Abstract: The present invention relates to an observation holder, including an accommodation unit configured to accommodate an observation target, and an observation unit formed below the accommodation unit, wherein an observation target accommodated in the accommodation unit can be observed from below, the accommodation unit includes an accommodation unit main body in which a plurality of holes for accommodating an observation target are formed, and an accommodation unit upper portion formed on an upper portion of the accommodation unit main body, the accommodation unit upper portion includes a wall surrounding a space above the accommodation unit main body, as a storage for storing a predetermined liquid, and two adjacent holes of the plurality of holes are connected in the observation unit.

Abstract: There is provided with a method of treating cancer. A chemokine is administered in combination with performing a hyperthermia on the cancer. This improves an effect of the hyperthermia on the cancer. Performing the hyperthermia includes locally heating the cancer.

Abstract: A disk for storing liquid samples containing cells and for use in counting and observing the cells through an optical microscope includes an upper member formed of a transparent material and having a plurality of liquid inlets arranged radially and adapted to introduce the corresponding liquid samples therethrough, and a plurality of air vents paired with the corresponding liquid inlets; an intermediate member having a plurality of chambers arranged radially and adapted to store the corresponding liquid samples therein, each chamber corresponding to each pair of the liquid inlet and the air vent and communicating with the liquid inlet and with the air vent; and a lower member formed of a transparent material and backing the intermediate member. The optical microscope assumes the form of an incident-light microscope.

Abstract: A solution temperature control device in a biological cell observing chamber (30) used for the detection of chemotaxis and chemotactic cell separator, comprising a first temperature controller (62) and a second temperature controller (63). The first temperature controller (62) measures the temperature of a solution filled in a pair of wells and a flow passage in the chamber and controls the temperature to a specified temperature, and the second temperature controller (63) measures the temperature of a heating part (64) which heats the chamber (30) from the outside to indirectly heat the solution filled in the pair of wells and the flow passage and controls the temperature to a specified preheat temperature. Since the state and quantity of cells moving from one well to the other through the flow passage while holding the temperature of the solution at a specified temperature can be accurately observed and measured, accuracy for controlling the temperature of the solution can be remarkably increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells. It aims at providing a structure for detecting chemotaxis of cells at an elevated accuracy with the use of a microquantity of cells. That is to say, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells by which cell injection and position control can be easily carried out while ensuring the prevention of unexpected migration of the cells definitely positioned in a well or the injected sample so that a stable concentration gradient due to the diffusion of the specimen can be maintained and which ensures further automated operation and controlling.

Abstract: Satisfactory effects have not always been attained by immunotherapy having been tried, and reliance upon direct attack on cells by anticancer agents, radiation, etc has been inevitable. The present invention intends to provide a therapeutic method that ensures less side effects but higher efficacy than in conventional therapeutic methods through enhancing of immune strength inherently had by living organism. Thus, the present invention relates to an immunopotentiating agent comprising MIP-1? or its functional derivative as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Although the fields of therapeutic applications of dendritic cells are now expanding, dendritic cell precursors exist only in a small amount in the peripheral blood and, therefore, it is still difficult to obtain them in a therapeutically useful amount even though they are proliferated in vitro. Therefore, it is a key point in performing a therapy with the use of dendritic cells in practice to elevate dendritic cell precursor level in the peripheral blood of a patient. The present invention provides an agent for elevating dendritic cell precursor level in the blood which comprises an agonist to a receptor expressed in immature dendritic cells or a functional derivative thereof as the active ingredient.

Abstract: A method of using a microsample treatment apparatus and an apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells and separating chemotactic cells includes a number of wells that are connected to each other via a part having resistance to fluids. The wells are each provided with tubes for injecting/sucking a sample and, if necessary, tubes for relieving pressure changes at the injection/suction. The tubes have a space in common at the top ends thereof in which a liquid can be held.

Abstract: There is provided cell observation apparatus (10) comprising cell observation chamber (30) and optical observation means (70), the cell observation chamber (30) having, disposed thereinside, a pair of wells and a channel through which the wells communicate with each other so that cells of a cell suspension stocked in one of the pair of wells can react with a chemotaxis-factor-containing solution stocked in the other well and can move from the one well to the other well through the channel, the optical observation means (70) capable of optically observing the cells moving through the channel from outside of the cell observation chamber (30), wherein the cell observation chamber (30) with its part exposed from casing (20) is housed in the casing (20) and wherein the optical observation means (70) is housed in the casing (20) so that the optical axis thereof horizontally extends allow in the cell observation chamber (30).

Abstract: A biological cell observing chamber (30), wherein an intermediate support body (32) forming a skeleton outer shell structural part is mounted on a bottom support body (31) and a cover block body (33) is mounted on the bottom support body (31) on which the intermediate support body (32) is mounted by using lever mechanisms (36) and (37) incorporating a cam mechanism and a clamp mechanism so that the contact faces thereof can be pressed against each other in the vertical direction. The cam mechanism comprises cam grooves (36b) and (37b) formed in both leg part inner surfaces of U-shaped levers (36) and (37) rotatably supported on the bottom support body (31) and pins (40) and (41) slidably moving in the cam grooves and built in the outer peripheral surfaces of the intermediate support body (32) and the cover block body (33) at corresponding two points.

Abstract: Satisfactory effects have not always been attained by immunotherapy having been tried, and reliance upon direct attack on cells by anticancer agents, radiation, etc has been inevitable. The present invention intends to provide a therapeutic method that ensures less side effects but higher efficacy than in conventional therapeutic methods through enhancing of immune strength inherently had by living organism. Thus, the present invention relates to an immunopotentiating agent comprising MIP-1? or its functional derivative as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A cell observation support instrument having opposed first and second surface members 115 and 117 and stoppers that are positioned between the first and second surface members 115 and 117 in order to prevent movement of cells. The first and second surface members 115 and 117 form a cell-containing space 110 between opposed surfaces of the members 115 and 117, in order to contain a plurality of cells while allowing movement of the cells. At least one of the first and second surface members 115 and 117 is a member through which an inner side of the cell-containing space 110 can be optically observed from the outside. The stoppers are arranged in the cell-containing space 110, and the number of the stoppers is one or more.

Abstract: Although the fields of therapeutic applications of dendritic cells are now expanding, dendritic cell precursors exist only in a small amount in the peripheral blood and, therefore, it is still difficult to obtain them in a therapeutically useful amount even though they are proliferated in vitro. Therefore, it is a key point in performing a therapy with the use of dendritic cells in practice to elevate dendritic cell precursor level in the peripheral blood of a patient. The present invention provides an agent for elevating dendritic cell precursor level in the blood which comprises an agonist to a receptor expressed in immature dendritic cells or a functional derivative thereof as the active ingredient.

Abstract: A microsample treatment apparatus and an apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells and separating chemotactic cells includes a number of wells that are connected to each other via a part having resistance to fluids. The wells are each provided with tubes for injecting/sucking a sample and, if necessary, tubes for relieving pressure changes at the injection/suction. The tubes have a space in common at the top ends thereof in which a liquid can be held.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a structure whereby, in the step of injecting a sample in a microquantity into a well, the migration of the sample into another well or overflow thereof can be prevented; and a structure whereby the position of the injected sample can be adjusted in a well or the sample can be transferred into the next well under controlling. It also aims at providing an apparatus for detecting chemotaxis of cells and separating chemotactic cells with the application of the above structures.

Abstract: A transparent small object such as a cell can be simply observed without using any special modulating element needed for special observing methods. An observing tool for containing an object to be observed is used for a method for observing the object by illuminating the object with vertical illuminating light through an optical system having an objective lens. The observing tool has a reflective surface that reflects vertical illumination light when the object is observed. The reflective surface is provided on the front surface of the observing tool facing to the objective lens or on the back opposed to the front surface. The observing tool has a container holding a liquid. Using the observing tool, a cell or the like can be observed along with the culture solution.

Abstract: A solution temperature control device in a biological cell observing chamber (30) used for the detection of chemotaxis and chemotactic cell separator, comprising a first temperature controller (62) and a second temperature controller (63). The first temperature controller (62) measures the temperature of a solution filled in a pair of wells and a flow passage in the chamber and controls the temperature to a specified temperature, and the second temperature controller (63) measures the temperature of a heating part (64) which heats the chamber (30) from the outside to indirectly heat the solution filled in the pair of wells and the flow passage and controls the temperature to a specified preheat temperature. Since the state and quantity of cells moving from one well to the other through the flow passage while holding the temperature of the solution at a specified temperature can be accurately observed and measured, accuracy for controlling the temperature of the solution can be remarkably increased.

Abstract: A disk for storing liquid samples containing cells and for use in counting and observing the cells through an optical microscope includes an upper member formed of a transparent material and having a plurality of liquid inlets arranged radially and adapted to introduce the corresponding liquid samples therethrough, and a plurality of air vents paired with the corresponding liquid inlets; an intermediate member having a plurality of chambers arranged radially and adapted to store the corresponding liquid samples therein, each chamber corresponding to each pair of the liquid inlet and the air vent and communicating with the liquid inlet and with the air vent; and a lower member formed of a transparent material and backing the intermediate member. The optical microscope assumes the form of an incident-light microscope.

Abstract: A biological cell observing chamber (30), wherein an intermediate support body (32) forming a skeleton outer shell structural part is mounted on a bottom support body (31) and a cover block body (33) is mounted on the bottom support body (31) on which the intermediate support body (32) is mounted by using lever mechanisms (36) and (37) incorporating a cam mechanism and a clamp mechanism so that the contact faces thereof can be pressed against each other in the vertical direction. The cam mechanism comprises cam grooves (36b) and (37b) formed in both leg part inner surfaces of U-shaped levers (36) and (37) rotatably supported on the bottom support body (31) and pins (40) and (41) slidably moving in the cam grooves and built in the outer peripheral surfaces of the intermediate support body (32) and the cover block body (33) at corresponding two points.

Abstract: There is provided cell observation apparatus (10) comprising cell observation chamber (30) and optical observation means (70), the cell observation chamber (30) having, disposed thereinside, a pair of wells and a channel through which the wells communicate with each other so that cells of a cell suspension stocked in one of the pair of wells can react with a chemotaxis-factor-containing solution stocked in the other well and can move from the one well to the other well through the channel, the optical observation means (70) capable of optically observing the cells moving through the channel from outside of the cell observation chamber (30), wherein the cell observation chamber (30) with its part exposed from casing (20) is housed in the casing (20) and wherein the optical observation means (70) is housed in the casing (20) so that the optical axis thereof horizontally extends alow in the cell observation chamber (30).