Abstract: The therapeutic agent for hepatitis, containing alanine and glycine, has only a slight toxicity and it can be administered either orally or intravenously to improve the liver function.

Abstract: An organ fibrosis inhibitor, in particular, a liver fibrosis inhibitor is provided, which contains histidine, preferable together with cysteine and/or cystine as active ingredients. Owing to the combined use, a remarkable effect of inhibiting organ fibrosis, in particular, liver fibrosis can be shown. These substances are usable as the desired active ingredients in the form of a drug or in the form of a food and drink. There is also provided an organ fibrosis inhibitor comprising the active ingredients as described above either separately or as a combination of one of them with a mixture of the other two ingredients. Thus, it is possible to present organ fibrosis inhibitors such as a liver fibrosis inhibitor which are applicable in the form used in health foods for improving and maintaining liver function and foods and drinks for sick people, as well as drugs for various organ diseases caused by fibrosis such as liver diseases.

Abstract: A gene panel comprising a group of genes of which expression levels change in hepatocytes during liver regeneration as compared with those in a normal state is produced by the following steps: (a) the step of measuring expression levels of various genes in hepatocytes of a model animal in a normal state and expression levels of the genes during liver regeneration; (b) the step of comparing the expression levels, respectively; and (c) the step of identifying a group of genes of which expression levels change during liver regeneration.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions which contain isoleucine, leucine, valine, and alanine as active ingredients, are useful for treating liver diseases such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and the like via maintenance and improvement of albumin level in blood. In preferred embodiments, the mass ratio of isoleucine:leucine:valine is 1:1.9 to 2.2:1.1 to 1.3; the mass ratio of the total mass of isoleucine, leucine and valine: alanine is 1:0.05 to 10; and a daily dose per person contains isoleucine in an amount of 0.2-30.0 g, leucine in an amount of 0.2-30.0 g, valine in an amount of 0.2-30.0 g, and alanine in an amount of 0.2-50.0 g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical agent (e.g., a therapeutic agent) for treatment of mitochondrial disorders, which is highly safe with minimal adverse effects. Thus, the pharmaceutical agent is extremely useful as a medical product for mitochondrial disorders. The present invention also provides a method for preventing, ameliorating and/or therapeutically treating mitochondrial disorders by administering the pharmaceutical agent of the present invention.

Abstract: An organ fibrosis inhibitor, in particular, a liver fibrosis inhibitor is provided, which contains histidine, preferable together with cysteine and/or cystine as active ingredients. Owing to the combined use, a remarkable effect of inhibiting organ fibrosis, in particular, liver fibrosis can be shown. These substances are usable as the desired active ingredients in the form of a drug or in the form of a food and drink. There is also provided an organ fibrosis inhibitor comprising the active ingredients as described above either separately or as a combination of one of them with a mixture of the other two ingredients. Thus, it is possible to present organ fibrosis inhibitors such as a liver fibrosis inhibitor which are applicable in the form used in health foods for improving and maintaining liver function and foods and drinks for sick people, as well as drugs for various organ diseases caused by fibrosis such as liver diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medicinal composition containing aminomethanesulfonic acid (including a salt or ester form) as an active ingredient. The inventive medicinal composition has an improved TNF&agr; production inhibition as compared with glycine. The present invention also provides a method of treating liver diseases by administering the medicinal composition to a patient in need thereof. There are also provided a method for inhibiting the production of TNF&agr; and, particularly, a method of treatment, amelioration and/or prevention of liver diseases utilizing the above method.

Abstract: The therapeutic agent for hepatitis, containing alanine and glycine, has only a slight toxicity and it can be administered either orally or intravenously to improve the liver function.