Abstract: A safe and effective hemostatic is provided. The invention relates to a bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin as an effective ingredient and a hemostatic comprising said bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric. The bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin in accordance with the present invention may be prepared by a process which comprises the steps of immersing a bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric into a solution containing thrombin and of lyophilizing the obtained nonwoven fabric. The bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin in accordance with the present invention allows for quicker and more effective hemostasis.

Abstract: A peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments containing one or more selenocysteine that has a lowered toxicity than selenocystine and that exhibits a cytotoxicity-inhibitory activity. The peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments according to the present invention has preferably the amino acid sequence from 260th to 362nd amino acid residues from the C-terminal of selenoprotein P, or said amino acid sequence with one or several amino acid residues therein being deleted, substituted or added, or a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, or an amino acid sequence comprising as a part any of the above amino acid sequences. A screening method for a peptide fragment having the cytotoxicity-inhibitory activity is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing the immunogenicity using a microneedle device capable of enhancing the immunogenicity of an influenza vaccine. According to the method for enhancing the immunogenicity using the present microneedle device, a microneedle device having microneedles made of polylactic acid, coated with an influenza vaccine composed of an antigen having type A strain (H1N1), type A strain (H3N2), and type B strain as active ingredients is brought into direct contact with the skin so as to transcutaneously administer the aforementioned influenza vaccine. After the transcutaneous administration, lauryl alcohol is applied to the site of the skin where the microneedle device has been brought into direct contact.

Abstract: A method for using inactivated Japanese encephalitis virus particles as an adjuvant of a vaccine is provided. A method for using inactivated Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) particles as an adjuvant of various vaccines or a mixed vaccine, said JEV particles being obtained by inoculating JEV Beijing-1 strain to Vero cells, culturing said JEV-infected cells to give cultured cells or culture supernatant, purifying JEV particles from said cultured cells or culture supernatant and inactivating said JEV particles with formalin, a method for preparing a (mixed) vaccine which comprises a step of letting inactivated Japanese encephalitis virus be contained, and a mixed vaccine prepared by said method.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a safe and effective method for enhancing an immune response and a medicament for preventing or treating Alzheimer disease comprising amyloid ? peptide that induces an enhanced immune response. An amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof with addition or insertion of cysteine and a method for enhancing an immune response using the peptide or a method for enhancing an immune response using the peptide together with an adjuvant. A medicament for preventing or treating Alzheimer disease comprising an amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof that induces an enhanced immune response. A DNA vaccine, that may have the same effect, comprising the gene encoding an amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof that induces an enhanced immune response with addition or insertion of cysteine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel composition for the treatment of a corneal/conjunctival disease. A prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a corneal/conjunctival disease comprising selenoprotein P as an active ingredient, more specifically a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a corneal/conjunctival disease such as dry eye, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, superficial punctate keratopathy, corneal erosion or corneal ulcer comprising selenoprotein P as an active ingredient, particularly a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a corneal/conjuncrtival disease such as dry eye, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, superficial punctate keratopathy, corneal erosion or corneal ulcer accompanied by a corneal/conjunctival epithelial discorder.

Abstract: A novel medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially for ameliorating dyskinesia, comprising as an active ingredient selenoprotein P and/or a peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments derived from said protein is provided. The novel medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially for ameliorating dyskinesia, according to the present invention is suitably applicable to diseases with decrease in motor function.

Abstract: A genetic recombinant human thrombin is provided. Human thrombin is efficiently prepared by the genetic engineering technique comprising the steps: (1) culturing a transfectant animal cell transfected with an expression vector in which a gene encoding human prethrombin is incorporated to the downstream of a promoter so as to produce and accumulate prethrombin in culture supernatant and recovering the produced human prethrombin; (2) treating a solution containing human prethrombin recovered in step (1) with ecarin so as to convert human prethrombin into human thrombin; and (3) purifying the solution obtained after the above activation process to obtain purified human thrombin. The present invention allows for provision of human thrombin in a large scale in a safe and economical manner due to exclusion of blood-derived components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments having a cell death-inhibitory activity, having the amino acid sequence consisting of 103 amino acid residues at the C-terminal of selenoprotein P, or having said amino acid sequence with one or several amino acid residues therein being deleted, substituted or added, or having a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, a medicament for treatment comprising said peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments, an antibody to said peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments, and a method for screening a cell death-inhibitory activity using said peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments. The preferable peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments of the present invention has the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2 or has a partial sequence thereof.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an antibody showing immunoreactivity selectively to ADAMTS-13 and applications of this antibody in epitope analysis or diagnosis of an ADAMTS-13 autoantibody-positive patient. Alternatively, it is intended to provide a process for producing and use of a modified ADAMTS-13 molecule partially deleted aiming at the application in pharmaceutical products. An antibody specific for ADAMTS-13 which can be obtained from a warm-blooded animal immunized and sensitized with a polypeptide containing a part or the whole of ADAMTS-13 amino acid sequence; a process for producing an antibody comprising a step of immunizing and sensitizing a warm-blooded animal with a polypeptide containing a part or the whole of ADAMTS-13 amino acid sequence; use of the above-described antibody including a method of detecting and purifying ADAMTS-13; and a modified ADAMTS-13 molecule partially deleted are provided.

Abstract: A novel medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially for ameliorating dyskinesia, comprising as an active ingredient selenoprotein P and/or a peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments derived from said protein is provided. The novel medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially for ameliorating dyskinesia, according to the present invention is suitably applicable to diseases with decrease in motor function.

Abstract: A safe and effective hemostatic is provided. The invention relates to a bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin as an effective ingredient and a hemostatic comprising said bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric. The bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin in accordance with the present invention may be prepared by a process which comprises the steps of immersing a bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric into a solution containing thrombin and of lyophilizing the obtained nonwoven fabric. The bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin in accordance with the present invention allows for quicker and more effective hemostasis.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: A recombinant ecarin protein that specifically activates prothrombin, said protein being efficiently prepared by the genetic engineering technique comprising the steps: (1) culturing a transformant microorganism or animal cell transformed with an expression vector in which a gene encoding ecarin is incorporated to the downstream of a promoter so as to produce and accumulate ecarin in culture supernatant or within said transformant and recovering the produced ecarin; and (2) purifying a solution containing the recovered ecarin to obtain purified ecarin. The present invention allows for production of recombinant ecarin on an industrial scale.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: A medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, comprising as an active ingredient selenoprotein P and/or a peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments derived from the C-terminal of selenoprotein P. An excellent medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially suitable for treating neurodegenerative diseases with ataxia as a principal symptom is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hemostatic material which is excellent in hemostatic property, biodegradability and bioabsorbability, uniformity and stability of the quality, as well as reduces a risk of contamination with a pathogenic organism derived from an animal. The hemostatic material comprises a thrombin and a synthetic polypeptide capable of forming a triple helical structure. The polypeptide may show a peak of the molecular weight in the range from 5×104 to 100×104 in the molecular weight distribution. The polypeptide may contain at least a peptide unit represented by the formula: -Pro-X-Gly- (in the formula, X represents Pro or Hyp). The thrombin may be a recombinant. In the hemostatic material, the proportion of the thrombin may be about 0.1 to 500 units (U) relative to 1 mg of the polypeptide. The hemostatic material may further comprise a binder component having biodegradability and bioabsorbability. The hemostatic material may be formed on a substrate.

Abstract: An aspartic enzyme having a high homology with a cathepsin D precursor, which is a protein having the N-terminal amino acid sequence LVRIPLHKFT (SEQ ID NO: 1) and showing a molecular weight of about 45 kDa in non-reductive SDS electrophoresis and can degrade plasma proteins, typically plasminogen, to produce plasma protein fragments having an inhibitory activity to metastasis and growth of cancer; the plasma protein fragments having an inhibitory activity to metastasis and growth of cancer which is prepared via the degradation with the above enzyme; a process for preparing the protein fragments which comprises degrading plasma proteins with the above enzyme; and a medicament for treating and preventing metastasis and growth of cancer which comprises as a major ingredient the above enzyme or the plasma protein fragments.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments having a cell death-inhibitory activity, having the amino acid sequence consisting of 103 amino acid residues at the C-terminal of selenoprotein P, or having said amino acid sequence with one or several amino acid residues therein being deleted, substituted or added, or having a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, a medicament for treatment comprising said peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments, an antibody to said peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments, and a method for screening a cell death-inhibitory activity using said peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments. The preferable peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments of the present invention has the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2 or has a partial sequence thereof.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an antibody showing immunoreactivity selectively to ADAMTS-13 and applications of this antibody in epitope analysis or diagnosis of an ADAMTS-13 autoantibody-positive patient. Alternatively, it is intended to provide a process for producing and use of a modified ADAMTS-13 molecule partially deleted aiming at the application in pharmaceutical products. An antibody specific for ADAMTS-13 which can be obtained from a warm-blooded animal immunized and sensitized with a polypeptide containing a part or the whole of ADAMTS-13 amino acid sequence; a process for producing an antibody comprising a step of immunizing and sensitizing a warm-blooded animal with a polypeptide containing a part or the whole of ADAMTS-13 amino acid sequence; use of the above-described antibody including a method of detecting and purifying ADAMTS-13; and a modified ADAMTS-13 molecule partially deleted are provided.