Abstract: The peptides and precursors thereof, inclusive salts thereof, of the present invention are useful as a pharmaceutical composition, for example as therapeutic or prophylactic agents for hormone-producing tumors, acromegaly, gigantism, dementia, gastric ulcer and the like, hormone secretion inhibitors, tumor growth inhibitors, neural activity or sleep modulators, etc. The DNAs coding for the peptides or precursors of the invention are useful as a pharmaceutical composition, for example as agents for the gene therapy or prevention of hormone-producing tumors, acromegaly, gigantism, dementia, gastric ulcer and the like, hormone secretion inhibitors, tumor growth inhibitors, neural activity or sleep modulators, etc. Furthermore, the DNAs coding for the peptides or precursors of the invention are useful as agents for the gene diagnosis of various diseases, for example, hormone-producing tumors, acromegaly, gigantism, dementia, gastric ulcer, etc.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for antagonizing adenosine at adenosine A3 receptors which comprises a 1,3-azole compound substituted on the 4- or 5-position, or both, by a pyridyl which may be substituted is provided and can be used as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent for asthma, allergosis, inflammation, and so on.

Abstract: A compound represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein Y represents a nitrogen atom or C-G (G represents a carboxyl group which may be esterified); ring R is a nitrogen-containing unsaturated heterocyclic group which may be substituted for; each of rings A and B may have a substituent; n represents an integer from 1 to 4; k represents the integer 0 or 1, or a salt thereof, which serves well as an anti-inflammatory agent, particularly a therapeutic agent for arthritis.

Abstract: An intact human immune interferon protein and a method for the extraction and purification of intact recombinant human immune interferon is disclosed. This method permits the purification to homogeneity of intact recombinant human immune interferon.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a structurally novel 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions or a salt thereof, which has an excellent gastrointestinal function promoting effect and is low in toxicity; (2) a process for preparing a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions or a salt thereof, which comprises reacting a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative or a salt thereof with an organism-derived oxidase; and (3) a gastrointestinal function promoting agent containing a 6,9-hemiacetal-erythromycin derivative having a hydroxyl group at at least one of the 14- and 15-positions or a salt thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vasoconstrictor peptide called Endothelin having a molecular weight of 2,500.+-.300. Endothelin contains 21 amino acid residues, wherein four cysteines form two sets of S--S bond.In order to obtain the vasoconstrictor factors of the present invention, it is preferable to culture the endothelial cells collected from the vascular inner walls in a serum-free medium.The vasoconstrictor peptides of the present invention can be utilized as hypotension therapeutic agents or local vasoconstrictors to animals including humans.

Abstract: Calcium cis-epoxysuccinate whose average particle size is not larger than 100 micron is converted into calcium L(+)-tartarate by a microorganism in a high concentration and in a better yield. This process is accelerated in the presence of a nonionic type surfactant of the medium.

Abstract: A paperboard impregnated with polyurethane resin having specific NCO content and average molecular weight at the rate of 0.05 to 5.0 weight percent relative to the paperboard has excellent mechanical properties such as compressive strength, tensile strength, tearing strength, folding endurance, etc., even in wet state.