Abstract: A problem that the present invention is to solve is to provide: a main body of a peptide molecule which is effective for inhibition of various maladies such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and pressure ulcer, particularly, a dipeptide which is easy to absorb into a body in an intestine; a collagen peptide which comprises the dipeptide as an essential dipeptide; and a malady inhibitor which comprises the dipeptide as an essential effective component. As a means of solving such a problem, a collagen peptide according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a dipeptide having a structure of Hyp-Gly as an essential dipeptide. A dipeptide according to the present invention is characterized by having a structure of Hyp-Gly. A malady inhibitor according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a dipeptide having a structure of Hyp-Gly as an essential effective component.

Abstract: Stable acidic milk drinks characterized by composed of an acidic milk drink base together with collagen peptides obtained by hydrolyzing collagen and stabilizers. Thus, it becomes possible to add a collagen substance to the existing drinks containing various stabilizers without worsening the stability of the drinks achieved by the stabilizer.

Abstract: The present invention provide: a novel process for culturing animal cells and a kit for culturing animal cells, in which, even if the number of cells as sampled for biopsy is extremely small, the proliferation can sufficiently be maintained so as to enable to carry out various culture and/or tests, especially anticancer agent sensitivity tests, and the contamination with bacteria can be inhibited without damaging physiological activity of cells, especially sensitivity to anticancer agents. The process for culturing animal cells, according to the present invention, comprises the step of culturing a sample containing animal cells obtained from living body tissue in order to subject the sample to further culture and/or a test, with the process being characterized in that a culture medium is used wherein the culture medium has a proliferating action and physiological activity-retaining action on the animal cells, and further has a killing action and/or multiplication-inhibition action on bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention provide: a novel process for culturing animal cells and a kit for culturing animal cells, in which, even if the number of cells as sampled for biopsy is extremely small, the proliferation can sufficiently be maintained so as to enable to carry out various culture and/or tests, especially anticancer agent sensitivity tests, and the contamination with bacteria can be inhibited without damaging physiological activity of cells, especially sensitivity to anticancer agents. The process for culturing animal cells, according to the present invention, comprises the step of culturing a sample containing animal cells obtained from living body tissue in order to subject the sample to further culture and/or a test, with the process being characterized in that a culture medium is used wherein the culture medium has a proliferating action and physiological activity-retaining action on the animal cells, and further has a killing action and/or multiplication-inhibition action on bacteria.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for regulating the biodegradability of composite biomaterials comprising calcium salt (particularly hydroxyapatite) and collagen, improved composite biomaterials obtained via such method, and a method for increasing bone mass with the use of such composite biomaterials.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for regulating the biodegradability of composite biomaterials comprising calcium salt (particularly hydroxyapatite) and collagen, improved composite biomaterials obtained via such method, and a method for increasing bone mass with the use of such composite biomaterials.

Abstract: Animal cells are cultured while embedded in a collagen gel. The gel containing cells is formed by dispersing animal cells in a collagen solution, placing a drop (or drops) of the cell-containing collagen solution on a support surface and allowing the drop to gel to fix on the surface as a globular collagen gel having a convex surface. The cells are cultured by contacting the gel with a culture medium that may be serum-free or contain dextran sulfate. The drop preferably contains about 3 to about 300 microliters of the collagen solution and is about 2 mm or less in height. The cells may be precultured on a support surface having a collagen layer, released from the collagen layer by treatment with collagenase and dispersed in the collagen solution. The cells can be evaluated after culturing by staining such as with neutral red, or with fluorescein diacetate and irradiating, or by photographing cells in the collagen gel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of testing the sensitivity of cancer drugs with cancer cells cultured in vitro. Cancer cells are cultured in a collagen gel substrate. A wide variety of human cancer cell types readily proliferate in the collagen gel substrate, however, fibroblast cells proliferate as well. The measurement of the growth of the cancer cells is hindered by the presence of the fibroblast cells. The present invention solves this problem by counting the number of colonies with an image processor which selectively extracts the image signals of cancer cells and their colonies. In a second embodiment, the growth of cancer cells is determined by measuring the volume of colonies with the image signals of cancer cells and their colonies selectively extracted. The results can be obtained effectively within a short period of time.

Abstract: A favorable adhesive strength can be obtained without requiring pretreatment of metal surfaces in adhering.The invention relates to an adhesive composition having a biological calcium compound added as an adhesion improver. The biological calcium compound is at least one type selected from a group comprising, for example, hydroxyapatite, seashells and egg shells.

Abstract: A hardenable, biocompatible composition for repairing firm living tissue which includes a powder component containing Ca.sub.4 P.sub.2 O.sub.9 and at least one of CaHPO.sub.4 and CaHPO.sub.4.H.sub.2 O at a molar ratio of Ca:P of 1.16-1.95; and a liquid component containing 1 mM to 2M of a second phosphate ion and 1 mM to 2M of an organic ion. The weight ratio of the powder component to the liquid component is 0.5-4.0.

Abstract: An article having a target part for adhering, wherein the part adheres with an adhering face of a tab in a repeatedly releasable manner in which the target part is made of a hot melt resin composition. Thus, the total cost for making the target part is reduced.

Abstract: A method for the large-scale cultivation of animal cells wherein animal cells are embedded in a collagen gel which is covered by a protective coating. The protective coating supports and protects the collagen matrix.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hardening material for medical and dental use which is composed of a powder of calcium phosphate and a hardening liquid.A subject of the present invention is to provide a hardening material wherein a calcified hard tissue analogous to body hard tissue capable of making chemically a sufficient bond with body hard tissue is formed in a body within relatively short time passage.To attain the above-described objective, the hardening material for medical and dental use relating to the present invention is composed of a calcium phosphate powder and a hardening liquid and also of at least either one of collagen and/or collagen derivatives in a state of powder or solution, and the calcium phosphate powder contains a powder of .alpha.-tricalcium phosphate [.alpha.-Ca.sub.3 (PO.sub.4).sub.2 ]and/or tetracalcium phosphate [Ca.sub.4 (PO.sub.4).sub.2 O] as an essential component and the hardening liquid comprises at least one acid selected from inorganic acids and acetic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hardening material for medical and dental use, in which at least either one or both of .alpha.-tricalcium phosphate and tetracalcium phosphate as an essential component and, as a hardening adjuster, the following 1 tannin, 2 tannin and collagen, 3 collagen and an organic acid, 4 tannin, collagen, and an organic acid, 5 tannin and an organic acid, or 6 at least two kinds or organic acids.

Abstract: A good tissue-affinity and lack of antigenicity are required for the collagen used as the carrier of BMP. Conventional collagens have these properties only insufficiently. When the tyrosine content is below 2 residues/1000 residues, then the above properties of such collagens are good. Moreover, collagens excelling in the above properties can be readily obtained by using proteolytic enzymes.