Abstract: It is to provide an immunocompetent cell that expresses regulatory factors of immunocompetent cell immune function and possesses all of proliferative potential, viability, and the ability to accumulate a T cell, and an expression vector of regulatory factors of immune function for generating the immunocompetent cell. An immunocompetent cell expressing a cell surface molecule specifically recognizing a cancer antigen, interleukin 7 (IL-7), and CCL19 is generated. Preferably, the cell surface molecule specifically recognizing a cancer antigen is T cell receptor specifically recognizing the cancer antigen, and the immunocompetent cell is a T cell.

Abstract: A therapeutic effect of irinotecan is predicted using a predetermined genetic polymorphism. A genetic polymorphism identified by rs1980576 in APCDD1L gene, or a genetic polymorphism in linkage disequilibrium with the above genetic polymorphism is analyzed, and determination is performed based on the genotype of the genetic polymorphism.

Abstract: It is to provide an immunocompetent cell that expresses regulatory factors of immunocompetent cell immune function and possesses all of proliferative potential, viability, and the ability to accumulate a T cell, and an expression vector of regulatory factors of immune function for generating the immunocompetent cell. An immunocompetent cell expressing a cell surface molecule specifically recognizing a cancer antigen, interleukin 7 (IL-7), and CCL19 is generated. Preferably, the cell surface molecule specifically recognizing a cancer antigen is T cell receptor specifically recognizing the cancer antigen, and the immunocompetent cell is a T cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition for use in combination with administration of a mutated antibody having a mutation, including substitution, deletion, addition or modification, of at least one amino acid in a CH1 region, a CH2 region, a CH3 region, a CL region, or a framework region, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a cell expressing a chimeric receptor, the mutated antibody is capable of binding to the extracellular binding domain of the chimeric receptor via a moiety having the mutation, and the extracellular binding domain does not bind to an antibody free of the mutation.

Abstract: A feces collection sheet (S), which has a cylindrical shape and includes: an upper sheet (1) having a feces receiving portion (2) in a center of the upper sheet (1); and a lower sheet (9), which is provided so as to extend from both of a right-side edge portion and a left-side edge portion of the upper sheet (1) and is configured to define a gap with the upper sheet (1) to allow insertion of a toilet seat therethrough. The upper sheet (1) and the lower sheet (9) are made of a material having a water-soluble material property. The upper sheet (1) has a folded piece portion (10) adapted to be unfolded to enable the feces receiving portion (2) to form a three-dimensional shape that bulges toward the lower sheet (9).

Abstract: In the case of using a blocking nucleic acid to prevent non-specific hybridization of a target nucleic acid with a nucleic acid probe, further excellent efficiency of detecting the target nucleic acid is achieved. A buffer composition used in hybridization of a target nucleic acid with a nucleic acid probe, wherein the buffer composition for hybridization contains a blocking nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a region comprising at least a non-detection target nucleotide in a non-target nucleic acid, in a concentration of one or more times higher than the concentration of a nucleic acid in a nucleic acid mixture consisting of the target nucleic acid and the non-target nucleic acid.

Abstract: Provided is a thickening/stabilizing agent that thickens, gelatinizes, and/or stabilizes a fluid organic substance to a desired viscosity. The thickening/stabilizing agent according to the present invention contains a compound (1) represented by Formula (i) and a compound (2) represented by Formula (ii), in a mole ratio of the compound (1) to the compound (2) of 95:5 to 25:75. The four R1s in Formula (i) represent, identically in each occurrence, a C12-C18 aliphatic hydrocarbon group; and the four R2s in Formula (ii) represent, identically in each occurrence, an C4-C10 aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide CAR-expressing T cells that coexpress a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a T cell immune function-enhancing factor and have a high immunity-inducing effect and antitumor activity, and to provide a CAR expression vector for the preparation of the CAR-expressing T cells. A CAR expression vector comprises a nucleic acid encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a nucleic acid encoding a T cell immune function-enhancing factor, wherein the nucleic acid encoding an immune function-enhancing factor is a nucleic acid encoding interleukin-7 and a nucleic acid encoding CCL19, a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative mutant of SHP-1, or a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative mutant of SHP-2, or a CAR-expressing T cell introduced with the CAR expression vector are prepared.

Abstract: It is intended to conveniently determine the pharmacokinetics of axitinib and to predict the therapeutic effect of axitinib. The present invention provides a method for determining the pharmacokinetics of axitinib, comprising the step of calculating a predicted pharmacokinetic parameter of axitinib using specific gene polymorphisms and background factors regarding a test subject.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for diagnosing canine pregnancy and a diagnostic reagent therefor. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for diagnosing canine pregnancy, comprising a step of immunologically measuring a canine acute phase protein in a biological sample using an anti-canine acute phase protein antibody or a fragment thereof, wherein the canine acute phase protein is not a canine C-reactive protein.

Abstract: An X-ray tube, including: an envelope (11) that holds inside thereof at a predetermined pressure; a filament (12) for emitting electrons and a focus electrode (13) provided in the envelope: and a target (15) for generating X-ray provided in the envelope facing to the filament (12) and the focus electrode (13), wherein the envelope (11) has an envelope body (11a) and an X-ray window portion (16) having a higher X-rays transmissivity and a higher electric conductivity than the envelope body (11a), when the X-ray window portion (16) or the anode (14) is set to a lower electric potential than both of an electric potential of the anode (14) or the X-ray window portion (16) and an electric potential of the filament (12) and the focus electrode (13), detection of at least one of an ion current (Ii) or an electron current (Ie) through the X-ray window portion (16) or the anode (14) is possible.

Abstract: A cylindrical indwelling medical device is formed by connecting a plurality of struts in a circumferential direction of the device in such a way to share a rib in an axial direction in neighboring struts to form annular or spiral columns of struts and connecting the columns of struts in the axial direction via links. Each strut has at least one set of strut pieces providing a bistable structure for supporting a load from reducing a diameter of the indwelling medical device and portions for inducing snap-through buckling deformation. load is in a direction preventing reverse snap-through buckling deformation to hold an expanded diameter state of the device. After the indwelling medical device with its diameter reduced has been introduced into a luminal organ and has expanded its diameter to indwell there, the device can resist sufficiently against the reduction in diameter, thus maintaining the expanded diameter state of the device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide CAR-expressing T cells that coexpress a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a T cell immune function-enhancing factor and have a high immunity-inducing effect and antitumor activity, and to provide a CAR expression vector for the preparation of the CAR-expressing T cells. A CAR expression vector comprises a nucleic acid encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a nucleic acid encoding a T cell immune function-enhancing factor, wherein the nucleic acid encoding an immune function-enhancing factor is a nucleic acid encoding interleukin-7 and a nucleic acid encoding CCL19, a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative mutant of SHP-1, or a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative mutant of SHP-2, or a CAR-expressing T cell introduced with the CAR expression vector are prepared.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an enhancer for endogenous T-cells or B-cells having a memory function and a malignant tumor recurrence inhibitor in order to continue to reject malignant tumor over a long period of time. An enhancer for T-cells or B-cells having a memory function in an administration subject, comprising a nucleic acid delivery vehicle, a nucleic acid encoding interleukin-7 (IL-7), and a nucleic acid encoding chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 19 (CCL19), and an inducer for inducing a memory function in T-cells or B-cells in an administration subject, are prepared. Also, a malignant tumor recurrence inhibitor comprising a nucleic acid delivery vehicle, a nucleic acid encoding interleukin-7 (IL-7), and a nucleic acid encoding CCL19, is prepared.

Abstract: An elongated ferromagnetic anodic electrode is fixed to a tightly closable pipe shape vacuum casing so as to extend within the casing as a cantilever and magnetic field applying module is disposed so as to concentrate magnetic field at a tip side position of the ferromagnetic anodic electrode in an area of discharge optical emission when a high voltage is applied between the anodic electrode and the vacuum casing as a cathode electrode. In addition, a vacuum casing can be formed with a ferromagnetic and soft magnetic material for magnetic flux to be permeable well, or a tip side alone of an anodic electrode rather than the anodic electrode itself can be formed with a ferromagnetic material, or a ferromagnetic member can be disposed at a near position of an anodic electrode, so as to concentrate magnetic field in a vicinity of a tip of an anodic electrode.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide: an anti-GPC3 antibody that recognizes an epitope different from that for existing antibodies (e.g., GC33 and GC199) and can specifically bind, even in the form of single chain antibody, to GPC3 localized on a cell membrane; CAR comprising the anti-GPC3 single chain antibody; an immunocompetent cell expressing the CAR; a gene of the anti-GPC3 antibody or a gene of the CAR; a vector comprising the anti-GPC3 antibody gene or the CAR gene; a host cell in which the vector has been introduced; a method for specifically detecting GPC3; and a kit for specifically detecting GPC3. An antibody comprising particular heavy chain CDR1 to CDR3 and particular light chain CDR1 to CDR3 defined in claim 1, and specifically binding to a human-derived GPC3 polypeptide specifically binds to GPC3 localized on a cell membrane. CAR-immunocompetent cells prepared on the basis of CAR comprising such single chain antibody are useful for cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the activity level of mesenchymal stem cells, and a method for culturing mesenchymal stem cells using the evaluation method in the field of culturing mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative medicine, and further, a method for producing a therapeutic agent for liver dysfunction and a therapeutic agent for liver dysfunction. This method for evaluating mesenchymal stem cell activity has an assay step for assaying the amount of adenylate kinase 4 (AK4) in the mesenchymal stem cells; and a determination step for determining the activity level of the mesenchymal stem cells from the assayed amount of adenylate kinase 4.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide: an anti-GPC3 antibody that recognizes an epitope different from that for existing antibodies (e.g., GC33 and GC199) and can specifically bind, even in the form of single chain antibody, to GPC3 localized on a cell membrane; CAR comprising the anti-GPC3 single chain antibody; an immunocompetent cell expressing the CAR; a gene of the anti-GPC3 antibody or a gene of the CAR; a vector comprising the anti-GPC3 antibody gene or the CAR gene; a host cell in which the vector has been introduced; a method for specifically detecting GPC3; and a kit for specifically detecting GPC3. An antibody comprising particular heavy chain CDR1 to CDR3 and particular light chain CDR1 to CDR3 defined in claim 1, and specifically binding to a human-derived GPC3 polypeptide specifically binds to GPC3 localized on a cell membrane. CAR-immunocompetent cells prepared on the basis of CAR comprising such single chain antibody are useful for cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: A plurality of branch bars is provided on opposing sides of paired strut pieces connected by links in a strut to protrude from one towards the other side, and a plurality of ratchet teeth is formed on the side of the branch bars respectively. When a stent made of polymer material having a cylindrical constitution in which a plurality of struts is connected by links is deformed to enlarge its diameter, the paired struts are deformed to come near to each other, so that the branch bars overlap each other with the ratchet teeth formed thereon engaging with each other. As the effect of engagement of the ratchet teeth with each other, while deformation of the struts so as to enlarge the diameter of the stent is allowed, deformation so as to reduce the diameter of the stent is inhibited.

Abstract: Provided is a thickening/stabilizing agent that thickens, gelatinizes, and/or stabilizes a fluid organic substance to a desired viscosity. The thickening/stabilizing agent according to the present invention contains a compound (1) represented by Formula (i) and a compound (2) represented by Formula (ii), in a mole ratio of the compound (1) to the compound (2) of 95:5 to 25:75. The four R1s in Formula (i) represent, identically in each occurrence, a C12-C18 aliphatic hydrocarbon group; and the four R2s in Formula (ii) represent, identically in each occurrence, an C4-C10 aliphatic hydrocarbon group.