Abstract: The present invention is directed to a phosphoric ester of 2,3-dihydroxypropyl cellulose or 3-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl cellulose, the cellulose having optionally undergone partial carbamidation, and to a metal absorbent employing the ester, and to a metal-absorbing apparatus employing the metal adsorbent. The cellulose derivative phosphoric ester serves as a metal adsorbent which exhibits high metal adsorption performance and metal adsorption rate per unit weight; has high mechanical strength; effectively soften water or a similar liquid; removes heavy metals from wastewater or a similar liquid at remarkably high efficiency; has excellent processability and can be formed into a variety of shapes and thus is applicable within a wide range; and can readily be reutilized.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for treating autoimmune diseases comprising administering RBAp48 production suppressor or inhibitor; a screening method for a preventive or therapeutic agent for autoimmune diseases comprising determining RBAp48 production suppressing effect or inhibitory effect of a sample; a diagnosis agent or a diagnosing kit for autoimmune diseases containing a reagent for measuring RBAp48 level in gland tissue; and a diagnosis method for autoimmune diseases comprising measuring RBAp48 level in gland tissue.

Abstract: Provided is an agent for prevention and/or treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, which comprises, in combination, 2-benzyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2H-pyridazine-3-one or a solvate thereof and a corticosteroid. The pharmaceutical agent of the present invention is orally administrable, has fewer adverse effects, exhibits an excellent effect of suppressing the symptoms associated with SLE, and thus is useful for prevention and treatment of SLE.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing an optically active butyric acid compound and a production intermediate therefore at high yield and high purity. The present invention provides a process for producing Compound (6), including reacting Compound (1) with optically active 2-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxybutyrolactone (2a) in the presence of a base or reacting optically active 2-hydroxybutyrolactone (2b) under Mitsunobu reaction conditions, to thereby form Compound (3); reacting Compound (3) with an alcohol and a halogenating agent, to thereby form Compound (4); dehalogenating Compound (4), to thereby form Compound (5); and de-esterifying Compound (5).

Abstract: To provide a pulmonary disease therapeutic drug exhibiting high efficacy and reduced side effects. The pulmonary disease therapeutic drug of the invention for intratracheal administration contains biocompatible polymer nanoparticles including an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.

Abstract: To provide a preventive and/or therapeutic drug for multiple sclerosis, which has high efficacy against multiple sclerosis, which exhibits excellent safety, and which can be orally administered. The invention provides a preventive and/or therapeutic drug for multiple sclerosis, the drug containing, as an active ingredient, 2-benzyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2H-pyridazin-3-one or a solvate thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ?-globin inducer, to a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for sickle cell disease, and to a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for ?-thalassemia, each containing, as an active ingredient, 4-[N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-[[5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)pyridin-3-yl]methyl]amino]-1-[[2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)pyridin-4-yl]methyl]piperidine, a salt thereof, or a solvate of either of these.

Abstract: To provide a novel copper ion indicator which is less influenced by interfering metal ions and which is useful for measurement of copper ion within a wide concentration range. The invention provides a copper ion indicator containing a compound represented by formula (1): [wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom], and a method for determining copper ion concentration, which employs the indicator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for repairing injured skin containing a saccharide and povidone-iodine. The present invention has the following characteristics: suppresses time-dependent increase of consistency, it is easy to use, it is a soft preparation, and has superior applicability to a deep wounded lesion and a granulation tissue. The composition of the present invention contains 50 to 90% by weight of saccharide, 0.5 to 10% by weight of povidone-iodine, 0.1 to 20% by weight of water and 0.01 to 10% by weight of phospholipid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stable complex microbial system, which simultaneously decomposes a plurality of organic contaminants even under a polluted environment with these contaminants and permits more effective decomposition of persistent organic contaminants such as PCNB and simazine. A support for holding a complexed enrichment of degrading bacteria, which contains a porous material provided as a support on which degrading bacteria A capable of degrading at least one organic contaminant and degrading bacteria B capable of degrading another organic contaminant are enriched, is produced. The degrading bacteria A may be a PCNB-degrading bacteria, particularly degrading bacteria containing degrading bacteria having part or all of the bacteriological characteristics of Nocardioides sp. PD653 and the degrading bacteria B may be degrading bacteria containing degrading bacteria having part or all of the bacteriological characteristics of ?-Proteobacteria CDB21.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a triglyceride-lowering agent, exhibiting excellent triglyceride-lowering effect and a hyperinsulinemia-ameliorating agent. The triglyceride-lowering agent and hyperinsulinemia-ameliorating agent are characterized by containing a pitavastatin compound, and amlodipine or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide means to treat breast cancer and/or mastitis by topically administering a non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticancer agent and allowing them efficiently to arrive into the mammary gland. The present invention provides an iontophoretic preparation for treating breast cancer and/or mastitis which contains a non-steroidal antiinflammatory analgetic agent and/or an anticancer agent as an active ingredient and has a donor to be applied on a nipple part for topical administration of the active ingredient from the nipple part to the mammary gland by application of electric potential.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis comprising 2-benzyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2H-pyridazin-3-one and leflunomide in combination. The prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent of the present invention can be administered orally, exhibits an excellent arthritis suppressive effect with fewer side effects, and is therefore useful for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: There is to provide is an agent for reduction of a lipid rich plaque, stabilization of a lipid rich plaque and/or prevention of rupture of a lipid rich plaque in an atherosclerotic lesion comprising an effective amount of 2-[4-[2-(benzimidazole-2-ylthio)ethyl]piperazin-1-yl]-N-[2,4-bis(methylthio)-6-methyl-3-pyridyl]acetamide (hereinafter, referred to as compound 1), its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a hydrate thereof and Pitavastatin, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the agent is intended to be simultaneously administered, or separately administered with interval of time to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to pyridazine derivatives represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 represents a (substituted) aryl group, R2 represents a phenyl group substituted at 4-position by a lower alkoxyl, group or a lower alkylthio group, R3 represents a lower alkoxyl group, a halogenated lower alkyl group, a lower cycloalkyl group, a (substituted) aryl group, a (substituted) aryloxy group, a (substituted) nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring residue, a (substituted) aminocarbonyl group or a lower alkylcarbonyl group, A represents a single bond, a lower alkylene group or a lower alkenylene group, X represents O or S, and the dashed line indicates that the carbon-carbon bond between the 4-position and the 5-position is a single bond or a double bond, or salts thereof; and also to medicines containing them as effective ingredients.

Abstract: To provide a lead concentration determination reagent which realizes accurate determination of the lead concentration of a sample solution in a simple manner with safety, even when the sample solution contains zinc ions, and a lead concentration determination method making use of the reagent. The lead concentration determination reagent contains (A) a porphyrin derivative and (B) at least one species selected from among ethylenediamine-N,N?-dipropionic acid, ethylenediamine-N,N?-diacetic acid, and 1,6-diaminohexane-N,N,N?,N?-tetraacetic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for treating thrombosis by combined administration of a pitavastatin with aspirin.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active 2-hydroxybutyric ester (1), characterized by including reacting an optically active 2,3-epoxybutyric ester (2) with a thiol in the presence of scandium trifluoromethanesulfonate or ytterbium trifluoromethanesulfonate, to thereby produce Compound (3), and subjecting Compound (3) to desulfurization reaction: (wherein R represents a C1 to C6 alkyl group or a C7 or C8 aralkyl group; R1 represents a C1 to C12 alkyl group or a phenyl group; and * represents S- or R-absolute configuration). The present invention provides a process for producing an optically active 2-hydroxybutyric ester at high yield and high optical purity.

Abstract: To provide a process for producing an optically active 2-hydroxybutyric ester at high yield and high optical purity. The process for producing an optically active 2-hydroxybutyric ester (1), characterized in that the process includes reacting an optically active 2,3-epoxypropionic ester (2) with a methyl Grignard reagent CH3MgX (wherein X represents a halogen atom) in the presence of a copper catalyst in an amount of 0.05 to 0.5 mol with respect to 1 mol of (2) through the following scheme: (wherein R represents a C1 to C6 alkyl group or a C7 or C8 aralkyl group; X represents a halogen atom; and * represents S- or R-absolute configuration).

Abstract: To provide an effective and simple process for producing 4-fluoroisoquinoline-5-sulfonyl halide or a salt thereof, and a simple method for separating for purification of the product from a by-produced position isomer thereof. The process for producing 4-fluoroisoquinoline-5-sulfonyl halide or a salt thereof, characterized in that the process includes reacting 4-fluoroisoquinoline or a salt thereof with sulfuric anhydride in the presence or absence of sulfuric acid, to thereby form 4-fluoroisoquinoline-5-sulfonic acid or a salt thereof, and, subsequently, reacting the formed sulfonic acid compound with a halogenating reagent.