Abstract: Sulfated fucogalactan or its salt useful as a reagent for sugar chain engineering or an HGF-production inducer; a degraded product or its salt obtained by treating the sulfated fucogalactan with a sulfated fucogalactan digesting enzyme; the sulfated fucogalactan digesting enzyme useful in sugar chain engineering; a process for producing the degraded product by treating sulfated fucogalactan or its salt with the above enzyme; and a process for producing the sulfated fucogalactan digesting enzyme.

Abstract: To provide a method for detecting a cancer cell in a resected specimen by determining a change in an expression level of at least one of cancer-associated genes selected from genes of which cDNA is a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 16 and 66 to 68 in Sequence Listing, or a DNA capable of hybridizing with a nucleic acid consisting of a nucleotide sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 16 and 66 to 68 in Sequence Listing under stringent conditions; as well as a kit for detecting cancer by the above method, and the like.

Abstract: A substantially pure, isolated, antigenic protein from fungi of the genus Malassezia, characterized in that said antigenic protein has a binding ability to IgE antibodies from patients with allergies; an antigenic fragment derived from the antigenic protein; and an antibody against the antigenic protein or fragments thereof. According to the present invention, there can be provided an isolated and purified antigenic protein having high purity from Malassezia, antigenic fragments thereof, and a specific antibody against those antigenic protein or fragments thereof. In addition, there can be provided a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a prophylactic drug for Malassezia allergies, wherein the agent includes, as an active ingredient, the antigenic protein or fragments thereof.

Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose are represented by formula (I): 1

Abstract: Food or beverage where fucoidan which is derived from a fucoidan-containing substance is contained therein, added thereto and/or diluted therein. Food or beverage where fucoidan which is derived from a fucoidan-containing substance and where algins are reduced or eliminated, is contained therein. Apoptosis-inducing food or beverage where an effective amount of fucoidan having an apoptosis-inducing ability is contained therein.

Abstract: Polypeptides having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 or derived therefrom by at least one of deletion, addition, insertion or substitution of one or more amino acids in the above sequence and showing a cellobiohydrolase activity.

Abstract: Clarification of the relationship between the functions of E1AF gene and the invasion and metastasis of cancers, and application thereof to cancer control, more specifically the control of cancer cell invasion by controlling the expression of E1AF gene and the products of expression, and the detection and diagnosis of cancers by detecting the products of expression of E1aF gene.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing cDNA characterized by performing a reverse transcription reaction in the presence of an enzyme having a reverse transcriptional activity and another enzyme different from the former one which as a 3′-5′ exonuclease activity.

Abstract: A method of rearing useful organisms such as cultured animals which is effective in preventing the organisms from diseases, treating the organisms for diseases or maintaining the health of the organisms, characterized by administering to the organisms (1) a product of heat treatment of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (a) uronic acid and uronic acid derivatives, (b) sugar compounds containing uronic acid and/or uronic acid derivatives and (c) substances which contain sugar compounds containing uronic acid and/or uronic acid derivatives, (2) 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one represented by formula (I), and/or (3) a 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one derivative; and feeds effective therein.

Abstract: A convenient and effective method for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence characterized by effecting a DNA synthesis reaction in the presence of chimeric oligonucleotide primers; a method for supplying a large amount of DNA amplification fragments; an effective method for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by combining the above method with another nucleic acid sequence amplification method; a method for detecting a nucleic acid sequence for detecting or quantitating a microorganism such as a virus, a bacterium, a fungus or a yeast; and a method for detecting a DNA amplification fragment obtained by the above method in situ.

Abstract: Remedies or preventives for diseases with a need for immunoregulation, diseases with a need for inhibition of inflammation, diseases with a need for regulation of tumor necrosis factor production, diseases with a need for regulation of fungal growth, diseases with a need for regulation of cell adhesion or disease with a deed for induction of heat-shock protein, which contain as the active ingredient at least one compound selected from among cyclopentenone derivatives represented by general formula [I], optically active isomers and salts thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and each represents hydrogen, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or an aromatic aliphatic group.

Abstract: A formulation and kit of thermostable or other DNA polymerases comprising at least one thermostable or other DNA polymerase which lacks 3′-exonuclease activity, and at least one thermostable DNA polymerase exhibiting 3′-exonuclease activity. Also provided is an improved method for enzymatic extension of DNA strands, especially while, but not limited to, amplifying nucleic acid sequences by polymerase chain reaction wherein the above formulation is made and used to catalyze primer extension.

Abstract: Therapeutic or preventive agents for diseases requiring apoptosis induction, cancerous diseases, diseases requiring the inhibition of active oxygen production, those requiring the inhibition of nitrogen monoxide production, those requiring the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, those requiring the inhibition of synovial cell proliferation, those requiring the induction of heat shock protein production or those requiring the inhibition of &agr;-glycosidase, which contain as the active ingredient compounds selected from among compounds represented by general formula (I), (wherein X and Y are each H or CH2OH, provided that when X is CH2OH, Y is H, while when X is H, Y is CH2OH), those represented by general formula (II), (wherein R is a residue obtained by freeing a compound having an SH group from the SH group) and salts of both; and foods, drinks, cosmetics and so on, containing compounds selected from among compounds of general formula (I), those of general formula (II) and salts of both

Abstract: Clarification of the relationship between the functions of E1AF gene and the invasion and metastasis of cancers, and application thereof to cancer control, more specifically the control of cancer cell invasion by controlling the expression of E1AF gene and the products of expression, and the detection and diagnosis of cancers by detecting the products of expression of E1aF gene.

Abstract: A substance for inducing apoptosis represented by specific formulae. A pharmaceutical composition which can be used for an anticancer agent containing said substance.

Abstract: An antiviral agent which is characterized in containing at least one compound selected from a group consisting of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one represented by the following formula [I] and an optically active substance and a salt thereof as an effective component.

Abstract: Compounds represented by general formula (I) wherein X represents OH or OSO3H; and R represents a substituent other than OH which allows, after leaving, the induction of unsaturated bonds into the 3- and 4-positions of 3,6-anhydrogalactose or its sulfated derivative, and/or a substituent showing a tissue-specific affinity.

Abstract: Therapeutic or preventive agents for diseases due to the action of aldose reductase; and aldose reductase inhibitors, characterized by containing at least one compound having an aldose reductase inhibiting activity which is selected from among 2,5-dihydroxytetra-hydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, derivatives of the same, optical isomers of both and pharmacologically acceptable salts of them.

Abstract: To provide a polypeptide having ceramidase activity, and a gene encoding thereof useful as an reagent for lipid engineering and as indices for diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, an easy method for detecting the polypeptide and method for detecting the gene as well as a method for detecting atopic dermatitis.

Abstract: An isolated gene having a DNA sequence coding for the polypeptide having a degrading activity of the sulfated-fucose-containing polysaccharide or having the functionally identical activity as above.