Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (D) for occluding atrial septal defect. Non-woven wires are introduced in one or more stages, with each stage interspaced with one or more braids and braided together with the wires from the woven centre and earlier stages to form the device (D). The transcatheter device (D) has two discs (101, 102) one a hub-less disc incorporating a woven central section on the left atrial side and the other disc on the right atrial side with a connecting neck (110) braided from wires. The device (D) has thrombogenic material in either discs (101, 102). A ridge (108) is configured on the periphery of either the left atrial disc or right atrial disc or both discs to improve structural stability of the device and provides enhanced elapsing force onto the septum reducing chances of migration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mouse with liver damage, having a high degree of damage against the mouse's original hepatocytes while having a uPA gene in a heterozygous form, and a method for efficiently preparing the mouse. Specifically, the method for preparing a mouse with liver damage having the uPA gene in a heterozygous form comprises the following steps of: (i) transforming mouse ES cells with a DNA fragment containing a liver-specific promoter/enhancer and cDNA that encodes a urokinase-type plasminogen activator operably linked under the control thereof; (ii) injecting the transformed mouse ES cells obtained in step (i) into a host embryo; (iii) transplanting the host embryo obtained in step (ii) via the injection of the ES cells into the uterus of a surrogate mother mouse, so as to obtain a chimeric mouse; and (iv) crossing the chimeric mice obtained in step (iii), so as to obtain a transgenic mouse in which the DNA fragment is introduced in a heterozygous form.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an application of clofoctol for manufacturing a pharmaceutical product for treating human neuroglioma. The clofoctol is a pharmaceutical product for treating an upper respiratory tract infection. The clofoctol exerts a significant and specific inhibition of a glioma stem cell activity relative to a human neuroglioma cell or a normal human astroglia, human embryonic kidney cell, and human neural stem cell. A glioma stem cell treated with the clofoctol exhibited significantly reduced self-renewal, tumorsphere formation, and in vivo tumor formation in a nude rat. In vivo experiments using a zebrafish glioma transplantation model and a nude rat glioma transplantation model provided in vivo verification for the therapeutic efficacy of the pharmaceutical product against glioma.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical box trainer for neurosurgery comprise: (i) a base part which comprises a rubberized working port (11) for insertion of endoscope (26) and tool (25) for manipulation, a microcontroller programmed motorized peg plate (14) placed at 45° degrees of inclination for defining a practice volume according to the neuroendoscopy, a membrane keypad to change the angle of rotation of said peg plate (14) along vertical axis, liquid crystal display (LED) array to illuminate the interior of the box and a removable base plate (6) to house the circuitry; and (ii) a removable part enclosed of five walls such as a front wall (18), two lateral walls (17 and 19), a back wall (20) and a top wall (23), comprises a housing to mount an auxiliary camera (32) to record all the task for evaluation and a slider at the back to adjust the camera focus.

Abstract: This invention relates to an albumin-curcumin conjugate for application in cancer therapy, including albumin and curcumin.

Abstract: A novel therapeutic agent effective for the treatment of intellectual disability or autism is disclosed. The therapeutic agent for intellectual disability or autism contains, as an active component(s), at least one selected from the group consisting of tipifarnib and lonafarnib. Examples of the intellectual disability include memory impairment. Examples of the memory impairment include memory impairment caused by abnormality of the Tsc1 gene and/or Tsc2 gene, and epilepsy-induced memory impairment. Also provided is a method of treating intellectual disability or autism, comprising administering an effective amount of at least one selected from the group consisting of tipifarnib and lonafarnib to a patient with intellectual disability or autism.

Abstract: The invention provides single stranded DNA aptamers specific to M.tb MPT51 and uses thereof in rapid, robust, highly specific, and cost effective diagnosis of tuberculosis. The invention also provides methods and devices based on the aptamers of the invention for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Advantageously, aptamers of the present invention can selectively detect as low as 2 ng of M.tb MPT51 and this activity remains unaltered in presence of anti-MPT51 antibodies. The developed device can give sample-to-answer within 30 minutes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hemagglutinin-binding peptide producing an anti-influenza virus effect higher than that of existing peptides. Also disclosed are hemagglutinin-binding peptides comprising a polypeptide having any of the following amino acid sequences (i) to (iv): (i) Thr-MeGly-Asp-MePhe-MePhe-Ser-MeSer-His-Tyr-Thr-Val-Pro-Arg (SEQ ID NO: 1); (ii) Arg-Val-Ser-MePhe-Thr-Tyr-MePhe-MeSer-Tyr-Thr-Pro-Ser (SEQ ID NO: 2); (iii) an amino acid sequence with deletions, additions, or substitutions of one or several amino acids in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2; and (iv) an amino acid sequence having 90% or more sequence identity to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently identifying a polyubiquitinated substrate which is generally not easily identified. The method for identifying a polyubiquitinated substrate includes (1) a step of expressing a trypsin-resistant polyubiquitin chain-binding protein and a ubiquitin ligase in a cell, (2) a step of isolating a complex that contains the trypsin-resistant polyubiquitin chain-binding protein from the cell having undergone the step (1), (3) a step of subjecting the complex isolated by the step (2) to trypsin digestion, and (4) a step of identifying a peptide that has a ubiquitination site from a digested material obtained by the step (3).

Abstract: A novel device, method and kit for reconstitution of a solid or semi-solid pharmaceutical composition by a negative pressure differential includes (i) a first adapter with a first connector, a first peripheral wall wherein the first adapter is coupled to the first vial by means of a first connector; (ii) a second adapter with a second connector, a second peripheral wall wherein the second adapter is coupled to the second vial by means of a second connector; (iii) a transfer port wherein the transfer port includes a first end ending in first adapter to gain access to first vial and a second end ending in second adapter to gain access to second vial; wherein the first adapters and the second adapter are joined together in vertical direction by means of horizontal wall; wherein the adapter connected to the vials by means of the ends.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mouse with liver damage, having a high degree of damage against the mouse's original hepatocytes while having a uPA gene in a heterozygous form, and a method for efficiently preparing the mouse. Specifically, the method for preparing a mouse with liver damage having the uPA gene in a heterozygous form comprises the following steps of: (i) transforming mouse ES cells with a DNA fragment containing a liver-specific promoter/enhancer and cDNA that encodes a urokinase-type plasminogen activator operably linked under the control thereof; (ii) injecting the transformed mouse ES cells obtained in step (i) into a host embryo; (iii) transplanting the host embryo obtained in step (ii) via the injection of the ES cells into the uterus of a surrogate mother mouse, so as to obtain a chimeric mouse; and (iv) crossing the chimeric mice obtained in step (iii), so as to obtain a transgenic mouse in which the DNA fragment is introduced in a heterozygous form.

Abstract: Object of the present invention is to provide a hemagglutinin-binding peptide producing an anti-influenza virus effect higher than that of existing peptides. The present invention provides, for example, a hemagglutinin-binding peptide comprising a polypeptide having any of the following amino acid sequences (i) to (iv): (i) Thr-MeGly-Asp-MePhe-MePhe-Ser-MeSer-His-Tyr-Thr-Val-Pro-Arg (SEQ ID NO: 1); (ii) Arg-Val-Ser-MePhe-Thr-Tyr-MePhe-MeSer-Tyr-Thr-Pro-Ser (SEQ ID NO: 2); (iii) an amino acid sequence with deletions, additions, or substitutions of one or several amino acids in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2; and (iv) an amino acid sequence having 90% or more sequence identity to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

Abstract: The present invention has an objective of evaluating a motor function of a subject with a neurodegenerative disease with high accuracy using a motor function analysis system that utilizes a wrist joint movement of the subject. The motor function analysis system includes: a display unit for displaying image information including a moving target image and a cursor image for tracking the target image; a moving unit used by the subject to move the cursor image; and an analyzer for detecting the tracking status of the target image tracked by the cursor image and analyzing the frequency of the movement components contained in the tracking status.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermoluminescent phosphor for the measurement of low radiation doses, including calcium sulphate (CaSO4), Dysprosium (Dy) and manganese (Mn), wherein Dy and Mn are present as dopants. A process for the preparation of a thermoluminescent phosphor is also provided. The process includes the steps of: separately dissolving calcium sulphate (CaSO4), Dysprosium chloride (DyCh) and Manganese chloride (MnC) in hot concentrated sulphuric acid, to obtain sulphuric acid solutions of CaSO4, DyCb and MnCb; mixing the solutions; and followed by slow evaporation of the solvent to obtain a powder of microcrystalline phosphor of CaSO4:Dy, Mn.

Abstract: The present invention can induce stronger cellular immunity to hepatitis C and provide a treatment means and a prevention means that are effective in completely eliminating the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Provided is a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of hepatitis C, said composition comprising a recombinant vaccinia virus (a) and a recombinant vector (b) and characterized in that after one of the recombinant vaccinia virus (a) and the recombinant vector (b) is administered for initial immunity, the other is administered for additional immunity. The recombinant vaccinia virus (a) contains an expression promoter and all or a portion of the cDNA of the HCV genome. The recombinant vector (b) contains an expression promoter and all or a portion of the cDNA of the HCV (where the cDNA contained in the recombinant vector (b) has a different base sequence than that included in the recombinant vaccinia virus (a)).

Abstract: A non-human mammal and an offspring thereof, obtainable by a somatic cell nuclear transfer method using a nucleus of a CD4-positive T cell as a nuclear donor. The non-human mammal of the present invention surely and efficiently shows allergic reactions specific to various antigens that are shown to have associations with an immune allergic disease, such as mites and cedar pollens, so that the non-human mammal can be suitably used as the developmental models of allergic diseases for studies of various diseases by studying or pursuing possibilities of applications to the diseases.

Abstract: Provided herein is a drug delivery system for curcumin comprising fibrinogen, thrombin and curcumin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mouse with liver damage, having a high degree of damage against the mouse's original hepatocytes while having a uPA gene in a heterozygous form, and a method for efficiently preparing the mouse. Specifically, the method for preparing a mouse with liver damage having the uPA gene in a heterozygous form comprises the following steps of: (i) transforming mouse ES cells with a DNA fragment containing a liver-specific promoter/enhancer and cDNA that encodes a urokinase-type plasminogen activator operably linked under the control thereof; (ii) injecting the transformed mouse ES cells obtained in step (i) into a host embryo; (iii) transplanting the host embryo obtained in step (ii) via the injection of the ES cells into the uterus of a surrogate mother mouse, so as to obtain a chimeric mouse; and (iv) crossing the chimeric mice obtained in step (iii), so as to obtain a transgenic mouse in which the DNA fragment is introduced in a heterozygous form.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of neurosurgery and describes new methods to reduce basilar invagination (BI) and atlanto-axial dislocation (AAD). The invention further discloses novel surgical instruments useful in reducing basilar invagination (BI) and atlanto-axial dislocation (AAD). The novel techniques disclosed include distraction, compression and extension reduction and dynamic distraction coupled with cable compression.

Abstract: Protein ubiquitylation, an essential post-translational modification, regulates almost every cellular process including protein degradation, protein trafficking, signal transduction, and DNA damage response in eukaryotic cells. The diverse functions of ubiquitylation are thought to be mediated by distinct chain topologies resulting from eight different ubiquitin linkages, chain lengths, and complexities. Currently, ubiquitin linkages are generally thought to be a critical determinant of ubiquitin signaling. However, ubiquitin chain lengths, another key element of ubiquitin signaling, have not been well documented especially in vivo situation during past three decades from the discovery of ubiquitin. The reason of this was simply because no method has been available for determination of ubiquitin chain length in endogenous ubiquitylated substrates. In the present invention, a practical technique for determining the actual length of substrate-attached polyubiquitin chains from biological samples is established.