Abstract: Disclosed is a novel composition for the treatment of a corneal/conjunctival disease. A prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a corneal/conjunctival disease comprising selenoprotein P as an active ingredient, more specifically a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a corneal/conjunctival disease such as dry eye, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, superficial punctate keratopathy, corneal erosion or corneal ulcer comprising selenoprotein P as an active ingredient, particularly a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a corneal/conjuncrtival disease such as dry eye, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, superficial punctate keratopathy, corneal erosion or corneal ulcer accompanied by a corneal/conjunctival epithelial discorder.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeder cell with less variation in quality. The present invention relates to a feeder cell derived from a tissue stem and/or progenitor cell. A method of preparation of the feeder cell, a method of preparation of a cultured cell using the feeder cell, and a cell culturing kit are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring operating vision. An optotype mark is displayed (step 103). A subject's response to the optotype mark is accepted via an input device (step 104). A determination is made as to whether or not the response is correct (step 105). When the current response of the subject is correct and the previous response or one of the previous response and the last-but-one response is incorrect, an optotype mark corresponding to the same visual acuity is presented (step 112). When the previous response is correct or both the previous response and the last-but-one response are correct, an optotype mark corresponding to a visual acuity one level higher is presented (step 110). When the current response is incorrect, an optotype mark corresponding to a visual acuity one level lower is presented (step 111).

Abstract: A tear meniscus test device 1 includes a body part 2 having a elongated shape, which comprises a synthetic resin material or a synthetic rubber material, wherein a groove 3 is formed along the length direction of the elongated shape, and a water absorbing member 4 arranged in the groove 3.

Abstract: [Object] A medical material that improves therapeutic effects in epithelial cells such as keratoconjunctival epithelial cells with the use of an amnion, and a process for producing the same are provided. [Solving Means] A medical material includes an amnion, which is a placental tissue, a polymer film bonded to one surface of the amnion and crosslinked, and cells adhered to the other surface of the amnion. A process for producing the medical material includes the steps of preparing an amnion from which the spongy layer is removed, bonding a biocompatible polymer film to one surface of the amnion followed by crosslinking, adhering epithelial stem cells to the other surface of the amnion, and proliferating epithelial cells from the epithelial stem cells on the surface of the amnion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring operating vision. An optotype mark is displayed (step 103). A subject's response to the optotype mark is accepted via an input device (step 104). A determination is made as to whether or not the response is correct (step 105). When the current response of the subject is correct and the previous response or one of the previous response and the last-but-one response is incorrect, an optotype mark corresponding to the same visual acuity is presented (step 112). When the previous response is correct or both the previous response and the last-but-one response are correct, an optotype mark corresponding to a visual acuity one level higher is presented (step 110). When the current response is incorrect, an optotype mark corresponding to a visual acuity one level lower is presented (step 111).

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for manufacturing a cell sheet, comprising culturing cells on a fibrin-coated surface of a substrate until the cells reach confluency, continuing the cultivation of the cells for a sufficient time period to cause the degradation of fibrin at the bottom of the cells, and detaching the cultured cells from the substrate surface in a sheet-like form to give a cell sheet; a substrate for cell sheet preparation, a surface of which is coated with fibrin; and a composition for use in coating with fibrin a surface of a substrate for cell sheet preparation, the composition comprising fibrinogen and thrombin. The invention enables to cell sheets to be manufactured by a simple manipulation using a substrate coated with a commercial, commonly available material of which safety has been confirmed.

Abstract: A tear secretion quantity examination system for evaluating simply and non-invasively the tear secretion quantity has: a moisture evaporation quantity detection unit for detecting the moisture evaporation quantity from a subject's eye with a humidity sensor; and an operation unit for computing evaluation parameters of the tear secretion quantity based on a detection signal of the moisture evaporation quantity detection unit. The operation means approximates an attenuation portion of saw-tooth responses appearing for each blink in a tear evaporation profile in which the detection value obtained with the humidity sensor is plotted against the time.

Abstract: A sample fluid collecting device includes a capillary tube for collecting a sample fluid; and an air reservoir portion 5 having an air hole 10 capable of being closed, which is located at one end of the capillary tube, the capillary tube being formed by two or more supporting members 2, 3 arranged with one or more gap portions 1 being provided in the lengthwise direction; and at least two transparent films 6, 9 lapped on the supporting members 2, 3 so as to cover the gap portion 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating a subject having a condition or disease involving apoptosis, which comprises administering an effective amount of albumin to the subject. The apoptosis inhibiting activity of albumin can be increased by administering a cell growth factor such as epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and nerve growth factor and/or vitamin A together with albumin.

Abstract: A tear secretion quantity examination system for evaluating simply and non-invasively the tear secretion quantity has: a moisture evaporation quantity detection unit for detecting the moisture evaporation quantity from a subject's eye with a humidity sensor; and an operation unit for computing evaluation parameters of the tear secretion quantity based on a detection signal of the moisture evaporation quantity detection unit. The operation means approximates an attenuation portion of saw-tooth responses appearing for each blink in a tear evaporation profile in which the detection value obtained with the humidity sensor is plotted against the time.

Abstract: An agent for treating exocrine gland disorders by inhibiting the production and/or an activity of interleukin-10; and a transgenic mouse useful for screening the same wherein interleukin-10 is specifically expressed in its exocrine glands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating a subject having a condition or disease involving apoptosis, which comprises administering an effective amount of albumin to the subject. The apoptosis inhibiting activity of albumin can be increased by administering a cell growth factor such as epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and nerve growth factor and/or vitamin A together with albumin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of corneal and conjunctival lesion, and dry eye comprising albumin as an active ingredient. The pharmaceutical composition is also useful for increase of eye surface epithelium mucin secretion. The present invention further provides a method for treatment of corneal and conjunctival lesion and dry eye, which comprises administering, to a subject in need of such treatment, albumin in an amount effective. In addition, the present invention provides a use of albumin for manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides adhesion inhibitors for suppressing the adherence between E-cadherin of glandular cells and integrin of lymphocytes. Sjogren's syndrome comprises disorders wherein secretory glands such as lacrimal gland are destroyed by autoimmunity, and the adherence of CD8.sup.+ T cells to the surface of acinar cells is observed by the immunohistological analysis of lacrimal gland from patients. Integrin on the surface of T cells and E-cadherin on the surface of acinar cells play a major role in the mechanism of adhesion between these cells, while the adherence of T cells to acinar cells is reduced using anti-E-cadherin and anti-integrin antibodies. Sjogren's syndrome, such as autoimmune adenitis, can be treated using these antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of corneal and conjunctival lesion, and dry eye comprising albumin as an active ingredient. The pharmaceutical composition is also useful for increase of eye surface epithelium mucin secretion. The present invention further provides a method for treatment of corneal and conjunctival lesion, and dry eye, which comprises administering, to a subject in need of such treatment, albumin in an amount effective. In addition, the present invention provides a use of albumin for manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention provides a therapeutic composition for corneal impairment which comprises a phosphoric acid diester compound of the following formula or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.The therapeutic composition of this invention is useful for the treatment of electricity-related ophthalmia, snow-related ophthalmia, corneal lesions caused by contact lens wearing, and corneal impairment associated with hypolacrimia.

Abstract: An ODD/EVEN signal, showing whether odd fields or even fields of the image are displayed on a screen, is supplied to each unit operating for data transmission. In accordance with the ODD/EVEN signal, a CPU monitors a current condition of the display image so that data transmission and processing, and use of a data bus, are controlled with exact timing. Consequently, each unit in the apparatus may operate effectively.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a plurality of different images are displayed simultaneously on a display screen. According to a first feature, a priority circuit determines a display order of images for each dot, the images being supplied from a variety of image generators. In accordance with the priority order, the images are displayed on a screen. According to a second feature, an image processing apparatus includes a register for specifying a key area to be displayed as being transparent. A plurality of images are synthesized in accordance with the data held in the register. According to a third feature, a video display processor (VDP) processes color data of an image to be displayed, and a video encoder unit synthesizes a plurality of images in a predetermined order of a display priority by a cellophane function. The cellophane function is controlled to be turned on and off for each unit of a predetermined data block.

Abstract: The bandage for maintaining the anterior chamber of an eye according to the present invention is formed so as to cover an incision during operation and to tightly contact with the incision and its circumference, has a small hole for insertion of instruments for operation and is transparent. This bandage can prevent the outflow of aqueous humor through an incision during ocular operation without conducting the temporary suture of incision and thereby enables ocular operation in a state where the anterior chamber is maintained. Therefore, the bandage has solved various problems (e.g. complicated operation procedure, long operation time, high invasion associated with operation) encountered in the conventional ocular operation wherein the incision is temporarily sutured to prevent the outflow of aqueous humor therethrough and thereby to maintain the anterior chamber.