Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to develop a method for producing a large amount of an insoluble aggregate that is equivalent to an insoluble aggregate formed in the brain of a patient. A method of producing an insoluble aggregate of a neurodegenerative-disease-related protein according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (1) introducing an insoluble fraction originated from the brain of a neurodegenerative disease patient into a cultured cell in which the neurodegenerative-disease-related protein can be expressed in a constitutive manner; (2) culturing the cultured cell into which the insoluble fraction has been introduced; and (3) extracting separating an insoluble fraction from the cultured cell. Optionally, the method may additionally comprise a step of amplifying the insoluble aggregate of the neurodegenerative-disease-related protein in the cultured cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for diagnosing schizophrenia, and a schizophrenia diagnostic reagent or device for use in the method. The present invention further provides a therapeutic or ameliorating agent for schizophrenia, which is effective for the treatment or amelioration of schizophrenia. The therapeutic or ameliorating agent for schizophrenia contains a carbonyl scavenger or a carbonyl-modified protein formation inhibitor as an active ingredient. The method for diagnosing schizophrenia according to the present invention includes measuring at least one parameter in a subject, the parameter being selected from the group consisting of: (1) a genetic abnormality of glyoxalase I gene; (2) the expression level or activity of glyoxalase I in a biological sample; (3) the amount of a carbonyl compound or a carbonyl-modified protein that is a protein modified with the carbonyl compound; and (4) the amount of pyridoxal in a biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means to ensure a further increase in the therapeutic effects provided by enzyme replacement therapy against lysosomal disease. The present invention is directed to a recombinant human saposin B protein containing phosphorylated carbohydrate chains, a lysosomal enzyme activator comprising such a recombinant protein, and a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of lysosomal disease, which comprises such a recombinant protein and a lysosomal enzyme, etc.

Abstract: The system of the present invention includes (a) means for displaying image information including a target image and a cursor image for tracking the target image; (b) means used when the subject moves the cursor image; (c) means for detecting the state of tracking the target image by the cursor image; (d) means for detecting the muscle active state of the subject using the means (b); (e) means for analyzing the tracking state detected by the means (c) and the muscle active state detected by the means (d); and (f) means for evaluating the motor function of the subject by using results of analysis obtained by the means (e) as indexes.

Abstract: A fetal movement information processing device and method for accurately grasping and predicting the healthy development state of a fetus, namely, the well-being state of the fetus by adequately detecting and recording information on the fetal movement of a pregnant woman.

Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding the amino acid shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 5, or encoding an amino acid sequence having not less than 98% identity thereto; preferably a polynucleotide comprising replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1202 of SEQ ID NO:2 (position 177 of SEQ ID NO:5) with glycine, replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1056 (position 31 of SEQ ID NO:5) with valine, and replacement of the amino acid corresponding to alanine at position 2199 (position 1174 of SEQ ID NO:5) with threonine.

Abstract: The present invention provides, as an enzyme which can be used for enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease, a protein having ?-galactosidase activity, which shows no allergic adverse side effect, shows a high stability in blood, and can be easily incorporated into a cell of an affected organ. The protein of the present invention is a protein which has acquired ?-galactosidase activity by changing the structure of the active site of wild-type human ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence at least containing the 5? untranslated region, the nucleotide sequence encoding NS3 protein, NS4A protein, NS4B protein, NS5A protein and NS5B protein, and the 3? untranslated region on the genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of genotype 2a.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transformed cell (a cell model) which can form a cytoplasmic inclusion body derived from TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) that is found in the brain of a patient suffering from a neurodegenerative disease such as FTLD and ALS. The transformed cell is characterized by having, introduced therein, a promoter capable of functioning in a host cell and a mutant TDP-43 gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides, as an enzyme which can be used for enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease, a protein having ?-galactosidase activity, which shows no allergic adverse side effect, shows a high stability in blood, and can be easily incorporated into a cell of an affected organ. The protein of the present invention is a protein which has acquired ?-galactosidase activity by changing the structure of the active site of wild-type human ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for evaluating motor control function in the brain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a protein having ?-galactosidase activity for treating Fabry disease, which causes no allergic side effect, which is highly stable in blood (plasma) and which can readily be taken up by a cell of an affected organ. The pharmaceutical composition for treating Fabry disease of the invention comprises, for example, a protein which acquires an ?-galactosidase activity through alteration of the structure of the active site of wild-type human ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidase.

Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding the amino acid shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 5, or encoding an amino acid sequence having not less than 98% identity thereto; preferably a polynucleotide comprising replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1202 of SEQ ID NO:2 (position 177 of SEQ ID NO:5) with glycine, replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1056 (position 31 of SEQ ID NO:5) with valine, and replacement of the amino acid corresponding to alanine at position 2199 (position 1174 of SEQ ID NO:5) with threonine.

Abstract: Provided are a highly-safe recombinant vaccinia virus that is effective in preventing the onset of symptoms due to infection by novel influenza viruses, and a vaccine for the novel influenza viruses containing the recombinant vaccinia virus. This recombinant vaccinia virus is capable of expressing the hemagglutinin protein genes of the novel influenza virus. This novel influenza vaccine contains the recombinant vaccinia virus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a protein having ?-galactosidase activity for treating Fabry disease, which causes no allergic side effect, which is highly stable in blood (plasma) and which can readily be taken up by a cell of an affected organ. The pharmaceutical composition for treating Fabry disease of the invention comprises, for example, a protein which acquires an ?-galactosidase activity through alteration of the structure of the active site of wild-type human ?-N-acetylgalactosaminidase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence at least containing the 5? untranslated region, the nucleotide sequence encoding NS3 protein, NS4A protein, NS4B protein, NS5A protein and NS5B protein, and the 3? untranslated region on the genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of genotype 2a.

Abstract: The present invention was accomplished for the purpose of developing a method for effectively treating and/or preventing synucleinopathies, and is based on a discovery that an adiponectin receptor agonist suppresses ? (alpha)-synuclein aggregation, tau phosphorylation and a decrease in proteasomal activity. The method of the present invention for treating and/or preventing neurodegenerative diseases includes a step of administering an effective dose of at least one effective element selected from a group consisting of: adiponectin as an adiponectin receptor agonist; a compound inducing expression of adiponectin; globular adiponectin; and a compound inducing expression of globular adiponectin. The present invention further provides a screening method of the adiponectin receptor agonist for treating and/or preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide hepatitis C virus inhibitors capable of inhibiting viral replication in hepatitis C virus-infected cells. The replication of hepatitis C virus can be inhibited and hepatitis C virus-infected cells can be specifically injured by specifically inhibiting BGT-1 or AKR1C1 involved in the replication of hepatitis C virus. Thus, viral inhibitors comprising a substance inhibiting BGT-1 or AKR1C1 are effective for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for replicating efficiently an RNA containing fulllength HCV genomic sequence and a method for producing HCV virus particles containing fulllength HCV replicon RNA or fulllength HCV genomic RNA by using a cell culture system. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing hepatitis C virus particles which comprises culturing a cell, into which a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising a fulllength genomic RNA sequence of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a, at least one selectable marker gene and/or at least one reporter gene and at least one IRES sequence or the fulllength genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a is introduced, and generating virus particles in the culture medium. Still further the present invention relates also to a hepatitis C vaccine and an antibody against hepatitis C virus particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, comprising nucleotide sequences of genomic RNA portions of two or more types of hepatitis C viruses, which comprises a 5? untranslated region, a core protein coding sequence, an E1 protein coding sequence, a p7 protein coding sequence, an E2 protein coding sequence, an NS2 protein coding sequence, an NS3 protein coding sequence, an NS4A protein coding sequence, an NS4B protein coding sequence, an NS5A protein coding sequence, an NS5B protein coding sequence, and a 3? untranslated region, and which can be autonomously replicated. In particular, the present invention relates to modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, which can be autonomously replicated by substitution of the RNA sequence portion encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of hepatitis C virus genomic RNA with a partial RNA sequence encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of a JFH1 strain shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.