Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include methods to treat cancer in animals by administering an SCD inhibitor. Other embodiments include treating cancer in animals where the SCD gene inhibitor is absent in one or both chromatids by administering an SCD inhibitor. Still other embodiments include treating cancer in animals by administering an SCD inhibitor where the SCD gene is absent in one or both chromatids and the animal has a daily intake of one or more of (a) a specified amount of total fat, (b) a specified amount of total fatty acid, (c) a specified amount of total monounsaturated fatty acid, or (d) a specified amount of total oleic acid. Additional embodiments of the invention are also discussed herein.

Abstract: Methods of treating or preventing axonal degradation in neuropathic diseases and neurological disorders in mammals are disclosed. The methods can comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts at least in part by increasing sirtuin AMPK activity, LKB1 activity and/or CaMKK? activity in diseased and/or injured neurons. The methods can also comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts by increasing NAD activity in diseased and/or injured neurons, alone or in combination with agents that act by other mechanisms. Also disclosed are methods of screening agents for treating a neuropathies and recombinant vectors for treating or preventing such neuropathies.

Abstract: Methods of treating or preventing axonal degradation in neuropathic diseases and neurological disorders in mammals are disclosed. The methods can comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts at least in part by increasing sirtuin AMPK activity, LKB1 activity and/or CaMKK? activity in diseased and/or injured neurons. The methods can also comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts by increasing NAD activity in diseased and/or injured neurons, alone or in combination with agents that act by other mechanisms. Also disclosed are methods of screening agents for treating a neuropathies and recombinant vectors for treating or preventing such neuropathies.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for decreasing stem cell proliferation, including cancer stem cell proliferation. These methods comprise administering to stem cells inhibitors of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). Methods for promoting stem cell growth by increasing stem cell proliferation, self-renewal and/or differentiation are also disclosed. These methods comprise administering AMPK activators to stem cells. Methods of achieving selective differentiation of stem cells are also disclosed. These methods comprise administering small molecules to stem cells that modulate AMPK activity. Applications of these methods are also disclosed, such as methods of increasing numbers of neuronal progenitor cells. These methods can be used therapeutically, such as for repair of spinal cord injuries, or for stimulating neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and other cell-based therapies. The methods can also be used for screening of compounds that can be activators or inhibitors of AMPK activity.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for decreasing stem cell proliferation, including cancer stem cell proliferation. These methods comprise administering to stem cells inhibitors of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). Methods for promoting stem cell growth by increasing stem cell proliferation, self-renewal and/or differentiation are also disclosed. These methods comprise administering AMPK activators to stem cells. Methods of achieving selective differentiation of stem cells are also disclosed. These methods comprise administering small molecules to stem cells that modulate AMPK activity. Applications of these methods are also disclosed, such as methods of increasing numbers of neuronal progenitor cells. These methods can be used therapeutically, such as for repair of spinal cord injuries, or for stimulating neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and other cell-based therapies. The methods can also be used for screening of compounds that can be activators or inhibitors of AMPK activity.

Abstract: Methods of treating or preventing axonal degradation in neuropathic diseases and neurological disorders in mammals are disclosed. The methods can comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts at least in part by increasing sirtuinAMPK activity, LKB 1 activity and/or CaMKK? activity in diseased and/or injured neurons. The methods can also comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts by increasing NAD activity in diseased and/or injured neurons, alone or in combination with agents that act by other mechanisms. Also disclosed are methods of screening agents for treating a neuropathies and recombinant vectors for treating or preventing such neuropathies.