Provided herein are methods and compositions related to a method of stimulating the immune system in a subject in need thereof by administering an agent that increases the level or activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) and/or aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr).

The present invention provides a method for measuring the gastric acidity of a mammal using a .sup.13C-labeled carbonate compound. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for measuring the gastric acidity of a mammal including the following steps:

(1) using, as a test sample, expired air of a mammalian subject excreted at any point in time within 30 minutes after oral administration of a predetermined amount of a .sup.13C-labeled carbonate compound, measuring behavior of .sup.13CO.sub.2 in the expired air;

(2) comparing the behavior of .sup.13CO.sub.2 (measured .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior) obtained in step (1) with the behavior of corresponding .sup.13CO.sub.2 (reference .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior) that has been obtained beforehand in a control mammal; and

(3) determining the gastric acidity of the mammalian subject based on a difference between the reference .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior and the measured .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior obtained above.

The present invention provides a method for measuring the gastric acidity of a mammal using a .sup.13C-labeled carbonate compound. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for measuring the gastric acidity of a mammal including the following steps:

(1) using, as a test sample, expired air of a mammalian subject excreted at any point in time within 30 minutes after oral administration of a predetermined amount of a .sup.13C-labeled carbonate compound, measuring behavior of .sup.13CO.sub.2 in the expired air;

(2) comparing the behavior of .sup.13CO.sub.2 (measured .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior) obtained in step (1) with the behavior of corresponding .sup.13CO.sub.2 (reference .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior) that has been obtained beforehand in a control mammal; and

(3) determining the gastric acidity of the mammalian subject based on a difference between the reference .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior and the measured .sup.13CO.sub.2 behavior obtained above.

The present invention relates to compounds which modulate (e.g., inhibit) the activity of beta-hydrolase (e.g., ASPH), including novel 2-aryl-5-amino-3(2H)-furanone and 2-heteroaryl-5-amino-3(2H)-furanone compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for their synthesis, and methods of using these compounds to modulate the activity of ASPH in an a cell-free sample, a cell-based assay, and in a subject. Other aspects of the invention relate to use of the compounds disclosed herein to ameliorate or treat cell proliferation disorders.

The present invention relates to compounds which modulate (e.g., inhibit) the activity of beta-hydrolase (e.g., ASPH), including novel 2-aryl-5-amino-3(2H)-furanone and 2-heteroaryl-5-amino-3(2H)-furanone compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for their synthesis, and methods of using these compounds to modulate the activity of ASPH in an a cell-free sample, a cell-based assay, and in a subject. Other aspects of the invention relate to use of the compounds disclosed herein to ameliorate or treat cell proliferation disorders.

Seminaphthofluorophore-selenium probes are disclosed. The probes include a seminaphthofluorophore scaffold substituted with at least one diselenide moiety having a formula —Y—C(Q)O—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—Se—Se—(CH.sub.2).sub.n—OR.sup.f, where R.sup.f is hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl, Q is O or S, Y is O or N(R.sup.g) where R.sup.g is H or alkyl, and m and n independently are integers. The probes may be used to detect presence of a thioredoxin reductase.

Seminaphthofluorophore-selenium probes are disclosed. The probes include a seminaphthofluorophore scaffold substituted with at least one diselenide moiety having a formula —Y—C(Q)O—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—Se—Se—(CH.sub.2).sub.n—OR.sup.f, where R.sup.f is hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkyl, Q is O or S, Y is O or N(R.sup.g) where R.sup.g is H or alkyl, and m and n independently are integers. The probes may be used to detect presence of a thioredoxin reductase.

Herein the inventors demonstrate that mineralization is a natural ability of cells cultured with at least two elements: calcium and acyclic alkane phosphoester salt or inorganic phosphate salt. The present invention provides methods for producing hydroxyapatite (HAP) in cell culture by supplying cells with these elements. The natural HAP crystals produced by these methods may be utilized in biomedical applications such as bone grafting. Also provided are methods of measuring organic phosphates in a sample from a subject and methods of measuring the glycerophosphates in a sample from a subject.

Herein the inventors demonstrate that mineralization is a natural ability of cells cultured with at least two elements: calcium and acyclic alkane phosphoester salt or inorganic phosphate salt. The present invention provides methods for producing hydroxyapatite (HAP) in cell culture by supplying cells with these elements. The natural HAP crystals produced by these methods may be utilized in biomedical applications such as bone grafting. Also provided are methods of measuring organic phosphates in a sample from a subject and methods of measuring the glycerophosphates in a sample from a subject.

The present invention features biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of dermatological diseases, e.g., psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The disclosure provides a minimally invasive method of determining levels of biomarkers (e.g., NOS2/iNOS) in surface skin samples.