Abstract: A method for treating or preventing cardiac hypertrophy in a mammal, comprising manipulating levels of RBP, retinoids, or an affiliated signaling and regulatory pathway in the mammal. Preferably, the method comprises reducing or inhibiting the level of RBP or retinoids or their signaling pathway, or an affiliated signaling pathway, via a dietary, genetic, protein-based, or pharmacologic approach, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical composition suitable for the method.

Abstract: Peptide inhibitors of dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase type IV (DP-IV) are provided. The peptide inhibitors have an isomeric purity of about 96–99 percent. The peptide inhibitors include one or more amino acids covalently coupled to boroproline moiety. The compounds are useful as DP-IV inhibitors, in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract: An inhibitory compound having the structure: Group I-Group II. Group I has the structure: where H represents a hydrogen; C represents a carbon; O represents an oxygen; N represents a nitrogen; each R, independently, is chosen from the group consisting of the R groups of an amino acid, including proline; each broken line, independently, represents a bond to an H or a bond to one R group, and each H′ represents that bond or a hydrogen; and p is an integer between 0 and 4 inclusive. Alternatively Group I has the structure: where n is between 0 and 3 inclusive, each G2 and G3 independently is H or C1-3 (one to three carbon atoms) alkyl, G1 is NH3 (H3 represents three hydrogens), (H2 represents two hydrogens), or where G5 and G6 can be NH, H, or C1-3 alkyl or alkenyl with one or more carbons substituted with a nitrogen. G1 bears a charge, and G1 and Group II do not form a covalently bonded ring structure at pH 7.0.

Abstract: An inhibitory compound having the structure: Group I-Group II.