Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to provide an agent useful for prevention and/or treatment of psychosis, schizophrenia and cognitive impairments. To solve this problem, this invention provides epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors as therapeutic agents for psychosis, schizophrenia and cognitive impairments.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is. to provide an objective method for diagnosis of schizophrenia using gene expression in mononuclear cells of peripheral blood as an index, and this invention provide a method for diagnosing whether a test subject suffers from schizophrenia or not.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to contribute to objective diagnosis of schizophrenia with use of gene expression as an index. A method to analyze in a test subject whether expression of nucleic acid(s) defining gene(s) exhibiting altered expression by schizophrenia is statistically included within the range of normal subject or not is provided by the present invention. The present method comprises the step of quantifying the amount of expression of nucleic acid(s) defining gene(s) exhibiting altered expression by schizophrenia and/or protein(s) encoded by said nucleic acid(s) defining gene(s) exhibiting altered expression by schizophrenia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a schizophrenia-like cognitive dysfunction animal model; a method of preparing the same; and a method of evaluating schizophrenia-like cognitive dysfunction by using said model. Specifically, the present invention relates to the preparation of a mammal showing continuous cognitive abnormality after sexual maturation, by allowing an excessive presence of interleukin 1 or an analog thereof and/or an intracellular signal transducer induced by interleukin 1 or an analog thereof in the body of young animal during the stages of brain function development; and a method of evaluating cognitive dysfunction by ethologically measuring the cognitive abnormality in the animal.

Abstract: Provided is a method for diagnosing whether or not a subject suffers from schizophrenia, comprising the steps of taking a sample containing nucleic acid and/or protein from the subject, quantifying nucleic acid and/or protein corresponding to at least one gene selected from the group consisting of genes listed in Table 1 below, fragments thereof, and complementary nucleic acid thereof, and diagnosing whether or not the subject suffers from schizophrenia by using a quantitative value of at least one protein, a fragment thereof or the nucleic acid.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a diagnostic kit for schizophrenia was provided and the diagnostic kit comprises measurement of serum epidermal growth factor content using anti-epidermal growth factor antibody. The diagnosis kit according to this invention is useful for objective diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Abstract: To provide a an animal with schizophrenic sensorimotor and behavioral abnormalities, a specific protein factor inhibiting development of brain function is administrated to a juvenile animal in the stage of its development and an animal exhibiting sensorimotor and behavioral abnormalities is prepared. As the sensorimotor and behavioral abnormalities observed in the animal of the present invention is very similar to schizophrenia, the animal is useful for development of an anti-schizophrenic medicine and a diagnostic agent for schizophrenia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a neurotrophic factor secretagogue, in particular, to a BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) secretagogue, which comprises as an active ingredient an NO donor. The medicament of the present invention promotes the secretion of neurotrophic factors from mammalian central neural cells. Thus, the medicament of the present invention, i.e., NO donor, is possibly applicable to the treatment of diseases caused by neutrotrophic factors, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, and is expected to exhibit the efficacious effects thereon. Also, the present invention provides a novel medication for neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: A method is described for the therapeutic use of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to treat epilepsy.

Abstract: An apparatus for a chemical vapor deposition in which at least one substrate which has partially an insulating film on the surface thereof is disposed in a pressure reduced reaction chamber, the reaction chamber is provided with a nozzle for feeding a reactive gas into the reaction chamber, and a light source is provided for emitting a light beam to heat the substrate. The combination of substrate heating source using infrared rays and a laminarized jet of reactive gas is utilized for maintaining the selectivity, facilitating the thin film forming reaction, and improving the high reproducibility and controllability.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus in which a DC bias to be produced on the surfaces of substrates which are to be processed in a vacuum chamber can be mechanically and easily controlled by adjusting the position of a susceptor in respect to an electrode body, and the susceptor and other components in the vacuum chamber can be easily cleaned while maintaining a desired evacuated condition and a desired processing performance in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for a chemical vapor deposition in which at least one substrate which has partially an insulating film on the surface thereof is disposed in a pressure reduced reaction chamber, the reaction chamber is provided with a nozzle for feeding a reactive gas into the reaction chamber, and a light source is provided for emitting a light beam to heat the substrate. The apparatus has provision for feeding a second gas opposite the substrate to put the reactive gas in the vicinity of the substrate surface into laminar flow. The combination of substrate heating source using infrared rays and the laminarized jet of reactive gas is utilized for maintaining the selectivity, facilitating the thin film forming reaction, and obtaining improved high reproducibility and controllability.

Abstract: A vacuum processing method and apparatus in which a DC bias to be produced on the surfaces of substrates which are to be processed in a vacuum chamber can be mechanically and easily controlled by adjusting the position of a susceptor in respect to an electrode body, and the susceptor and other components in the vacuum chamber can be easily cleaned while maintaining a desired evacuated condition and a desired processing performance in the vacuum chamber.