Abstract: There is provided a composition for promoting the production of and/or enhancing the activity of fibulin-5, said composition comprising as an active ingredient one or a plurality of pharmaceutical agents selected from the group consisting of extracts of Caesalpinia crista, extracts of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, phytic acid and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and L- hydroxyproline and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides cosmetics or dermatological compositions comprising plant extract or whey extract having an action to potentiate laminin 5 productivity in the epidermal cells. They have mainly the action and efficacy to prevent or improve aging in the skin.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a patch-containing packaging pouch which enables stable storage of a patch containing bisoprolol in a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. A packaged desiccant 1 of the present invention has a packaging pouch 8 composed of a pair of laminated package members 7a and 7b arranged in mutual opposition, and a patch 10 housed in the space within this packaging pouch 8. Patch 10 is provided with a support 12 and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 14 laminated substantially over the entire surface of one side of this support 12. In addition, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is composed of a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition containing a pressure-sensitive adhesive and bisoprolol or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Moreover, a packaged desiccant 20 is housed within packaging pouch 8. The relative humidity within packaging pouch 8 is maintained at 25% or less in a patch-containing packaging pouch 1 having this constitution.

Abstract: The patch-containing pouch 100 of the present invention is a pouch 1 housing in its interior a patch 2 which has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 22 laminated on at least one side of a support 21 and has a release film 23 attached to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 22, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 22 contains a drug represented by general formula (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least a portion of the inner surface 31a or 31b of the pouch 1 in contact with the patch 2 is made of polyacrylonitrile. [where R represents 2-isopropoxyethoxymethyl, carbamoylmethyl or 2-methoxyethyl.

Abstract: An adhesive patch which includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer comprising a composition which comprises: bisoprolol and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and an acrylic polymer obtained by copolymerizing a (meth)acrylic ester with a carboxylated (meth)acrylic acid. The adhesive patch is stable and excellent in penetration through the skin.

Abstract: A method for promoting skin basement membrane formation comprises administering matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent. The matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor is N-hydroxy-2(R)-[[(4-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl](3-picolyl)amino]-3-methylbutanamide hydrochloride.

Abstract: The invention provides an epidermal basement membrane structure formation accelerating preparation and a skin external preparation comprising a serine protease inhibitor, and optionally an accelerator of production of extracellular matrix protein components of the epidermal basement membrane. It also provides, as a means for producing artificial skin having an adequately formed basement membrane, an artificial skin-forming medium which comprises a serine protease inhibitor, and optionally an accelerator of production of extracellular matrix protein components of the epidermal basement membrane and a matrix metalloprotease inhibitor, as well as a method for producing the same.

Abstract: The invention provides cosmetics or dermatological compositions comprising plant extract or whey extract having an action to potentiate laminin 5 productivity in the epidermal cells. They have mainly the action and efficacy to prevent or improve aging in the skin.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an artificial skin formation promoting agent and skin basement membrane stabilizing agent comprising matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent; as well as a production method of artificial skin comprising adding matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent to an artificial skin formation medium.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of evaluating a treatment for its effect on skin. The invention also provides non-human transgenic animals, e.g., mice, having a reporter gene coupled to a skin-metabolism promoter.

Abstract: The invention provides an epidermal basement membrane structure formation accelerating preparation and a skin external preparation comprising a serine protease inhibitor, and optionally an accelerator of production of extracellular matrix protein components of the epidermal basement membrane. It also provides, as a means for producing artificial skin having an adequately formed basement membrane, an artificial skin-forming medium which comprises a serine protease inhibitor, and optionally an accelerator of production of extracellular matrix protein components of the epidermal basement membrane and a matrix metalloprotease inhibitor, as well as a method for producing the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions for promoting the production of laminin 5 in epidermic cells which contain a lysophospholipid having a C14-22 fatty acid residue or a preparation derived from soybeans as an active ingredient and which can be used in the fields of cosmetics and dermatology. These compositions may be used especially for the purpose of potentiating the skin.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an artificial skin formation promoting agent and skin basement membrane stabilizing agent comprising matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent; as well as a production method of artificial skin comprising adding matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent to an artificial skin formation medium.

Abstract: A modified carbodiimide resin obtainable by reacting a carbodiimide resin comprising a repeating unit represented by the general formula: —(NCN—R1)- wherein R1 represents a divalent organic group, with an aromatic diamine represented by the general formula: H2N—R2—NH2 wherein R2 represents a divalent organic group having a benzene ring, and a thermosetting resin composition comprising the modified carbodiimide resin and an epoxy resin.

Abstract: A metal material subjected to a treatment for seizure prevention is provided. The metal material includes a metal base material and a film formed thereon, the film being composed of a carbodiimide group-containing resin obtained from an aromatic polyisocyanate or of a mixture of said carbodiimide group-containing resin and a lubricant. A method for producing a metal material subjected to a treatment for seizure prevention is also provided. The method includes coating, on a metal base material, a carbodiimide group-containing resin obtained from an aromatic polyisocyanate or a mixture of said carbodiimide group-containing resin and a lubricant, and then subjecting the coated metal base material to a heat treatment at a temperature of 120° C. or higher.

Abstract: A modified carbodiimide resin obtainable by reacting a carbodiimide resin comprising a repeating unit represented by the general formula: —(NCN—R1)— wherein R1 represents a divalent organic group, with an aromatic diamine represented by the general formula: H2N—R2—NH2 wherein R2 represents a divalent organic group having a benzene ring, and a thermosetting resin composition comprising the modified carbodiimide resin and an epoxy resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of adhering adherends, including (i) providing at least two adherends at least one of which is made of a flexible material, and (ii) joining the adherends together to form a structure using a heat-resistant adhesive composition containing mainly 1) a polycarbodiimide resin and an epoxy resin, or 2) a polycarbodiimide resin, an epoxy resin and a curing agent for the polycarbodiimide resin, or 3) a polycarbodiimide resin, an epoxy resin and a curing agent for the epoxy resin. The heat-resistant adhesive composition can be applied under mild conditions, and the resultant structure has excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance, and has superior adhesion strength particularly at high temperatures.

Abstract: A modified carbodiimide resin obtainable by reacting a carbodiimide resin comprising a repeating unit represented by the general formula: —(NCN—R1)— wherein R1 represents a divalent organic group, with an aromatic diamine represented by the general formula: H2N—R2—NH2 wherein R2 represents a divalent organic group having a benzene ring, and a thermosetting resin composition comprising the modified carbodiimide resin and an epoxy resin.

Abstract: A resin composition for use in a liquid sealant, which is composed mainly of an epoxy compound, an epoxy resin curing agent and a polycarbodiimide resin, the proportion of the polycarbodiimide resin being 0.1 to 10 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the epoxy compound, and which is liquid or fluid at ordinary temperature. The liquid sealant comprises a resin composition which is composed mainly of an epoxy compound and a polycarbodiimide resin, the proportion of the polycarbodiimide resin being 0.1 to 10 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the epoxy compound, an epoxy resin curing agent, an epoxy resin curing accelerator and an inorganic powder. The sealant is liquid or fluid at ordinary temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides an insulating material for the enameled wire of a motor of a refrigeration compressor using hydrofluorocarbons as the refrigerant and, as the refrigerating machine oil, a synthetic lubricating oil having at least one ester bond in a molecule such as ester-modified polyoxyalkylene glycol type, ester-modified ether type or ester type, which insulating material contains a compound having at least one carbodiimide group.This insulating material for the enameled wire of a motor of a refrigeration compressor, which is free from the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, which can prevent the surface deterioration or peeling (blister or cracking) etc. seen in the conventional insulating material used for covering the enameled wire (e.g.