Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing primary heart muscle cells, characterized by washing a fine fragmented heart tissue with a phosphate-buffered physiological saline to thereby eliminate non-heart muscle cells and then hemolyzing the heart tissue digested with a protease to thereby eliminate erythrocytes. According to this method, highly pure primary heart muscle cells can be conveniently obtained in a large amount from the heart of an animal embryo or newborn. By using the heart muscle thus prepared, apoptosis of heart muscle cells can be efficiently and highly sensitively detected. Thus, it is possible to efficiently screen candidate compounds for heart muscle cell apoptosis inhibitors, gp 130-mediated receptor agonists, heart muscle cell-protective signal enhancers, preventives and remedies for heart diseases.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide excellent preventives and/or remedies for heart diseases. Specifically, the present invention provides heart muscle cell apoptosis inhibitors, preventives and/or remedies for heart diseases, comprising a compound represented by the following formula: wherein R represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted aromatic heterocyclic group, or an optionally substituted amino group; or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel protein, a DNA thereof, a screening method with the use of the same, and so on. A compound or a salt thereof regulating the activity of the present protein is useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for heart diseases and central nervous system diseases.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel disease-associated gene and use of the protein thereof, etc. Specifically, the invention provides: (1) a screening method and a screening kit using the protein and a salt thereof; (2) a compound or a salt thereof controlling an activity of the protein, obtained by the screening method and the screening kit; (3) a neutralizing antibody regulating the activity of the protein; and (4) a medicine such as a preventive and a remedy for a heart disease.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide excellent preventives and/or remedies for heart diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing primary heart muscle cells, characterized by washing a fine fragmented heart tissue with a phosphate-buffered physiological saline to thereby eliminate non-heart muscle cells and then hemolyzing the heart tissue digested with a protease to thereby eliminate erythrocytes. According to this method, highly pure primary heart muscle cells can be conveniently obtained in a large amount from the heart of an animal embryo or newborn. By using the heart muscle thus prepared, apoptosis of heart muscle cells can be efficiently and highly sensitively detected. Thus, it is possible to efficiently screen candidate compounds for heart muscle cell apoptosis inhibitors, gp 130-mediated receptor agonists, heart muscle cell-protective signal enhancers, preventives and remedies for heart diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening a drug by using a disease-associated gene product, an antibody to the disease-associated gene product, an antisense DNA that suppresses the expression of the disease-associated gene, etc.

Abstract: This invention relates to a compound of the following formula or a salt thereof, their production and use. ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent hydrogen, a group bonding through a carbon atom, a group bonding through a nitrogen atom, a group bonding through an oxygen atom, or a group bonding through a sulfur atom; R.sup.3 represents hydrogen, halogen, a group bonding through a carbon atom, a group bonding through a nitrogen atom, a group bonding through an oxygen atom, or a group bonding through a sulfur atom; W represents an oxygen atom or sulfur atom; A represents a group forming a nitrogen-containing condensed ring at the 3,4- of a 1,4-thiazine ring; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be combined to form a bivalent hydrocarbon group interrupted by one or more hetero atoms or an alkylene group.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a structurally novel 6,9-hemiacetal- erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions br a salt thereof, which has an excellent gastrointestinal function promoting effect and is low in toxicity; (2) a process for preparing a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions or a salt thereof, which comprises reacting a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative or a salt thereof with an organism-derived oxidase; and (3) a gastrointestinal function promoting agent containing a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A compound of the invention is represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different, an acyl group; R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are the same or different, hydrogen or an alkyl group; R.sup.5 is hydrogen, an alkyl group or a hydroxyl group which may optionally be protected, or R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are combined to form a chemical bond; X is a carbonyl group or a sulfonyl group; Y is an amino acid sequence consisting of 1 to 7 amino acid residues which may optionally be protected and having optionally an intervening --SO.sub.2 NH--; n is an integer of 0 to 2, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or aliphatic acyl, A is amino which may be protected, X is an amino acid sequence consisting of 1 to 10 amino acid residues which contain at least one amino acid residue having a water-solubility enhancing group, or a salt thereof has an activity of remarkably improving hematopoietic disorder and is useful as an immuno-stimulating agent or an agent for treating thrombocytopenia.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein each R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is an aliphatic acyl group, X is an amino acid sequence consisting of 1 to 5 amino acid residues which contain at least one acidic amino acid residue, n is an integer of 0 to 4, provided that when n is 0, X has glutamyl-glycyl at its N-terminal and when n is 1 or 2, the acidic amino acid residue is an acidic amino acid residue other than D-glutamyl, or a salt thereof has an activity of remarkably improving anhematopoiesis and is useful as an immuno-stimulating agent having a leukocyte-increasing activity.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a structurally novel 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions or a salt thereof, which has an excellent gastrointestinal function promoting effect and is low in toxicity; (2) a process for preparing a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions or a salt thereof, which comprises reacting a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative or a salt thereof with an organism-derived oxidase; and (3) a gastrointestinal function promoting agent containing a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and each represents hydrogen or methyl and X is ##STR2## provided that when R.sub.1 is hydrogen, R.sub.2 is hydrogen or methyl and X is ##STR3## and when R.sub.1 is methyl, R.sub.2 is methyl and X is ##STR4## is produced by cultivating a a microorganism belonging to the genus Streptomyces in a culture medium. Said compound is useful as an antimicrobial agent and so forth.

Abstract: Macbecin derivatives are produced by cultivating a microorganism of the genus Actinosynnema in a culture medium.The Macbecin derivatives are useful as antibacterial, antifungal or antiprotozoal agent.

Abstract: Novel antibiotic C-15003 PHM, which is produced by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia and being capable of producing antibiotic C-15003 PHM, and novel C-15003 PHM acylate, which is produced by subjecting C-15003 PHM thus obtained to acylation reaction with an acylating agent, have antiprotozoan and antitumor activities.

Abstract: Macbecin derivatives are produced by cultivating a microorganism of the genus Actinosynnema in a culture medium.The Macbecin derivatives are useful as antibacterial, antifungal or antiprotozoal agent.

Abstract: A novel antibiotic C-14482 A.sub.1 is produced by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia and capable of producing Antibiotic C-14482 A.sub.1 is a culture medium, whereby Antibiotic C-14482 A.sub.1 is elaborated and accumulated in the culture medium and recovering the same antibiotic.Antibiotic C-14482 A.sub.1 is useful as a germicide or disinfectant.

Abstract: A novel Antibiotic C-15003 is produced by cultivating a microorganism of the genus Nocardia.The Antibiotic C-15003 is useful as an antifungal agent or an antiprotozoan agent.

Abstract: Novel antibiotic C-15003 PHM, which is produced by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia and being capable of producing antibiotic C-15003 PHM, and novel C-15003 PHM acylate, which is produced by subjecting C-15003 PHM thus obtained to acylation reaction with an acylating agent, have antiprotozoan and antitumor activities.