Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a combination drug that has remarkably excellent preventive and/or therapeutic effects on polycystic kidney disease. The present invention provides a drug for preventing and/or treating polycystic kidney disease comprising a combination of tolvaptan or a prodrug thereof with a somatostatin derivative, and a method for treating polycystic kidney disease using this drug.

Abstract: A switching valve has a cylinder, an end port, a side wall port, a sliding core, a poppet seal, a biasing member, and a sliding core internal channel. The cylinder guides the sliding core in a slidable manner, and has a valve seat. The poppet seal guided in a slidable manner in a sliding core inner space is biased toward a seal engagement protrusion by the biasing member. The poppet seal can be seated on the valve seat by a biasing force given by the biasing member to close a channel for controlled fluid, and can be separated from the valve seat to open the channel for the controlled fluid.

Abstract: A flexible tube for an automobile exhaust system which has a bellow assembly to absorb the first exhaust pipe and the second exhaust pipe for the an exhaust system having a cylindrical outer cover (5) made of plate to cover the outer periphery of the bellows (3)1 the first collar (7') and the second collar (7") with the risers (7a', 7a") bent toward the inner surface (5a) of the outer cover (5); the first elongation displacement stopper member (6') and the second elongation member displacement stopper member (6") respectively formed by bending the inner side of the outer cover (5); and the first elastic stopper member (8') and the second elastic stopper member (8") provided at the risers (7a', 7a") of both collars (7', 7"). As a further modification, the second outer cover (9) may be provided inside of the outer cover (5) to form displacement stoppers (9a, 9b) by bending the both end portions of the second outer cover.

Abstract: A flexible pipe unit for an exhaust pipe line of an internal combustion engine comprises a metal bellows which has a front open end adapted to be connected to a first exhaust pipe and a rear open end adapted to be connected to a second exhaust pipe. A cylindrical outer case of metal is coaxially disposed about the metal bellows in a manner to define therebetween a cylindrical space. A first structure is arranged between a front end of the outer case and a front end of the bellows to achieve a mechanical connection therebetween. A second structure is arranged between a rear end of the outer case and a rear end of the bellows to achieve a mechanical connection therebetween. At least one of the first and second structures comprises a spring member by which the bellows and the outer case are resiliently connected.

Abstract: A coupling structure between a cylindrically united end portion of a breeches pipe and a cylindrical end portion of a tubular pipe. The cylindrically united end portion has at diametrically opposed portions thereof respective grooves each extending axially from a circular end of the cylindrically united end portion. The cylindrical end portion of the tubular pipe has at diametrically opposed portions thereof respective slots each extending axially from a circular end of the cylindrical end portion. The cylindrically united end portion of the breeches pipe is inserted into the cylindrical end portion of the tubular pipe in such a manner that grooves are mated and merged with the slots respectively. The circular end of the tubular pipe is entirely welded to an outer surface of the cylindrically united end portion of the breeches pipe and a periphery of each slot is entirely welded to the corresponding groove to achieve a hermetic sealing therebetween.

Abstract: A flexible connection tube for an automotive exhaust system comprises a flexible metal bellows adapted to be connected between a run of exhaust piping for absorbing expansion or contraction of the exhaust piping, and an outer knitted metal-wire braid covering the outer periphery of the bellows for protecting the bellows from damage and for preventing the bellows from stretching to its full length. The outer knitted metal-wire braid is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by knitting plural metal-wire bundles (each bundle being produced by a plurality of parallelly bonded metal wires) alternately with each other in spiral directions with respect to the axial direction of the bellows. Apertures are defined by many groups of four adjacent metal-wire bundles knitted alternately with each other.