Abstract: by screening using a high-throughput evaluation system relating to the promotion of the extracellular secretion of trimers of the causative proteins COL4A3/A4/A5, which decreased in the renal tissue of patients with Alport syndrome (AS), it was found that cyclosporin A has an effect of promoting extracellular secretion of trimers of type-IV collagen. From further studies, it was found that Alisporivir and NIM258, which do not inhibit calcineurin, also have an action to promote extracellular secretion of type-IV collagen. Furthermore, the present inventors have found that these actions are based on the cyclophilin D inhibitory mechanism, and have found a radical therapeutic agent for AS by inhibition of cyclophilin D. The present invention provides a composition and an AS therapeutic/prophylactic drug, which contain a cyclophilin D inhibitor as an active ingredient, for promoting the secretion of collagen trimers in cells having a mutated type-IV collagen gene.

Abstract: Provided is a new means for suppressing inflammation or suppressing inflammatory cytokine production. Provided is a device in which a weak pulse current is passed through a living body or living tissue to suppress inflammation in the living body or the living tissue. This device is provided with a power supply means, and a current control means for receiving a supply of power to intermittently apply a direct current at prescribed intervals, and is configured such that the current control means includes a pulse width modulation control means, and the pulse width modulation control means generates a pulse wave that is a rectangular wave, and in which the time indicating a peak value for rising in one cycle of the pulse wave (“pulse duration”) is at least 0.1 millisecond, the peak value is 1.0-20 V, inclusive, and the duty ratio of the pulse wave is at least 5.5%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for evaluating a potential of type IV collagen trimerization, a method of screening for a compound that promotes a potential of type IV collagen trimerization, and kits for use with these methods. Because the potential of type IV collagen trimerization is associated with the onset of Alport syndrome, the methods and the kits of the present invention can be powerful tools in drug development and/or diagnosis.

Abstract: A program creating device according to the present invention includes a definition information acquiring unit to acquire database definition information that is information indicating a configuration of a database in a programmable logic controller; and a program component generating unit to generate program components to be used in creating a program for operating the database on the basis of the database definition information.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus and method are provided for suppressing an inflammation or an inflammatory cytokine production. For example, the exemplary apparatus and method can cause a weak pulse current to be passed through a living body or living tissue to suppress the inflammation in the living body or the living tissue. The exemplary apparatus can include a power supply device, and a current control device for receiving a supply of power to intermittently apply a direct current at prescribed intervals. The current control device can include a pulse width modulation control device, and the pulse width modulation control device can generate a pulse wave that is a rectangular wave. A time indicating a peak value for rising in one cycle of the pulse wave (“pulse duration”) can be at least 0.1 millisecond, the peak value can be in the range of 1.0V to 20 V, inclusive, and the duty ratio of the pulse wave can be at least 5.5%.

Abstract: A program creation support device includes a program component creating, upon a user setting a content of a reuse parameter corresponding to each program element, a program in accordance with the set content, and a program component holding unit editing the program by reuse of that. The program component includes a program element creating, upon a plurality of parameters being enumerated and set in the reuse parameter, a program in which a plurality of elements corresponding to respective parameters are combined. The program creation support device can reduce efforts in the selection and combination of program components for creating a program conforming to predetermined specifications, to thereby enhance the efficiency of creating a program.

Abstract: A sequence program creating apparatus creates a sequence program to be executed by a programmable logic controller by causing a user to perform an operation of editing a sequential function chart (SFC) expressed by a plurality of elements and a connecting state thereof on an editing screen. The sequence program creating apparatus includes: a rule storage unit that stores therein a code of the SFC; and an editing control unit that, when a new-element inserting operation for newly inserting the element into the SFC is performed on the editing screen, adds data corresponding to the new element to data of the sequence program, based on a type of the already-arranged element specified as a new-element insertion target element by the new-element inserting operation, a position with respect to the new-element insertion target element, and a code of the SFC stored in the rule storage unit.

Abstract: A program creation support device includes a program component creating, upon a user setting a content of a reuse parameter corresponding to each program element, a program in accordance with the set content, and a program component holding unit editing the program by reuse of that. The program component includes a program element creating, upon a plurality of parameters being enumerated and set in the reuse parameter, a program in which a plurality of elements corresponding to respective parameters are combined. The program creation support device can reduce efforts in the selection and combination of program components for creating a program conforming to predetermined specifications, to thereby enhance the efficiency of creating a program.

Abstract: When constituting a ladder program edition device that edits a ladder diagram, there is provided an edit control unit that generates data of a logical expression corresponding to a logical structure of an input condition and an output condition in a ladder diagram based on an arrangement of circuit elements in a ladder diagram, sets circuit elements that specify the input condition as one circuit unit of one input and one output for each input condition based on the data of the above logical expression, and connects output ends of circuit units to be connected in parallel with each other in the ladder diagram. With this configuration, generation of a syntactically erroneous ladder diagram is prevented.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of amyloidosis such as familial amyloid polyneuropathy is provided. A pharmaceutical for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of amyloidosis that contains a compound containing the trivalent chromium ion, such as a fatty acid chromium salt, as an active ingredient, and that is capable of suppressing the decomposition of mutant transthyretin in amyloidosis.

Abstract: To solve the problem of drug tolerence and side effects in antiinflammatory agents, immunosuprressive agents and antiviral agents having been put into practical use, it is intended to provide a novel therapy for inflammation and novel antiinflammatory agents with the use of an ETS transcription factor which regulates the gene expression of an inflammartory cytokine GM-CSF and a bactericidal peptide ?--defensin. Namely, expression regulators for the inflammatory cytokine GM-CSF and/or ?-defensin in epithelial cells and antiinflammatory agents which comprise an ETS transcription factor having a gene transcription regulatory activity or a gene encoding the same, or a substance regulating the function of ETS transcription factor or a gene encoding the same, more specifically, a transcription regulatory protein myeloid Elf-1 like factor (MEF) or a gene encoding the same, or a substance regulating the function of the MEF protein or a gene encoding the same.

Abstract: It is found out that an ETS transcription factor (more specifically, an ETS transcription factor MEF) has a potent effect of inhibiting cell proliferation and an effect of inhibiting MMP production. Based on this finding, novel cell proliferation inhibitors (more specifically, novel remedies for tumor and novel antirheumatics) with the use of the ETS transcription factor MEF or a gene encoding the same are provided. Namely, cell proliferation inhibitors comprising an ETS transcription factor or gene encoding the same or a substance controlling the effect of the ETS transcription factor or the gene encoding the same. Also, matrix metalloprotease (MMP) (more specifically, MMP-9) production inhibitors or IL-8 production inhibitors comprising the ETS transcription factor or gene encoding the same or a substance controlling the effect of the ETS transcription factor or the gene encoding the same are provided.

Abstract: To solve the problem of drug tolerence and side effects in antiinflammatory agents, immunosuprressive agents and antiviral agents having been put into practical use, it is intended to provide a novel therapy for inflammation and novel antiinflammatory agents with the use of an ETS transcription factor which regulates the gene expression of an inflammartory cytokine GM-CSF and a bactericidal peptide &bgr;-defensin. Namely, expression regulators for the inflammatory cytokine GM-CSF and/or &bgr;-defensin in epithelial cells and antiinflammatory agents which comprise an ETS transcription factor having a gene transcription regulatory activity or a gene encoding the same, or a substance regulating the function of ETS transcription factor or a gene encoding the same, more specifically, a transcription regulatory protein myeloid Elf-1 like factor (MEF) or a gene encoding the same, or a substance regulating the function of the MEF protein or a gene encoding the same.

Abstract: A preparation for treating immune complex diseases which comprises injection containing the following compound: ##STR1## wherein when n is 1, Z represents a hydrogen, lithium, potassium, sodium, ammonium or organic ammonium, and when n is 2, Z represents calcium, barium or magnesium, as an active ingredient and pharmacologically acceptable carrier. The preparation of the present invention may be used in any administration method such as hypodermic, intramuscular and intravenous.