Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a new therapeutic method and a new therapeutic agent that are different from known therapeutic medicines for human T cell leukemia virus type-1 associated myelopathy (HAM) patients and asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers. The present invention relates to a therapeutic method and a therapeutic agent for human T cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) associated myelopathy (HAM) patients and asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (ACs), which is characterized by reducing HTLV-1 virus-infected cells using an anti-human CC-chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) antibody.

Abstract: A blood vessel embolization method includes inserting a balloon catheter into a blood vessel of a human or an animal having a lesion site and disposing a balloon of the balloon catheter at a portion located at a proximal side of the blood vessel and in a neighborhood of the lesion site thereof; shutting off a blood flow in the blood vessel by expanding the balloon; discharging a glucose solution from a distal end of the balloon catheter in a state in which the blood flow in the blood vessel is shut off; discharging a cyanoacrylate-based embolization substance-containing liquid from the distal end of the balloon catheter after the glucose solution injection step; hardening an embolization substance by maintaining a blood flow shut-off state of the blood vessel after the embolization substance injection step; and removing the balloon catheter from the blood vessel after the embolization substance-hardening step.

Abstract: When C60 was added to synovial fibroblasts, infiltrating lymphocytes, and macrophages, and the inflammatory cytokine production level was measured, the inflammatory cytokine production level was significantly suppressed in all cells. Furthermore, when C60 was added to osteoclast precursor cells and cultured in the presence of osteoclast differentiation-inducing factors, a certain concentration or more of C60 suppressed their differentiation into osteoclasts. Observation of the effect of C60 addition on bone resorption showed that C60 suppressed bone resorption by osteoclasts. In addition, the use of arthritis model animals confirmed in vivo that C60 suppressed inflammatory symptoms, as well as bone resorption and bone destruction by osteoclasts. C60 is effective for treating arthritic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis through its effects of suppressing osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption, and inflammatory cytokines.

Abstract: Fullerene inhibited the decrease in cell proliferation ability of chondrocytes which is observed when cultured chondrocytes are treated with a cartilage degenerating factor (IL-1? or H2O2). Fullerene inhibited production of cartilage matrix-degrading enzymes (matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-1, 3 and 13) which is induced in cultured chondrocytes by cartilage degenerating factors. Fullerene restored the decrease in cartilage matrix (proteoglycan) synthesizing ability which is observed in treating cultured chondrocytes with cartilage degenerating factors. In an analysis using an osteoarthritis rabbit model, the progress of cartilage degeneration was reduced by administering fullerene. Moreover, the dynamic friction coefficient was decreased by adding fullerene to synovial fluid.

Abstract: An outer needle of a bone cement injection puncture needle has first side holes near the tip, and second side holes near the base. When an inner needle is removed from the outer needle and an inner tube is inserted into the outer needle in place thereof, a reduced-pressure passage is formed between the outer needle and the inner tube. When bone cement is injected into a bone, gas and liquid in the bone pass through the reduced-pressure passage and are discharged from the body, thereby preventing increased pressure in the bone. As a result, the bone cement can be prevented from leaking to outside of the bone.

Abstract: A bone cement injection needle comprises: a hollow outer needle; an outer needle hub affixed to the base end part of the outer needle; an inner needle that can be slidably inserted into the hollow part of the outer needle; and an inner needle hub affixed to the base end part of the inner needle. The outer needle comprises a first side hole located near the tip; a second side hole located near the base end part; and a depressurization passage which connects the first side hole and the second side hole.

Abstract: It is intended to surely and effectively inhibit the transcriptional activity of NF?B and to obtain a more effective anti-inflammatory effect. Further, it is intended to obtain an equivalent effect even if the amount used of a steroid agent is reduced. An agent is characterized by containing MTI-II, especially a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a peptide of SEQ ID NO: 2. This MTI-II peptide is preferably a peptide containing at least an acidic amino acid domain (SEQ ID NO: 3). Further, a steroid agent such as triamcinolone acetonide is used concomitantly with MTI-II, especially the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: A production method of T cells is disclosed which includes generating iPS cells from immune cells and differentiating the iPS cells into desired immune cells. In this method, 4 different genes Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc are introduced into immune cells for generation of iPS cells, and the iPS cells are then differentiated into immune cells by coculture with OP9 cells. Source immune cells are taken from a patient, and the produced desired immune cells are injected into the patient for medical treatment.

Abstract: Novel pharmaceutical composition for accelerating salivation and for prophylaxis and/or treatment of xerostomia, which comprises as an active ingredient a carbostyril compound of the formula (1), wherein R is a halogen atom, and the substitution position of the subsistuent on said carbostyril nucleus is the 3- or 4-position, and the bond between the 3- or 4-positions of the carbostyril nucleus is either a single bond or a double bond, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention exhibits an accelerating activity of salivation, and is useful in the prophylaxis or treatment of Xerostomia or hyposalivation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for external application on the skin containing hydroquinone as an active ingredient, which has an excellent skin-whitening activity and reduced side effects. The composition for external application on the skin of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized by containing hydroquinone or a derivative thereof compounded with a lyotropic liquid crystal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting a tumor, which comprises suppressing the expression of HERC2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the suppression of HERC2 is induced by the expression of BRCA1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample containing a gastric mucosa lavage fluid collected from a subject who has received a gastric mucus removal treatment and a method for detecting a disease-related marker using the same. By using the sample of the invention, the disease-related marker can be detected conveniently, less invasively, highly sensitively and highly accurately.

Abstract: When C60 was added to synovial fibroblasts, infiltrating lymphocytes, and macrophages, and the inflammatory cytokine production level was measured, the inflammatory cytokine production level was significantly suppressed in all cells. Furthermore, when C60 was added to osteoclast precursor cells and cultured in the presence of osteoclast differentiation-inducing factors, a certain concentration or more of C60 suppressed their differentiation into osteoclasts. Observation of the effect of C60 addition on bone resorption showed that C60 suppressed bone resorption by osteoclasts. In addition, the use of arthritis model animals confirmed in vivo that C60 suppressed inflammatory symptoms, as well as bone resorption and bone destruction by osteoclasts. C60 is effective for treating arthritic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis through its effects of suppressing osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption, and inflammatory cytokines.

Abstract: It was examined whether a cartilage-like tissue is formed under various reaction conditions using cartilage matrix components: glycosaminoglycan, proteoglycan, and collagen. The present inventors have discovered that proteoglycan bound to glycosaminoglycan through self-organization form an aggregate when the glycosaminoglycan was reacted with proteoglycan under specific concentrations and pH, and that a mesh structure composed of collagen fibers was constructed through self-organization using the aggregates as a skeleton when the aggregates were reacted with collagen molecules.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel protein called Synoviolin and a gene that encodes it. This protein is expressed specifically by synovial tissue and also accompanies the presence of an auto-antibody that recognizes this protein in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The protein according to the present invention and its antibody can be expected to be used as specific diagnostic markers for RA. In addition, the gene or protein according to the present invention may be used to permit the screening of drugs to treat RA. Moreover, the present invention provides synoviolin gene transgenic animals. The transgenic animals according to the present invention can be used as RA model animals in the development of pharmaceuticals to treat RA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for ubiquitinating RNA polymerases, comprising bringing the RNA polymerases into contact with BRCA1-BARD1.

Abstract: Fullerene inhibited the decrease in cell proliferation ability of chondrocytes which is observed when cultured chondrocytes are treated with a cartilage degenerating factor (IL-1? or H2O2). Fullerene inhibited production of cartilage matrix-degrading enzymes (matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-1, 3 and 13) which is induced in cultured chondrocytes by cartilage degenerating factors. Fullerene restored the decrease in cartilage matrix (proteoglycan) synthesizing ability which is observed in treating cultured chondrocytes with cartilage degenerating factors. In an analysis using an osteoarthritis rabbit model, the progress of cartilage degeneration was reduced by administering fullerene. Moreover, the dynamic friction coefficient was decreased by adding fullerene to synovial fluid.

Abstract: A medicament for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of a physical dysfunction such as motor dysfunction caused by nerve damage resulting from an accident, cerebral crisis and the like, which comprises as an active ingredient a compound or a salt thereof represented by the following general formula (I): wherein R1 to R5 represents hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkyl-substituted silyl group, X represents —CONH— or —NHCO—, and A represents a carboxylic acid-substituted aromatic group which may be substituted or a tropolonyl group which may be substituted.