Abstract: A kit is disclosed for preparing a measurement sample for detecting live cells, injured cells, VNC cells and dead microorganism cells in a test sample by the following steps: a) the step of treating the test sample with an enzyme having an activity of decomposing cells other than those of the microorganism, colloidal particles of proteins or lipids existing in the test sample, b) the step of treating the test sample with a topoisomerase poison and/or a DNA gyrase poison. c) the step of treating the test sample treated in the steps a) and b) with a nuclear stain agent, and d) the step of detecting the microorganism in the test sample treated with the nuclear stain agent by flow cytometry.

Abstract: To inhibit production of adipocytokines, in particular, adipocytokines that elicit insulin resistance and to prevent onset of pathosis caused by the insulin resistance, or improve the pathosis, the present invention provides an agent or a food or drink which contains 3-O-?-D-glucopyranosyl-4-methylergost-7-en-3-ol, or an organic solvent extract, a hot water extract or a squeezed liquid of a plant of the family Liliaceae or a fraction thereof which contains the compound as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A method for producing a cheese-containing food, the method including a step (1) of heating a soft cheese-containing mixture that contains 70 to 100% by mass of a soft cheese using a Joule heater, and a step (2) of stirring the heated soft cheese-containing mixture under shearing in a high speed shear cooker, wherein the series of steps including the steps (1) and (2) is performed at least twice. With this method, a cheese-containing food having satisfactory quality in terms of smoothness in the mouth and flavor and the like can be produced by using a raw material having a high soft cheese content.

Abstract: A live cell of microorganism in a test sample is detected by the following steps of: a) adding a cross-linker capable of cross-linking a DNA by irradiation with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm to the test sample; b) irradiating the test sample to which the cross-linker is added with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm; c) removing the cross-linker contained in the test sample irradiated with light; d) adding a medium to the test sample from which the cross-linker is removed and incubating the test sample; e) adding again the cross-linker capable of cross-linking a DNA by irradiation with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm to the incubated test sample; f) irradiating the test sample to which the cross-linker is added with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm; g) extracting a DNA from the test sample and amplifying a target region of the extracted DNA by a nucleic acid amplification method; and h) analyzing the amplified product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disinfectant which is safe, has few adverse side-effects, can be ingested together with a food or beverage by adding the disinfectant to the food or beverage, shows a bactericidal effect in the oral cavity, and has no problem even when ingested on a daily basis over a long period. Also disclosed is a food additive comprising the disinfectant. Specifically, disclosed is an oral disinfectant for the disinfection of an oral bacterium, which comprises lactoperoxidase, glucose oxidase, glucose and a pH-adjusting component.

Abstract: An anti-obesity agent or a glucose tolerance-ameliorating agent containing a bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium as an active ingredient, wherein the bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium exhibits a conversion rate from linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid of not more than 10%. The present invention is able to provide an anti-obesity agent and a glucose tolerance-ameliorating agent that are effective for the prevention or treatment of obesity or the amelioration of glucose tolerance and also exhibit superior safety, as well as providing foods or beverages containing these agents. Further, the present invention is also able to provide a bacterium of the genus Bifidobacterium, and in particular a Bifidobacterium breve, that is effective for the prevention or treatment of obesity or the amelioration of glucose tolerance and also exhibits superior safety, as well as providing a pharmaceutical composition containing this bacterium.

Abstract: There are provided a method of identifying the longum species alone, such as Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum alone, and measuring the viable cell count thereof, amongst the bacterial cells to be tested which include a microorganism belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium by using a culture medium that contains L-arabinose as a sole sugar source; and also a culture medium which is useful as a selective medium for the above measurement method and which is also easy to prepare.

Abstract: Live cells of microorganism in a test sample are detected by distinguishing the live cells from dead cells or injured cells by the following steps of: a) adding an agent capable of covalently binding to DNA or RNA by irradiation with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm to the test sample; b) irradiating the test sample to which the cross-linking agent is added with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm; c) amplifying a target region of DNA or RNA of the microorganism contained in the test sample by a nucleic acid amplification method in the presence of an agent for suppressing an action of a nucleic acid amplification inhibitory substance, without extracting nucleic acids from the cells; and d) analyzing the amplified product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a GLP-1 secretagogue and an inhibitor of postprandial rise in blood glucose, containing ?-casein as an active ingredient, and a food or drink for promoting GLP-1 secretion and an inhibitory food or drink of postprandial rise in blood glucose, containing a milk-derived casein protein wherein ?-casein accounts for 60% by mass or more of the milk-derived casein.

Abstract: A method for screening for a foodstuff providing production of milk having an immunoregulatory action, a novel foodstuff having an immunoregulatory action, and a method for producing it are provided. A diet or substance that increases or decreases an amount of microRNA present in milk of a mammal is identified by using correlation of microRNA profiles in the milk and a diet ingested by the mammal or a substance contained in the diet as an index to screen for a diet or a substance providing production of breast milk having an immunoregulatory action.

Abstract: According to the following steps, live cells, injured cells, VNC cells and dead cells of a microorganism in a test sample are detected by flow cytometry: a) the step of treating the test sample with an enzyme having an activity of decomposing cells other than those of the microorganism, colloidal particles of proteins or lipids existing in the test sample, b) the step of treating the test sample with a topoisomerase poison and/or a DNA gyrase poison. c) the step of treating the test sample treated in the steps a) and b) with a nuclear stain agent, and d) the step of detecting the microorganism in the test sample treated with the nuclear stain agent by flow cytometry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a GLP-1 secretagogue and an inhibitor of postprandial rise in blood glucose, containing ?-casein as an active ingredient, and a food or drink for promoting GLP-1 secretion and an inhibitory food or drink of postprandial rise in blood glucose, containing a milk-derived casein protein wherein ?-casein accounts for 60% by mass or more of the milk-derived casein.

Abstract: Compounds such as 4-methylcholest-7-en-3-ol, 4-methylergost-7-en-3-ol and 4-methylstigmast-7-en-3-ol which have an activity for improving pancreatic function are used as an active ingredient of a pancreas function improving drug and food or drink.

Abstract: To reduce amounts of fat accumulated in abdominal cavity and to prevent or ameliorate visceral fat type obesity, considered to be a main factor of metabolic syndrome, the present invention provides an agent or a food or drink which contains a compound having a lophenol skeleton, or an organic solvent extract or a hot water extract of a Liliaceae plant, or a fraction thereof containing the compound is used as an active ingredient.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a spout member and a packaging bag using the spout member which have excellent handling property and hygiene management performance at the time of supplying water or the like from the outside before and during use such as administration of water and medicine, in which a closure means for freely opening and closing an aperture formed by cutting off parts of peripheral portions of sealed film pieces is protected from a contained content at the time of storage or transportation and which have excellent protecting property even when an inner pressure acts in the packaging bag, excellent contamination preventing property until a spout is opened and excellent contamination preventing property and handling property after opening.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a pharmaceutical composition, a food or drink, or a feed which has an effect on the prevention and/or treatment of an intestinal disease such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome. A preferred embodiment is the pharmaceutical composition, food or drink, or feed which contains lactoperoxidase as an active ingredient and has an effect on the prevention and/or treatment of an intestinal disease, wherein the intestinal disease is at least one disease selected from ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

Abstract: A packaging material 1 is configured to pack a viscous product having one surface, an opposite surface, and side surfaces. The packaging material 1 includes a sheet 2 having a first surface portion 7 configured to cover the one surface of the viscous product, side surface portions 8-1 to 8-4 configured to cover the side surfaces, and second surface portions 9-1 to 9-4 disposed at the opposite surface, and tear tape 3 adhered to the sheet to cut the sheet. The tear tape is provided to start from the side surface portion or the second surface portion and to be branched into a first branched tape 3a and a second branched tape 3b across the first surface portion.

Abstract: According to the following steps, live cells, injured cells, VNC cells and dead cells of a microorganism in a test sample are detected by flow cytometry: a) the step of treating the test sample with an enzyme having an activity of decomposing cells other than those of the microorganism, colloidal particles of proteins or lipids existing in the test sample, b) the step of treating the test sample with a topoisomerase poison and/or a DNA gyrase poison. c) the step of treating the test sample treated in the steps a) and b) with a nuclear stain agent, and d) the step of detecting the microorganism in the test sample treated with the nuclear stain agent by flow cytometry.

Abstract: Provided is an antioxidant which is highly safe, inhibits oxidation of a biological component, in particular, a lipid, and may be used as a drug, food or drink, a food additive, an external preparation for skin, or the like. The antioxidant contains a compound selected from a cyclolanostane compound and a lophenol compound as an active ingredient.

Abstract: To inhibit production of adipocytokines, in particular, adipocytokines that elicit insulin resistance and to prevent onset of pathosis caused by the insulin resistance, or improve the pathosis, the present invention provides an agent or a food or drink which contains a compound having a cyclolanostane skeleton, or an organic solvent extract, a hot water extract of a plant of the family Liliaceae or Gramineae, or a fraction thereof which contains the compound as an active ingredient.