Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of diagnosing a disease or predicting an increased risk of a disease, such as obesity, obesity-dependent subacute inflammation, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and a metabolic disease, by determining the levels of omentin 1 and 2 protein in a subject, or by determining the levels of omentin 1 and 2 gene expression in a subject. The present invention is also directed to methods of disease treatment using omentin 1 protein and omentin 2 protein.

Abstract: Novel alanine transaminase (ALT) polypeptides and the use thereof as a diagnostic marker to predict and monitor tissue damage and/or tissue malfunction. The ALT polypeptides are murine and/or rattus ALT polypeptides and said ALT polypeptides are used to detect, predict and/or determine hepatic processes of an animal, particularly mice and/or rats.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to diagnosis and treatment of essential hypertension. In this regard, the present invention discloses genetic variants in a hypertension susceptibility gene Stk39 and its use in the diagnosis and treatment of essential hypertension.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of diagnosing a disease or predicting an increased risk of a disease, such as obesity, obesity-dependent subacute inflammation, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and a metabolic disease, by determining the levels of omentin 1 and 2 protein in a subject, or by determining the levels of omentin 1 and 2 gene expression in a subject. The present invention is also directed to methods of disease treatment using omentin 1 protein and omentin 2 protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that acute-phase serum amyloid protein A (A-SAA) is a biomarker for obesity and certain abnormal conditions. The present invention, therefore, provides methods of diagnosing obesity or an abnormal condition in a subject The present invention also provides methods of monitoring the progression of obesity or an abnormal condition in a subject. The present invention also relates to treating obesity or an abnormal condition comprising reducing the levels of active SAA1 and/or SAA2 in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of determining an increased risk of a subject to acquire a trait of an obesity disorder or an obesity disorder, with the method comprising determining the genetic sequence of at least one taste receptor gene in the subject and reviewing the test genetic sequence(s) for the presence of at least one risk allele associated with at least one taste receptor. The presence of at least one difference in the test genetic sequence(s) and the presence of a risk allele associated with the taste receptor(s) may indicate an increased risk of the subject acquiring a trait of an obesity disorder or an obesity disorder.

Abstract: Novel alanine transaminase (ALT) polypeptides and the use thereof as a diagnostic marker to predict and monitor tissue damage and/or tissue malfunction. The ALT polypeptides are murine and/or rattus ALT polypeptides and said ALT polypeptides are used to detect, predict and/or determine hepatic processes of an animal, particularly mice and/or rats.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide characterized by a non-conservative missense mutation, Trp64Arg, in the .beta.3-adrenergic receptor (.beta.3AR) that increases susceptibility to obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM; type II diabetes). Also provided are methods of diagnosis and methods of treatment of subjects having or at risk of having type II diabetes/obesity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide characterized by a non-conservative missense mutation, Trp64Arg, in the .beta.3-adrenergic receptor (.beta.3AR) that increases susceptibility to obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM; type II diabetes). Also provided are methods of diagnosis and methods of treatment of subjects having or at risk of having type II diabetes/obesity.