Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for preventing or improving fat deposition on the liver in spite of the alcohol intake history of a level that a liver disease is not caused. The inventors found that glutathione has an effect of preventing or improving fat deposition on the liver, which is not caused by alcohol, and completed the present invention. Among nonalcoholic fat diseases, the present invention is particularly effective in an early stage of the treatment or in a case where treatment for another disease is not performed.

Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to provide a process for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell without performing artificial gene transfer, an insulin-producing cell obtained from the process, or a composition comprising a combination of chemical substances that can be used for the process. The present invention can include, for example: a process for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell by direct differentiation induction, comprising a step of culturing a somatic cell in the presence of an RSK inhibitor; an insulin-producing cell obtained from the process; and a composition for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell by directly inducing differentiation, comprising an RSK inhibitor. The insulin-producing cells obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition including citric acid, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of citric acid, a hydrate of citric acid, a hydrate of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of citric acid, or a mixture thereof. Administration or ingestion of the previous period composition inhibits renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing osteoblasts that are applicable, without causing risk of canceration, to bone defect repair or to the treatment of bone resorption, fracture, osteoporosis, or the like. To solve this problem, the present invention provides a method for preparing osteoblasts, the method comprising culturing mammal differentiated somatic cells in a medium in the presence of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (1) statin compounds, (2) casein kinase 1 inhibitors, (3) cAMP inducers, and (4) histone methyltransferase inhibitors, to convert the somatic cells into osteoblasts.

Abstract: A method and device for evaluating the dynamics of a tear fluid layer to objectively and accurately evaluate breakdown of the tear fluid layer, which is a core mechanism of dry eye, are provided. The method includes a step of acquiring color information of each pixel in a predetermined region of a tear fluid layer interference fringe image, which is a moving image or a plurality of static images, a step of calculating a numerical value indicating the diversity of color from the acquired color information, a step of calculating the average value of the color information, and a step of calculating a coefficient of variation on the basis of the calculated numerical value indicating the diversity of color and the calculated average value of the color information. The coefficient of variation is used as an index for evaluating the dynamics of the tear fluid layer.

Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to provide a process for producing a neuron-like cell from a somatic cell, a neuron-like cell obtained thereby, and a composition comprising a combination of chemical substances that can be used for said process without performing artificial gene transfer. The invention can include, for example, a process for producing neuron-like cells, characterized by comprising a step of culturing somatic cells in the presence of two kinds of inhibitors, i.e., a TGF-? inhibitor and a BMP inhibitor, as well as any three or more selected from the group consisting of four kinds, i.e., a cAMP inducer, a GSK3 inhibitor, an Erk-inhibitor, and a p53-inhibitor, wherein the TGF-? inhibitor is a selective ALK5 inhibitor, and a neuron-like cell obtained by said process. The neuron-like cells obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: This invention provides a means capable of treating skin ulcers. More specifically, the invention provides a composition for preventing and/or treating skin wounds, the composition comprising carbon monoxide.

Abstract: This invention provides a more efficient means for treating inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases using CO. More specifically, the invention provides a composition for preventing and/or treating inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, the composition comprising carbon monoxide and a solvent, the CO concentration being 800 ?M or more.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for generating an osteoblast that is applicable to repair of a bone defect due to various tumors, injuries, surgeries, etc. and to treatment for bone resorption typified by a periodontal disease, bone fracture, osteoporosis, etc., and that has a low risk of carcinogenesis. Provided as a means for achieving this object is a method for generating an osteoblast from a somatic cell of a mammal, the method comprising introducing Oct9 gene or an expression product thereof into the somatic cell.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of purification and preparation of cultured corneal endothelial cells, and in particular, to provide cell surface markers for use in corneal endothelial cells not including transformed cells. Provided are cell markers for distinguishing normal cells and transformed cells, in particular normal and transformed corneal endothelium cells. These cell markers relate to specific cell surface markers, for example, to a normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, and a transformed cell surface marker such as CD73. By using the transformed cell surface marker such as CD73 to remove transformed cells by sorting, it becomes possible to improve purity of a normal cultured corneal endothelium. By using normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, or by combined use with the transformed cell surface marker, it becomes possible to provide a means for verifying the purity of a prepared corneal endothelium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for treating or preventing a disease, a disorder or a condition of a corneal endothelium, said agent comprising a corneal endothelial cell and a myosin II-specific inhibitor. More specifically, the myosin II-specific inhibitor is blebbistatin. The disease, the disorder or the condition is typically a disorder associated with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy or corneal endothelial dysfunction (bullous keratopathy). Also provided is a method for treating or preventing a corneal endothelial disease, said method comprising a step of administering an effective amount of a myosin II-specific inhibitor together with a corneal endothelial cell to a subject.

Abstract: The present invention chiefly aims to provide a process for directly inducing insulin-producing cells from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer. The present invention can include a process for producing an insulin-producing cell by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the process comprising a step of culturing the somatic cell in the presence of a cAMP inducer, and six members selected from the group consisting of a GSK3 inhibitor, a TGF-? inhibitor, a BMP inhibitor, a p53 inhibitor, a PI3K inhibitor, a Notch inhibitor and a RAR agonist, or all members thereof. The insulin-producing cells obtained by the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: The inventors have found that VCP inhibitors protect corneal endothelial cells and corneal epithelial cells. Accordingly, the disclosure provides a composition for protecting a cornea comprising a compound of formula (I) or an ester, oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. In another aspect the disclosure provides a composition for treating and/or preventing a corneal disease comprising a compound of formula (I). In a further aspect the disclosure provides a composition for ocular irrigation comprising a compound of formula (I). In a still further aspect the disclosure provides a composition for preserving a corneal graft comprising a compound of formula (I).

Abstract: A method for increasing bacteria belonging to the genus Akkermansia in an intestinal bacterial flora, comprising the step of ingesting a composition containing astaxanthin.

Abstract: The present invention complete a technique of treating a corneal disorder or disease by infusion into an anterior chamber of human eyes. Specifically, the present invention based on the findings discovered that cultured human corneal endothelial cells are comprised of a plurality of subpopulations, most of them are not suitable for infusion into patients. The above-described subject was overcome by providing, as a medicament, functionally high grade quality of cells having the function of mature differentiated human corneal endothelial cells which is a specific subpopulation and characterized by their biochemical and functional phenotypes. The present invention provides such a functional mature differentiated corneal endothelial cells, medicament comprising the same, and manufacturing method, quality control and techniques related thereto.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of purification and preparation of cultured corneal endothelial cells, and in particular, to provide cell surface markers for use in corneal endothelial cells not including transformed cells. Provided are cell markers for distinguishing normal cells and transformed cells, in particular normal and transformed corneal endothelium cells. These cell markers relate to specific cell surface markers, for example, to a normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, and a transformed cell surface marker such as CD73. By using the transformed cell surface marker such as CD73 to remove transformed cells by sorting, it becomes possible to improve purity of a normal cultured corneal endothelium. By using normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, or by combined use with the transformed cell surface marker, it becomes possible to provide a means for verifying the purity of a prepared corneal endothelium.

Abstract: A method for increasing bacteria belonging to the genus Akkermansia in an intestinal bacterial flora, comprising the step of ingesting a composition containing astaxanthin.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for preparing a brown adipocyte from a somatic cell of a mammal by introducing at least one brown adipocyte-related gene or expression product thereof and at least one reprogramming-related gene or expression product thereof into the somatic cell, the brown adipocyte-related gene being at least one member selected from the group consisting of PRDM16(P) and C/EBP?(C), the reprogramming-related gene being at least one member selected from the group consisting of Myc family genes (c-Myc(M), N-Myc, L-Myc(L), S-Myc, and B-Myc), GLIS family genes (GLIS1 (G), GLIS 2, and GLIS 3), Klf family genes (KLF1, KLF2, KLF3, KLF4(K), KLF5, KLF6, KLF7, KLF8, KLF9, KLF10, KLF11, KLF12, KLF13, KLF14, KLF15, KLF16, and KLF17), Oct family genes, Sox family genes, and Lin-28.

Abstract: The present invention chiefly aims to provide a process for directly inducing cardiomyocytes from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer, a cardiomyocyte obtained thereby, and a composition comprising a combination of chemical compounds capable of using for the said process. The present invention can include a process for producing a cardiomyocyte by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the process comprising a step of culturing the somatic cell in the presence of a MEK inhibitor and a cAMP inducer, and a cardiomyocyte obtained thereby, and then a composition for producing a cardiomyocyte by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the composition comprising a MEK inhibitor and a cAMP inducer. The cardiomyocytes obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent for treatment of solid cancers, including, as an effective component, N-{5-[(6,7-dimethoxy-4-quinolinyl)oxy]-2-pyridinyl}-2,5-dioxo-1-phenyl-1,2,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-3-quinolinecarboxamide, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a hydrate of the compound or the salt in combination with osimertinib or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The combination of the present invention has strong antitumor effect and is therefore useful for treatment of solid cancers.