Abstract: Provided is a stent having a novel structure, the stem simultaneously having both the stability of shape against the action of external force, such as compression force, tensile force, or torsional force, and high flexibility in the direction of twisting of the stem. Connection groups are provided at three or more positions set at circumferentially equally-spaced intervals, the connection groups each including connection sections which are disposed circumferentially close to each other between axially adjacent tubular divided bodies. The connection groups on both sides axially of each of the tubular divided bodies are provided at positions circumferentially offset from each other while at least one turning portion is present between the connection groups.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an agent for promoting expression of N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase that contains an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus. The present invention demonstrated that the extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus promotes the expression of N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in intervertebral disc cells. Thus, the extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus or a preparation containing the extract is useful as an agent for promoting the expression of N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in intervertebral disc cells.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition for treating Philadelphia chromosome positive lymphocytic leukemia, including a thalidomide derivative and BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor. According to the present invention there is also provided a method of treating Philadelphia chromosome positive lymphocytic leukemia, including administering a thalidomide derivative and a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor to a patient suffering from Philadelphia chromosome positive lymphocytic leukemia.

Abstract: Simplification of a preparation step of a cell population used for the treatment of ischemic diseases, and provision of a cell population that shows more effective treatment are shown. A method of producing a cell population wherein a vascular endothelial progenitor cell and/or an anti-inflammatory macrophage are/is enriched, including cultivating a mononuclear cell derived from bone marrow, cord blood or peripheral blood in a serum-free medium containing stem cell factor, interleukin-6, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, thrombopoietin and vascular endothelial cell growth factor, and proliferating vascular endothelial progenitor cell from the cell; and a cell population obtained by the method are shown.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical waveguide composing an optical path conversion component having an extremely low signal loss, allowing a high surface packaging density and high speed operation, and allowing high productivity. A method for producing an optical waveguide that propagates light from a surface of a support to an oblique direction not vertical to the surface, the method for producing an optical waveguide comprising the steps of: (1) providing an anti-reflective coating on the support; (2) placing a photosensitive resin composition on the anti-reflective coating, and exposing the photosensitive resin composition to a light ray entering from a direction non-vertical to the surface of the support through a photomask for curing the composition; and (3) removing the unexposed photosensitive resin composition by development; and an optical waveguide obtained by the method.

Abstract: Provided is a cell sheet suitable for cartilage repair. The present invention provides a cell sheet for cartilage repair, formed from a culture of cells derived from a cartilage tissue, and the cell sheet is negative for immunostaining using an antibody against type II collagen. The present invention also provides a method for producing a cell sheet for cartilage repair, formed from a culture of cells derived from a cartilage tissue, and the method includes culturing cells derived from a cartilage tissue on a surface of a membrane, where a temperature-responsive polymer is immobilized on the surface, to give the cell sheet. The culturing is stopped before the cell sheet becomes positive for immunostaining using an antibody against type II collagen.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition for treating Philadelphia chromosome positive lymphocytic leukemia, including a thalidomide derivative and BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor. According to the present invention there is also provided a method of treating Philadelphia chromosome positive lymphocytic leukemia, including administering a thalidomide derivative and a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor to a patient suffering from Philadelphia chromosome positive lymphocytic leukemia.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for modifying DNA within cells as well as compositions and methods for modifying gene expression in a cell. In particular, the invention generally relates to compositions, methods, and kits for DNA editing using single-stranded DNA. Compositions and methods for modifying gene expression using artificial microRNAs (amiRNA) are also contemplated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermoacoustic engine having: resonance pipes including a working gas; motors; and a branch pipe, where each of the motors has a regenerator, a heater, and a cooler, a temperature gradient is given between both ends of the regenerator to generate self-excited oscillation of the working gas, a channel cross-sectional area of the resonance pipe that is coupled to the heater is expanded by a same amplification factor of a work flow based on the self-excited oscillation or by an amplification factor within a range of ±30% of the amplification factor of the work flow to a channel cross-sectional area of a resonance pipe that is coupled to the cooler, and a channel cross-sectional area of the regenerator is set by 4 to 36 times of the channel cross-sectional area of the resonance pipe that is coupled to the cooler.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical waveguide composing an optical path conversion component having an extremely low signal loss, allowing a high surface packaging density and high speed operation, and allowing high productivity. A method for producing an optical waveguide that propagates light from a surface of a support to an oblique direction not vertical to the surface, the method for producing an optical waveguide comprising the steps of: (1) providing an anti-reflective coating on the support; (2) placing a photosensitive resin composition on the anti-reflective coating, and exposing the photosensitive resin composition to a light ray entering from a direction non-vertical to the surface of the support through a photomask for curing the composition; and (3) removing the unexposed photosensitive resin composition by development; and an optical waveguide obtained by the method.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable the repair and regeneration of articular cartilage, which could not be achieved by conventional therapies, and to provide a safe and inexpensive agent that is effective for the treatment of joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. According to the present invention, a combined formulation for simultaneously, separately, or sequentially administering a hyaluronic acid and an animal mucin-type glycoprotein for the treatment of joint diseases is provided.

Abstract: A method of making a stent, including preparing a solution containing a composition, the composition comprising a biodegradable polymer and a vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor of a kind, including argatroban, which does not inhibit proliferation of endothelial cells, the weight compositional ratio of the polymer to the vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor being within the range of 8:2 to 3:7, the composition dissolved in a solvent selected from the group consisting of a mixture of a lower alkyl ketone and methanol, a mixture of a lower alkyl ester and methanol or a mixture of a lower halogenated hydrocarbon and methanol; coating at least an outer surface of a stent body of a cylindrical configuration having outer and inner surfaces with a diamond-like thin film coated on the surfaces; and after the coating, removing the solvent to complete a first coated layer.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting vascular intimal hyperplasia including: placing a stent within a blood vessel, the stent having a stent body of a cylindrical configuration having outer and inner surfaces with a diamond-like thin film coated on the surfaces, a first coated layer coating at least the outer surface of the stent body, the first coated layer being prepared of a first composition comprising a biodegradable polymer and a vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor of a kind, comprising argatroban, which does not inhibit proliferation of endothelial cells, the weight composition ratio of the polymer to the vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor being within the range of 8:2 to 7:3, and a second coated layer; and causing argatroban to be released from the stent to thereby inhibit the vascular intimal hyperplasia without inhibiting proliferation of endothelial cells.

Abstract: A velocity-image creating unit creates a velocity image that indicates a distribution of velocity components with respect to each of a plurality of images obtained by repeating a plurality of number of times Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) that is capable of obtaining velocity components of a Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) flowing inside a subject. A velocity-variance image creating unit calculates variance of velocity components along the time sequence by same position on velocity images by using a plurality of created velocity images. A superimposed-image processing unit then superimposes the distribution of the variance of the velocity components according to the velocity-variance image on an average absolute-value image, and an image display unit displays a superimposed image.

Abstract: A velocity-image creating unit creates a velocity image that indicates a distribution of velocity components with respect to each of a plurality of images obtained by repeating a plurality of number of times Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) that is capable of obtaining velocity components of a Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) flowing inside a subject. A velocity-variance image creating unit calculates variance of velocity components along the time sequence by same position on velocity images by using a plurality of created velocity images. A superimposed-image processing unit then superimposes the distribution of the variance of the velocity components according to the velocity-variance image on an average absolute-value image, and an image display unit displays a superimposed image.

Abstract: A vaccine preparation characterized in that Neospora caninum-derived dense granule protein 7 or apical membrane antigen 1 or an immunologically active variant or derivative thereof is included in liposomes each having an oligosaccharide capable of binding to a carbohydrate recognition molecule on the surface of antigen-presenting cells on the surface of the liposome.

Abstract: A stent includes a stent body of a cylindrical configuration having outer and inner surfaces, a first coated layer coating at least the outer surface, and a second coated layer coating substantially completely over the first coated layer. The first coated layer is prepared of a first composition comprising a polymer and a vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor (preferably argatroban) of a kind, which does not inhibit proliferation of endothelial cells, the weight compositional ratio of the polymer to the inhibitor being within the range of 8:2 to 3:7. On the other hand, the second coated layer is prepared of a polymer alone or a second composition comprising a polymer and a drug, the weight compositional ratio of the drug to 80% by weight of the polymer being less than 20% by weight.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining sleep apnea includes: an expiratory gas collector which is configured to collect an expiratory gas of a subject; an analyzer which is configured to analyze a constituent and a concentration of the constituent in the collected expiratory gas; and a determiner which is configured to determine whether the subject is in sleep apnea or not, based on a concentration of at least VOC in the analyzed expiratory gas.