Abstract: Provided is a novel IgA secretion promoter useful as a mucosal immunity stimulation agent and a method of promoting IgA secretion in a body of animal to stimulate mucosal immunity. A significant action of promoting IgA secretion was observed in oral administration of indigestible dextrin.

Abstract: Transcriptional regulatory regions and transcriptional regulatory factors for the human high affinity IgE receptor (Fc?RI) ?-chain gene are specified and are targets for the development of transcriptional regulatory agents for the Fc?RI ?-chain gene. The following are provided: DNA comprising the full length or a portion of the base sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, that regulates transcription of the human high affinity IgE receptor (Fc?RI) ?-chain gene; and DNA comprising the full length or a portion of the base sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, that regulates transcription of the human high affinity IgE receptor (Fc?RI) ?-chain gene. The present invention is promising for the development of novel agents for the prophylaxis/treatment of allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases, thrombosis, glomerulonephritis, and lupus nephritis.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide an allergen reduction method which can be carried out without the need for a large or complicated apparatus and which allows an allergen content to be reduced while maintaining basic characteristics intrinsic to albumen, such as texture, foaming property, and foam stability, a method of producing allergen-reduced albumen, a method of producing an allergen-reduced albumen composition, and an allergen-reduced food product. The present invention relates to an allergen reduction method to reduce a content of an allergen in albumen by a heating and pressurizing treatment with a treatment pressure set in a range of 140 to 400 kPa and a treatment temperature set in a range of 110 to 150° C., a method of producing allergen-reduced albumen, a method of producing an allergen-reduced albumen composition, and an allergen-reduced food product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide comprising all or a part of the nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:1 that regulates transcription of the human high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc?FI) ?-chain gene, and a method for regulating transcription of the Fc?FI ?-chain gene which comprises the step of promoting binding between a transcription regulatory complex containing MZF-1 and the transcription regulatory region of the Fc?FI ?-chain gene that contains the nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO: 1. In addition, the present invention provides a screening method and a kit therefor that utilizes the method for regulating transcription of the Fc?FI ?-chain gene having the step of promoting binding between a transcription regulatory complex containing MZF-1 and the transcription regulatory region of the Fc?FI ?-chain gene that contains the nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:1, thereby enabling development of a novel agent for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.

Abstract: Transcriptional regulatory regions and transcriptional regulatory factors for the human high affinity IgE receptor (Fc?RI) ?-chain gene are specified and are targets for the development of transcriptional regulatory agents for the Fc?RI ?-chain gene. The following are provided: DNA comprising the full length or a portion of the base sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, that regulates transcription of the human high affinity IgE receptor (Fc?RI) ?-chain gene; and DNA comprising the full length or a portion of the base sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, that regulates transcription of the human high affinity IgE receptor (Fc?RI) ?-chain gene. The present invention is promising for the development of novel agents for the prophylaxis/treatment of allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases, thrombosis, glomerulonephritis, and lupus nephritis.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide an allergen reduction method which can be carried out without the need for a large or complicated apparatus and which allows an allergen content to be reduced while maintaining basic characteristics intrinsic to albumen, such as texture, foaming property, and foam stability, a method of producing allergen-reduced albumen, a method of producing an allergen-reduced albumen composition, and an allergen-reduced food product. The present invention relates to an allergen reduction method to reduce a content of an allergen in albumen by a heating and pressurizing treatment with a treatment pressure set in a range of 140 to 400 kPa and a treatment temperature set in a range of 110 to 150° C., a method of producing allergen-reduced albumen, a method of producing an allergen-reduced albumen composition, and an allergen-reduced food product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide comprising all or a part of the nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:1 that regulates transcription of the human high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc?Rl) ?-chain gene, and a method for regulating transcription of the Fc?Rl ?-chain gene which comprises the step of promoting binding between a transcription regulatory complex containing MZF-1 and the transcription regulatory region of the Fc?Rl ?-chain gene that contains the nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO: 1. In addition, the present invention provides a screening method and a kit therefor that utilizes the method for regulating transcription of the Fc?Rl ?-chain gene having the step of promoting binding between a transcription regulatory complex containing MZF-1 and the transcription regulatory region of the Fc?Rl ?-chain gene that contains the nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:1, thereby enabling development of a novel agent for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.

Abstract: An inspection equipment can be provided, which captures microbes in a sample solution with a filter, and detects information about microbes from a sample obtained by fluorescence-staining the microbes. The filter is irradiated with different excitation light beams (1, 2), and binary images (A, B, C) of fluorescences obtained in the respective fields in correspondence with the respective excitation light beams are sensed. The binary images (A, B, C) obtained with respect to the respective excitation light beams (1, 2) are compared to automatically identify the binary image B, which emits fluorescence with respect to only a specific excitation light beam (e.g., 1), as a fluorescent image based on a microbe, and the binary images A and C, which emit fluorescence with respect to all the excitation light beams, as fluorescent images other than those of microbes, thereby easily identifying microbes in the sample solution in an unmanned fashion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an alcohol by reducing a carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, more particularly, a method of preparing an alcohol by a reduction reaction in the presence of a zirconium-titanium oxide catalyst. A carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid derivative is converted into a corresponding alcohol by a reduction reaction in the presence of a zirconium-titanium oxide catalyst using an alcohol as a hydrogen source. An alcohol can be prepared in a high yield in the present invention. To be more specific, the method of the present invention can convert a higher fatty acid or a carboxylic acid derivative, which has given a corresponding alcohol in a low yield in the presence of a zirconium catalyst alone, into the corresponding alcohol in a high yield. Further, the reaction can be performed easily, and the product can be easily separated from the catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of obtaining (S)-(-)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone (2) and (R)-(+)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone (3) by resolving a racemic mixture of the compounds (2) and (3). More specifically, disclosed is a method of obtaining the optically active nicotine derivatives (2) and (3) shown below, which comprises steps of binding (.+-.)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone to a sugar derivative, resolving the obtained compound into two types of stereoisomers, and treating them under an acidic condition.

Abstract: An optically active epoxycyclohexane derivative represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a 4-oxycarbonyl-1-hydroxy-3-methyl-3(Z)-buten-1-yl or 4-hydroxycarbonyl-3-methyl-1(E),3(Z)-butadien-1-yl group; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a lower alkoxy group or together form a 1,3-dioxolane ring together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded,and an enantiometer thereof.An optically active epoxycyclohexanone derivative represented by the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl, allyl, aralkyl or aryl group,and an enantiomer thereof.Further, the process for preparing these compounds, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing an aldehyde in which a primary alcohol is reacted with an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of ketone, aldehyde and quinone in the presence of a diluent which does not participate in the reaction, in the presence of a partially dehydrated zirconium hydroxide, so as to oxidize the primary alcohol into its corresponding aldehyde.

Abstract: Levoglucosenone is prepared by reaction sequence using 1,6-anhydro-.beta.-D-galactopyranose as a starting material. First, the starting material is reacted with ortho formate, obtaining an ortho ester of said starting material. Then, the ortho ester is placed under the conditions for a reductive elimination reaction of the ortho formate part of said ortho ester, thereby converting said ortho ester to a 1,6-anhydro-3,4-dideoxy derivative. The dideoxy derivative is placed under the conditions for oxidation of the hydroxy group of said dideoxy derivative, thereby forming levoglucosenone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of reduction of aldehydes or ketones by means of reaction with alcohols, in the presence of a catalyst, to produce alcohols which correspond to said respective aldehyde or ketone. A solid of partially dehydrated one or more metal hydroxides whose metal is selected from the group consists of titanium, tin, ion, aluminum, cerium, and niobium is used as the catalyst. This process can be conducted either in a gas phase or in a liquid phase.

Abstract: An alcohol compound is produced by reducing a carboxylic acid or an ester thereof with an alcohol in the presence of a solid catalyst. The catalyst includes a hydrous metal oxide belonging to Group IV of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: An amine is reached with dimethyformamioe in the presence of a solid catalyst to produce a formamide corresponding to the amine. The solid catalyst includes an oxide of metals belonging to Groups III, IV and V of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: A carboxylic acid or its ester is reduced by formic acid in the presence of a hydrous metal oxide solid catalyst, to produce a corresponding aldehyde. Using this method, no harmful waste is by-produced, an aldehyde compound can be produced at relatively low cost, and the aldehyde produced can be easily recovered.

Abstract: A method of preparing an acetal or ketal from a corresponding aldehyde or ketone is disclosed. A hydrous oxide of an element of Group IV of the Periodic Table is used as a catalyst, and the aldehyde or ketone is caused to react with an alcohol. The hydrous oxide can be obtained by partially dehydrating a hydroxide of the corresponding element. The method does not require an acid catalyst and is applicable to a carbonyl compound which is not stable in acids.

Abstract: A method of reducing a nitrile into a corresponding alcohol is disclosed. The nitrile is caused to react with an alcohol by using a zirconium hydrous oxide as a catalyst. The zirconium hydrous oxide is obtained by partially dehydrating zirconium hydroxide. The nitrile can be reduced to the corresponding alcohol in a one-step reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of reduction of aldehydes or ketones by means of reaction with alcohols, in the presence of a catalyst, to produce alcohols which correspond to said respective aldehyde or ketone. A solid of partially dehydrated one or more metal hydroxides whose metal is selected from the group consists of titanium, tin, ion, aluminium, cerium, and niobium is used as the catalyst. This process can be conducted either in a gas phase or in a liquid phase.