Abstract: Compositions and methods for supporting health, especially renal health, comprising ketonic agents that recapitulate beneficial effects of ketosis by exogenously administered agents. The agents include beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), analogs thereof, and GPR109A agonists. The agents may further include crystal precipitation inhibitors which synergistically improve treatment of certain renal conditions, such as citrate. The agents may be used in dietary supplements and therapeutic compositions for the treatment of cystic kidney diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, ciliopathies, and other conditions. Certain formulations enable convenient administration of the beneficial combination product in powdered form for mixing with liquid. Such formulations can be salt-balanced, and may be free of sodium and/or silicates, and are well tolerated. The formulations may be provided in a container and measuring implement to enable convenient measurement of dosages.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for supporting health, especially renal health, comprising ketonic agents that recapitulate beneficial effects of ketosis by exogenously administered agents. The agents include BHB, analogs thereof, and GPR109A agonists. The agents may further include crystal precipitation inhibitors which synergistically improve treatment of certain renal conditions. The agents may be used in dietary supplements and therapeutic compositions for the treatment of cystic kidney diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, ciliopathies, and other conditions.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for supporting health, especially renal health, comprising ketonic agents that recapitulate beneficial effects of ketosis by exogenously administered agents. The agents include BHB, analogs thereof, and GPR109A agonists. The agents may further include crystal precipitation inhibitors which synergistically improve treatment of certain renal conditions. The agents may be used in dietary supplements and therapeutic compositions for the treatment of cystic kidney diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, ciliopathies, and other conditions.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for supporting health, especially renal health, comprising ketonic agents that recapitulate beneficial effects of ketosis by exogenously administered agents. The agents include BHB, analogs thereof, and GPR109A agonists. The agents may further include crystal precipitation inhibitors which synergistically improve treatment of certain renal conditions. The agents may be used in dietary supplements and therapeutic compositions for the treatment of cystic kidney diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, ciliopathies, and other conditions.

Abstract: The invention comprises the administration of dimeric IgA or pentameric IgM antibodies to animals, including human patients, suffering from a disease state wherein the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor is expressed, such antibodies comprising antibodies that will neutralize one or more growth factors associated with the disease state, or their receptors, in order to diminish the onset, progression, and growth of diseased tissues. The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor is expressed in diseased tissues such as in the apical membranes of cyst-lining cells in polycystic kidney disease.

Abstract: Two members of the SNARE membrane fusion machinery, syntaxin 2 and endobrevin/VAMP-8, have been found to be important to cytokinesis in mammalian cells. Inhibition of syntaxin 2 and endobrevin/VAMP-8 function by over-expression of non-membrane anchored mutants of these proteins causes failure of cytokinesis leading to the formation of binucleated cells. Time-lapse microscopy shows that only midbody abscission is prevented by over-expression of these non-membrane anchored mutants, and that other cellular events preceeding midbody abscission, such as furrowing, are unaffected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods for detecting and evaluating urological cancers and in particular renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The methods of the present invention are based on the discovery that extracellular matrix proteins are absent or decreased in the urine of patients-with RCC and are diagnostic markers for the detection of RCC. Furthermore, the methods of the present invention are based on the discovery that metalloproteinases (MP) activity determined by extacellular matrix protein degradation is increased in patients with urological cancers and are diagnostic markers for the detection of these cancers. Diagnostic agents and methods for detecting the presence of RCC in biological samples such as urine are disclosed. A kit for detecting the extracellular matrix proteins, degradation fragments of extracellular matrix proteins, and activity of MPs are also disclosed.