The present application demonstrates that sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) acts as a cellular lipoamidase that negatively regulates pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) activity through hydrolysis of its lipoamide cofactors.

The present invention provides methods for producing disulfide oxidoreductase A (DsbA) and disulfide oxidoreductase C (DsbC) polypeptides at very high levels of purity. Also provided are ultrapure DsbA and DsbC and methods of using same, e.g., for use in immunoassays to show removal of DsbA and DsbC from biologics produced in bacteria.

Biomarkers for pre-Diabetes, Diabetes and/or a Diabetes related conditions, and methods of their use, including the biomarkers in Tables 1 and 2 such as peroxiredoxin-2, complement C1q subcomponent subunit B, sulfhydryl oxidase 1 and apolipoprotein A-IV.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a Mycobacterium infection by administering to the subject a therapeutically-effective amount of a degradative autophagy agonist or a secretory autophagy antagonist. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from one or more diseases selected from the group consisting of a Mycobacterium infection, an inflammatory disorder, an immune disorder, a cancer and a neurodegenerative disorder by administering to the subject a therapeutically-effective amount of a TBK-1 antagonist (e.g. BX795 or amlexanox). Related pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostic and screening assays and kits are also provided.

The application discloses Quiescin Q6 as a new biomarker for acute heart failure. Methods for determining the quantity of Quiescin Q6 in a sample from a subject are described. The quantity of Quiescin Q6 is determined by contacting the sample with one or more binding agents capable of specifically binding to Quiescin Q6.

The present invention relates to an epidithiodioxopiperazine derivative represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 or its reduced derivative; a method for preparing a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 having improved intracellular permeability and mimicking the activity of 2-Cys-Prx in its reduced form in the cells; a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating vascular diseases comprising an epidithiodioxopiperazine compound or its derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient; a drug delivery device for local administration including the pharmaceutical composition; and a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting melanoma metastasis comprising the epidithiodioxopiperazine compound or its derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient.

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A system for rapid multimodal detection of anaerobic SRB in a fluid test sample via integrative spectral comparison includes a compact, mini, or advanced assay reader with sample compartments configured to receive assay samples for comparison with respective spectral reference standards. The assay reader includes one or more excitation sources configured to emit light at wavelengths selected to facilitate colorigenic and/or fluorogenic analysis of the assay samples. The system includes a kit with one or more first reagents formulated to form a first assay sample indicating a level of H.sub.2S in the fluid test sample, and one or more second reagents formulated to form a second assay sample indicating a level of enzymatic activity of anaerobic SRB species. The kit also includes one or more oxygen scavengers to maintain an anaerobic environment.

The present invention provides methods for producing disulfide oxidoreductase A (DsbA) and disulfide oxidoreductase C (DsbC) polypeptides at very high levels of purity. Also provided are ultrapure DsbA and DsbC and methods of using same, e.g., for use in immunoassays to show removal of DsbA and DsbC from biologics produced in bacteria.

The present invention relates to an epidithiodioxopiperazine derivative represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 or its reduced derivative; a method for preparing a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 having improved intracellular permeability and mimicking the activity of 2-Cys-Prx in its reduced form in the cells; a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating vascular diseases comprising an epidithiodioxopiperazine compound or its derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient; a drug delivery device for local administration including the pharmaceutical composition; and a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting melanoma metastasis comprising the epidithiodioxopiperazine compound or its derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient. ##STR00001##

Biomarkers for pre-Diabetes, Diabetes and/or a Diabetes related conditions, and methods of their use, including the biomarkers in Tables 1 and 2 such as peroxiredoxin-2, complement C1q subcomponent subunit B, sulfhydryl oxidase 1 and apolipoprotein A-IV.