Abstract: Cancer is determined quantitatively, rapidly and highly accurately by using a cell specimen such as a tissue section or a smear preparation. More specifically, provided is a method and apparatus for analyzing the proliferating activity or malignancy of cells by measuring the signal intensity of phosphorus of cells or the signal intensities of phosphorus and sulfur of cells.

Abstract: In order to observe a water-containing sample with excellent convenience under an air atmosphere or a gas atmosphere, or under a desired pressure, in the present invention, there is provided an observation support unit for observation by irradiating the sample disposed in a non-vacuum space separated by a diaphragm from an inner space of a charged particle optical lens barrel that generates a charged particle beam, with the charged particle beam. The observation support unit includes a main body portion for covering a hole portion that forms an observation region where the sample is observed, and the sample, and the observation support unit is directly mounted between the sample and the diaphragm, that is, on the sample.

Abstract: In order to observe a water-containing sample with excellent convenience under an air atmosphere or a gas atmosphere, or under a desired pressure, in the present invention, there is provided an observation support unit for observation by irradiating the sample disposed in a non-vacuum space separated by a diaphragm from an inner space of a charged particle optical lens barrel that generates a charged particle beam, with the charged particle beam. The observation support unit includes a main body portion for covering a hole portion that forms an observation region where the sample is observed, and the sample, and the observation support unit is directly mounted between the sample and the diaphragm, that is, on the sample.

Abstract: Provided is a charged particle beam device including a charged particle optical column that irradiates a specimen with a primary charged particle beam, and a specimen base rotating unit that is capable of rotating the specimen base in a state of an angle formed by a surface of the specimen base and an optical axis of the primary charged particle beam being inclined to a non-perpendicular angle, in which the specimen base is configured to include a detecting element that detects a charged particle scattered or transmitted inside the specimen, and transmitted charged particle images of the specimen corresponding to each angle is acquired by irradiating the specimen in a state of the specimen base rotating unit being rotated at a plurality of different angles.

Abstract: An electronic microscope has a great depth of focus compared with an optical microscope. Thus, information is superimposed in the depth direction in one image. Thus, observation of a three-dimensional structure inside a specimen with use of the electronic microscope requires accurate specification of a three-dimensional position or density of a structure inside the specimen. Furthermore, the specimen on a slide glass that is observed with the optical microscope may not be put in a TEM device in the related art. Thus, a very complicated preparation of the specimen is required for performing three-dimensional internal structure observation, with the electronic microscope, of a location that is observed with the optical microscope.

Abstract: Disclosed is a culture sheet which enables technology in which three-dimensional tissues with uniform diameter are formed without applying chemicals to the surface of a culture substrate. A plurality of holes are formed on the culture sheet of the substrate, and nanopillars capable of controlling the adhesiveness or migration of a cell are formed on a culture surface that serves as the bottom surface of each of the holes. The culture surface of each of the holes having a structure in which a partition wall is provided, wherein, by forming the internal nanopillars in the vicinity of the center of each of the holes, the interaction of the disseminated cells can be limited to uniform the size of the three-dimensional structures of the cells to be formed.

Abstract: Provided is a culturing method capable of causing a three-dimensional aggregate in which cell function is similar to in vivo function to adhere to a culturing vessel while improving permeability of nutrients, oxygen, drugs and reagents from the culture medium and maintaining cell function. By sowing isolated cells in a culturing vessel, and after the cells have settled on the culturing surface, administering microscaffold particles that are cell-adhesive and substance-permeable onto the cells, it is possible to cause the cells to adhere to the culturing vessel while forming cell aggregates that encompass the particles. For example, cell aggregates encompassing the particles are formed by administering gelatin particles in which the size of the culture carrier to be encompassed in the cell aggregate is at least ? of the cell diameter at a cell number:particle number of at least 80:1 with respect to the number of cultured cells per unit culturing area.

Abstract: An operating efficiency of an observer is considerably restricted since it is not known at which position a culturing cell is disposed among a great number of pieces of holes of a culturing sheet. The culturing sheet is configured by a partitioning wall, a hole isolated by the partitioning wall, a local culturing region formed with plural local culturing region pillars a height of which is lower than that of the partitioning wall at a portion of a bottom face, and identification mark pillars formed at an identification mark region which differs from the culturing region at the bottom face of the hole. An identification mark is prevented from being unable to be optically recognized by adhering a spheroid to the identification mark region by making a diameter and a height of the identification mark pillar smaller than a diameter and a height of the local culturing pillar.

Abstract: Provided is a culture sheet which enables a technique for forming a three-dimensional tissue having uniform diameter without applying any chemical on the surface of a culture substrate. On the culture sheet (150) of the culture substrate, a plurality of holes (152) are formed and nanopillars (153), which are capable of controlling the adhesiveness and migration ability of cells, are formed on the bottom surface of each hole (152), said bottom face serving as a culture surface. The culture surface of each hole (151) is provided with a partition wall (152) and the internal nanopillars (153) are formed in the vicinity of the center of the hole (151). Owing to this configuration, the interaction among the disseminated cells can be restricted so that uniformly sized three-dimensional structures of the cells can be formed.

Abstract: Provided are a technique for easily forming a spheroid by three-dimensionally culturing hepatocytes, and a technique for forming a spheroid having a higher expression level of a transporter MRP2 playing a role of biliary excretion than that of a conventional method. In order to solve the above-described problems, the present inventors have found out a condition under which hepatocytes easily form the spheroid on a nanopillar sheet. More specifically, this is related to a concentration of Type I collagen coated onto the NP sheet. Also, they have found out a condition under which an expression level of a gene related to the excretion of the formed spheroid is improved. More specifically, after the spheroid is previously formed, a biological matrix is overlayered thereon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a culture sheet which enables technology in which three-dimensional tissues with uniform diameter are formed without applying chemicals to the surface of a culture substrate. A plurality of holes are formed on the culture sheet of the substrate, and nanopillars capable of controlling the adhesiveness or migration of a cell are formed on a culture surface that serves as the bottom surface of each of the holes. The culture surface of each of the holes having a structure in which a partition wall is provided, wherein, by forming the internal nanopillars in the vicinity of the center of each of the holes, the interaction of the disseminated cells can be limited to uniform the size of the three-dimensional structures of the cells to be formed.

Abstract: Provided are a technique for easily forming a spheroid by three-dimensionally culturing hepatocytes, and a technique for forming a spheroid having a higher expression level of a transporter MRP2 playing a role of biliary excretion than that of a conventional method. In order to solve the above-described problems, the present inventors have found out a condition under which hepatocytes easily form the spheroid on a nanopillar sheet. More specifically, this is related to a concentration of Type I collagen coated onto the NP sheet. Also, they have found out a condition under which an expression level of a gene related to the excretion of the formed spheroid is improved. More specifically, after the spheroid is previously formed, a biological matrix is overlayered thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody displaying excellent specificity against heparan sulfate saccharide chains for the analysis of heparan sulfate saccharide chains specific to dentin. The invention also provides a method of evaluating reproductive dentin using the monoclonal antibody. The anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts against dentin-derived heparan sulfate and in particular the anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts strongly and specifically with uncalcified predentin regions. In the method of evaluating dentin, the antibody is reacted against an isolated dentin-derived sample and the reaction is used in order to evaluate the development of dentin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody displaying excellent specificity against heparan sulfate saccharide chains for the analysis of heparan sulfate saccharide chains specific to dentin. The invention also provides a method of evaluating reproductive dentin using the monoclonal antibody. The anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts against dentin-derived heparan sulfate and in particular the anti-heparan sulfate monoclonal antibody reacts strongly and specifically with uncalcified predentin regions. In the method of evaluating dentin, the antibody is reacted against an isolated dentin-derived sample and the reaction is used in order to evaluate the development of dentin.