Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an adsorbent having an excellent AGEs adsorption ability. The present invention provides an adsorbent for advanced glycation end products consists of a copolymer resin having hydrophilic methacrylate, wherein the constituent unit of said copolymer resin consists of a particular methacrylate compounds and vinyl compounds. Preferably, the copolymer resin having hydrophilic methacrylate has one or more basic ion-exchange groups.

Abstract: A garment for electrically stimulating muscles is provided to be used for, e.g., rehabilitation or exercise whereby an electrode can be conveniently provided at such a position as allowing the electrode to stimulate the nerve-muscular junction of a muscle to be moved in toning up the muscle through electrical stimulation on the muscle by taking advantage of the muscular contraction caused by electrically stimulating the muscle.

Abstract: In a liquid container used in an automatic analyzer, a float that makes it possible to prevent liquid from making contact with a liquid collection opening of the liquid container to form a film thereon is provided. A float is floated on the liquid surface of a reagent placed in a reagent container for use with an automatic analyzer. The float is equipped with a float body and a required number of buoyancy adjusters. The float body is equipped with a liquid surface cover that covers substantially the entire liquid surface, and a side wall portion positioned so as to project beneath the liquid surface from the liquid surface cover. The side wall portion constitutes a device for the purpose of suppressing swaying motions of the liquid surface cover by making contact with or engaging an inner wall of the reagent container when the reagent sways.

Abstract: A method for treating a prostate cancer, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a cancer antigen peptide-associated agent and a lower dose of an estramustine or a salt thereof to a patient in need thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition thereof are provided.

Abstract: A surgical appliance for taking out a transplant-use tendon in surgery and assisting reconstruction of the tendon after take out. The surgical appliance has a tendon cutter, guide tube, a grip portion and a guide needle. The guide tube is a hollow thin tube having open opposing ends, wherein a distal end opening constitutes a discharger port of the guide needle. A through hole is formed in the grip portion in the direction of a central axis, and the proximal end side outlet of the through hole constitutes an insertion port. The guide needle is provided with a sharp conical tip on a distal end side and a threading hole on a proximal end. The guide needle is inserted into the guide tube, such that the opposite ends may be exposed from the discharge port and the insertion port when it is inserted into the guide tube.

Abstract: Provided are a cutting guide device for preparing a texture section, which can prepare a texture section manually with a cutting tool such as a pathological knife, in a uniform thickness and in a regular section with neither experience nor skill, a texture section preparing device, and a method for preparing a texture section. The texture section preparing cutting guide device includes a placing base for placing a texture mass directly or indirectly thereon, and a cutting guide cover for preventing the texture mass placed directly or indirectly on the placing base from moving, by holding the texture mass downward. In at least such a portion of the cutting guide cover as to hold the texture mass, there are formed a plurality of slits, into which a knife to be used to cut the texture mass can be inserted. The slits have their intervals set to the thickness of a desired texture section.

Abstract: An eyelids opening device with a drape comprising a flexible upper ring (1) applied in contact with the face while surrounding eyelids, a lower ring (2) inserted into a conjunctiva sac and applied in contact with the eyelids conjunctiva side, and an elastic sheet (3) of soft tubular thin film located to extend from the face side to the eyelids conjunctiva side and used to fix one end to the upper ring and to fix the other end to the lower ring by expanding, wherein the outside diameter at the smallest portion of the elastic sheet is substantially equal to or longer than the interpalpebral length (between upper and lower eyelids). Difference in size of conjunctiva sac or interpalpebral length of individuals is absorbed even by an appliance of one size, the eyelids can be opened by fitting the eyelids opening device to the eyelids or the face while burden on the eyeball is reduced and high safety is ensured.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing an apoprotein with which the apoprotein can be efficiently produced from a protein associated with cofactors such as metal ions. The method includes the step of adding an acid to a solution which contains a holoprotein, which is associated with a cofactor which is to be released under acidic conditions, and concentrating the solution with an ultrafiltration membrane. Accordingly, an apoprotein, which has released its cofactor, is produced, and the released cofactor is removed through the membrane along with the acid without reassociating with the apoprotein.

Abstract: A new diagnosis or treatment of cancer is provided. The present invention provides a protein Mimitin which is a target of a cancer gene myc protein, a variant thereof and a fragment thereof, as well as a polynucleotide molecule encoding them. An inhibitory substance of biological activity of the present invention, which is afforded by the binding of a polynucleotide molecule encoding a Mimitin protein and Myc provides a useful means for the diagnosis, prophylaxis or treatment of cancer.

Abstract: An epitope peptide is provided, which is capable of binding specifically to an antibody characteristic of Crohn's disease that is specifically observed in patients with Crohn's disease, together with a test method for conveniently and rapidly determining whether a subject is affected by Crohn's disease by use of the above peptide. The epitope peptide to the Crohn's disease antibody comprises a peptide having an amino acid sequences represented by any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3 or a salt thereof. A test reagent and a test method for Crohn's disease are provided, which comprise the peptide as an active ingredient.

Abstract: In a liquid container used in an automatic analyzer, a float that makes it possible to prevent liquid from making contact with a liquid collection opening of the liquid container to form a film thereon is provided. A float is floated on the liquid surface of a reagent placed in a reagent container for use with an automatic analyzer. The float is equipped with a float body and a required number of buoyancy adjusters. The float body is equipped with a liquid surface cover that covers substantially the entire liquid surface, and a side wall portion positioned so as to project beneath the liquid surface from the liquid surface cover. The side wall portion constitutes a device for the purpose of suppressing swaying motions of the liquid surface cover by making contact with or engaging an inner wall of the reagent container when the reagent sways.

Abstract: The present invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions for preventing, improving or treating hepatic fibrosis, hepatocellular degeneration or cirrhosis, which contain a meglitinide compound such as nateglinide.

Abstract: An AGE-2 aptamer which binds to a glyceraldehyde-derived advanced glycation end product (AGE-2) but not to human serum albumin and comprises at least 35 bases and in which the cytosine content in the bases is at least 35%, or the guanine content in the bases is at least 32%. Since the AGE-2 aptamer can be used for detecting AGE-2, it can be used as a reagent for detection/diagnosis, and an agent for prevention/treatment of AGE-2 involved diseases such as: diabetic complications such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic neuropathy; neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease; and proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of malignant tumors.

Abstract: Myc protein is an unevenly distributed intermediate agent for cell proliferation, and activates a gene expression via E.box. Mina53 gene encodes a protein of 53 kDa molecular weight and is present in the nucleoplasm and nucleolus. Mina53 mRNA and protein expression are induced by artificial introduction of c-Myc activity. E.box site is present in the vicinity of the transcription initiation site of mina53 gene, and the expression from mina53 promoter is activated by c-Myc through the medium of E.box. Specific inhibition of mina53 expression in HeLa cells and rat fibroblast cells 3Y1 having high expression c.myc strikingly inhibits cell proliferation. The combination of these results show that mina53 is a Myc target gene and is associated with cell proliferation in mammals.

Abstract: The method of the present invention for separating and purifying a cationic protein is performed by using an electrodialysis apparatus. The electrodialysis apparatus used herein includes an electrodialysis bath having an anode and a cathode. The electrodialysis bath includes an anode compartment, a raw material loading compartment, a concentration compartment, and a cathode compartment in this order from the anode side. The anode compartment and the raw material loading compartment are divided from each other by a porous membrane made of a polymer having an anion exchange group, the raw material loading compartment and the concentration compartment are divided from each other by a porous membrane made of a polymer having a cation exchange group, and the concentration compartment and the cathode compartment are divided from each other by a microporous membrane.

Abstract: An improved muscle strengthening apparatus is disclosed which causes “eccentric contraction” of an antagonist muscle of a limb through electrical stimulation so as to apply so-called “closed-kinetic-chain exercises” for the muscles involved to thereby increase the strength thereof. Flexing or extending motion of a knee joint is sensed by a sensor to indicate contraction of the agonist muscle. Upon contraction of the agonist muscle, electrodes placed over the antagonist muscle are energized to cause the eccentric contraction thereof. The invention provides a portable home gymnasium in that it is relatively small, light-weight, cost effective and easy to transport and also relatively simple in construction.