing podocytes related disorders and/or nephrotic syndrome comprising the administration of an effective amount of a certain DPP-4 inhibitor, as well as to the use of a certain DPP-4 inhibitor for treating and/or preventing a metabolic disease in a patient with or at risk of podocytes related disorders and/or nephrotic syndrome.

Abstract: Method of diagnosis and prognosis of contrast media induced nephropathy (CIN) comprising the steps of i) taking a urine sample from a patient exposed to the application of contrast media, notably patients subjected to coronary angiography; ii) assessing the level of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) in the urine sample obtained in step (i); iii) relating the urinary vitamin D binding protein level determined in step (ii) to a pre-selected threshold level, wherein a urinary vitamin D binding level higher than said pre-selected threshold level indicates that the patient is at risk of renal failure and in need of a dialysis treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating and/or preventing podocytes related disorders and/or nephrotic syndrome comprising the administration of an effective amount of a certain DPP-4 inhibitor, as well as to the use of a certain DPP-4 inhibitor for treating and/or preventing a metabolic disease in a patient with or at risk of podocytes related disorders and/or nephrotic syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating and/or preventing podocytes related disorders and/or nephrotic syndrome comprising the administration of an effective amount of a certain DPP-4 inhibitor, as well as to the use of a certain DPP-4 inhibitor for treating and/or preventing a metabolic disease in a patient with or at risk of podocytes related disorders and/or nephrotic syndrome.

Abstract: A new method of in vitro monitoring and assessing the need of a medication which interferes with the regulation of the parathyroid hormone level in a kidney patient subject to oxidative stress, notably hemodialysis patients. FIG. 1 shows the distribution of n-oxPTH concentrations in 340 hemodialysis patients (224 men and 116 women) with a median age of 66 years (IQR, 56 to 75 years), a median time since initiation of dialysis (dialysis vintage) of 266 days (IQR, 31 to 1209 days), and a median dialysis dose (kt/V) of 1.2 (IQR, 1.1 to 1.3). The cause of chronic kidney disease was nephrosclerosis in 113 cases (33%), diabetic nephropathy in 107 cases (31%), chronic glomerular nephritis in 29 cases (9%), polycystic kidney disease in 9 cases (3%) and other/unknown in 82 cases (24%). The median n-oxPTH concentration was 5.9 ng/L (IQR, 2.4 to 14.0 ng/L). n-oxPTH concentrations were not different in men and women (5.9 ng/L; IQR, 2.4 to 14.2 ng/L; n=224; vs. 5.5 ng/L; IQR, 2.4 to 14.0 ng/L; n=1 16; p=0.915).

Abstract: Method for obtaining an antibody or antibody fragment to a conformational epitope specific for oxidized, inactive human parathyroid hormone and fragments thereof; a method for removal of oxidized, inactive human parathyroid hormone from a sample of body fluid; methods of determining the concentration of active parathyroid hormone in a sample, and an in vitro method of diagnosis of renal failure or secondary hyperthyroidism in patients on dialysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating and/or preventing podocytes related disorders and/or nephrotic syndrome comprising the administration of an effective amount of a certain DPP-4 inhibitor, as well as to the use of a certain DPP-4 inhibitor for treating and/or preventing a metabolic disease in a patient with or at risk of podocytes related disorders and/or nephrotic syndrome.

Abstract: Described herein are pharmaceutical combinations comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a first selective adenosine A1 antagonist and a first radiocontrast media. A kit comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the combination of a first selective adenosine A1 antagonist and a first radiocontrast media is also described herein.

Abstract: Described herein are pharmaceutical combinations comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a first selective adenosine A1 antagonist and a first radiocontrast media. In one embodiment the selective adenosine A1 antagonist comprises 4-[(2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amino]-trans-cyclohexanol methanesulfonate and/or (4S)-4-hydroxy-1-(2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)-L-prolinamide methanesulfonate. Also described are the use of a first selective adenosine A1 antagonist in the treatment of radiocontrast media induced nephropathy. Furthermore, a kit comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a first selective adenosine A1 antagonist and a first radiocontrast media is also described herein.

Abstract: Treatment and/or inhibition of renal dysfunction, disease or disorder in larger mammals, and particularly in humans, especially in human patients suffering from diabetes, using benzazepine-N-acetic acid derivatives which contain an oxo-group in the ?-position to the nitrogen atom and are substituted in position 3 by a 1-(carboxyalkyl)cyclopentylcarbonylamino radical, and/or salts or biolabile esters or physiologically acceptable solvates thereof, and production of pharmaceutical compositions and products suitable for treatment and/or inhibition of renal dysfunction, disease or disorder, particularly in diabetic patients, but also in patients with syndrome X or in patients with a renal dysfunction, disease and/or disorder, which patients are additionally hypertensive, obese, hyperglycemic and/or subject to a metabolic disorder.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of characterising life expectancy of human individuals on the basis of measured relaxin levels. In one aspect of the invention the human individuals are end-stage-kidney-disease patients.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least one proteasome inhibitor, preferably in the form of a threonine protease inhibitor, in the treatment of fibrotic diseases, espeially fibrotic diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Abstract: Treatment and/or inhibition of renal dysfunction, disease or disorder in larger mammals, and particularly in humans, especially in human patients suffering from diabetes, using benzazepine-N-acetic acid derivatives which contain an oxo-group in the ?-position to the nitrogen atom and are substituted in position 3 by a 1-(carboxyalkyl)cyclopentylcarbonylamino radical, and/or salts or biolabile esters or physiologically acceptable solvates thereof, and production of pharmaceutical compositions and products suitable for treatment and/or inhibition of renal dysfunction, disease or disorder, particularly in diabetic patients, but also in patients with syndrome X or in patients with a renal dysfunction, disease and/or disorder, which patients are additionally hypertensive, obese, hyperglycemic and/or subject to a metabolic disorder.