Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for relieving pain in a joint disease, including a hyaluronic acid and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in which the hyaluronic acid is cross-linked by cyclizing a double bond in the moiety of a cinnamic acid in a partially amidated hyaluronic acid represented by Formula (1): [Ar—CH?CH—COO—(CH2)n-NH-]m-HA, to form a cycloubutane ring, in which Ar represents an optionally substituted phenyl group, n represents an integer of 2 or 3, HA represents a carboxy residue of the hyaluronic acid, and m represents an amidation ratio of the hyaluronic acid to the total carboxyl group and is in the range of 3 to 50% relative to the total carboxyl group. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is an intra-articular formulation that exerts rapid analgesic effects after administration, and shows extremely long durable effects for a human joint disease with only a single administration rather than multiple administrations of a conventional way.

Abstract: Provided is a chondroitin sulfate derivative having a cross-linked structure through a group in a polyvalent amine. Also provided is a composition containing the chondroitin sulfate derivative. Also provided are an agent and method for the treatment of an eye disease, the agent and method having a therapeutic effect on a corneal epithelial disorder and/or dry eye.

Abstract: A compound includes a group derived from chondroitin sulfate, a group derived from a steroid, and a spacer. The group derived from the chondroitin sulfate and the group derived from the steroid are covalently bonded together via the spacer, and a spacer forming molecule of the spacer is ?-alanine or isoleucine. A covalent bond between the group derived from the steroid and the spacer is an ester bond, and a covalent bond between the group derived from the chondroitin sulfate and the spacer is an amide bond. The steroid is at least one selected from the group consisting of prednisolone, betamethasone, triamcinolone, triamcinolone acetonide, budesonide and fluticasone.

Abstract: A horseshoe crab Factor C protein having activity of Factor C, wherein the horseshoe crab is selected from Tachypleus tridentatus, Limulus polyphemus, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and wherein the horseshoe crab Factor C protein is produced through being recombinantly expressed from a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) DG44 cell or HEK cell.

Abstract: A method for measuring endotoxin in a test specimen, the method, comprising mixing an endotoxin assay agent and the test specimen, and measuring progress of a cascade reaction, wherein the endotoxin assay agent comprises a horseshoe crab Factor C recombinant protein having activity of Factor C and a detection substrate, under the conditions specified.

Abstract: Provided are all full-length recombinant proteins involved in the clotting mechanism of Limulus polyphemus, cDNAs encoding the same, and applications thereof. A recombinant protein containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4, a recombinant protein containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 6, 8, 10, or 12, a recombinant protein containing the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 14, 16, 18, 20, or 22, variants thereof, cDNAs encoding the same, and utilization thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a compound in which a group derived from chondroitin sulfate and a group derived from a steroid are covalently bonded together via a spacer represented by general formula (I). In the formula, m represents an integer of 0 or 1. Here, if m=0, R1 represents a group selected from the group consisting of electron-donating groups and steric hindrance groups. If m=1, R1 represents a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, electron-donating groups and steric hindrance groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glycosaminoglycan derivative in which a group derived from glycosaminoglycan and a group derived from a physiologically active substance having at least one of a carboxy group and a hydroxy group are coupled by covalent bond with a spacer therebetween, in which the spacer is selected in accordance with the decomposition rate of the covalent bond to the group derived from the physiologically active substance.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide means for correctly measuring zygomycota. The present inventors have found that conventionally difficult zygomycota measurement can be performed through subjecting an untreated specimen to an acid treatment. The present invention provides a method for measuring zygomycota, the method including measuring zygomycota in a specimen that was subjected to an acid treatment; an agent for preparing a specimen for measurement of zygomycota; a method for preparing a specimen for measurement of zygomycota; and a reagent kit for measuring zygomycota.

Abstract: The invention provides a diamine crosslinking agent for acidic polysaccharides consisting of a diamine compound having a primary amino group at both terminals and an ester or thioester bond in the molecule, wherein the number of atom in the linear chain between at least one of the amino groups and the carbonyl carbon in the ester or thioester is 1 to 5; in particular, a diamine crosslinking agent for acidic polysaccharides which is represented by the general formula (I) below: [the symbols in the formula are as described in the specification]; a crosslinked acidic polysaccharide obtained by forming crosslinks by amide bonding between the amino groups in the diamine crosslinking agent and carboxyl groups in an acidic polysaccharide; and a medical material including the crosslinked product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic agent for disc herniation, which has extremely few adverse side effects, can achieve a prolonged pain-ameliorating effect when administered in only a single dose, and can exhibit a high therapeutic effect and high safety in clinical applications. The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for disc herniation, which is characterized by containing chondroitinase ABC as an active ingredient and being administered in such a manner that the ingredient can be administered into a human disk in an amount of 1-8 units per disk.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is provide a method for sulfating a glycosaminoglycan in a solution of a non-organic solvent. In the present invention, sulfation reaction of a glycosaminoglycan is performed with a sulfating agent in a strongly basic solution of a non-organic solvent. In the present invention, pH of the strongly basic solution is preferably set to be 11.5 or higher. According to the present invention, for example, a glycosaminoglycan having heparin-like anticoagulant activity can be produced from N-acetylheparosan through one-pot procedure. In one embodiment, a sulfated glycosaminoglycan produced by the method of the present invention has a unique disaccharide composition and is expected to be a novel useful material.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a means for making highly sensitive and stable measurements possible using electrochemical measurement methods. This problem is resolved by providing: a labeling substance represented by general formula (1) and used to label a substrate; a measurement substrate that is formed by being labeled using the labeling substance; a method of measuring using electrochemical measurement methods that use the measurement substrate; and a reagent kit that includes as components the labeling substance and/or the measurement substrate. (In general formula (1), R1 is either H or an alkyl group (CmH2m+1), m is an integer of 1-4, R2 is an alkyl group (CnH2n+1), and n is an integer of 1-4.

Abstract: Provided herein is a means for increasing protein retention in blood. The protein retention in blood is increased by forming a conjugate of a protein and chondroitin produced by a microorganism having chondroitin-producing capability and/or chondroitin synthesized with a chondroitin synthase.

Abstract: To provide means for reducing reaction interference observed when AT III is subjected to limulus test, whereby the limulus test of antithrombin III can be carried out at high accuracy. Reaction interference observed when AT III is subjected to limulus test can be reduced by subjecting AT III to a protein inactivation treatment in the co-presence of a divalent metal salt.

Abstract: Provided is a preparation to be applied to an ophthalmic device comprising a cinnamic acid derivative, the application of which to the ophthalmic device can ameliorate symptoms on the ocular surface or prevent damage on the ocular surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous composition which comprises chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and which can be stored at room temperature. The present invention also relates to an aqueous composition which comprises chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, sorbitol, and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glycosaminoglycan derivative in which a group derived from glycosaminoglycan and a group derived from a physiologically active substance having at least one of a carboxy group and a hydroxy group are coupled by covalent bond with a spacer therebetween, in which the spacer is selected in accordance with the decomposition rate of the covalent bond to the group derived from the physiologically active substance.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a horseshoe crab recombinant Factor C. The horseshoe crab recombinant Factor C is produced through expression thereof by use of mammalian cells such as CHO DG44 and HEK293 as host cells.