Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a diagnostic biomarker of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) useful for differentiation of simple steatosis (SS) from NASH and use thereof. Specifically, the present invention relates to a diagnostic biomarker of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis used to differentiate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis from simple steatosis comprising the oxidized apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) modified by dioxidation of the 72nd tryptophan in the ApoA-I consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: Provided is a method of assisting the detection of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is far less invasive than liver biopsy and is based on simple operations that do not require skilled technical personnel. The present invention is a method of assisting the detection of NASH, which includes: a) measuring the amount of LDL-TG contained in a test blood sample isolated from a living body; b) measuring the amount of at least one component selected from the group consisting of LDL-C, LDL subfraction-C, IIDL-C, HDL subfraction-C, ApoB, ApoE, total cholesterol, ALT, and AST contained in the test blood sample; and c) determining the possibility of developing and/or having NASH by using the amount of LDL-TG in combination with the amount of the at least one component.

Abstract: Provided are a method of assisting the detection of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and a method that is able to assist in determining the degree of progression of any condition associated with NASH, which are far less invasive than liver biopsy and include simple operations and are independent of the skills of technicians. The present invention provides a method of assisting the detection of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, including measuring the abundance of LDL-TG and/or ApoE-rich HDL-C contained in a test blood sample isolated from a living body.

Abstract: A device for securing an optical element in which, when an opposing surface of a mold for forming a base is formed so that a mounting surface of the base is formed at an angle equal to 90 degrees plus a very small angle, the mounting surface is smoothly formed when the mold is removed from the base. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to mechanically cut the mounting surface, so that it can serve as a reference surface for directly securing the optical element thereto. This makes it possible to simplify the manufacturing process of the base and to reduce costs.

Abstract: When a second disc is inserted, recording and/or reproducing operation of information on or from a first disc is stopped, and a moving member is moved in the X1-direction. This movement allows a clamp chassis to be moved upward and unclamped, and the second disc is carried into a disc apparatus by a transfer roller and is supported by disc guides. Then, the first and the second discs are supported by the disc guides and are moved upward and then, the first disc is carried out of an insertion opening by the transfer roller. In the course of the movement of the drive chassis to the upper position, the second disc is placed on a turntable, and is chucked and clamped by a clamper. Therefore, it is possible to exchange the second disc with the first disc only by inserting the second disc.

Abstract: A disc ejection device is provided separate from a disk loading device in a disc device for disc playback or recording. When a disc loaded on a turntable in a disc driving section is ejected, it is lifted up by a moving table, is fed out by a first ejection member, and is then ejected from an ejection slot by a second ejection member disposed near the ejection slot. Immediately after the first ejection member feeds out the disc, it returns to an initial retracted state so as to allow a new disc to be loaded into the disc driving section. Accordingly, the loaded disc and a new disc can be switched inside the disc device.

Abstract: Conventional disc units each involve the problem that a new disc must be inserted into the disc unit after a disc already present in the disc unit is ejected and that therefore it takes time for disc replacement. In the disc unit of the present invention, to solve the above-mentioned problem, a new second disc which has been inserted into the disc unit through an insertion opening is carried from an insertion area to a disc driving section by a conveying means. On the other hand, a first disc already present in the disc unit prior to insertion of the second disc is ejected from an ejection area to the exterior of the disc unit by both first and second ejection members. The time required for disc replacement can be shortened by performing the disc inserting operation by the conveying means and the disc ejecting operation by the first and second ejection members both in a simultaneous manner.

Abstract: A transmission gear is comprised of a fitting portion of an upper toothed wheel being fit with a fitting portion of a lower toothed wheel so that both are axially movable. Accordingly, even in the event that a lid plate which has a disk introducing mechanism and a clamping chassis which has a clamping mechanism ascend or descend, certain power can be transmitted to a large gear (first gear) and a rotating cam (second gear) in a sure manner. Thus, the disk introducing mechanism and the disk discharging mechanism can both be driven with a single simple power transmitting mechanism. Also, the disk introducing operation and the disk discharging operation can be performed in a parallel manner, thereby reducing the amount of time required to exchange disks.

Abstract: A supporting structure for an IC package which has a socket for receiving an IC package, a cover member rotatably attached to one end of the socket and a locking lever member rotatably attached to the other end of the socket for locking the cover member to the socket when the cover member is in the closed position. A first coupling connects one or the other or both ends of the socket to the cover member and/or the locking lever member so that they can be separated by properly rotationally positioning the cover member or locking lever member and sliding it laterally and axially along the axis of rotation thereof. A second coupling is provided which can be used for connecting one or both of the cover member and/or the locking lever member to the socket along with or in place of the first coupling, the second coupling enabling removal of the cover member or the locking lever member by sliding laterally and transversely of the axis of rotation thereof.