Abstract: A process for preparing a pyridone derivative (4), which comprises reacting the compound (1) with a hypochlorite or a hypobromite or with lead tetraacetate to give the compound (2), and reacting the compound (2) with the compound (3). Said process is preferably especially from the standpoint of safety. wherein R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, etc.; Y1 is hydrogen, alky, substituted alky, etc.; Y2 and Y3 are indenpently hydrogen, halogen, etc.; and L is alkyl, substituted alkyl, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel Semaphorin having neurite-outgrowth inhibition activity or proteins analogous thereto, peptide fragments of, or antibodies against, such proteins, genes encoding such proteins, expression vectors for said genes, transformed cells into which said expression vectors have been introduced, methods for producing a recombinant protein which employ said transformed cells, antisense nucleotides against the above genes, transgenic animals involving insertion or deletion of the above genes, and screening methods for antagonists of the above proteins, all of which are useful mainly in diagnoses, treatments, or studies relating to neurological diseases. The present invention further provides use of such proteins, peptides, antibodies, genes, or antisense nucleotides as pharmaceutical or diagnostic agents or laboratory reagents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a neurotrophic factor secretagogue, in particular, to a BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) secretagogue, which comprises as an active ingredient an NO donor. The medicament of the present invention promotes the secretion of neurotrophic factors from mammalian central neural cells. Thus, the medicament of the present invention, i.e., NO donor, is possibly applicable to the treatment of diseases caused by neutrotrophic factors, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, and is expected to exhibit the efficacious effects thereon. Also, the present invention provides a novel medication for neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I): wherein Ring A is substituted or unsubstituted pyridine ring, Y is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, etc., R1 is hydrogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, etc., R2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R3 is lower alkyl, Z is 1) —D1—Q [D1 is direct bond or divalent C1-8 hydrocarbon, etc., Q is hydroxy, carboxyl, etc.], or 2) —D2M—E—W [D2 is direct bond or divalent C1-8 hydrocarbon, etc., M is oxygen, sulfur, etc., E is direct bond or divalent C1-8 hydrocarbon, etc., W is hydroxyl, carboxyl, etc.], or a prodrug thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the same, which exhibits acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) inhibitory activity, and is useful as an agent for treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: wherein Ar is optionally substituted phenyl, etc.; n is 0, 1 or 2; R1 is hydogen atom, optionally substituted alkyl, etc.; R2 and R3 are independently optionally substituted alkyl, etc.; R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen atom or optionally substituted alkyl; R6 is hydrogen atom, hydroxy or alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is useful as a medicament for treating retinal degenerative disorders and the like.

Abstract: &bgr;-Type crystalline amrubicin hydrochloride having a powder X-ray diffraction pattern having average values of diffraction angle(2&thgr;) and relative intensity as given in the following table: diffraction angle(2&thgr;) relative intensity(%) (average value) (average value) 6.3 100 6.7 56 10.1 44 15.3 36 20.3 56 25.6 37 26.5 61 26.9 52 has excellent thermal stability and is used in production of freeze-dried formulations.

Abstract: A process for preparing a pyridone derivative (4), which comprises reacting the compound (1) with a hypochlorite or a hypobromite or with lead tetraacetate to give the compound (2), and reacting the compound (2) with the compound (3). Said process is preferably especially from the standpoint of safety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heterocyclic compound of the following general formula (I): wherein X is sulfur atom, oxygen atom or —NR3— (R3 may form a heterocyclic ring or a substituted heterocyclic ring with R1 via the nitrogen atom), R1 is alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, aryl group, substituted aryl group, heterocyclic group or substituted heterocyclic group, and R2 is hydrogen atom, halogen atom etc.; or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt and interferon inducers, antiviral agents, anticancer agents and therapeutic agents for immunologic diseases comprising the compound (I) or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt as active ingredients.

Abstract: Novel proteins C16 and C16N or genes encoding the same; proteins analogous to these novel proteins; partial peptides; antibodies; transgenic animals; a method for screening inhibitors by using these novel proteins; inhibitors obtained by the above screening method; etc. are provided. The novel proteins C16 and C16N or the proteins analogous thereto have the activities of inducing cells to become capable of resorbing hydroxyapatite, maintaining the survival of neurons, inhibiting the proliferation of osteoblasts, and/or promoting the expression of type I collagen in osteoblasts. Thus, the above proteins are applicable to the treatment of various diseases which are curable through expression of these functions.

Abstract: A process for preparing a pyridone derivative (4), which comprises reacting the compound (1) with a hypochlorite or a hypobromite or with lead tetraacetate to give the compound (2), and reacting the compound (2) with the compound (3). Said process is preferably especially from the standpoint of safety. wherein R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, etc.; Y1 is hydrogen, alky, substituted alky, etc.; Y2 and Y3 are indenpently hydrogen, halogen, etc.; and L is alkyl, substituted alky, etc.

Abstract: A substituted guanidine derivative represented by the general formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, is useful as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for diseases caused by the acceleration of the sodium/proton (Na+/H+) exchange transport system, for example, hyperpiesia, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, hypercardia, diabetes, organopathies due to ischemia or ischemia re-perfusion, troubles due to cerebral ischemia, diseases caused by cell over-proliferations, and diseases caused by trouble with endothelial cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament comprising a HGF gene. The medicament of the present invention may be topically applied to the target organs so that the effects can be selectively exhibited, resulting in minimizing the side effects of HGF.

Abstract: This invention provides a therapeutic agent for the treatment of an abnormal eating behavior. The psychotic symptoms characteristic of anorexia nervosa such as apocleisis, intentional vomiting, eating in secret and the like have been treated with a tranquilizer and the like, but the effectiveness was only limited. By administration of a therapeutic agent according to the present invention, i.e., a human growth hormone (hGH) formulation, a will to eat can spontaneously be developed in a patient who previously received a nutrition only passively by means of a forcible nutrition program or a nasal nutrition supply. It is effective especially against the eating disorder in anorexia nervosa attributable possible to an increased central growth hormone releasing factor (GRH)-hGH secretion system.

Abstract: A medicament containing human growth hormone (hGH), which can prevent or decrease the immunosuppression and the onset of infectious diseases such as pneumonia in a hypothermia treatment that has been recognized to show remarkable effects on the lifesaving and/or the improvement of recovery of a patient with serious cerebral injury, and thereby contributing to the expansion of the range of application and the improvement of lifesaving effect of hypothermia treatment.

Abstract: LDL receptor gene expression promoters containing a 1,2,4-triazine derivative of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is optionally substituted phenyl or heterocycle; R.sup.2 is optionally substituted phenyl, naphthyl, aralkyl, 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocycle, alkyl, or alkenyl; X is O, S or NR.sup.4 ; R.sup.3 is optionally substituted phenyl, naphthyl, aralkyl, 5- to 6-membered aromatic heterocycle, alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkenyl, provided that when X is NR.sup.4, then it may form an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heterocycle, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which can increase the expression dose (the amount of mRNA) of LDL receptor gene, and thus increase the amount of LDL receptor, and reduce the serum cholesterol level, and are useful in the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Abstract: An isoxazole derivative represented by the formula: ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof useful as a therapeutic drug for auto-immune diseases and inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: A stable pharmaceutical composition of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the form of an aqueous solution or lyophilized one being suitable for a long-term storage, which contains a surfactant, especially nonionic surfactant (e.g., Tween 80) of 0.001 to 10%, whereby the polymerization and the denaturation of BDNF are inhibited, and the biological activities of BDNF are maintained for a long time. The lyophilized composition can be made more stable by addition of a sugar alcohol (e.g., mannitol) and/or an amino acid (e.g., glycine).

Abstract: An assay method capable of efficiently trapping an analyte in a certain amount of a reaction liquid in a short reaction time, the method being characterized in that only a part of a solid phase coated with a substance that specifically binds to the substance to be assayed is immersed in a pool of the reaction liquid containing the analyte, and this part of the solid phase is exchanged during the reaction, so that any surface of the solid phase can be immersed in the reaction liquid once in a predetermined time, and an assay kit for the assay based on this principle. In comparison with the conventional assay methods wherein the entire area of a limited solid phase surface is brought into contact with a certain amount of a reaction liquid, or wherein a test solution is diluted to bring the entirety of a certain surface area of the solid phase into contact therewith, the inventive method can increase reaction speed, which in turn results in trapping of the analyte on the solid phase efficiently in a short time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 2,3-diaminopropionic acid derivative of the formula (1): ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of the present invention are useful as a platelet aggregation inhibitor, a cancer metastasis inhibitor, a wound healing agent or a bone resorption inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for treating acute hepatic failure comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of human growth hormone (hGH) to a patient suffering from the acute hepatic failure as well as a novel therapeutic agent for acute hepatic failure comprising the human growth hormone as an active ingredient.