Abstract: An adsorbent for oral administration, characterized by comprising a spherical activated carbon, wherein a diameter is 0.01 to 1 mm, a specific surface area determined by Langmuir's adsorption equation is 1000 m2/g or more, and a diffraction intensity ratio, an R value, determined by an equation (1): R=(I15?I35)/(I24?I35)??(1) wherein I15 is a diffraction intensity when a diffraction angle (2?) of an X-ray diffractometry is 15°, I35 is a diffraction intensity when a diffraction angle (2?) of an X-ray diffractometry is 35°, and I24 is a diffraction intensity when a diffraction angle (2?) of an X-ray diffractometry is 24°, is 1.4 or more; and an adsorbent for an oral administration, characterized by comprising a surface-modified spherical activated carbon, wherein a diameter is 0.01 to 1 mm, a specific surface area determined by Langmuir's adsorption equation is 1000 m2/g or more, a total amount of acidic groups is 0.40 to 1.00 meq/g, a total amount of basic groups is 0.40 to 1.

Abstract: An adsorbent for oral administration, characterized by comprising a surface-modified spherical activated carbon, having a diameter of 0.01 to 1 mm, a specific surface area determined by Langmuir's adsorption equation of 1000 m2/g or more, a total amount of acidic groups of 0.40 to 1.00 meq/g, a total amount of basic groups of 0.40 to 1.10 meq/g, and a diffraction intensity ratio, an R value, determined by equation (1) of 1.4 or more. The adsorbents for oral administration exhibit a useful selective adsorbability; that is, a lesser adsorbability of useful substances, and a greater adsorbability of toxic substances, in a body.

Abstract: Novel proteins, novel genes encoding the same, plasmids respectively comprising these genes, transformants respectively comprising these plasmids, antibodies or fragments thereof against the above novel proteins, methods of detecting a bacterial infection, and novel polynucleotides are disclosed. The novel proteins are activated human macrophage-specific proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds having antiviral activities and antiviral drugs containing the compounds as the active ingredient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a mycelium of a Matsutake fungus, comprising the step of cultivating a mycelium on a small scale under agitation without aeration or with aeration at a low rate of less than 0.05 vvm in a liquid medium. According to the process, a large number of mycelia can be produced without a loss of physiological activities.

Abstract: A composition suitable for use as a cathode material of a lithium battery includes a core material having an empirical formula LixM?zNi1?yM?yO2. “x” is equal to or greater than about 0.1 and equal to or less than about 1.3. “y” is greater than about 0.0 and equal to or less than about 0.5. “z” is greater than about 0.0 and equal to or less than about 0.2. M? is at least one member of the group consisting of sodium, potassium, nickel, calcium, magnesium and strontium. M? is at least one member of the group consisting of cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, vanadium, titanium, magnesium, silicon, boron, aluminum and gallium. A coating on the core has a greater ratio of cobalt to nickel than the core. The coating and, optionally, the core can be a material having an empirical formula Lix1Ax2Ni1?y1?z1Coy1Bz1Oa. “x1” is greater than about 0.1 a equal to or less than about 1.3. “x2,” “y1” and “z1” each is greater than about 0.0 and equal to or less than about 0.2. “a” is greater than 1.5 and less than about 2.1.

Abstract: A crystal which can be employed as the active material of a lithium-based battery has an empirical formula of Lix1A2Ni1-y-zCoyBzOa, wherein “x1” is greater than about 0.1 and equal to or less than about 1.3, “x2,” “y” and “z” each is greater than about 0.0 and equal to or less than about 0.2, “a” is greater than about 1.5 and less than about 2.1, “A” is at least one element selected from the group consisting of barium, magnesium, calcium and strontium and “B” is at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, manganese, titanium, vanadium and zirconium.

Abstract: A vinylidene fluoride resin composition which is stable to heat at molding temperatures and is free from foaming and coloration, and molded products made by forming the vinylidene fluoride resin composition are provided. The vinylidene fluoride resin composition may comprise 100 parts by weight of a vinylidene fluoride homopolymer; 2-20 parts by weight of a polyester plasticizer; 0.01-0.5 parts by weight of a phosphite compound; and a phenol compound.

Abstract: An adsorbent for an oral administration, comprising a porous spherical carbonaceous substance wherein a diameter is 0.01 to 1 mm, a specific surface area determined by a BET method is 700 m2/g or more, a volume of pores having a pore diameter of 20 to 15000 nm is from not less than 0.04 mL/g to less than 0.10 mL/g, a total amount of acidic groups is 0.30 to 1.20 meq/g, and a total amount of basic groups is 0.20 to 1.00 meq/g, is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oral preparation of esculetin with controlled release. The oral preparation of esculetin with controlled release of the present invention comprises a gel-forming polymer base, preferably hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. The preparation may be coated with an enteric polymer base such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate to thereby enhance solubility in the intestines. When orally administered, the preparation can continuously release esculetin. Thus, the administration frequency and dose can be reduced and a therapeutic effect on arthropathy can be established.

Abstract: A moistureproof multilayer film, including a composite film having a non-moisture absorbing resin layer and a vapor deposited film of an inorganic oxide or a metal formed on at least one side of the non-moisture absorbing resin layer, the multilayer film having such a layer structure where the vapor deposited film surface of the composite film is laminated through an adhesive layer on a vapor deposited film surface of another composite film or a surface of another non-moisture absorbing resin layer, wherein a total number (n) of the deposited films laminated adjacent to the adhesive layer is 2 to 8, and wherein a moisture permeabihty (W; unit: g/m2.day) as measured under conditions of a temperature of 40° C. and a relative humidity of 100% satisfies a relation represented by equation W≦(1/n)×0.20, and a method for producing the moistureproof multilayer film including heat-treating the multilayer film in a hot dry atmosphere having a temperature lower than 140° C. but not lower than 55° C.

Abstract: A possibility of a dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination against HIV-1 infection in humans was explored in SCID mice reconstituted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). HIV-1-negative normal human PBMC were transplanted into the spleens of SCID mice (hu-PBL-SCID-spl) together with autologous mature DC pulsed with either inactivated HIV-1 (R5 or X4 strain) or ovalbumin (OVA), followed by a booster injection with autologous DC pulsed with respective antigens after 5 days. Five days later, these mice were challenged ip. with R5 HIV-1JR-CSF. Analysis of infection on seven days post infection showed that the DC-HIV-1-immunized hu-PBL-SCID-spl mice, irrespective of immunized HIV-1 strains, were protected against the HIV-1 infection. In contrast, none of the DC-OVA-immunized mice were protected. Sera from the DC-HIV-1-, but not DC-OVA-, immunized mice interfered with in vitro infection of activated PBMC and macrophages with R5, but not X4, HIV-1.

Abstract: A film selectively permeable to carbon dioxide gas which includes chitosan having a degree of deacetylation of 70 mol % or higher and in which the ratio of the carbon dioxide gas transmission (CO2TR) to the oxygen gas transmission (O2TR), (CO2TR/O2TR), is 15 or higher and a food packaging film made from such a film. The films are insoluble in water, are highly safe from the standpoint of food hygiene, and have such selective gas permeability that the ratio of carbon dioxide gas transmission to oxygen gas transmission is high, which can be economically obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas-barrier film which is produced through applying a layer containing a metallic compound to a surface of a processed-polymer layer produced from a mixture of a polyalcohol and at least one poly(meth)acrylic polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(meth)acrylic acids and partially neutralized poly(meth)acrylic acids. The invention also provides a laminated gas-barrier film containing the aforementioned gas-barrier film either surface of which is laminated on with a plastic film. The gas-barrier film exhibits excellent gas-barrier properties and can be produced through a simple, convenient process.

Abstract: A laminated packaging material which comprises at least three layers of polymer materials comprising a surface layer, one or more intermediate layers adjacent thereto, and another surface layer, characterized in that the intermediate layer adjacent to each surface layer contains a lubricant, at least one of the intermediate layers has gas-barrier properties, and the total amount of a lubricant in the two surface layers is smaller than that in the intermediate layer(s) adjacent thereto. In production of the packaging material, adhesion of a lubricant to a die lip is reduced. The laminated packaging material has excellent transparency and gloss.

Abstract: An adsorbent for an oral administration, comprising a porous spherical carbonaceous substance wherein a diameter is 0.01 to 1 mm, a specific surface area determined by a BET method is 700 m2/g or more, a volume of pores having a pore diameter of 20 to 15000 nm is from not less than 0.04 mL/g to less than 0.10 mL/g, a total amount of acidic groups is 0.30 to 1.20 meq/g, and a total amount of basic groups is 0.20 to 1.00 meq/g, is disclosed.

Abstract: A chondroprotective agent comprising a flavonoid compound of the general formula (I): wherein R1 to R9 are, independently, a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, or methoxyl group and X is a single bond or a double bond, or a stereoisomer thereof, or a naturally occurring glycoside thereof is disclosed. The above compound strongly inhibits proteoglycan depletion from the chondrocyte matrix and exhibits a function to protect cartilage, and thus, is extremely effective for the treatment of arthropathy.

Abstract: A human ADAMTS-1 protein, a gene encoding the same, a pharmaceutical composition containing the protein as an active ingredient, and a method for immunologically analyzing the human ADAMTS-1 protein are disclosed. The protein can decrease the number of leukocytes and platelets, and at the same time, increase the number of erythrocytes.

Abstract: A method for screening a bacterium antagonistic to pathogenic bacteria that emerge during raising of seedlings of gramineous plants utilizing tropolone resistance and tropolone non-producing property as indices, and a microbial pesticide containing as an active ingredient the bacterium that has tropolone resistance and tropolone non-producing property selected by the screening method or spores thereof.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient suffering from a renal failure progressed to a stage at which an initiation of a dialysis therapy is required, comprising combining a peritoneal dialysis and an administration of a spherical carbon, is disclosed.