Abstract: Provided is a microneedle device which protects microneedle, has an easily portable shape, is free from such problems as breakage of small needles in the step of puncturing the skin with the microneedle, and ensures appropriate skin puncture for administering a drug. By studying the relationship between a device to be pressed to the skin and the height of an elevation on the skin surface under the pressing and thus producing a device equipped with microneedle that are embedded in a concave part having a definite depth, the microneedle can be surely and easily inserted and punctured into the skin while avoiding such problems as breakage of the small needles of the microneedle. Thus, a microneedle patch formulation, which is easily portable and ensures convenient drug administration to the skin, can be produced.

Abstract: Provided are a microneedle and a microneedle array which have both aspects of safety and easiness to use and can administer a predetermined dose of a medical agent without causing a pain by smoothly running into the skin surface layer of a patient, the microneedle comprising a frustum and a forward end portion thereon, having a forward end apex angle in the range of 15 to 60° and a forward end diameter in the range of 1 to 20 ?m and satisfying the following expression (1), H/D?5??(1) (H: Height of the whole, D: Diameter of bottom surface of the frustum).

Abstract: Since all methods of applying a drug liquid to a tip portion of a microneedle are application of the drug liquid in an open system, evaporation of the solvent from the drug liquid is unavoidable, such that the concentration of the drug liquid changes easily, and a large amount of the drug liquid is necessary. The invention provides a method of applying a drug to a pin-frog-shaped microneedle by using a small amount of the solution and without variation of the concentration of the drug liquid. A member having plural grooves is produced, and one end thereof is immersed in a drug liquid tank to fill the grooves with the drug liquid. The drug can be uniformly applied to a tip portion of the microneedle by setting the pin-frog-shaped microneedle to pass through the drug liquid in the grooves.

Abstract: The invention provides an applicator that holds a microneedle to facilitate puncture of the skin and includes an assisting tool as a supporting base to set the microneedle and an adhesive sheet such as a tape and the like, on the side face of the assisting tool to enable close adhesion of the microneedle puncturing the skin.

Abstract: Provided is a microneedle device which protects a microneedle, has an easily portable shape, is free from such problems as breakage of small needles in the step of puncturing the skin with the microneedle, and ensures appropriate skin puncture to administer a drug. By studying the relationship between the device to be pressed to the skin and the height of the elevation of the skin surface during the pressing, it is found that there is a positive correlation between the placement and interval of skin fixing members and the height of the elevation of the skin. It is furthermore found that the elevated skin surface is always parallel to the flat plate of the device. This reveals that since the microneedle installed in the device can be inserted at right angle to the skin surface, the skin can reliably be punctuated avoiding the breakage etc. of the small needles of the microneedle. Thus, a microneedle patch which is easily portable and ensures convenient drug administration to the skin can be produced.

Abstract: Provided is a microneedle device which protects microneedle, has an easily portable shape, is free from such problems as breakage of small needles in the step of puncturing the skin with the microneedle, and ensures appropriate skin puncture for administering a drug. By studying the relationship between a device to be pressed to the skin and the height of an elevation on the skin surface under the pressing and thus producing a device equipped with microneedle that are embedded in a concave part having a definite depth, the microneedle can be surely and easily inserted and punctured into the skin while avoiding such problems as breakage of the small needles of the microneedle. Thus, a microneedle patch formulation, which is easily portable and ensures convenient drug administration to the skin, can be produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external preparation composition of transcription factor decoy of good skin permeability, the composition comprising a transcription factor decoy dissolved in a fatty acid-based ionic liquid obtained from a fatty acid having 2 to 20 carbon atoms and an organic amine compound having 4 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A circuit device capable of suppressing reduction of reliability resulting from heat generated in a circuit element is obtained. This circuit device comprises a first insulating layer having a first opening and a second opening, a first conductor filling up the first opening of the first insulating layer, a second conductor, formed along the inner side surface of the second opening of the first insulating layer, having a concave upper surface and a circuit element arranged above a region of the first insulating layer formed with the first opening.

Abstract: The invention provides a porous dry matrix preparation comprising at least a polymeric thickener and an excipient ingredient, wherein (1) the content of the polymeric thickener is down to 0.5 w/w % and up to 14 w/w %, (2) the content of the excipient ingredient is down to 30 w/w % and up to 80 w/w %, (3) the void ratio is not less than 20%, and (4) the water activity is not more than 0.55, or water content is not more than 10 w/w %.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a microneedle. A jig is heated to a temperature above the level at which a temperature-sensitive material that exhibits thermoplastic deformation becomes viscoplastic, the jig is brought into contact with the temperature-sensitive material, and then the jig is pulled part from the temperature-sensitive material to elongate the portion of the temperature-sensitive material in contact with the jig, whereby acicular projections are formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition obtained by organic solvent extraction of defatted plant seed which is an atherosclerosis preventative agent. The present invention further provides a food and a pharmaceutical composition containing the composition, as well as a method of preventing an atherosclerotic disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition obtained by organic solvent extraction of defatted plant seed which is an atherosclerosis preventative agent. The present invention further provides a food and a pharmaceutical composition containing the composition, as well as a method of preventing an atherosclerotic disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition obtained by organic solvent extraction of defatted plant seed which is an atherosclerosis preventative agent. The present invention further provides a food and a pharmaceutical composition containing the composition, as well as a method of preventing an atherosclerotic disease.

Abstract: A circuit device capable of suppressing reduction of reliability resulting from heat generated in a circuit element is obtained. This circuit device comprises a first insulating layer having a first opening and a second opening, a first conductor filling up the first opening of the first insulating layer, a second conductor, formed along the inner side surface of the second opening of the first insulating layer, having a concave upper surface and a circuit element arranged above a region of the first insulating layer formed with the first opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition obtained by organic solvent extraction of defatted plant seed which is an atherosclerosis preventative agent. The present invention further provides a food and a pharmaceutical composition containing the composition, as well as a method of preventing an atherosclerotic disease.

Abstract: The spore germination inhibitor of the invention is 6-carbamoyl-2-pyridine carboxylic acid which is produced by a microorganism of genus Bacillus, such as Bacillus subtilis, and can inhibit germination of sporogenous bacteria resulting in the prevention of spoilage and putrefaction of foods, particularly in combination with D-alanine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a transglutaminase, which comprises culturing microorganisms of any of the genus Micrococcus, Clostridium, Torulopsis, Rhizopus and Monascus in a medium to produce the intended transglutaminase in the medium or in the cells of the microorganisms and then isolating the transglutaminase, and a process for producing a gelled proten with the thus-obtained transglutaminase. According to the process of the present invention, transglutaminase can be rapidly produced at a low cost.

Abstract: The spore germination inhibitor of the invention is 6-carbamoyl-2-pyridine carboxylic acid which is produced by a microorganism of genus Bacillus, such as Bacillus subtilis, and can inhibit germination of sporogenous bacteria resulting in the prevention of spoilage and putrefaction of foods, particularly in combination with D-alanine.

Abstract: A method for processing a protein, a non-proteinaceous amino acid polymer, or a non-proteinaceous amino acid polymer, or a peptide or derivatives thereof having a crosslinked structure, which entails contacting glutamine and lysine residues in a protein, a non-proteinaceous amino acid polymer, a peptide or derivatives thereof with a transglutaminase obtained from Bacillus subtilus to form intermolecular or intramolecular, crosslinked .epsilon.(.delta.-Glu)-Lys bonds between or in the molecules of the protein, non-proteinaceous amino acid polymer, peptide or derivatives thereof, wherein the transglutaminase has the physicochemical properties described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to (1) a transglutaminase (hereinafter referred to as TG) isolated from a Bacilli such as those of Bacillus subtilis, (2) a fraction having transglutaminase activity, and (3) a method for producing a protein, a non-proteinaceous amino acid polymer, a peptide or derivatives thereof having a crosslinked structure, by crosslinking the glutamine and lysine residues in the same with the TG or the fraction having TG activity to thereby form intermolecular or intramolecular, crosslinked .epsilon.-(.gamma.-Glu)-Lys bonds. The present invention also relates to (4) a DNA coding for a TG derived from a Bacilli such as Bacillus subtilis, (5) a vector comprising said DNA coding for the TG, (6) a cell transformed with the vector, and (7) a method for producing a Bacillus-derived transglutaminase by incubating the transformant.