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: An amplifier failure detection apparatus for a radio transmitter that has a function for compensating for amplifier distortion of the radio transmitter and a function for determining amplifier failure has occurred by detecting that the gain of an amplifier has dropped a set level or more, in which: a gain-detection unit detects the gain of the amplifier; an alarm-detection-level-generation unit, which has a table for storing alarm-detection levels that correspond to input-amplitude levels, generates an alarm-detection level that corresponds to an input-amplitude level; and a comparison unit compares the gain detected by the gain-detection unit with the alarm-detection level, and generates an alarm based on the comparison results.

Abstract: A novel medicament for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases is provided. A medicament for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases comprising as a main active ingredient preferably a selenocysteine-containing protein such as Selenoprotein P or a selenocysteine-containing peptide that consists of said protein or a series of said peptides. A medicament suited for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases caused by various pathological conditions is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amplifier unit including a carrier amplifier biased for Class A or Class AB operation; a peak amplifier biased for Class B or Class C operation, wherein an input signal is input to the carrier amplifier and the peak amplifier, and wherein output signals from the carrier amplifier and the peak amplifier are synthesized to output therefrom; a comparator configured to compare a gate bias voltage of a transistor device in the peak amplifier with a predetermined threshold voltage and output a first output signal; and a failure detection circuit configured to output a second output signal indicating presence or absence of failure, based on the first output signal received from the comparator.

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: To cancel a reflected wave reflected from a connecting portion (22) and leaking into a feedback signal when a non-matched component is connected, the reflected wave is extracted by a circulator (30) and its phase and amplitude are adjusted by a vector adjusting circuit (32), and then the thus adjusted reflected wave is vector-summed with the feedback signal in a vector sum circuit (34).

Abstract: A recombinant antibody in which at least the constant regions in the heavy chain and the light chain have been converted into human-origin regions and which inhibits the binding of an integrin recognizing the RGD sequence to osteopontin or its fragment and inhibits the binding of an integrin recognizing the SVVYGLR sequence or a sequence corresponding thereto to osteopontin or its fragment. This antibody is useful as a remedy for autoimmune diseases and a remedy for rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, a method of treating autoimmune diseases, rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis is provided. This osteopontin antibody is useful in a diagnostic for rheumatism and a method of diagnosing rheumatism too.

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: An asparagine-linked disialoundecaoligosaccharide-fatty acid amide, a drug containing the same, and a drug containing an asparagine-linked disialoundecaoligosaccharide.

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: 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 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, 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 novel medicament for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases is provided. A medicament for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases comprising as a main active ingredient preferably a selenocysteine-containing protein such as Selenoprotein P or a selenocysteine-containing peptide that consists of said protein or a series of said peptides. A medicament suited for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases caused by various pathological conditions is provided.

Abstract: A first printed circuit board includes a first insulating board substantially made of thermoplastic resin and a first conductive pattern. A second printed circuit board includes a second insulating board and a second conductive pattern. The first and second printed circuit boards are overlapped. The overlapped portion of the first and second printed circuit boards is heat pressed to connect the first and second printed circuit boards with a heat-pressing tool while the first insulating board is cooled at an area adjacent to an area pressed by the heat-pressing tool. With the heat pressing, the first and second lands are electrically connected and the thermoplastic resin is softened and plastically deformed to bond the first insulating board to the second insulating board. The thickness of the first insulating board is preferably controlled at the heat pressed area and the area adjacent to the heat pressed area by the cooling.

Abstract: A blood-viscosity reducing agent contains a protein derived from Bacillus subtilis natto and including, sequentially from an amino group terminal, a first structural amino acid sequence having alanine, threonine, aspartic acid, glycine, valine, glutamic acid, tryptophan, asparagine, valine, aspartic acid, glutamine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, alanine, proline, lysine, alanine, tryptophan, alanine, leucine, glycine, tyrosine aspartic, acid, glycine, threonine, glycine, threonine, valine, valine, alanine, serine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, threonine, glycine, valine, glutamic acid, tryptophan, asparagine, histidine, proline, alanine, leucine, lysine, glutamic acid, lysine, tyrosine, arginine, glycine, tyrosine, asparagine, proline, glutamic acid, asparagine, proline, asparagine, glutamic acid, proline, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, methionine, asparagine, tryptophan, tyrosine, aspartic acid, alanine, valine, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, alanine, serine, proline, tyrosine, aspartic acid, aspartic

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 novel selenocysteine-containing protein is provided which is a substantial entity having an enzymatic activity, typically an activity to reduce peroxide phospholipids. There are provided a gene consisting of a coding sequence for a protein not containing selenocysteine in which the codon for selenocysteine is introduced at a desired position and a selenocysteine insertion sequence resided at the 3?-end of said coding sequence and a protein expressed therefrom, typically a selenocysteine-containing protein having an activity to reduce peroxide phospholipids which is prepared by introducing selenocysteine into albumin and as well as a gene encoding said protein. A novel anti-oxidative substance is provided which can be applied for prevention of worsening, prophylaxis or treatment of various diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Abstract: A recombinant antibody in which at least the constant regions in the heavy chain and the light chain have been converted into human-origin regions and which inhibits the binding of an integrin recognizing the RGD sequence to osteopontin or its fragment and inhibits the binding of an integrin recognizing the SVVYGLR sequence or a sequence corresponding thereto to osteopontin or its fragment. This antibody is useful as a remedy for autoimmune diseases and a remedy for rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, a method of treating autoimmune diseases, rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis is provided. This osteopontin antibody is useful in a diagnostic for rheumatism and a method of diagnosing rheumatism too.

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: 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.