Abstract: The antibody of the present invention, which specifically reacts with a partial peptide at the N-terminal region or the C-terminal region of NPW, which enables to quantify NPW with highly sensitivity and specifically. Moreover, this antibody is useful as an agent for preventing/treating infertility, renal edema, digestive ulcer, gastric hyperacidity, etc., and a diagnostic for these diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening method/screening kit for screening a compound or its salt that changes the binding properties of (a) a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 19, its partial peptides, or salts thereof, and (b) a ligand capable of binding specifically to the protein; compounds obtained by the screening or salts thereof; pharmaceuticals comprising the compounds or salts thereof; a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 19; etc. The compounds obtained by the screening of the present invention are useful as agents for the prevention/treatment of, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, immunological diseases, edema, acid indigestion, etc.

Abstract: As previous processing of measurement in which gas to be measured containing, as gas components, carbon dioxide 13CO2 and carbon dioxide 12CO2, is introduced into a cell, and in which the intensities of transmitted lights having wavelengths suitable for measurement of the respective gas components, are measured and then data-processed to measure the concentrations of the gas components, the air having a predetermined volume Va is sucked by a gas injection device 21, a gas exhaust valve V6 of a cell 11 is closed and the air stored in the gas injection device 21 is transferred to the cell 11 filled with the air at an atmospheric pressure, thereby to pressurize the cell inside. The pressure thus pressurized is measured as P. The cell volume Vc is subtracted from the product obtained by multiplying the sum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula: wherein R1 is an acyl group, R2 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, R3 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, R4 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, n is from 0 to 4, and X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or the like, or a salt thereof. The invention also provides a compound which has a TGR23 antagonist activity and thus is useful for prevention and treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ligand to GPR8, in particular polypeptides capable of binding to GPR8 or its amides or esters, or salts thereof, as well as DNA, encoding for such polypeptides. The ligand to GPR8 of the present invention is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of a GPR8 expression system, for screening candidate compounds for drugs such as preventive/therapeutic agents for obesity, appetite stimulants, and prolactin production inhibitors.

Abstract: A compound or its salts that inhibit the activity of the polypeptide or receptor of the present invention and the antibody of the present invention as well as the antisense DNA of the present invention are useful as, e.g., gastric acid secretion inhibitors, mucosa protectants, mineral absorption promoters, etc., which are less toxic and safe, and can be used as, e.g., agents for preventing/treating upper digestive tract disorders, antibacterial agents to Helicobacter pylori, etc. A compound or its salts that promote the activity of the polypeptide or receptor of the present invention, the polypeptide or receptor of the present invention and the DNA of the present invention can be used as, e.g., gastric acid secretion promoters and can be used as, e.g., agents for preventing/treating dyspepsia, bone metabolism disorders, anemia, etc. A compound or its salts that promote the activity of the polypeptide or receptor of the present invention, the polypeptide of the present invention, etc.

Abstract: A melanin-concentrating hormone antagonist which comprises a compound of the formula: wherein Ar1 is a cyclic group which may have substituents; X is a spacer having a main chain of 1 to 6 atoms; Y is a bond or a spacer having a main chain of 1 to 6 atoms; Ar is a monocyclic aromatic ring which may be condensed with a 4 to 8 membered non-aromatic ring, and may have further substituents; R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may have substituents; R1 and R2, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, may form a nitrogen-containing hetero ring which may have substituents; R2 may form a spiro ring together with Ar; or R2, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom and Y, may form a nitrogen-containing hetero ring which may have substituents; or a salt thereof; which is useful as an agent for preventing or treating obesity, etc.

Abstract: The antibody of the present invention, which is specifically reacting with the N-terminal or C-terminal partial peptide of TGR23-2 ligand, is useful in detecting and quantifying the TGR23-2 ligand. Moreover, it is useful as a preventing/treating agent and a diagnostic agent for cancer, etc.

Abstract: To reduce a time required for auto preset operation by using a plurality of tuners, and to enable a user to view a detected program even if auto preset process is under way. When auto preset operation starts, a control unit 5 controls mounted two tuners 3a and 3b to perform channel searching simultaneously. One of the tuners 3a performs channel searching of terrestrial analog broadcasting and the other tuner 3b performs channel searching of terrestrial digital broadcasting. As channel searching by the tuner 3b takes a processing time longer than that of channel searching of analog broadcasting by the tuner 3a, a user can view a broadcast program which can be received by reading preset information on analog broadcasting written in a non-volatile memory 9 when the tuner 3a completes channel searching.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide having a cell death inhibitory activity and use thereof is provided. The polypeptide and the polynucleotide encoding it can be used as a diagnostic, therapeutic or prophylactic agent for various diseases and disorders. Certain suitable diseases and disorders which may be diagnosed, treated, or prevented with the polypeptide and the polynucleotide encoding it are selected from neurodegenerative diseases, brain dysfunctions, cancers, immunological disease, infections, gastrointestinal diseases, circulatory diseases, and endocrine diseases. The polypeptide and the polynucleotide encoding it can be used as a cell death inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies specifically reacting with partial peptides in the C-terminal region of polypeptides having amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID NOS: 1 through 8 or derivatives thereof, a method of quantifying urotensin II using the antibodies, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies (e.g., for central nerve diseases, mental disorders, circulatory diseases, heart diseases, renal diseases, urinary tract disorders, or the like).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening a compound or its salt that alters the binding property between MCH or its salt and SLC-1 or its salt, characterized by using MCH or its derivative or a salt thereof and SLC-1 or its salt is useful for screening an SLC-1 agonist which can be used not only as an appetite (eating) promoting agent but also as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for weak pains, atonic bleeding, before and after expulsion, subinvolution of uterus, cesarean section, induced abortion, galactostasis, and the like, and an SLC-1 antagonist which can be used not only as an antiobestic agents (drug), an appetite (eating) modulator, and the like, but also as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for hyperstimulation, ankylosing uterine contractions, fetal distress, uterine rupture, cervical laceration, preterm delivery, Prader-Wili syndrome and the like.

Abstract: In an isotopic gas analyzer, a gas injector (21) is provided for pressurizing a gas specimen in cells (11a,11b). The pressurization of the gas specimen virtually produces the same effect as increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the gas specimen, thereby improving an S/N ratio for the analysis and hence data reproducibility.

Abstract: In a test strip measuring method in which a coloration measurement is conducted while a test strip (4) is being moved, there are detected the optical characteristics R of the ground of a test strip and the optical characteristics T of a test line (4b) which has appeared on the test strip, and the test strip is judged based on the difference or ratio between R and T. Even though the ground of the test strip presents variations in optical characteristics, and even though there are variations among samples or among test strips, such variations can be absorbed, thus assuring an accurate judgment.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide soluble ?-amyloid precursor protein secretory stimulators, which are effective in treating neurodegenerative diseases as well as cerebrovascular disorder-induced neuronopathy. More specifically, the present invention provides a novel compound of the following Formula (I) or a salt or prodrug thereof: [wherein R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, etc., Ar1 and the ring B each represent an optionally substituted aromatic group, the ring A represents an optionally substituted benzene ring, the ring C represents an optionally substituted 4- to 8-membered ring which may further be condensed with an optionally substituted ring, X represents CH or N, and Y represents CH or N].

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a ligand to GPR8, its DNA, etc., and more particularly, a polypeptide capable of binding to GPR8 or its amides or esters, or salts thereof, as well as its DNA, etc. The ligand to GPR8 of the present invention is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of a GPR8 expression system, screening candidate compounds for drugs such as preventive/therapeutic agents for obesity, appetite stimulants, prolactin production inhibitors, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening method/screening kit for screening a compound or its salt that changes the binding properties of (a) a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 19, its partial peptides, or salts thereof, and (b) a ligand capable of binding specifically to the protein; compounds obtained by the screening or salts thereof; pharmaceuticals comprising the compounds or salts thereof; a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 19; etc. The compounds obtained by the screening of the present invention are useful as agents for the prevention/treatment of, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, immunological diseases, edema, acid indigestion, etc.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a novel polypeptide, a receptor, a DNA thereof, and the like. Specifically, the present invention provides a polypeptide having a binding ability to the protein represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, or its amide, its ester or its salt, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, an antisense polynucleotide or an antibody to the polypeptide, a screening of agent for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity, etc., which comprises using the above, and the like. The polypeptide, receptor, polynucleotide, antisense polynucleotide, antibody and the like are useful for an agent of prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity and the like. Further, they are useful for a screening of an agent for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity and the like.

Abstract: A GPR7 ligand containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 wherein the N-terminal amino acid residue may optionally be brominated, is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of the GPR7 expression system, in screening a candidate compound for a drug such as an antiobestic, etc.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide soluble &bgr;-amyloid precursor protein secretory stimulators, which are effective in treating neurodegenerative diseases as well as cerebrovascular disorder-induced neuronopathy.