Abstract: The method includes storing a carotenoid pigment in a container that has an average spectral transmittance of 0.01 to 45.0% at a wavelength of 535 to 695 nm.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a gene expression regulating agent which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester as an effective ingredient; and a food and drink having an effect of regulating gene expression which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester. Abnormal gene expression due to, for example, oxidative stress can be treated, improved, and/or prevented, and diseases caused by the abnormal gene expression can be treated, improved, and/or prevented. A gene expression regulating agent which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester as an effective ingredient; and a food and drink having an effect of regulating gene expression which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester are provided and are useful for treating, improving, and/or preventing the symptom caused by the abnormal gene expression, that is, excessive expression or suppression of expression.

Abstract: The present invention provides rapid disintegrating tablets in oral cavity having a shortened disintegration time in oral cavity as well as a sufficient hardness compared to rapid disintegrating tablets of the prior art. The above objective is solved by a composition in which the inorganic excipient and the disintegrating agent are dispersed in the complex particles consisting of mannitol and other saccharide(s) in a specific ratio, and rapid disintegrating tablets in oral cavity obtained by direct compression of the composition.

Abstract: There is provided pet food comprising astaxanthin and/or an ester thereof as an active component and having an effect of deodorizing excrement such as urine and feces, effects of improving sleep, sensibility such as perception and cognition, and visual sense, and an effect of treating, improving or preventing diabetes and diabetic complications. The pet food can deodorize excrement such as urine and feces, improve sleep, sensibility such as perception and cognition, and visual sense, and treat, improve or prevent diabetes and diabetic complications.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a gene expression regulating agent which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester as an effective ingredient; and a food and drink having an effect of regulating gene expression which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester. Abnormal gene expression due to, for example, oxidative stress can be treated, improved, and/or prevented, and diseases caused by the abnormal gene expression can be treated, improved, and/or prevented. A gene expression regulating agent which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester as an effective ingredient; and a food and drink having an effect of regulating gene expression which includes astaxanthin and/or its ester are provided and are useful for treating, improving, and/or preventing the symptom caused by the abnormal gene expression, that is, excessive expression or suppression of expression.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in an animal or man, is disclosed. The method comprises administration to said animal or man of at least one type of xanthophyll, e.g. astaxanthin, in an amount inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in said animal or man. Use of at least one type of xanthophyll, such as astaxanthin, for the preparation of a medicament for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic inhibition of the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in an animal or man, is described. Further, a commercial package containing a medicament comprising at least one type of xanthophyll, e.g. astaxanthin, and written and/or data carrier instructions for administration to an animal or man of the medicament for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic inhibition of the express of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable astaxanthin-containing powdery composition which is obtained by drying a suspension containing a ground Haematococcus alga containing astaxanthin, a surfactant, an antioxidant, an excipient and water and to a process for preparing the same. According to the present invention, there can be provided an astaxanthin-containing powdery composition wherein astaxanthin present in Haematococcus alga has been efficiently stabilized to improve its storage stability for a long term and which is excellent in flowability as a powder, easy to handle and can be easily subjected to solvent extraction without degrading the astaxanthin.

Abstract: The present invention provides rapid disintegrating tablets in oral cavity having a shortened disintegration time in oral cavity as well as a sufficient hardness with compared to rapid disintegrating tablets of the prior art. The above objective is solved by a composition for rapid disintegrating tablets in oral cavity, wherein components (a) to (c) are contained in such manner that (a) saccharides consisting of a combination of mannitol and xylitol is 40 to 90 parts by weight; (b) the inorganic excipient is 1 to 30 parts by weight; and (c) the disintegrating agent is 5 to 40 parts by weight, provided that the total amount of (a), (b) and (c) is 100 parts by weight.

Abstract: This invention relates to an inhibitor having inhibitory activity against neovasculation, cell multiplication, lumen formation and fibroblast growth factor which comprises &bgr;-, &ggr;- or &dgr;-tocotrienol.

Abstract: A tocotrienol-containing powder prepared by a process wherein an oil containing a tocotrienol is treated with a lecithin, a cellulose and an emulsifying agent in water to form an emulsion, a powder substance is mixed with the formed emulsion to form a suspension and then the formed suspension is spray-dried. The powder containing tocotrienol, which has excellent storage stability and free flowability, can be used in preparing a tablet which comprises the powder compressed into a tablet form.

Abstract: A coated antacid comprising sucralfate and an antacid inhibits decline in the adhesion characteristics of sucralfate whereby the drug ingested can reliably show its effect in the stomach. This coated antacid not only shows the mucosa repairing effect of sucralfate itself, but also shows the antacid effect and the gastric mucosa protective effect of the coated antacid, thereby synergistically producing an excellent antiulcer effect and an excellent ulcer inhibiting/healing effect.

Abstract: There can be provided a positive electrode active material for a secondary battery which is excellent in the charging and discharging cycle characteristics so that it retains high battery capacity that is comparable to the hitherto known LiNiO2 even by increasing the number of cycle, which has an improved cycle property (stability) at high temperature and which is a complex oxide represented by the general formula (I) LiyNi1−xCox1Mx2O2  (I) (wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Fe, Mn and B, y represents 0.9≦y≦1.3, x represents 0<x≦0.5, x1 represents 0<x1<0.5, x1+x2 x, when M is at least one element of Al, Fe and Mn, x2 represents 0<x2≦0.3, when M is B, x2 is 0<x2≦0.1, when M is the combination of B and at least one element of Al, Fe and Mn, x2 represents 0<x2<0.3 but the ratio occupied by B therein is in a range of from 0 to 0.1).

Abstract: A process for preparing a spinel lithium manganese complex oxide having the general formula LixMn2−yAlyO4 (wherein 0.9≦x≦1.1, and 0.002≦y≦0.5) the process comprising the steps of reacting a manganese complex hydroxide represented by the general formula (IIa) Mn2+(1−a)Al3+a(OH)[2+a−nz](An−)2·mH2O (wherein An− is an anion having a valence n, 0.001≦a≦0.25, 0.03<z<0.3 and 0<m) with a water-soluble lithium compound in a molar ratio of Li/(Mn+Al) of 0.45˜0.55 in an aqueous medium to obtain a slurry, spray- or freeze-drying the obtained slurry, and heating the resultant dry material at a temperature of 600˜900° C.

Abstract: There can be provided a positive electrode active material for a secondary battry which is excellent in the charging and discharging cycle characteristics so that it retains high battery capacity that is comparable to the hitherto known LiNiO2 even by increasing the number of cycle, which has an improved cycle property (stability) at high temperature and which is a complex oxide represented by the general formula (I)

Abstract: An infrared absorber which comprises containing as an effective ingredient a hydroxide complex salt represented by the formula [Al2(Li(1−x).+M2+(x+y)(OH)(6+2y)]n(An−)(1+x).mH2O (wherein M2+ is a divalent metal, An− is an anion having a valence of n, and m, x and y are numbers respectively in the ranges of 0≦m<5, 0.01≦x≦0.5 and 0≦y≦0.5), which has a high ability to absorp infrared rays and a refractive index close to that of the resin so that it has a good dispersibility with the resins when incorporated in the resin and the shaped film therefrom is excellent in the heat insulation property and transparency so that it is suitable as an agricultural film.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 3-dihalobenzyl-2,4-quinazolinedione derivative represented by the formula (V): (wherein X1, X2, X3 are independently a halogen atom, and A is an alkylene group), which comprises: reacting a dihalobenzyl derivative represented by the formula (III): (wherein X2 and X3 are each as defined above, and L is an acid residue) with a 2,4-quinazolinedione derivative having a carboxyalkyl group represented by the formula (I): (wherein X1 and A are each as defined above) to selectively substitute a hydrogen atom of an imino group at the 3-position of the derivative (1). The above process enables the efficient preparation of the compounds of the above formula (V) useful as inhibitors against aldose reductases, makes it possible to secure the safety and hygiene of workers, and can facilitate waste disposal to reduce the expenses, thus being industrially extremely advantageous.

Abstract: There is provided a novel lithium nickel complex oxide represented by the general formula:Li.sub.y-x1 Ni.sub.1-x2 M.sub.x O.sub.2wherein M represents one selected from the group consisting of Al, Fe, Co, Mn and Mg, x=x.sub.1 +x.sub.2, O<x.sub.1 .ltoreq.0.2, O<x.sub.2 .ltoreq.0.5, 0<x.ltoreq.0.5, and 0.9.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1.3, and wherein the crystals have been sufficiently developed and are highly purified, and a positive electrode active material for a secondary battery whose stability of high discharge capacity is excellent.

Abstract: There is incorporated as a stabilizer into a halogen-containing resin a complex hydroxide salt represented by the formula?Al.sub.2 (Li.sub.(1-x).M.sub.x)(OH).sub.6 !.sub.n (A.sup.-n).sub.1+x.mH.sub.2 Owherein A is an inorganic or organic anion, M is Mg and/or Zn, n is a valence number of anion A, m is 0 or positive number, and x satisfies the expression of 0.01.ltoreq.x<1.This complex hydroxide salt causes almost no occurrence of initial coloration when incorporated in halogen-containing resins because a part of lithium ion to enter a vacant site of aluminum hydroxide octahedron layer of the gibbsite structure in the lithium aluminum complex hydroxide salt is substituted for the metal ions of Mg and/or Zn. By substitution of a part of lithium ion for the divalent metal ions, the amount of charge-supplying anion is increased and the thermally stabilizing ability is superior to that of the lithium aluminum complex hydroxide salts.

Abstract: A novel hydroxide complex with condensed silicate represented by the formula (I)?Al.sub.2 (Li.sub.(1-x).M.sup.2+.sub.x)(OH).sub.6 !.sub.2 (Si.sub.y O.sub.2y+1.sup.2-).sub.1+x.mH.sub.2 O (I)wherein M.sup.2+ is a divalent metal, m, x and y are numbers respectively in the ranges of 0.ltoreq.m<5, 0.ltoreq.x<1 and 2.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.4, a process for preparing the same, an infrared absorber containing the same as an effective ingredient, and an agricultural film containing said infrared absorber.

Abstract: A process for producing a compound of the formula LiM.sup.3+ O.sub.2 (wherein M.sup.3+ Ni.sup.3+ is or/and Co.sup.3+) or LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 is provided which comprises the steps of reacting a basic metal salt represented by the formula M.sup.2+ (OH).sub.2-nx (A.sup.n-).sub.x .multidot.mH.sub.2 O (wherein M.sup.2+ is at least one member selected from among Ni.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+ and Mn.sup.2+, A.sup.n- is an n-valent anion (provided that n is 1 to 3), such as NO.sub.3.sup.-, Cl.sup.-, Br.sup.-, CH.sub.3 COO.sup.- and CO.sub.3.sup.2- and x and m are positive numbers respectively satisfying 0.03.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3 and 0.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.2) with an alkaline water-soluble lithium compound in a molar ratio of Li/M.sup.2+ of 0.3 to 1.3 in an aqueous medium to obtain a slurry, drying the obtained slurry, and firing the resultant residue at about 500.degree. C. or higher in an oxidative atmosphere. This process ensures production of the LiM.sup.3+ O.sub.2 and LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.