Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a detection method capable of detecting articular cartilage degeneration or damage in which the abnormality cannot be detected in a radiograph in a simple method and with high accuracy, a method of evaluating the rate of progression of articular cartilage degeneration or damage, and the like. The present invention as a means for achieving the object provides a method of detecting articular cartilage degeneration or damage which cannot be detected in a radiograph, by using the concentration of keratan sulfate in a sample derived from blood as an index, and the like. Further, the present invention provides a method of evaluating the rate of progression of articular cartilage degeneration or damage by using the concentration of keratan sulfate in a sample derived from blood as an index, and the like.

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: 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: 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: An object of the present invention is to provide a substance which can be used as an active ingredient for improving neuropathic pain having a novel mechanism of action different from those of currently available agents and, therefore, provide an improving agent for neuropathic pain which rarely interacts with currently available agents and also does not have adverse reactions similar to those of currently available agents. An improving agent for neuropathic pain due to a hyperalgesic response of the present invention as a means for resolution is characterized by comprising, as an active ingredient, a lyase (an elimination enzyme) which has an activity of degrading a chondroitin sulfate chain of a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, and is typified by chondroitinase ABC which selectively removes chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate of a proteoglycan.

Abstract: A chondroitin sulfate having a decreased molecular weight which has utilization as an inhibitor of peritoneal disorder caused by long-term use of a peritoneal dialysis fluid containing glucose or a polysaccharide thereof as an osmotic agent, utilization as an osmotic agent in a peritoneal dialysis fluid, and the like. The chondroitin sulfate having a decreased molecular weight of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized by having a weight average molecular weight of from 1000 to 20000 and containing a constituent disaccharide unit represented by the following structural formula in an amount of from 65% to 100% (molar ratio) of the total: -[4GlcA?1-3GalNAc(6S)?1]- (wherein GlcA represents a D-glucuronic acid residue; GalNAc represents an N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residue; ?1-3 represents a ?1-3 glycosidic linkage; ?1-4 represents a ?1-4 glycosidic linkage; and (6S) indicates that position 6 of the monosaccharide residue is sulfated).

Abstract: Cycloalkylcarbonylamino acid derivatives, which are raw material intermediates of a novel cycloalkane carboxamide derivative that selectively inhibits cathepsin K, and a production process thereof, are provided. A cycloalkylcarbonylamino acid derivative represented by the following general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: (wherein, R1 and R2 represent alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, aromatic hydrocarbon groups, heterocyclic groups or the like, and ring A represents a cyclic alkylidene group having 5, 6 or 7 carbon atoms).

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: A photocrosslinked polysaccharide pseudo-sponge exhibiting a low swelling property and a high degradation ability in vivo while retaining a suitable strength. The polysaccharide pseudo-sponge is produced by a crosslinking reaction of a photoreactive polysaccharide obtained by introducing a photoreactive group into a polysaccharide, and exhibits a low swelling property and a blue dextran-low dyeaffinity.

Abstract: A drug-introduced photo-crosslinked hyaluronic acid derived gel which is a photo-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel into which a drug is introduced through a covalent bond, and has characteristics that are capable of extruding from an injection device. The drug-introduced photo-cross-linked hyaluronic acid derived gel is capable of extruding, for example, by an injection needle of 20 to 25 gauge with a pressure of 0.5 to 5 kg/cm2.

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: A medical composition for protuberance of epithelium, which comprises a solution comprising a polysaccharide or a medically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the solution has a viscosity of: (1) from 50 to 500 mPa·s at a shear rate of from 7.7 to 10.0 s?1; (2) from 45 to 300 mPa·s at a shear rate of from 19.2 to 20.0 s?1; and (3) from 40 to 200 mPa·s at a shear rate of from 38.3 to 40.0 s?1, when measured using a rotational viscometer at 25° C., and a syringe filled with the medical composition.

Abstract: A method for promoting expression of a heat shock protein, or for inhibiting cell injury or cell death, or for treating a disease for which cell or tissue protection is desired, or for promoting production of IL-10, or for inhibiting production of IL-8, by administering an effective amount of a fraction containing a hyaluronic acid tetrasaccharide comprising four saccharide residues and having certain physicochemical properties or by administering an effective amount of an isolated and substantially pure tetrasaccharide of formula (1) described in the application. Methods for preserving an organ.

Abstract: A galactosamine derivative represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R5 each independently represents SO3? or H, and at least one of them represents SO3?; R3 represents H, acetyl or SO3?; R4 represents H, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted acyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group; X represents O, S, NH or CH2; and represents an ? bond or a ? bond, and a sulfotransferase inhibitor comprising the derivative.

Abstract: Chondroitin is produced by culturing a UDP-glucuronic acid-producing bacterium transfected with a kfoA gene derived from Escherichia coli K4 strain and a kfoC gene derived from Escherichia coli K4 strain and having chondroitin-producing ability. Chondroitin is collected from the bacterium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel peptide based on CAP11 as well as provides an antibacterial agent, an LPS-cell-binding inhibitor, and a drug such as a bacterial-infection-treating agent or an endotoxin-shock suppressant, each containing the peptide as an active ingredient. The peptide has the following amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1): X01 X02 X03 X03 X04 X02 X03 X03 X05 X04 X03 X04 X02 X01 X03 X02 X05 X03 (wherein X01 represents a cationic amino acid residue or a polar uncharged amino acid residue, X02 represents a non-polar amino acid residue, X03 represents a cationic amino acid residue, X04 represents a non-polar amino acid residue or a cationic amino acid residue, and X05 represents a non-polar amino acid residue or a polar uncharged amino acid residue). Each of the antibacterial agent, lipopolysaccharide-cell-binding inhibitor, and drug (e.g., bacterial-infection-treating agent or endotoxin-shock suppressant) contains the peptide as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing epoxycarboxamide compounds, azide compounds and amino alcohol compounds which serve as manufacturing intermediates that can lead to useful ?-ketoamide compounds, and the present invention is also is directed to processes for preparing ?-ketoamide compounds using the intermediates. The epoxycarboxamide compounds, azide compounds and amino alcohol compounds are represented by the following formulae: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, as well as subvariables for one or more of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein.

Abstract: A photoreactive polysaccharide which comprises a polysaccharide bound to a glycidyl ester via a covalent bond, a photocrosslinked-polysaccharide prepared by using the photoreactive polysaccharide, and medical products comprising the photocrosslinked-polysaccharide.

Abstract: Methods for stabilizing ?-galactosidase, stabilizing ?-glucocerebrosidase, treating a glycolipid metabolic disorder caused by mutation of ?-galactosidase gene, treating a glycolipid metabolic disorder caused by mutation of ?-glucocerebrosidase gene, regenerating the activity of ?-galactosidase, regenerating the activity of ?-glucosidase, treating GM1 gangliosidosis, Morquio-B or Krabbe's disease, and treating Gaucher's disease, include administering a carba-sugar amine derivative represented by the following formula (1) or (2):