Abstract: Provided is a tight-sealing cap for the liquid drug-expelling part of a syringe that not only minimizes the space that creates reduced pressure, which is a cause of leakage, but is also easy to remove because it is easily twisted off, easily deformable and easily admits air for releasing the vacuum when removed, and that can prevent leaking of a liquid drug from a luer nozzle. The cap is made of an elastic material, and the following means are used in the cap, which is configured from a thick upper surface part, an outer tubular part that is formed below the periphery thereof, and an inner tubular part that is formed inside the same. First, the inner tubular part is formed so that the tip of the luer nozzle can be inserted tightly into the same, and the luer nozzle can be tightly sealed at the site of contact thereof. Second, the outer tubular part is formed so that it contacts the luer lock closely therein and can seal the luer lock tightly at the site of contact thereof.

Abstract: A method for detecting lysosomal storage diseases including the steps of performing an assay for a single species of glycosaminoglycan contained in a specimen and correlating results of the assay with lysosomal storage diseases. A body fluid such as urine or blood can be employed as a specimen. The assay can be performed by use of a polypeptide that is capable of specifically binding to a glycosaminoglycan-containing molecule. The polypeptide may be an antibody, or a polypeptide having an antigen-binding site of an antibody.

Abstract: A process for producing a polysaccharide sponge comprises the steps of (A) freezing a photoreactive polysaccharide solution, and (B) irradiating the frozen photoreactive polysaccharide solution with light to crosslink the photoreactive polysaccharide, thereby obtaining the polysaccharide sponge. The process includes simplified steps requiring no removal of solvent, and has such an advantage that impurities are easily removed therefrom.

Abstract: To obtain a mutant protein of an asparagine-linked glycoprotein, which has no N-linked sugar chain under ordinary circumstance, and remains a physiological activity of the glycoprotein before the mutation was introduced, at least one of the amino acids contained in the amino acid sequence motif (I) and/or (II) in the polypeptide of the asparagine-linked glycoprotein is substituted into another amino acid: (I) Asn Xa1 Xa2 (II) Xa3 Val Gly Asn Xa1 Xa2. In amino acid sequence motif (I) and (II), Xa1 represents an amino acid other than Pro, Xa2 represents Thr or Ser and Xa3 represents His or Asp.

Abstract: The invention provides a chondroitin sulfate synthesis promoter useful for the treatment of diseases such as articular disease and discopathy. The chondroitin sulfate synthesis promoter contains, as an active ingredient, chondroitin sulfate glucuronyltransferase protein and/or chondroitin sulfate N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-1 protein, or a gene encoding the enzyme protein(s).

Abstract: A process for producing a polysaccharide sponge comprises the steps of (A) freezing a photoreactive polysaccharide solution, and (B) irradiating the frozen photoreactive polysaccharide solution with light to crosslink the photoreactive polysaccharide, thereby obtaining the polysaccharide sponge. The process includes simplified steps requiring no removal of solvent, and has such an advantage that impurities are easily removed therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed are: (A) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or (B) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 including deletion, substitution or addition of one or several amino acid residues and having chondroitin synthase activity; a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; a method for producing the polypeptide, comprising at least the steps of: (1) expressing the nucleic acid to produce the polypeptide; and (2) collecting the polypeptide produced in the step (1); and a crystal of the polypeptide. The crystal may be a monoclinic or tetragonal crystal.

Abstract: A hyaluronic acid derivative in which an anti-inflammatory drug is bound to hyaluronic acid through a covalent bond via a spacer having a biodegradable region, and a production process thereof.

Abstract: A hybridoma capable of producing a monoclonal antibody against dectin-1, and a monoclonal antibody which specifically reacts with dectin-1.

Abstract: An anti-acharan sulfate antibody, a hybridoma that produces the antibody, a detection method and a detection kit to which the antibody is applied are disclosed. The anti-acharan sulfate antibody can be produced by immunizing a mammal using as an antigen a substance obtained by chemically bonding a protein to acharan sulfate.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a substance which is able to be an active ingredient for the improvement of dysfunction caused by nerve damage. An improving agent for dysfunction due to nerve damage of the present invention as a means for resolution thereof is characterized in that it comprises an endo-?-N-acetylglucosaminidase type enzyme which hydrolyzes an N-acetylglucosamide bond in a keratan sulfate backbone as an active ingredient. When the improving agent of the present invention is administered, clinical improvement is achieved in motor neuron dysfunction and sensory neuron dysfunction such as neuropathic pain represented by a pain caused by allodynia and hyperalgesic reaction of the object to be treated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an injection solution for intra-articular administration for treating arthritic disorders comprising a cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative wherein part of functional groups of a hyaluronic acid are cross-linked with a cross-linking group to the extent of 0.6 to 15% of cross-linking extent as an active ingredient in an amount having a long-lasting analgesic effect and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and an analgesic composition for suppressing a cartilage degeneration caused by arthritic disorders or a composition for suppressing a cartilage degeneration or an inflammation of synovium caused by arthritic disorders each comprising the cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: A process for producing a polysaccharide sponge comprises the steps of (A) freezing a photoreactive polysaccharide solution, and (B) irradiating the frozen photoreactive polysaccharide solution with light to crosslink the photoreactive polysaccharide, thereby obtaining the polysaccharide sponge. The process includes simplified steps requiring no removal of solvent, and has such an advantage that impurities are easily removed therefrom.

Abstract: A method for measuring LAM and a method for detecting an acid-fast bacterium, which comprise at least a step of allowing a Limulus reagent to contact with a LAM-containing sample; a method for removing reactivity of LAM with a Limulus reagent, which comprises at least a step of allowing a predetermined substance to coexist with a LAM-containing sample; a method for measuring Et in a LAM-containing sample and a method for detecting an Et-related disease, which each is a method for measuring an endotoxin using a Limulus reagent, which comprises at least a step of removing reactivity of LAM with a Limulus reagent by the above-described removing method; a method for measuring BG in a LAM-containing sample and a method for detecting mycosis, which is a method for measuring BG using a Limulus reagent, which comprises at least a step of removing reactivity of LAM with a Limulus reagent by the described-described removing method; and the like.

Abstract: A hyaluronic acid derivative in which an anti-inflammatory drug is bound to hyaluronic acid through a covalent bond via a spacer having a biodegradable region, and a production process thereof.

Abstract: An effective therapeutic agent for keloids and/or hypertrophic scars is provided. Specifically, an elastic fiber regenerating agent consisting of chondroitinase ABC derived from Proteus vulgaris and a therapeutic agent for keloids and/or hypertrophic scars comprising the regenerating agent as an active ingredient are provided.

Abstract: A pretreatment agent for a sample to be subjected to Limulus assay comprising an alkali metal sulfate and/or an alkaline earth metal sulfate wherein the sulfate(s) has a final concentration of 20 mM or more when the sulfate(s) is allowed to contact with the sample, or an alkali metal halide and/or an alkaline earth metal halide wherein the halide(s) has a final concentration of from 0.4 M to 1.2 M or less when the halide(s) is allowed to contact with the sample, or a kit for Limulus assay reagent comprising thereof as a composing article.

Abstract: The invention provides a virus harboring a DNA encoding a subunit of limulus-derived factor G, the virus being capable of mass-producing a (1?3)-?-D-glucan assay reagent of satisfactory quality, steadily and at low cost, a cell harboring the virus, and a method of producing factor G by use of the cell.

Abstract: A method for measuring LAM and a method for detecting an acid-fast bacterium, which comprise at least a step of allowing a Limulus reagent to contact with a LAM-containing sample, a method for removing reactivity of LAM with a Limulus reagent, which comprises at least a step of allowing a predetermined substance to coexist with a LAM-containing sample; a method for measuring Et in a LAM-containing sample and a method for detecting an Et-related disease, which each is a method for measuring an endotoxin using a Limulus reagent, which comprises at least a step of removing reactivity of LAM with a Limulus reagent by the above-described removing method; a method for measuring BG in a LAM-containing sample and a method for detecting mycosis, which is a method for measuring BG using a Limulus reagent which comprises at least a step of removing reactivity of LAM with a Limulus reagent by the described-described removing method; and the like.

Abstract: An antibody which reacts with N-acetylheparosan and heparan sulfate that is derived from bovine kidney but does not substantially react with heparan sulfate derived from a murine Engelbreath-Holm-Swarn tumor tissue, the antibody being produced with a hybridoma which is prepared using a substance composed of a protein and N-acetylheparosan bound to the protein.