Abstract: A product obtained by heating at least one substance selected from the following (a), (b) and (c). (a) uronic acid or uronic acid derivative; (b) a saccharide compound containing uronic acid or a saccharide compound containing uronic acid derivative; and (c) a substance containing a saccharide compound containing uronic acid or a substance containing a saccharide compound containing uronic acid derivative; and food, beverage or a pharmaceutical agent which is characterized in containing the above-mentioned heat-treated product.

Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose are represented by formula (I): These compositions include foods, drinks, cosmetics, etc. containing as the active ingredient at least one such compound, its aldehyde, its hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives thereof and soluble sugar compounds containing the above compound. These compounds show an apoptosis-inducing activity, carcinostatic activity and inhibitory activities on the production of active oxygen, lipid peroxide radicals and NO, which makes them useful also as the active ingredient of antioxidants and preservatives.

Abstract: A convenient and effective method for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence characterized by effecting a DNA synthesis reaction in the presence of chimeric oligonucleotide primers; a method for supplying a large amount of DNA amplification fragments; an effective method for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by combining the above method with another nucleic acid sequence amplification method; a method for detecting a nucleic acid sequence for detecting or quantitating a microorganism such as a virus, a bacterium, a fungus or a yeast; and a method for detecting a DNA amplification fragment obtained by the above method in situ.

Abstract: Remedies or preventives, which are characterized by containing as the active ingredient at least one member selected from the group consisting of agar, agarose, high-molecular weight digestion products originating in agar and high-molecular weight digestion products originating in agarose, for diseases sensitive to the above active ingredients.

Abstract: A nucleic acid, which is provided in a large amount through a nucleic acid amplification reaction with the use of chimeric oligonucleotide primers, is constructed in a state of containing a modified deoxyribonucleotide for immobilizing the nucleic acid to a solid phase and then immobilized to a solid phase at a high efficiency, thereby giving an immobilized nucleic acid product with excellent qualities.

Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by formula (1): foods, drinks, cosmetics, etc. containing as the active ingredient at least one member selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned compound, its aldehyde, its hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives thereof and soluble sugar compounds containing the above compound. This compound also shows, for example, an apoptosis-inducing activity, a carcinostatic activity and inhibitory activities on the production of active oxygen, lipid peroxide radicals and NO, which makes it useful also as the active ingredient of antioxidants and preservatives.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a reaction reagent for highly sensitively and specifically amplifying a target nucleic acid in a sample with the use of a chimeric oligonucleotide primer and a method of storing the same over a long time; and a method of highly sensitively detecting a pathogenic microorganism and a virus.

Abstract: Methods of amplifying a target nucleic acid whereby the target nucleic acid in a sample is highly sensitively and specifically amplified; and compositions and kits to be used in these methods.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for inducing cytotoxic T cell having an antigen-specific cytotoxic activity, a method for maintaining the cell, a method for continuously culturing the cell or a method for expanding the cell, comprising the step of culturing a cytotoxic T cell in the presence of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of (A) a substance having a binding activity to CD44; (B) a substance capable of regulating a signal emitted by binding a CD44 ligand to CD44; (C) a substance capable of inhibiting binding of a growth factor to a growth factor receptor; (D) a substance capable of regulating a signal emitted by binding of a growth factor to a growth factor receptor; and (E) fibronectin, a fragment thereof or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A method of forming a complex consisting of a double-stranded nucleic acid and oligonucleotide(s) characterized by comprising: the step of mixing a double-stranded nucleic acid with at least one oligonucleotide to give a reaction mixture, wherein the oligonucleotide is a chimeric oligonucleotide containing at least a member selected from among deoxyribonucleotides and nucleotide analogs and a ribonucleotide and having a sequence substantially complementary to the base sequence of one of the strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid as described above; and the step of incubating the reaction mixture to form a complex under such conditions that the above-described double-stranded nucleic acid is not denatured.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a medicament for oral administration or intravenous administration that is effective for a disease requiring enhancement of nerve growth factor production, comprising as an effective ingredient a pulverized product and/or extract obtained from Humulus lupulus and/or Angelica keiskei koidz., or xanthohumol and/or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. The medicament is useful as a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease requiring enhancement of nerve growth factor production, such as dementia or a nerve disorder.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a substance having an apoptosis-inducing ability characterized in including a step of subjecting at least one compound selected from the following (a), (b), (c) and (d) [excluding uronic acid and/or uronic acid derivatives; and compounds which contain uronic acid and/or uronic acid derivatives] to a heating treatment: (a) pentose; (b) pentose derivatives; (c) compounds containing pentose; (d) compounds containing pentose derivatives.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent that is effective for a disease requiring enhancement of nerve growth factor production for treatment or prevention, comprising as an effective ingredient an aqueous extract of mushrooms. These agents are usable in the treatment or prevention of a disease requiring enhancement of nerve growth factor production such as dementia or nerve disorder.

Abstract: A plasmid vector characterized by comprising a promoter sequence that can be recognized by an RNA polymerase which is not inherent in a host and that controls the expression of desired genes and a replication origin that increases the number of copies under the induction by exogenous factors; methods for expression and isolation of target genes by using the vector; a polypeptide having the activity of an AccIII restriction endonuclease; and a DNA encoding the polypeptide. The invention provides for the first time a plasmid vector which can introduce an exogenous desired gene encoding proteins which are lethal or harmful to hosts into the hosts, a method for efficiently expressing the proteins by using the vector, and also a method for permitting a restriction endonuclease-gene constituting a restriction-modification system to be isolated even in the absence of a modification enzyme gene, which has been difficult in the prior arts.

Abstract: A Nucleotide useful for detecting a base substitution in a gene, a method for detecting a base substitution in a gene using said Nucleotide, and a kit for the same.

Abstract: Production of efficiently producing agaro-oligosaccharide; a polypeptide having an agarase activity which is usable in, for example, efficiently extracting a substance such as a nucleic acid from an agarose gel; the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide; a gene encoding the polypeptide; a process for producing the polypeptide; a process for producing agaro-oligosaccharide; and a process for extracting a substance such as a nucleic acid from an agarose gel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament, a food, a beverage or a feed, each comprising as an effective ingredient a compound having an enhancing action for NGF production, which is effective for a treatment, an amelioration of symptom, prevention or the like of a disease requiring enhancement of NGF production, wherein the compound has a coumarin and/or chroman backbone. Since no toxicity is especially found in the effective ingredient of the present invention, and there is no risk of incidence of adverse actions, the treatment or the like of the above disease can be safely and appropriately carried out.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for inducing, maintaining and expanding CTL (cytotoxic T cell) having an antigen-specific cytotoxic activity at a high level, which is useful in the adoptive immunotherapy, by using as an effective ingredient at least one compound selected from the group consisting of acidic polysaccharides, acidic oligosaccharides, acidic monosaccharides, and salts thereof. The above-mentioned compounds include fucoidans, heparins, alginic acid, chondroitin sulfate A, chondroitin sulfate B, pectic acid, hyaluronic acid, degradation products of fucoidans, sulfated glucose, sulfated fucose and salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening a biologically active substance or a candidate substance for a biologically active substance, possessing an activity for controlling gene expression to the same extent to that of DGE; a gene controlling agent which is effective for maintaining homeostasis in a living body, for instance, purposed for mitigation or prevention of stress; and a method of controlling a gene.

Abstract: A modifier characterized by containing as the active ingredient a compound represented by the formula (I) (wherein X is OH, OSO3H, or OCH3 and R is a substituent excluding OH). The modifier is applied to a substance having reactivity with the compound.