Abstract: Disclosed is a method of diagnosing graft-versus-host disease, comprising measuring the level of CCL8 protein in a sample obtained from a subject as an indicator for the diagnosis or course of graft-versus-host disease. Also a diagnostic reagent for graft-versus-host disease comprising an anti-CCL8 antibody is disclosed. The method of the present invention enables diagnosis of the onset of graft-versus-host disease and monitoring of the progress, in particular, differential diagnosis between graft-versus-host disease and an infectious disease. The present invention also provides a method for treating graft-versus-host disease utilizing the anti-CCL8 antibody.

Abstract: In order to provide a composition for treating, improving, or preventing pain, it has been found out that a metallothionein protein is expressed in a normal peripheral nerve, and that the expression is not observed in a peripheral nerve producing pain. Moreover, it has been found out that administering metallothionein to rats having neuropathic pain suppresses the pain in the rats.

Abstract: A molecular marker for detecting a cancer stem cell in a cell mass which is a subject of interest, wherein the molecular marker can be detected in a cancer stem cell contained in the subject of interest but cannot be detected in a normal cell and a cancer cell that is different from a cancer stem cell; a method for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell in a subject of interest by using the molecular marker as an measure; a kit for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell, which comprises at least a reagent for detecting the molecular marker; a polypeptide encoded by the molecular marker; an antibody capable of recognizing an epitope of an expression product of a gene derived from the molecular marker; a nucleic acid capable of inhibiting the expression of the molecular marker; and a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a gene derived from the molecular marker.

Abstract: The present invention provides a useful examination method and diagnostic reagent, which are capable of diagnosing acute lung injury in clear distinction from chronic progressive interstitial pneumonia. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of determining whether or not a test subject is affected with acute lung injury, which comprises quantifying heat shock protein 47 in a biological sample derived from the test subject.

Abstract: A novel biomarker for diagnosing amyloid ?-related neuropathy such as Alzheimer's disease is provided. Disclosed is a method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease comprising measuring the level of a MFG-E8 protein in a blood, serum or plasma sample obtained from a human or animal subject, wherein the measured value is used as a marker for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The MFG-E8 protein is found to bind to phosphatidylserine in a Ca2+ dependent manner in a culture supernatant of mouse brain nerve cells, which are a dementia model stimulated with A?42. It is also found that the level of the MFG-E8 protein is increased in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of diagnosing graft-versus-host disease, comprising measuring the level of CCL8 protein in a sample obtained from a subject as an indicator for the diagnosis or course of graft-versus-host disease. Also a diagnostic reagent for graft-versus-host disease comprising an anti-CCL8 antibody is disclosed. The method of the present invention enables diagnosis of the onset of graft-versus-host disease and monitoring of the progress, in particular, differential diagnosis between graft-versus-host disease and an infectious disease. The present invention also provides a method for treating graft-versus-host disease utilizing the anti-CCL8 antibody.

Abstract: A ligator for ligating body duct(s), said ligator enabling quick, easy and damage-free repetition of ligation and release of one or more body ducts in a body cavity through an operation outside the body cavity, and having an excellent performance of blocking the flow of a body fluid such as blood or lymph in a body duct. In an abdominal surgery, the ligator can be provided at such a position as not disturbing the surgery per se or hindering the vision during the surgery, while leaving the back-end thereof outside the body cavity, and can be operated outside the body cavity. In an endoscopic surgery, the ligator can be inserted from an opening that is a surgical wound while leaving the back-end thereof outside the body cavity, and can be operated outside the body cavity.

Abstract: A molecular marker for detecting a cancer stem cell in a cell mass which is a subject of interest, wherein the molecular marker can be detected in a cancer stem cell contained in the subject of interest but cannot be detected in a normal cell and a cancer cell that is different from a cancer stem cell; a method for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell in a subject of interest by using the molecular marker as an measure; a kit for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell, which comprises at least a reagent for detecting the molecular marker; a polypeptide encoded by the molecular marker; an antibody capable of recognizing an epitope of an expression product of a gene derived from the molecular marker; a nucleic acid capable of inhibiting the expression of the molecular marker; and a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a gene derived from the molecular marker.

Abstract: In vitro 2-dimensional co-culture systems of LT-HSCs and osteoblastic niche cells and methods of establishing them are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods of screening people suffering from a disorder caused by dysfunction of osteoblastic niche cells, using said co-culture systems are described. In further aspects, methods for screening a candidate substance for treatment of a disorder caused by dysfunction of osteoblastic niche cells are provided. The present invention also concerns methods and therapeutic compositions of treating a patient suffering from a disorder caused by dysfunction of osteoblastic niche cells.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a technique which enables an effective antibody therapy for cancer which targets for FGFR1 without the need of using any effective antibody having high specificity and a potent cell-killing activity. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Disclosed are: a therapeutic agent for cancer, which comprises an enhancer of the expression of a fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 and an anti-fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 antibody; and a method for the treatment of cancer using the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: To provide an autoserum-containing bone marrow cell culture system, whereby bone marrow cells, which are collected from a subject without using an anticoagulant, are subjected to an anticoagulation treatment using a medium in a liquid-tight state, cultured and then further cultured using the serum of said subject which is prepared in a liquid-tight state; an autoserum-containing bone marrow cell culture method; and a method for producing a medicinal composition which comprises, as the active ingredient, autoserum-containing cultured bone marrow cells. [Solution] An autoserum-containing bone marrow cell culture system for culturing bone marrow cells, which are collected from a subject without using an anticoagulant, using the serum of said subject, said system comprising a bone marrow cell suspension-storing device, a collected blood-storing device, an autoserum-acquiring device, and a bone marrow cell-culturing device.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes an imaging device and an image processing device. The imaging device photographs a specimen and outputs a color image of the specimen to the image processing device. The image processing device subjects the color image of the specimen to negative-positive reversal. After detecting a mode value of the hue the color image having been subjected to negative-positive reversal, the image processing device changes the hue of the color image in accordance with a difference between a boundary value of two predefined hues and the detected mode value. In accordance with the change of the hue, a plurality of target pixels different in the saturation is extracted and the saturation and the intensity of each pixel are changed, or the gradation of each pixel is converted so that the plurality of target pixels becomes most distant from one another in a color space.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for non-invasively diagnosing invasiveness or degree of invasion of colorectal tumors. The present invention is characterized in that it enables to obtain a specimen that can be used to detect invasive colorectal tumors by spraying a washing fluid onto the colonic mucous layer of a subject to detach the mucus from the mucous layer, and collecting the detached mucus together with the washing fluid.

Abstract: A method for easily and stably producing a superoxide by selectively generating the superoxide or a radical containing the superoxide at a high purity; a method for easily evaluating the superoxide scavenging ability of a subject sample; a device for easily and stably producing a superoxide by selectively generating the superoxide or a radical containing the superoxide at a high purity; and a device for easily evaluating the superoxide scavenging ability of a subject sample are provided. The method for producing a superoxide includes: a step (a) for preparing a solution for determination; a step (b) for forming a spin adduct/radical for determination; a step (c) for acquiring a spectrum for determination; a step (d) for determining similarity; a step (e) for acquiring flavin concentration; a step (f) for preparing a starting material solution; and a step (g) for generation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monoclonal antibody or an antibody fragment thereof, which binds to the extracellular region of human Trop-2 with high affinity and exhibits high ADCC activity and high antitumor activity; a hybridoma which produces the antibody; a DNA which encodes the antibody; a vector which comprises the DNA; a transformant obtainable by introducing the vector; a process for producing an antibody or an antibody fragment thereof using the hybridoma or the transformant; and a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent using the antibody fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention aims at developing a gene delivery system which has a high selectivity to a target cell and can introduce and express a gene with high efficiency, particularly developing such a system for use in a gene delivery therapy using a viral vector. The present invention provides a method for targeting a drug, which comprises the step of delivering a drug containing a therapeutic gene to a target site using an anti-PAP2a antibody.

Abstract: PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED: A finger arterial elasticity measuring program, a finger arterial elasticity measuring device and a finger arterial elasticity measuring method are provided for making it possible to measure an elasticity index of a finger artery in accordance with a pulse wave of a finger artery without measuring a blood pressure in evaluating the elasticity of the finger artery related to the degree of arterial sclerosis in an easy and least expensive manner.

Abstract: To provide a collagen/elastin crosslinked material capable of satisfactorily corresponding to various uses such as medical materials including an artificial dermis and scaffolding materials for cell culture. The collagen/elastin crosslinked material is obtained by crosslinking a fish-derived collagen and a fish-derived elastin, and is fully capable of corresponding to various uses such as medical materials including an artificial dermis and scaffold material for cell culture.

Abstract: A molecular marker for detecting a cancer stem cell in a cell mass which is a subject of interest, wherein the molecular marker can be detected in a cancer stem cell contained in the subject of interest but cannot be detected in a normal cell and a cancer cell that is different from a cancer stem cell; a method for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell in a subject of interest by using the molecular marker as an measure; a kit for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell, which comprises at least a reagent for detecting the molecular marker; a polypeptide encoded by the molecular marker; an antibody capable of recognizing an epitope of an expression product of a gene derived from the molecular marker; a nucleic acid capable of inhibiting the expression of the molecular marker; and a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a gene derived from the molecular marker.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a composition and a method for the diagnosis and/or the treatment of a CSABP-related disease, the regulation of the proliferation of an RNA virus and the regulation of an RNA-metabolizing system, which targets a cyclosporin A-binding protein (CSABP); a method for the screening of a component that targets a CSABP; a composition and a method for the detection/inhibition of CsA, NS5B or cyclosphilin B by utilizing a CSABP; a promoter for a CSABP; a method for the screening of a substance capable of regulating the expression of a CSABP by utilizing the promoter; and a method for the determination of the occurrence or clinical stage of a CSABP-related disease.