As a result of dedicated studies, the present inventors succeeded in discovering, for the first time, that fibrogenesis could be suppressed at the physiological tissue level by inhibiting sulfation at position 4 or 6 of GalNAc, which is a sugar that constitutes sugar chains. Furthermore, the present inventors conducted studies using various disease model animals, and as a result, successfully demonstrated that inhibitors of sulfation at position 4 or 6 of GalNAc had therapeutic effects on diseases caused by tissue fibrogenesis (tissue fibrogenic disorders).

The present disclosure provides a method for detecting L-serine based on cysteine desulfurase-containing living Escherichia coli cells, and belongs to the technical field of amino acid detection. The method includes the following steps: incubating an unknown sample with the cysteine desulfurase-containing living E. coli cells to produce a red substance, and qualitatively or semi-quantitatively detecting L-serine content in the unknown sample according to color changes of the red substance of the living E. coli cells, or quantitatively detecting L-serine content in the unknown sample by measuring absorbance of a lysate of the living E. coli cells. The detection method provided by the present disclosure is simple and convenient in process, few in reaction steps and stable in enzymatic activity of living cells.

The present disclosure provides a method for detecting L-serine based on Escherichia coli cysteine desulfurase, and belongs to the technical field of amino acid detection. The method includes the steps of: reacting an unknown sample containing L-serine with E. coli cysteine desulfurase in vitro to produce a red substance, and qualitatively or quantitatively determining L-serine content in the unknown sample by observing a color of the red substance or determining content thereof. The method provided by the present disclosure is simple and feasible in technical operation, few in reaction steps, and capable of directly qualitatively detecting by naked eyes and quantitatively detecting the L-serine content.

The identification and the use of compounds which activate the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 is provided. An in vitro method for screening for candidate compounds includes: (a) bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of keratinocytes in vitro; (b) measuring the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, in the keratinocytes; and (c) selecting the compounds for which an activation of at least 1.4 fold of the expression of at least one of the LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1 genes is measured in the keratinocytes treated in (a) compared with the untreated keratinocytes. The candidate compounds may be useful for preventing and/or attenuating ageing, and/or for hydrating skin.

The presently disclosed invention relates to a method of diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a patient comprising obtaining a sample from the patient, determining a level of one or more H2S generating enzymes in the sample from the patient, and diagnosing the patient with MS when the level of the one or more H2S generating enzymes is one of at least 15% higher or lower than a control level for the one or more H2S generating enzymes, and at least 10% higher or lower than a control level for the one or more H2S generating enzymes.

Biomarkers to screen for, identify, and/or characterize lung cancer in a subject with high selectivity and high specificity are disclosed. Also disclosed herein are methods for distinguishing lung cancer from another disease. Also disclosed herein are substrates, arrays, and reagents for use in the methods, and methods of their preparation.

Methods for the diagnosis and prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as a Tauopathy or Alzheimer's disease, are described. Compositions and methods for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are also described.

Devices and methods for sensing analytes in a solution sample are provided. The device includes a substrate, a conversion component configured to convert the analyte in the sample solution into a metabolite, and an aptamer sensor configured to measure a presence of the metabolite, the aptamer sensor located on the substrate.

As a result of dedicated studies, the present inventors succeeded in discovering, for the first time, that fibrogenesis could be suppressed at the physiological tissue level by inhibiting sulfation at position 4 or 6 of GalNAc, which is a sugar that constitutes sugar chains. Furthermore, the present inventors conducted studies using various disease model animals, and as a result, successfully demonstrated that inhibitors of sulfation at position 4 or 6 of GalNAc had therapeutic effects on diseases caused by tissue fibrogenesis (tissue fibrogenic disorders).

Methods for the diagnosis and prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, are described. Compositions and method for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are also described.