Abstract: A novel agent for preventing and healing constipation which heals the symptom of constipation very effectively and entails absolutely no side effect is provided. This agent for preventing and healing constipation is formed by containing a hydrogen of a polyvalent metal salt of alginic acid possessing a spherical or ovaloid shape having a short diameter in the range of 1-10 mm and an aspect ratio (long diemter/short diameter) in the range of 1-25. The hydrogel of a polyvalent metal salt of alginic acid is obtained by dropping an aqueous solution of sodium alginate into an aqueous solution of a polyvlant metal salt. It is optionally stored in water and/or a hydrogen compound of a natural compound possessing a free acid group capable of reacting and sequestering a basic compound.

Abstract: An adsorbent is disclosed which is formed either by coating an adsorption mass such as active carbon with a gel-like substance such as the dibasic metallic salt of a macromolecular polycarboxylic acid, soybean curd, jelly, konjak, agar, perilla, gelidium jelly, or chitosanoxalic acid salt gel and subsequently subjecting the coated basis to a freezing treatment or by effecting the coating with the gel-like substance already made to contain a frost damage preventing substance such as glycerin and subsequently depriving the coated basis of the frost damage preventing substance.

Abstract: An adsorbent is disclosed which is formed either by coating an adsorption mass such as active carbon with a gel-like substance such as the dibasic metallic salt of a macromolecular polycarboxylic acid, soybean curd, jelly, konjak, agar, perilla, gelidium jelly, or chitosanoxalic acid salt gel and subsequently subjecting the coated basis to a freezing treatment or by effecting the coating with the gel-like substance already made to contain a frost damage preventing substance such as glycerin and subsequently depriving the coated basis of the frost damage preventing substance.

Abstract: An adsorbent is disclosed which is formed either by coating an adsorption mass such as active carbon with a gel-like substance such as the dibasic metallic salt of a macromolecular polycarboxylic acid, soybean curd, jelly, konjak, agar, perilla, gelidium jelly, or chitosanoxalic acid salt gel and subsequently subjecting the coated basis to a freezing treatment or by effecting the coating with the gel-like substance already made to contain a frost damage preventing substance such as glycerin and subsequently depriving the coated basis of the frost damage preventing substance.

Abstract: A method for the production of a microsphere without use of a dispersion stabilizer is disclosed which permits the microsphere to be produced in the form of discrete particles readily treatable for purification. The method which produces this microsphere comprises the steps of dissolving in an organic solvent such as an alcohol a monomer mixture including an ethylenically unsaturated amide and 10 to 70% by weight, based on 100% by weight of said monomer mixture, of a cross-linking agent thereby preparing a mixed solution, keeping said mixed solution at a temperature in the range of from 30.degree. to 95.degree. C., and adding thereto at least one initiator selected from the group consisting of peroxide type initiators and azo type initiators in an amount such as to be contained therein at a final concentration in the range of from 1.times.10.sup.-5 to 8.times.10.sup.-2 mol/liter thereby inducing polymerization of said monomer mixture.

Abstract: A seal characterized by prossessing a cushioning part formed by cross-linking a copolymer of an .alpha.-olefin with a carboxylic acid-containing vinyl monomer owing to exposure to radiation or electron beam.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a blood cleaning hollow fiber membrane characterized by comprising a hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membrane and having a hydrophilic thin layer formed at least on the inner surface of said hollow fiber membrane by the grafting of a hydrophilic compound through the agency of a gamma ray, a method for the cleaning blood and an apparatus therefor using the same.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a blood cleaning hollow fiber membrane characterized by comprising a hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membrane and having a hydrophilic thin layer formed at least on the inner surface of said hollow fiber membrane by the grafting of a hydrophilic compound through the agency of a gamma ray, a method for the cleaning blood and an apparatus therefor using the same.

Abstract: A body fluid is separated into respective components by passing the body fluid through a separation device. The separation device includes a lipid having lipophilic and hydrophilic groups, and a support immobilizing the lipid. The lipid is immobilized on the support such that only its hydrophilic groups contact the body fluid introduced in the separation device. Only body fluid components having a strong adherent property adhere to the hydrophilic groups of the lipid.

Abstract: A container made of synthetic resin and provided at one portion thereof with at least one tightly closable opening, which container has on a surface thereof a continuous coating having a gas barrier characteristic comprising low permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide by the plasma treatment reaction of a mixture of a silicon compound having the general formula I with a silicon compound having the general formula II: ##STR1## wherein m=1-5, n=1-5, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy or phenyl or OH.

Abstract: A dialytic hollow fiber having an improved dialytic effect is disclosed which is characterized by having a wall thickness of 5 to 35 .mu.m and a truly circular cross section 50 to 500 .mu.m in outside diameter throughout the entire length and the entire circumference thereof, having a skin layer of not more than 300 .ANG. in thickness in the outer surface thereof, and containing substantially no voids in the inner surface thereof. This dialytic hollow fiber shows a permeation ratio of 20 to 40% to cytochrome C having an average molecular weight of 12,400 and a maximum fractional molecular weight of about 40,000 at an inhibition ratio of 95%, and an artificial kidney using said dialytic hollow fiber.

Abstract: Medical articles made of a resin composition comprising a polyvinyl chloride and a tetracarboxylic tetraester are provided. As examples of the tetracarboxylic tetraester are mentioned tetra(2-ethylhexyl) 3,3',4,4'-biphenylethertetracarboxylate, tetra(2-ethylhexyl) 3,3',4,4'-biphenylmethanetetracarboxylate, tetra(n-dodecyl) 2,3,3',4'-biphenyl-1,1-ethanetetracarboxylate, tetra(2-ethylhexyl) 3,3',4,4'-biphenyl-2,2-propanetetracarboxylate and the like. The tetracarboxylic tetraester is incorporated in an amount from 20 to 120, preferably from 30 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinyl chloride. As dissolution and migration to the surface of the article of the plasticizer tetracarboxylic tetraester are low in the medical articles, said medical articles produce no adverse effects upon body fluids such as blood when contacted. Examples of preferred medical articles are blood preservation vessels, catheters and blood transfusion sets.

Abstract: A medical utensil having a portion to contact body fluid or liquid medicine is provided in which at least the contact portion is formed of a copolymer cross-linked by electron beam irradiation and/or .gamma.-ray irradiation.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a hollow fiber which comprises extruding a cellulosic spinning dope through an annular spinning nozzle directly into a non-coagulative liquid layer in a bath filled in the upper layer with a coagulative liquid relative to said spinning dope and in the lower layer with a non-coagulative liquid of a halogenated hydrocarbon and, at the same time, introducing a non-coagulative liquid relative to said spinning dope into the inner center of the tubularly extruded thread of spinning dope, and subsequently passing the resultant tubular fiber of spinning dope through said coagulative liquid thereby coagulating and regenerating the fiber.

Abstract: A liquid composition for the manufacture of a membrane, comprising a reaction product a cuprammonium cellulose with an ammonium or alkali metal salt of a polymer containing 10 to 70 equivalent percent of a carboxyl group and having a number-averaged molecular weight in the range of from 500 to 200,000, and a membrane is obtained by molding the composition in the form of a film, immersing the shaped article thus obtained in a dilute sulfuric acid solution thereby coagulating and regenerating it, subsequently immersing the shaped article in an strong alkali solution thereby expelling said ammonium or alkali metal salt of the polymer therefrom and forming therein fine pores substantially corresponding to the molecular weight of said salt.

Abstract: A film of a crosslinked high molecular substance is obtained by irradiating radioactive rays or an electron beam to a solution introduced into a mold. The solution contains an oligomer prepared from a hydroxy monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl acrylate, hydroxy lower alkyl methacrylate, hydroxy lower alkyoxy lower alkyl acrylate and hydroxy lower alkoxy lower alkyl methacrylate, and a styrene-based oligomer selected from the group consisting of homooligomer of styrenes and cooligomer of styrenes with unsaturated dicarboxylic acids.