Abstract: A method of recovering a decomposition product from a polyurethane, the method comprising the steps of thermally decomposing a polyurethane into a liquid containing a polyol and a urea compound which is soluble in the polyol, and solids containing a urea compound which is insoluble in the liquid in the presence of a polyamine compound at a temperature of 120 to 250° C.; removing the solids; hydrolyzing the residue with water retained at a high temperature of 200 to 320° C. and a high pressure; and recovering the resulting polyamine and/or polyol.

Abstract: Galanin receptor proteins, production and use thereof including screening of galanin receptor agonists and antagonists are provided. Galanin receptor proteins, etc. or salts thereof, partial peptides thereof, DNAs coding for the above galanin receptor protein, processes for producing the above receptor protein, methods of screening for a galanin receptor agonist and/or antagonist or screening kits therefor, agonist and/or antagonist compounds or salts thereof obtained by the above screening method or the screening kit, pharmaceutical compositions containing the above compound or its salt, and antibodies against the above receptor protein are provided. It is allowable to efficiently screen a galanin receptor agonist or antagonist by using the galanin receptor protein, the partial peptide thereof, the galanin receptor protein-encoding DNA, the receptor protein-containing cell or its membrane fraction.

Abstract: D-mannitol having a specific surface area of not less than about 1 m2/g is disclosed. The D-mannitol shows improved compressibility and is useful as an excipient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for neurotrophic action which comprises a compound of the formula: wherein Ar is an optionally condensed phenyl group which may be substituted; n is an integer of 1 to 10; R is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted; and Y is an amino group which may be substituted or a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocyclic group which may be substituted; or a salt thereof, which compounds are useful for preventing and/or treating (1) neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Creutzfelt-Jakob disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, etc.), (2) neuropathy in cerebrovascular diseases (e.g. impairment of cerebral blood flow based on cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral sclerosis, etc.), brain trauma, spinal cord injury, cerebritis sequela and cerebral palsy, (4) mental diseases (e.g.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel protein having a lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase-like activity, etc. or its salt, a precursor protein of the protein or its salt, a partial peptide of the protein or its salt; a DNA coding for the protein; a recombinant vector; a transformant; a method for producing the protein, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the protein, the partial peptide or its salt; and an antibody to the protein or the partial peptide. The protein, the partial peptide or its salt, and the DNA are useful as an agent for treating or preventing arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, hypercalorism, obesity or hypertriglyceridemia. The antibody can be used in assay of the protein, the partial peptide or its salt. The protein, the partial peptide or its salt is useful as a reagent for the screening for candidate medical compounds.

Abstract: A novel compound of the formula: wherein R1 is a halogen atom, an optionally substituted heterocyclic, hydroxy, thiol or amino group; A is an optionally substituted acyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, or an optionally esterified or amidated carboxy group; B is an optionally substituted aromatic group; Y is a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or a salt thereof, which have an excellent insulin secertion-promoting and blood sugar-depressing effect, and useful in agents for diabetes.

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula: wherein R1 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; X is a bond, —CO—, —CH(OH)— or a group represented by —NR6— wherein R6 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group; n is an integer of 1 to 3; Y is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —SO—, —SO2— or a group represented by —NR7— wherein R7 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally alkyl group; ring A is a benzene ring optionally having additional one to three substituents; p is an integer of 1 to 8; R2 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; q is an integer of 0 to 6; m is 0 or 1; R3 is a hydroxy group, OR8 (R8 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula: wherein R represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group optionally having substituents, an aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having substituents, a heterocyclic group optionally having substituents, a group represented by the formula: OR1 (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group optionally having substituents) or a group represented by the formula: wherein R1b represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group optionally having substituents, R1c is, same with or different from R1b, a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group optionally having substituents, R0 represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or R and R0 represents a bond with each other, Ar represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having substituents, and n is an integer of 1 to 4, or a salt thereof, which is a agent for preventing or treating disease

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel polypeptide involving in the modulation of central nervous system function, circulatory function, immune function, gastrointestinal function, metabolic function, reproductive function, etc., it can be used as a drug for treating or preventing a variety of diseases, e.g. HIV infection or AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) or the like.

Abstract: A latex compound for dip molding, which can be used for production of a high-quality dip-molded product that is excellent in oil resistance and mechanical strength, has uniform film thickness and soft feeling to the skin and is free of pinholes, as is required for gloves etc. especially in the medical fields, and assumes no stickiness on the surface of the molded product after molding. This object is attained by a latex compound for dip molding which comprises a copolymer latex (L) obtained by emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture and 0.05 to 5.0 parts by weight of a bubble breaker (A) consisting of a C8-22 fatty acid or a salt thereof, and if necessary, 0.1 to 5.0 parts by weight of a di C5-12 alkyl sulfosuccinate salt (B) and/or 0.5 to 10.0 parts by weight of a C13-20 alkyl benzene sulfonate (C) per 100 parts by weight of the monomer mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of recovering a polyamine compound and/or a polyol compound useful for starting materials of polyurethane resin in an industrially advantageous manner by first dissolving the polyurethane resin such as polyurethane foams discharged in a large amount as industrial wastes in a solubilizing agent containing a polyamine compound, a low molecular glycol or an amino alcohol, hydrolyzing the resulting solution with liquid water at 200 to 320° C., then recovering the polyamino compound and/or polyol compound thus formed.

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula: wherein X represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; Y represents an optionally oxidized sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; Z represents a bond or a divalent hydrocarbon group; R1 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; R2 represents an optionally amidated or esterified carboxyl group; ring A represents an optionally substituted aromatic 5-membered heterocyclic ring; or a salt thereof. A compound of the above formula possesses cell differentiation inducing factor action-enhancing activity and anti-matrix metalloprotease activity and that is useful in the prevention and treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis, bone fractures, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, arteriosclerosis, cancer metastasis, and diseases based on nerve degeneration.

Abstract: Novel compounds of the following general formula or salts thereof. wherein Ring M is a heterocyclic ring having —N═C<, —CO—N< or —CS—N< as the partial structure —X{overscore (— — — — — — — — —)} Y<; Ra and Rb are bonded to each other to form Ring A, or they are the same or different and represent, independently, a hydrogen atom or a substituent on the Ring M; Ring A and Ring B represent, independently, an optionally substituted homocyclic or heterocyclic ring, and at least one of them is optionally substituted heterocyclic ring; Rng C is optionally substituted homocyclic or heterocyclic ring; Rng Z is an optionally substituted ring; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 6, or a salt thereof, which has an excellent tachykinin receptor antagonistic effect, and their production, and pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A sustained-release preparation which comprises a physiologically active peptide of general formula 1

Abstract: A method for producing a sustained-release preparation, which comprises dispersing a physiologically active polypeptide into an organic solvent solution of a biodegradable polymer and removing the organic solvent, wherein the polypeptide is a powder obtained by lyophilizing an aqueous solution of the polypeptide which solution has a water-miscible organic solvent and/or a volatile salt; which improves the ease of handling of the physiologically active polypeptide powder in the process for producing the preparation; which makes it possible to industrially produce the sustained-release preparation in large scale; which provides a sustained-release preparation showing high and stable concentration of the active component in blood in long term, low initial release ratio of the physiologically active polypeptide, and high entrapment ratio of the polypeptide into the sustained-release preparation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a human amygdaloid nucleus-derived G protein coupled receptor protein or a salt thereof, a partial peptide of the G protein coupled receptor protein, DNA encoding the G protein coupled receptor protein, a method of producing the G protein coupled receptor protein, a method of identifying a ligand to the G protein coupled receptor protein, a method or kit for screening out compounds capable of changing the binding activity of a ligand to the G protein coupled receptor protein, a compound or a salt thereof obtained by the screening method or by using the screening kit, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound or a salt thereof, and an antibody against the G protein coupled receptor protein or a partial peptide.

Abstract: Compounds represented by the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group, or R1 and R2 may form, together with the adjacent carbon atom, a 3- to 8-membered homocyclic or heterocyclic ring, W indicates (i) a group represented by the formula:  wherein ring B indicates a 5- to 7-membered ring, or (ii) a group represented by the formula:  wherein R4 indicates (1) an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, which may be substituted with an aromatic group, or (2) an acyl group containing an aromatic group, R5 is hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl, or an acyl group, provided that, when W is Wa, R3 is hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group, when W is Wb, R3 indicates a C6-14 aryl group, or salts thereof or prodrugs thereof have an excellent action to inhibit neurodegeneration and the like as well as an excellent brain penetrability and are low in the toxicity, thereby being useful as prophylactic or thera

Abstract: This invention discloses a PACAP receptor protein or a salt thereof, a DNA comprising a DNA fragment coding for the protein, a method for preparing the protein, antibody against the protein and use of the protein, DNA and antibodies.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for lowering urinary total protein comprising, administering as an active ingredient, a compound or salt thereof represented by general formula (I) wherein R1 stands for H or alkyl; R2 stands for an optionally esterified carboxyl group; R3 stands for a group actually or potentially capable of forming an anion; X shows that the phenylene and phenyl groups bind to each other directly or through a spacer having an atomic chain length of two or less; n stands for 1 or 2; ring A stands for a benzene ring having an optional substituent in addition to R2; Y stands for a bond, —O—, —S(O)m— wherein m stands for 0, 1 or 2, or —N(R4)— wherein R4 stands for H or an optionally substituted alkyl group.

Abstract: A method for producing a compound represented by the formula: 1