Methods are described for determining the amount of insulin in a sample. Provided herein are mass spectrometric methods for detecting and quantifying insulin and C-peptide in a biological sample utilizing enrichment and/or purification methods coupled with tandem mass spectrometric or high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometric techniques. Also provided herein are mass spectrometric methods for detecting and quantifying insulin and b-chain in a biological sample utilizing enrichment and/or purification methods coupled with tandem mass spectrometric or high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometric techniques.

The present invention concerns the antidiabetic activity of compounds type A, namely of 8-β-D-glucosylgenistein, which is not toxic to eukaryotic cells and has demonstrated to produce complete normalization of fasting hyperglycaemia, to reduce excessive postprandial glucose excursion, to increase glucose-induced insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. An alternative synthesis for this molecular entity and its binding ability to β-amyloid oligomers is also included in the present invention, which also comprises Genista tenera ethyl acetate extract for use as antihyperglycaemic agent i.e. for lowering blood glucose levels in mammals that are pre-diabetic or have type 2 or type 1 diabetes.

The inhibitory activity of β-glucosidase by Genista tenera ethyl acetate and butanol extracts and that of glucose-6-phosphastase by these two extracts and the diethyl ether plant extract is also part of the present invention.

The present disclosure is directed to novel methods of treating type-1 or type-2 diabetes by inactivating TLR2 and TLR4 genes together in cells capable of producing insulin and/or regenerating β cells, and providing the cells to a subject in need thereof.

The present disclosure provides a biochemical basis of nephrotic syndrome and provides and explanation for the observed proteinuria and other effects. As a result, the present disclosure provides method for treating and/or preventing nephrotic syndrome as well as methods of alleviating symptoms associated with nephrotic syndrome. The present disclosure further provides methods for reducing proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome and other disease states as discussed herein.

The methods include selectively reducing or expanding T cells according to the antigenic specificity of the T cells. Therefore, the present invention can be used to reduce or eliminate pathogenic T cells that recognize autoantigens, such as beta cell specific T cells. As such, the present invention can be used to prevent, treat or ameliorate autoimmune diseases such as IDDM. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to expand desirable T cells, such as anti-pathogenic T cells to prevent, treat and/or ameliorate autoimmune diseases.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating or preventing hyperglycemia and diseases associated with hyperglycemia. In certain embodiments, the composition comprises a peptide having the amino acid sequence KRSCYK wherein the peptide consists of D-amino acids is useful in treating or preventing diabetes. In some aspects, the peptide of the invention is encapsulated in a nanoparticle.

A method for measuring a glycated protein in a sample, the method comprising (1) a step of allowing a sample in which a degradation product has been generated from a glycated protein by a protease to react with an oxidoreductase in the presence of an electron mediator to generate a reduced electron mediator; and (2) a step of detecting the reaction state in the step (1) by an electrochemical technique using an interdigitated electrode.

In various embodiments methods are provided for evaluating the likelihood of a subject progressing to type 1 diabetes. In certain embodiments the methods involve determining the level of CD57+, CD28−, CD127−, CD27−, CD8+ T cells (SLEC CD8 T cells) and the other populations shown in FIG. 10 and/or CCR7.sup.dim, CD45RA+, CD8+ T cells derived from a subject where an elevated level of the first populations above, and/or a reduced level of the CCR7.sup.dim, CD45RA+, CD8+ T cells as compared to the level(s) in a normal healthy control is an indicator that subject has a significant elevated risk for progression to type I diabetes.

Provided herein are processes for detecting oligosaccharides in a biological sample. In specific instances, the biological sample is provided from an individual suffering from a disorder associated with abnormal glycosaminoglycan accumulation.

Provided herein are reagents, methods and biochemical markers for identifying individuals with glucoregulatory dysfunction and providing therapeutic intervention for individuals identified as at risk for glucoregulatory dysfunction. Specifically provided herein are methods for identifying a subject with glucoregulatory dysfunction based on changes in fasting blood lipid concentrations including, inter alia, diacylglycerols.