Abstract: This invention provides a vascular protecting agent having salt-absorption inhibitory activity with the use of alginate oligosaccharide salt absorbed by the body via degradation to an oligosaccharide, so that a patient can easily and safely ingest such agent on a routine basis. A vascular protecting agent having salt-absorption inhibitory activity comprises, as an active ingredient, alginate oligosaccharide obtained by treating sodium alginate with a Pseudoalteromonas microorganism or a processed product thereof and/or a salt thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a vascular protecting agent having salt-absorption inhibitory activity with the use of alginate oligosaccharide salt absorbed by the body via degradation to an oligosaccharide, so that a patient can easily and safely ingest such agent on a routine basis. A vascular protecting agent having salt-absorption inhibitory activity comprises, as an active ingredient, alginate oligosaccharide obtained by treating sodium alginate with a Pseudoalteromonas microorganism or a processed product thereof and/or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detection of an early-stage renal disease, comprising determining the concentration of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in a body fluid sample taken from a subject and comparing the determined concentration with a reference value set by determining the concentrations of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in body fluid samples taken from healthy subjects; and a method of disease state management for a renal disease, comprising determining the concentration of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in a body fluid sample taken from a subject and evaluating the glomerular filtration ability of the subject from the determined concentration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for predicting restenosis following coronary intervention by measuring human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) in a body fluid sample. More particularly, this method comprises measuring the L-PGDS concentration in the sample and predicting restenosis following coronary intervention by using a change therein as an indicator.

Abstract: A pipe for underdrainage comprises (1) a liquid-collecting pipe; (2) a plurality of discontinuous protrusions on the outer surface of the liquid-collecting pipe; (3) a filter layer capable of passing liquid while substantially excluding solids, the filter layer being disposed around the liquid-collecting pipe and contacting the top portions of the protrusions; and (4) a liquid-conducting way composed of a space communicating both in the longitudinal direction and in the peripheral direction of the liquid collecting pipe and defined by the protrusions, the outer surface of the liquid-collecting pipe and the inner surface of the filter layer.

Abstract: An underdrainage pipe comprises a liquid-collecting pipe, protrusions on the liquid-collecting pipe, a filter layer around the liquid-collecting pipe and a liquid-conducting way, and the protrusions having at least one recess for each and the bottom portion of the recess not reaching the surface of the liquid-collecting pipe.