Abstract: This invention provides a method for preparing dendritic cells from monocytes using a platelet lysate. This invention also provides a method for preparing cytotoxic dendritic cells from monocytes comprising performing non-adhesion culture of monocytes separated from the peripheral blood using a serum-free medium containing a human platelet lysate (HPL), GM-CSF, and PEGylated interferon ? and performing further non-adhesion culture with the addition of prostaglandin E2 and OK432.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a molecular targeted drug effective for diffuse gastric cancer. According to the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition for treating diffuse gastric cancer in a patient, which comprises an EGF receptor inhibitor having an ErbB1 inhibitory activity and an ErbB4 inhibitory activity. According to the present invention, there is provided the aforementioned pharmaceutical composition for use in a combination therapy with an anti-VEGF receptor 2 antibody and/or a cMET inhibitor. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for treating diffuse gastric cancer in a patient, which comprises the step of administering an EGF receptor inhibitor having an ErbB1 inhibitory activity and an ErbB4 inhibitory activity to the patient.

Abstract: A method and a kit are provided to produce a biological clear specimen within a short time and with a wide variety of biological specimens. The method includes the following steps: (1) treating a material to be cleared with an aqueous fixing solution containing paraformaldehyde or the like, a nonionic surfactant, an alkali, and optionally a buffering agent; (2) treating the material from step (1) or a conventionally fixed material with an aqueous clearing accelerator solution containing a nonionic surfactant and an alkali; and (3) treating the material produced in step (1) or (2) with an aqueous preservation solution containing a nonionic surfactant and a polyhydric alcohol. In each of the steps, the nonionic surfactant is present at a concentration of 1% or more. The kit includes solutions used in each of the steps of the method.

Abstract: An antibacterial member that maintains a high antibacterial property and a high osteoconductive property for a long duration is provided. The antibacterial member includes a DLC film (F-DLC film) 40 containing fluorine at least partially or entirely on an outermost surface of a base material 10. The F-DLC film has an element ratio (F/(F+C)) of 17% to 72% and a nanoindentation hardness of 2,000 MPa to 16,000 MPa. This maintains wear resistance and close contact, and obtains an antibacterial member that maintains a high antibacterial property and a high osteoconductive property for a long duration. The F-DLC film does not necessarily need to cover the entire outermost surface of the base material but may be disposed in a mottled pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a culture vessel which can be broadly applied to culture, regeneration, manufacture, observation and the like of targets such as cells, organs, and microorganisms. In the culture vessel of the present invention, a first vessel 10 and a second vessel 20 each being a close-bottom, open-top vessel are provided. In the first vessel 10 and the second vessel 20, a sideways-facing opening 12 and a sideways-facing opening 22 are formed. The opening 12 and the opening 22 communicate in a watertight manner when the openings 12, 22 are connected face to face.

Abstract: A heart correction net according to the present invention is attached to an exterior of a heart. The heart correction net includes a first area that is a partial area included in a right ventricle side area of an entire area surrounding exteriors of ventricles; and a second area that is an area surrounding the first area in the right ventricle side area and a left ventricle side area. The first area in the heart correction net is configured to provide a lower contact pressure against a heart during a cardiac diastole than the second area.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a heart correction net is provided. The method includes: a first step of taking cross-sectional images of a heart in a layer direction, in which an apex and a base of the heart are connected; a second step of extracting outlines of the heart from the cross-sectional images; a third step of defining dividing points with respect to a three-dimensional shape reconstructed based on the outlines, the dividing points being defined on the outlines in a circumferential direction of the heart; a fourth step of dividing a contour of the heart in three-dimensions into divided regions based on the plurality of the dividing points, and creating development data, in which the each of the divided regions is developed on a two-dimensional plane, while an approximate shape of each of the divided regions is maintained; a fifth step of creating paper-pattern data based on the development data; and a sixth step of knitting the heart correction net with a knitting machine based on the paper-pattern data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a culture vessel which can be broadly applied to culture, regeneration, manufactures observation and the like of targets such as cells, organs, and microorganisms. In the culture vessel of the present invention, a first vessel 10 and a second vessel 20 each being a close-bottom, open-top vessel are provided. In the first vessel 10 and the second vessel 20, a sideways-facing opening 12 and a sideways-facing opening 22 are formed. The opening 12 and the opening 22 communicate in a watertight manner when the openings 12, 22 are connected face to face.

Abstract: Provided is a factor capable of inducing enucleation, which is a final stage of erythrocyte differentiation, within a short time. More particularly, provided are a method of inducing enucleation, which is a final stage of erythrocyte differentiation, within a short time by adding a compound derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) to an undifferentiated (nucleated) erythrocyte, and an enucleation inducer including the compound.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel therapeutic agent and a novel prophylactic agent for atherosclerosis, a blood cholesterol level-lowering agent, and a functional food or a food for specified health uses effective for the inhibition and/or prevention of aging of blood vessels or inflammation in blood vessels. Specifically disclosed are an inhibitor of the progression of atherosclerosis, a prophylactic agent for atherosclerosis, a blood cholesterol level-lowering agent, and a functional food and a food for specified health uses both effective for the inhibition and/or prevention of aging of blood vessels or inflammation in blood vessels, each of which comprises, as an active ingredient, a hydrolysis product of a collagen comprising at least one collagen tripeptide Gly-X-Y [wherein Gly-X-Y represents an amino acid sequence; and X and Y independently represent an amino acid residue other than Gly].

Abstract: Method for concentrating and collecting small quantities of fetal nucleated red blood cells contained in the maternal blood. The method for concentrating and collecting nucleated red blood cells from the maternal blood comprises: (i) subjecting the maternal blood to a first density-gradient centrifugation and collecting a cell fraction containing nucleated red blood cells; (ii) treating the cell fraction containing nucleated red blood cells so as to selectively changes the density of the nucleated red blood cells from that of the white blood cells; and (iii) subjecting the treated cell fraction containing the nucleated red blood cells to a second density-gradient centrifugation so as to collect a fraction containing nucleated red blood cells.

Abstract: Provided is a factor capable of inducing enucleation, which is a final stage of erythrocyte differentiation, within a short time. More particularly, provided are a method of inducing enucleation, which is a final stage of erythrocyte differentiation, within a short time by adding a compound derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) to an undifferentiated (nucleated) erythrocyte, and an enucleation inducer including the compound.

Abstract: In a light irradiation device 20 for improving cognitive symptom and depression symptom according to the present invention, photostimulation is given to a retina by continuous flashing of a light source 21 of frequency of 1 to 10 Hz, Homer 1a is made to continuously express by the photostimulation, and BK-type potassium channel in pyramidal cell of cerebral cortex is activated. It is possible to exert an effect equivalent to a depression symptom improving effect obtained by an electroconvusion stimulation device, an effect equivalent to a depression symptom improving effect and an effect equivalent to a cognitive symptom improving effect obtained by a transcranial magnetic stimulation device. It is possible to utilize these devices also in home environment as compared with an electroconvusion stimulation device and a transcranial magnetic stimulation device which are limited to treatment in clinical institutions as opposed to home environment.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel therapeutic agent and a novel prophylactic agent for atherosclerosis, a blood cholesterol level-lowering agent, and a functional food or a food for specified health uses effective for the inhibition and/or prevention of aging of blood vessels or inflammation in blood vessels. Specifically disclosed are an inhibitor of the progression of atherosclerosis, a prophylactic agent for atherosclerosis, a blood cholesterol level-lowering agent, and a functional food and a food for specified health uses both effective for the inhibition and/or prevention of aging of blood vessels or inflammation in blood vessels, each of which comprises, as an active ingredient, a hydrolysis product of a collagen comprising at least one collagen tripeptide Gly-X-Y [wherein Gly-X-Y represents an amino acid sequence; and X and Y independently represent an amino acid residue other than Gly].

Abstract: This invention provides a method for concentrating and collecting small quantities of fetal nucleated red blood cells contained in the maternal blood. The method for concentrating and collecting nucleated red blood cells from the maternal blood comprises: (i) subjecting the maternal blood to a first density-gradient centrifugation and collecting a cell fraction containing nucleated red blood cells; (ii) treating the cell fraction containing nucleated red blood cells so as to selectively changes the density of the nucleated red blood cells from that of the white blood cells; and (iii) subjecting the treated cell fraction containing the nucleated red blood cells to a second density-gradient centrifugation so as to collect a fraction containing nucleated red blood cells.

Abstract: Provided is a chip or the like having a particulate concentrating mechanism such as a mechanism that can selectively concentrate nucleated red blood cells contained in maternal blood and derived from a fetus and can collect the concentrated liquid rich in nucleated red blood cells, and also provided is a nucleated red blood cell concentrating/collecting method. A micro-channel chip for concentrating nucleated red blood cells has an inlet-side channel, an outlet-side channel, and a separation narrow channel provided between the inlet-side channel and the outlet-side channel. The separation narrow channel has an inner wall having a dimension through which non-nucleated red blood cells easily pass and nucleated red blood cells hardly pass, and has a means for deforming or moving part of the inner wall of the channel to have a dimension through which nucleated red blood cells easily pass.