Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions for treating and preventing presbycusis.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for preventing and treating presbycusis. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for preventing and treating presbycusis by inhibiting Bak.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions for treating and preventing presbycusis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions for treating and preventing presbycusis.

Abstract: A novel mineral-containing functional beverage is produced by adding weathered hermatypic coral to a water solution of an oxide or/and carbonate of an alkaline earth metal, such as calcium or magnesium. In particular, the ratio of the calcium or magnesium oxide or/and carbonate to the weathered hermatypic coral is from 0.01 to 1 part of the former to from 5 to 9.99 parts of the latter. A powdered mineral-containing functional food is produced by subjecting the water solution to spray drying or freeze drying.

Abstract: A shower head comprises a hot-water treating mechanism accommodated in a water passage formed in a shower head case of the shower head. The hot-water treating mechanism has coral sand and active carbon fiber, and has calcium sulfite if necessary. These materials are arranged serially along a water-flow direction in the shower head. For example, these materials are arranged concentrically, through which hot water is made to flow from the center to the periphery. In order to realize this concentrical arrangement of these materials, these materials are made to be a sheet structure, and are overlaid and wound to form a sheet roll. Acrylic active carbon fiber can be used as the active carbon fiber. The shower head can effectively remove chlorine from a large flow rate of hot water having a temperature of about 40 degrees of centigrade. Further, it is possible to reduce in weight of the shower head having a hot-water treating mechanism below 300 grams.

Abstract: The inventor found for the first time that an extracted material from coral sand occurring in nature contains physiological activating substances. Based on this observation, in a process according to the present invention, physiological activating substances are extracted from coral sand by an appropriate extraction method. The extracted physiological activating substances are used as ingredients of cosmetics, food, and medicines. According to the present invention, physiological activating substances can be extracted in an industrially available form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a sintered body of calcium carbonate without permitting thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate during sintering, and to the sintered body. A powder material primarily comprising calcium carbonate is subjected to a cold powder pressing process to prepare a green compact, which is then heated in a high-pressure gas atmosphere consisting essentially of an inert gas at a temperature t.degree. C. of900.ltoreq.t<1200and at a high gas pressure P kgf/cm.sup.