Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for ameliorating low vasopressin level, which comprises, as an active ingredient, a substance capable of inhibiting the binding between parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and a receptor thereof; and an agent for ameliorating a symptom caused by a decrease in vasopressin level, which comprises, as an active ingredient, a substance capable of inhibiting the binding between parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and a receptor thereof.

Abstract: Bone metastasis and the efficacy of drugs in the treatment of malignant tumors such as breast cancer, prostatic cancer and lung cancer that cause the bone metastasis are diagnosed using a marker that reflects the activity of osteoblasts and a marker that reflects the action of osteoclasts.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting bone metastasis of a malignant tumor in a patient who has a cancer excluding breast cancer comprises administering to said patient an effective amount of a compound of the formula (III): wherein R2 represents a C1-C10 alkyl group substituted by one or more hydroxyl groups is provided.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical agents containing a compound of the general formula (I): wherein R1 represents —O—R2, —S—R2, —CH2—R2 or —CH═R2 where R2 represents a C1-C10 chain hydrocarbon group which may be substituted by one or more hydroxyl groups, and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group are useful as malignant tumor metastasis inhibitors without any especially strong side effects.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting bone metastasis of a malignant tumor in a patient who has a cancer excluding breast cancer comprises administering to said patient an effective amount of a compound of the formula (III): 1

Abstract: A screening method for detecting renal lesions in diabetic patients not yet exhibiting symptoms of nephropathy, comprising administering a predetermined dose of parathyroid hormone, analogue thereof or derivative thereof to the patients with an albumin excretion rate (AER) of microalbumin being below 15 .mu.g/min., measuring urinary excreted N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and urinary creatinine in urinary samples taken 60.+-.10 minutes before and after administration of PTH, and monitoring the increased ratio of urinary excreted NAG (U/g Cr) in post-administration of PTH to the urinary excreted NAG (U/g Cr) in pre-administration of PTH for a value less than 2.3. The screening method provides the possibility of detecting renal lesions without clinical signs of diabetic nephropathy, using a preparation essentially consisting of active ingredient of PTH.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions containing the polypeptides BUF-3, BUF-4 and BUF-5 have hypoglycemic activity. BUF-3 is a homodimer of monomer A shown in FIG. 1. The monomer has a molecular weight of 16.+-.1 kd. BUF-4 is a heterodimer of monomer A and monomer B (FIG. 2). These products can be produced by cell culture of malignant leukemia cells or by recombinant DNA engineering.