Abstract: The invention provides a composition that enhances the proliferation activity of propionic acid bacteria in the rumen of ruminants to allow the propionic acid bacteria to sufficiently exhibit their metabolic function in the rumen for the prevention and treatment of rumen acidosis in ruminants. The invention also provides use of the composition. Viable propionic acid bacteria and a lactic acid bacteria culture are orally administered to a ruminant to dramatically (rapidly) promote the proliferation of the propionic acid bacteria in the ruminant rumen, and to thereby increase the volatile fatty acid concentration in the rumen for the prevention and/or treatment of rumen acidosis in the ruminant.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, which comprises reducing an oxygen dissolved in a solution containing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, and food or drink containing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid.

Abstract: An impregnated food in which a porous solid edible material is impregnated with an air-bubble-containing food material achieves a sense of unity between the porous solid edible material and the air-bubble-containing food material, and presents unprecedented light texture and aftertaste.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preventive and/or a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases containing a fermentation product of a propionic acid bacterium as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing fermented milk by promoting fermentation without adding any fermentation-promoting substance and novel fermented milk with a thick and smooth mouth feel and a mild flavor. The method enhances fermentation efficiency by reducing the dissolved oxygen in a mix of raw materials for fermented milk at the start of fermentation through substitution with inert gases.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that microfiltration retentates of whey, and products obtained by treating whey using centrifugation and/or ammonium sulfate precipitation, have the activity of inhibiting rotavirus infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agent for improving renal dysfunction comprising as an active ingredient a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein each R1, R2, and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and X represents a linear or branched alkylene or alkenylene group having 10 to 28 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Swine Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)-expressing cells are prepared by cloning a TLR9 gene from swine intestinal Peyer's patches. Functional analysis on CpG DNAs using the above cells revealed that swine TLR9 shows a higher recognition ability for a human CpG DNA motif (CpG2006) than for a mouse-specific CpG DNA motif (CpG1826). When the mRNA expression levels in various tissues are compared by the real-time PCR method, it is found out that the mRNA is expressed in Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, which play important roles in the intestinal tract immune system, at a level thrice as much as in spleen or more. Thus, the cells expressing an intestinal tract tissue-expressed TLR (for example, TLR9) can be used to identify samples capable of activating the intestinal tract immune system.

Abstract: An impregnated food in which a solid edible material is impregnated with a liquid food having a viscosity of 10,000 to 100,000 mPa·s at 35° C. has a good taste of the liquid food, has nevertheless a not hard texture, and achieves a sense of unity between the solid edible material and the liquid food. The impregnated food can be produced by a process for producing an impregnated food, wherein in a hermetically closed system, the system is pressurized in a state where a solid edible material is made contact with a liquid food, and then, the pressure in the system is returned to the atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to elucidate a collagen peptide effective for causing dipeptides or tripeptides serving as the active component to enter the blood, and thus to reduce the required intake thereof. According to the present invention, a collagen peptide composition obtained by digesting collagen or gelatin with protease is provided, wherein: (a) the ratio of hydroxyproline to total of amino acid residues at the second position from the N terminus of the peptides in the composition is 2 mol % or more and 20 mol % or less, and the ratio of glycine to total of amino acid residues at the third position from the N terminus of the peptides in the composition is 20 mol % or more and 50 mol % or less; and (b) the average molecular weight is 500 or more and 2000 or less.

Abstract: A composition containing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid at a high concentration is obtained by intracellularly and extracellularly producing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid using a bacterium belonging to the genus Propionibacterium and collecting it. This composition is efficacious in improving intestinal flora, alleviating abdominal ailments in association with the intake of milk, and preventing metabolic bone diseases.

Abstract: First, prepared is a whey degradation medium to which a protease, yeast extract, and the like are added. Further, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate or propylene glycol monooleate is added to the whey degradation medium. The whey degradation medium is inoculated with bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterium and the lactic acid bacterium is cultured while the whey degradation medium is maintained at pH of 4 to 5. After the completion of the culture, the whey degradation medium (culture solution) is centrifuged to thereby separate therefrom a concentrated cell suspension containing the lactic acid bacterium in a concentrated form. The concentrated cell suspension has very low antibacterial activity (several tens AU or less). Then, by adding the concentrated cell suspension to a yogurt mix and fermenting the same, it is possible to produce yogurt containing the bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterium without any delay in the fermentation.

Abstract: The inventors have found that vitamin K3 and vitamin K5 which may be used in pharmaceuticals and foods or ACNQ, DHNA, or the like which can stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria can inhibit degranulation of basophil-like cells, exhibit a potent degranulation-inhibiting effect, and are useful anti-allergic agents or foods. The present invention provides an anti-allergic agent containing, as an active ingredient, one or more species selected from among 2-amino-3-carboxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone, 4-amino-2-methyl-1-naphthol, 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-amino-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone, and a salt thereof.

Abstract: [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing fermented milk that can keep good taste and quality regardless of the condition of lactobacillus and enzymes. [Means for Solving] The invention is directed to a method for manufacturing fermented milk that comprises a step of fermenting the ingredient milk that comprises enzyme and a step of executing de-oxygen treatment before the fermenting step. The enzyme has best pH of activation in neutral region and loses its activity in acid region and can decompose lactose which is included in the ingredient milk when the enzyme is in an active state. As shown by the working Examples herein, it is possible to keep good taste and quality regardless of the condition of lactobacillus and enzymes by executing de-oxygen treatment to the ingredient milk before fermentation step. [Selected Figure] FIG.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing solid milk includes a classification process for obtaining powdered milk having larger particle diameter than prescribed particle diameter by classifying the powdered milk which is an ingredient of the solid milk; and a compaction molding process for molding the solid milk by using powdered milk obtained by the classification process.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing solid milk includes a gas dispersal process (S112) for dispersing a prescribed gas into liquid milk; a spray drying process (S114) for obtaining powdered milk by spraying the liquid milk after the gas dispersal process (S112), and drying the sprayed liquid milk; a compaction molding process (S130) for obtaining a solidified compaction molded body of powdered milk produced by compacting powdered milk after the gas dispersal process (S112) and the spray drying process (S114); in which the powdered milk obtained by performing the gas dispersal process (S112) and the spray drying process (S114) is bulkier than the powdered milk obtained without the gas dispersal process (S112).