Glossary

Data transmitted to sickness funds as part of the billing process or to federal agencies like the German Federal Statistics Office due to legal requirements. In Germany, this includes information about coded diagnoses and procedures.

Antibodies are proteins that bind specifically to a particular substance, its antigen. Antibodies are known collectively as immunoglobulins. They are produced by B-lymphocytes and plasma cells in response to infection or immunization, and bind to and neutralize pathogens, thus preparing them for uptake and destruction of phagocytes.

Morbid accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, a medical condition also known as hydroperitoneum or abdominal dropsy. The term malignant ascites is used when the condition is caused by a tumor disease.

Polyclonal antibody that specifically binds to the patients T-lymphocytes and helps suppress the patient rejection of the transplanted organ. The antibody is used for organ transplants as well as for stem cell transplantation in some countries.

An expansion of the therapy options to more effectively influence the bone and mineral change in patients with chronic kidney disease. Calcimetics are administered when the thyroid gland is hyperactive, as is often the case with dialysis patients.

The CompoFlow concept consists of three components: the blood component separator CompoMat G5, the CompoFlow blood bag system and a portable device for opening the CompoFlow blood bags. This concept prevents errors that can occur if the caps are opened manually.

Mixing of different solutions or components for IV or parenteral nutrition therapy.

Fluids which contain electrolytes like sodium or chloride. Crystalloids are used for fluid therapy in order to replace lost fluids by patients. By using crystalloids one can achieve a short-term compensation of blood loss. Moreover, crystalloids can be used as carrier solutions for intravenously administered drugs.

Form of renal replacement therapy where a semipermeable membrane – in peritoneal dialysis the peritoneum of the patient, in hemodialysis the membrane of the dialyzer is used to clean a patient’s blood.

The hemodialysis process is controlled by a dialysis machine which pumps blood, adds anticoagulants, regulates the cleansing process, and controls the mixture of dialysate and its flow rate through the system.

Fluid used in the process of dialysis in order to remove the filtred out substances and excess water from the blood.

Special filter used in hemodialysis for removing toxic substances, waste products of metabolic processes and and excess water from the blood. The dialyzer is sometimes referred to as the “artificial kidney”.

Application of liquid nutrition as a tube or sip feed via the gastrointestinal tract.

Hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. Recombinant (i. e. artificially produced) human EPO is commonly prescribed to patients on dialysis who suffer from anemia.

Potable water, used to feed the purification units for production of pure water (Purified Water, Water for Injections).

Official authority for food observation and drug registration in the USA.

Rejection of a transplanted organ, caused by T-cells in the donor graft that attack the host organism.

Primary health care refers to markets, in which basic infrastructure, health posts and rural hospitals are available. Secondary health care refers to markets, in which general hospitals, specialist’s clinics and rehabilitation are available. Tertiary health care refers to markets, in which maximum care, teaching hospitals, university clinics, centres of excellence are available.

Special type of ESRD (end-stage renal disease) treatment combining the advantages of hemodialysis and hemofiltration, i. e. high elimination rates are achieved for substances with small and large molecular weight via diffusive and convective mechanisms respectively.

A treatment method for dialysis patients where the blood of the patient is cleansed by a dialyzer. The solute exchange between blood and dialysate is dominated by diffusive processes.

Administration of a drug directly into the peritoneal cavity.

Application of nutrients directly into the bloodstream of the patient (intravenously). This is necessary if the condition of a patient does not allow to absorb and metabolise essential nutrients orally or as sip and tube feed in a sufficient quantity.

Dialysis treatment method using the patient’s peritoneum as a “filter” to cleanse his blood.

Antibodies that recognize one specific structure, but are produced by different cell clones.

The prevalence of a disease in a statistical population defines the total number of cases of a disease in the population at a given time, or the total number of cases in the population based on a fix number – usually 10,000 or one million – of individuals in the population.

Public-private partnership (PPP) describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies. PPP accompanies in most cases with a part-privatization of governmental services.

The three-chamber bag contains all the macronutrients like – amino acids, glucose, lipids and as well electrolytes in three separate chambers. Immediately before infusion all nutrients are mixed thoroughly within the bag simply by opening individual chambers. This reduces the risk of contamination and saves time when preparing the infusions

Antibodies that bind to three different cell types in parallel (e. g. tumor cells, T-cells and accessory cells) resulting in a tumor-specific immune reaction.

Interdisciplinary facility for outpatient care, managed by a physician. Potential shareholders of the medical care center include all service providers (such as physicians, pharmacists, health care facilities) which are authorized to treat patients with statutory health insurance.

The wage sum inflator is the percentage change in the relevant income base for health insurance premiums of all members of the statutory health insurance system determined annually by the Federal German Ministry of Health. It serves as the basis for the annual negotiation of the price increases for hospital services.

The beta factor shows the correlation of a share to a specific index. ß > 1 means: the share is fluctuating more than the index. ß = 1 means: the share movements are in line with the index. ß < 1 means: the share is fluctuating less than the index.

Financial key figure that shows the net balance of incoming and outgoing payments during a reporting period.

Is short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in need of short-term loans. Typically commercial paper maturities range from a few days up to under two years.

Measures for adherence to laws and company policies.

Designation in international parlance for company management and company controlling focused on responsible, long-term value creation.

Indicates the average number of days it takes for a receivable to be paid. A shorter DSO results in less interest for the creditor and a lower risk of default.

Earnings before interest and income taxes.

Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

A German legal form meaning partnership limited by shares. An entity with its own legal identity in which at least one general partner has full liability (personally liable shareholder, or Komplementäraktionär), while the other shareholders have an interest in the capital stock divided into shares without being personally liable for the debts of the company.

Organic growth is growth that is generated by a company’s existing businesses and not by acquisitions, divestitures or foreign exchange impact.

The rating is a classification of the creditworthiness of a company accepted on the international capital market. It is published by independent rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s or Fitch based on a company analysis.

The ROE measures a corporation’s profitability that reveals how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested. ROE = fiscal year’s net income/total equity x 100.

Calculated by: (EBIT – taxes): Invested capital
Invested capital = total assets + amortization of goodwill (accumulated) – deferred tax assets – cash and cash equivalents – trade accounts payable – accruals (without pension accruals) – other liabilities not bearing interest.

Calculated by: EBIT x 100: operating assets (average)
Operating assets = total assets – deferred tax assets – trade accounts payable – payments received on account – approved subsidies.

Legal form of a European stock corporation. The supranational legal entity is based on the European Community law. Subject to the European regulations, the SE is treated in all member states of the European Union as a stock corporation according to the national law of the member state in which the SE is incorporated.

Current assets (including deferred assets) – accruals – trade accounts payable – other liabilities – deferred charges.

Electronic trading system of Deutsche Börse AG to buy or sell stocks, foreign currencies or other financial instruments.