Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining and treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a subject, comprising the following steps: (1) measuring a concentration of an autoantibody against high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) in a biological sample from the subject; and (2) administering an effective amount of ALS-treating drug to the subject whose measured concentration of the autoantibody against HMGB1 is higher than 0.874 ?g/ml.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining and treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a subject, comprising the following steps: (1) measuring a concentration of an autoantibody against high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) in a biological sample from the subject; and (2) administering an effective amount of ALS-treating drug to the subject whose measured concentration of the autoantibody against HMGB1 is higher than 0.874 ?g/ml.

Abstract: Provided is a method for diagnosis of schizophrenia, which comprises: detecting G72 gene product in a body fluid sample from a subject by an assay to determine G72 expression level; comparing said G72 expression level to a baseline G72 expression; and relating the G72 expression level to the patient's risk of schizophrenia by assigning an increased risk of schizophrenia when said G72 expression level is greater than said baseline G72 expression. Through detecting G72 expression level in a peripheral sample, the method can be simply performed by an in vitro assay and accurately predict or diagnose a subject with schizophrenia.

Abstract: Provided is a method for diagnosis of schizophrenia, which comprises: detecting G72 gene product in a body fluid sample from a subject by an assay to determine G72 expression level; comparing said G72 expression level to a baseline G72 expression; and relating the G72 expression level to the patient's risk of schizophrenia by assigning an increased risk of schizophrenia when said G72 expression level is greater than said baseline G72 expression. Through detecting G72 expression level in a peripheral sample, the method can be simply performed by an in vitro assay and accurately predict or diagnose a subject with schizophrenia.

Abstract: Provided is a method for diagnosis of schizophrenia, which comprises: detecting G72 gene product in a body fluid sample from a subject by an assay to determine G72 expression level; comparing said G72 expression level to a baseline G72 expression; and relating the G72 expression level to the patient's risk of schizophrenia by assigning an increased risk of schizophrenia when said G72 expression level is greater than said baseline G72 expression. Through detecting G72 expression level in a peripheral sample, the method can be simply performed by an in vitro assay and accurately predict or diagnose a subject with schizophrenia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining a risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a subject, comprising the following steps: (1) measuring a concentration of an autoantibody against HMGB1 in a biological sample from the subject; and (2) comparing the measured concentration of the autoantibody against HMGB1 with a control value for autoantibody against HMGB1; wherein a difference between the measured concentration of the autoantibody against HMGB1 from the biological sample and the control value for autoantibody against HMGB1 is indicative of the risk of ALS in the subject.

Abstract: A diagnostic marker for determining of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), comprising an autoantibody against a human protein HMGB1 is described. A diagnostic kit for determining of a patient with ALS, comprising: (a) an HMGB1 protein; and (b) an HMGB1 antibody standard is also presented. A method of determining ALS in a subject, comprising the steps: (a) detecting autoantibody against HMGB1 in a biological sample taken from the subject and normal control individuals; and (b) statistically comparing concentrations of the autoantibody against HMGB1 in the subject with that of the normal control individuals obtained from step (a); wherein a higher concentration of the autoantibody against HMGB1 in the subject than a cut-off concentration indicates the subject suffers from ALS is further described.