Abstract: Compositions for accurately assaying a glycated protein by: 1) avoiding effects of globulin and ascorbic acid components, 2) stabilizing proteases and at least enzymes acting on glycated amino acids; 3) accurately assaying albumin; and 4) assaying glycated albumin while avoiding the effects of glycated hemoglobin, and an assay method are provided. Thus, the contents of a glycated protein and glycated albumin can be more accurately determined.

Abstract: Composition for accurately assaying a glycated protein by: 1) avoiding effects of globulin and ascorbic acid components, 2) siabilizing proteases and at least enzymes acting on glycated amino acids; 3) accurately assaying albumin; and 4) assaying glycated albumin while avoiding the effects of glycated hemoglobin, and an assay method are provided. Thus, the contents of a glycated protein and glycated albumin can be more accurately determined.

Abstract: Compositions for accurately assaying a glycated protein by: 1) avoiding effects of globulin and ascorbic acid components, 2) stabilizing proteases and at least enzymes acting on glycated amino acids; 3) accurately assaying albumin; and 4) assaying glycated albumin while avoiding the effects of glycated hemoglobin, and an assay method are provided. Thus, the contents of a glycated protein and glycated albumin can be more accurately determined.

Abstract: There is provided a method for specifically determining a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin using enzymes without a separation operation, and a determination reagent kit therefor. A protease that cleaves a glycated amino acid and/or a glycated peptide from a glycated ?-chain N-terminal without substantially cleaving a glycated amino acid or a glycated peptide from a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin or a fragment thereof is screened. The method of specifically determining a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin and the determination reagent kit are provided by using the protease obtained by the screening method. According to the present invention, a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin can specifically be determined without a separation operation.

Abstract: There is provided a method for specifically determining a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin using enzymes without a separation operation, and a determination reagent kit therefor. A protease that cleaves a glycated amino acid and/or a glycated peptide from a glycated ?-chain N-terminal without substantially cleaving a glycated amino acid or a glycated peptide from a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin or a fragment thereof is screened. The method of specifically determining a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin and the determination reagent kit are provided by using the protease obtained by the screening method. According to the present invention, a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin can specifically be determined without a separation operation.

Abstract: Compositions for accurately assaying a glycated protein by: 1) avoiding effects of globulin and ascorbic acid components, 2) siabilizing proteases and at least enzymes acting on glycated amino acids; 3) accurately assaying albumin; and 4) assaying glycated albumin while avoiding the effects of glycated hemoglobin, and an assay method are provided. Thus, the contents of a glycated protein and glycated albumin can be more accurately determined.

Abstract: Compositions for accurately assaying a glycated protein by: 1) avoiding effects of globulin and ascorbic acid components, 2) siabilizing proteases and at least enzymes acting on glycated amino acids; 3) accurately assaying albumin; and 4) assaying glycated albumin while avoiding the effects of glycated hemoglobin, and an assay method are provided. Thus, the contents of a glycated protein and glycated albumin can be more accurately determined.

Abstract: An aqueous permanent waving composition containing as a reducing agent a quaternary ammoniomercaptan or its salt of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are an alkyl group or a hydroxyalkyl group, A is an alkylene group, and X is a halogen atom, NO.sub.3, 1/2SO.sub.4, OH or R.sup.4 OSO.sub.3 in which R.sup.4 is an alkyl group, which can be used under an acidic, neutral or alkaline condition and can impart good waves to hairs with a little damage of the hairs and a little foul smell.

Abstract: Water-soluble keratin hydrolyzate having at least two mercapto groups in one molecule and having an average molecular weight of 2,000 to 20,000, suitable for cosmetic application to the hair, particularly as hair fixatives. The hydrolyzate is prepared by reducing keratin in an aqueous solution of a reducing agent under alkaline conditions and subjecting the resulting reduction product to enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: Water-soluble keratin hydrolyzate having at least two mercapto groups in one molecule and having an average molecular weight of 2,000 to 20,000, suitable for cosmetic application to the hair, particularly as hair fixatives. The hydrolyzate is prepared by reducing keratin in an aqueous solution of a reducing agent under alkaline conditions and subjecting the resulting reduction product to enzymatic hydrolysis.