Abstract: Screening of the autoantibodies and autoantigens which are specific to Sjogren's syndrome, particularly primary Sjogren's syndrome, and provision of a prophylactic and therapeutic drug for Sjogren's syndrome, particularly primary Sjogren's syndrome, and a highly sensitive diagnostic agent for Sjogren's syndrome. The .alpha.-fodrin or .alpha.-fodrin fragment of the invention is an antigen to the autoantibodies specifically found in Sjogren's syndrome and this autoantigen finds application as a prophylactic and therapeutic drug for autoimmune diseases, particularly Sjogren's syndrome, or a diagnostic agent for such diseases.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel calpain having a proteolytic activity, its partial peptide or a salt either of them, a DNA coding for the protein, a recombinant vector comprising the DNA, a transformant carrying the recombinant vector, a process for producing the protein, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the DNA, an antibody against the protein, a method for screening for a compound which activates or inhibits a proteolytic activity of the protein, a kit for screening for the compound, and a compound which activates or inhibits a proteolytic activity of the protein which is identified by the screening method or the kit. The DNA coding for the protein of the present invention can be used as a therapeutic and prophylactic composition for a variety of diseases including tumor, cerebral apoplexy, cerebral infarction, subarachnoid hemorrhage, Alzheimer's disease, myodystrophy, cataract, ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, arthritis, and collagen disease.

Abstract: A gene coding for a peptidoglysan recognition peptide (PGRP) is cloned, a recombinant vector into which said gene is introduced is obtained, and a transformant transformed with said recombinant vector is cultivated, thereby producing the PGRP in large amounts at high purity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing CF comprising: stimulating sweat production via .beta.-adrenergic pathway, by increasing cAMP production; collecting sweat into a sweat collection device; determining the sweat rate as a function of the weight of the sweat collected; correlating the sweat rate with the functional state of CFTR and/or presence or absence of CF. The invention also relates to methods of screening compounds for treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acids are provided that encode human neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) and N-SMase fragments and derivatives capable of hybridizing to such N-SMase-encoding nucleic acids. The invention also includes isolated recombinant human neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) and N-SMase fragments and derivatives are also provided. Novel assays are also provided to identify compounds useful in the diagnosis or treatment of human neutral sphingomyelinase related disorders.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymerizable compound represented by Formula (I): ##STR1## where X represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; 1 represents an integer in the range of 0 to 14; m represents 0 or 1; n represents 0 or 1; p represents an integer in the range of 0 to 6; and q represents an integer in the range of 0 to 9, wherein m is 0 under the condition 1=0, and 1 under the condition 1.noteq.0.