Abstract: A chiral inorganic mesoporous material characterized by having a chiral twisted structure and being mesoporous; a process for producing the material; and a method of using the material. The process for inorganic mesoporous material production is a method in which one or more polymerizable inorganic monomers selected from the group consisting of polymerizable inorganic monomers and polymerizable inorganic monomers having a functional group capable of having a charge are polymerized in the presence of a solvent using as a template a self-assembly of a chiral surfactant such as an N-(higher alkanoyl)amino acid salt. Examples of the use of the inorganic mesoporous material include the separation of racemates and reaction fields for asymmetric syntheses.

Abstract: The present invention provides new silica composite capsules that can be easily prepared, a composition containing the silica composite capsules, and a transparent gel-form composition excellent in appearance transparency and texture in use, and in particular, a transparent gel-form composition with improved cleansing properties when used as a cleanser. Micelle/silica composite capsules can easily be obtained, in an aqueous system, by mixing a material capable of forming micelles in water and a water-soluble silane derivative having a specific structure in aqueous solution. In addition, emulsion/silica composite capsules wherein the periphery of emulsion particles in the inner phase is coated with silica, can easily be obtained by mixing a surfactant, water, an oil, and a water-soluble silane derivative having a specific structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides new silica composite capsules that can be easily prepared, a composition containing the silica composite capsules, and a transparent gel-form composition excellent in appearance transparency and texture in use, and in particular, a transparent gel-form composition with improved cleansing properties when used as a cleanser. Micelle/silica composite capsules can easily be obtained, in an aqueous system, by mixing a material capable of forming micelles in water and a water-soluble silane derivative having a specific structure in aqueous solution. In addition, emulsion/silica composite capsules wherein the periphery of emulsion particles in the inner phase is coated with silica, can easily be obtained by mixing a surfactant, water, an oil, and a water-soluble silane derivative having a specific structure.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a production method of mesoporous silica under electrolyte-free conditions by using a surfactant aggregate structure as a template and to provide mesoporous silica with a new shape, which could not be obtained in the past. It is possible to prepare mesoporous silica under electrolyte-free conditions by reacting a nonionic surfactant and a water-soluble silicate monomer with a specific structure under neutral conditions. In addition, a sheet-like mesoporous silica can be prepared in the use of a nonionic surfactant that can form a ribbon phase or a nematic phase in suitable temperature and concentration ranges in a water solution.

Abstract: A chiral inorganic mesoporous material characterized by having a chiral twisted structure and being mesoporous; a process for producing the material; and a method of using the material. The process for inorganic mesoporous material production is a method in which one or more polymerizable inorganic monomers selected from the group consisting of polymerizable inorganic monomers and polymerizable inorganic monomers having a functional group capable of having a charge are polymerized in the presence of a solvent using as a template a self-assembly of a chiral surfactant such as an N-(higher alkanoyl)amino acid salt. Examples of the use of the inorganic mesoporous material include the separation of racemates and reaction fields for asymmetric syntheses.

Abstract: (A) An anionic surfactant, (B) a silicate monomer and (C) a basic silane are mixed in water or a mixed solvent of a water-miscible organic solvent and water to obtain a mesoporous silica complex having mesopores with a uniform size, the anionic surfactant Component (A) is removed by washing the resultant mesoporous silica complex with an acidic aqueous solution, a water-miscible organic solvent or an aqueous solution thereof to obtain a mesoporous silica outer shell utilizing the structure of the mesoporous silica complex as a template, and the mesoporous silica complex or the mesoporous silica outer shell is calcined to obtain a mesoporous silica. The mesoporous silica can be synthesized in this manner utilizing the anionic surfactant micelle with a remarkably low affinity to the silicate monomer.

Abstract: The present invention provides cosmetics or external preparations for skin are provided that contain, as the effective ingredient, a chemical peeling agent, a bactericide, an anionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant component in combination with a cystine derivative of formula (1):

Abstract: In the present specification is disclosed a melanocyte-stimulating hormone inhibitory composition which comprises, as the active ingredient, a di- or tripeptide derivative having a certain naphthyl group or the salts thereof, or a melanocyte-stimulating hormone inhibitory compound having a 50% inhibitory concentration of cAMP production (IC50) of 100 nM or less, which composition can prevent pigmentation, or can prevent, improve or recover from immune abnormality or immunodeficiency, or regulate body weight by appetite control, and also can be used as cosmetics or external preparations for the skin, and in addition, can be produced easily, and are excellent in the stability during storage.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide an oxidative stress inhibitor which is capable of suppressing the expression of a cytotoxic protein and the activation of a gene transcriptional regulatory factor taking part such expression of a cytotoxic protein and exhibits good feeling upon use and safety; to provide a method for preventing, retarding, alleviating or treating a skin change due to aging or an undesirable aesthetic skin change, both caused or promoted by an oxidative stress; and to provide a cosmetic composition or dermatologic preparation for external use comprising the oxidative stress inhibitor as an effective ingredient, and for those purposes are employed an oxidative stress inhibiting agent which comprises, as an effective ingredient, at least one selected from cysteine or cystine derivatives and the salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides cystine derivatives, which may be in a free form, a salt form, a solvate form. The cystine derivatives of the present invention may be used to suppress activation of inflammatory factors. Accordingly, the present invention provides: compositions containing the cystine derivatives; a method for suppressing the activation of inflammatory factors by administering the composition; a method for preventing, ameliorating and/or therapeutically treating diseases, skin injuries or disorders involved in the activation of inflammatory factors by administering the composition; a method for preventing, delaying, ameliorating and/or therapeutically treating skin change via aging or aesthetically unfavorable skin change as induced or promoted by inflammatory factors by administering the composition; and pharmaceutical agents containing the cystine derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling membrane permeability of a membrane permeable substance, and more particularly it relates to a method for controlling membrane permeability of a membrane permeable substance by changing the curvature of the membrane. The invention also relates to a screening method for a membrane permeable substance, and more particularly, it relates to a screening method for a membrane permeable substance, in which the change of curvature of the membrane and/or the phase change of the membrane, which occurs upon adding a test substance, is detected to evaluate the membrane permeability of the test substance.

Abstract: (A) An anionic surfactant, (B) a silicate monomer and (C) a basic silane are mixed in water or a mixed solvent of a water-miscible organic solvent and water to obtain a mesoporous silica complex having mesopores with a uniform size, the anionic surfactant Component (A) is removed by washing the resultant mesoporous silica complex with an acidic aqueous solution, a water-miscible organic solvent or an aqueous solution thereof to obtain a mesoporous silica outer shell utilizing the structure of the mesoporous silica complex as a template, and the mesoporous silica complex or the mesoporous silica outer shell is calcined to obtain a mesoporous silica. The mesoporous silica can be synthesized in this manner utilizing the anionic surfactant micelle with a remarkably low affinity to the silicate monomer.

Abstract: In the present application are disclosed a promoter for the production of nitric oxide or nitric oxide synthase in a living body, comprising, as active ingredient(s), at least one selected from pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, a pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid salt, or a pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid derivative, or arginine in addition thereto, as well as a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided cosmetics or external preparations for skin which comprises, as the effective ingredient, a chemical peeling agent, a bactericide, an anionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant component in combination with a compound capable of mitigating the irritation, inflammation, etc. of the skin caused by these components.

Abstract: The present invention provides cystine derivatives, which may be in a free form, a salt form, a solvate form. The cystine derivatives of the present invention may be used to suppress activation of inflammatory factors. Accordingly, the present invention provides: compositions containing the cystine derivatives; a method for suppressing the activation of inflammatory factors by administering the composition; a method for preventing, ameliorating and/or therapeutically treating diseases, skin injuries or disorders involved in the activation of inflammatory factors by administering the composition; a method for preventing, delaying, ameliorating and/or therapeutically treating skin change via aging or aesthetically unfavorable skin change as induced or promoted by inflammatory factors by administering the composition; and pharmaceutical agents containing the cystine derivatives.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide an oxidative stress inhibitor which is capable of suppressing the expression of a cytotoxic protein and the activation of a gene transcriptional regulatory factor taking part such expression of a cytotoxic protein and exhibits good feeling upon use and safety; to provide a method for preventing, retarding, alleviating or treating a skin change due to aging or an undesirable aesthetic skin change, both caused or promoted by an oxidative stress; and to provide a cosmetic composition or dermatologic preparation for external use comprising the oxidative stress inhibitor as an effective ingredient, and for those purposes are employed an oxidative stress inhibiting agent which comprises, as an effective ingredient, at least one selected from cysteine or cystine derivatives and the salts thereof.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide an oxidative stress inhibitor which is capable of suppressing the expression of a cytotoxic protein and the activation of a gene transcriptional regulatory factor taking part such expression of a cytotoxic protein and exhibits good feeling upon use and safety; to provide a method for preventing, retarding, alleviating or treating a skin change due to aging or an undesirable aesthetic skin change, both caused or promoted by an oxidative stress; and to provide a cosmetic composition or dermatologic preparation for external use comprising the oxidative stress inhibitor as an effective ingredient, and for those purposes are employed an oxidative stress inhibiting agent which comprises, as an effective ingredient, at least one selected from cysteine or cystine derivatives and the salts thereof.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide an oxidative stress inhibitor which is capable of suppressing the expression of a cytotoxic protein and the activation of a gene transcriptional regulatory factor taking part such expression of a cytotoxic protein and exhibits good feeling upon use and safety; to provide a method for preventing, retarding, alleviating or treating a skin change due to aging or an undesirable aesthetic skin change, both caused or promoted by an oxidative stress; and to provide a cosmetic composition or dermatologic preparation for external use comprising the oxidative stress inhibitor as an effective ingredient, and for those purposes are employed an oxidative stress inhibiting agent which comprises, as an effective ingredient, at least one selected from cysteine or cystine derivatives and the salts thereof.

Abstract: In the present application are disclosed a promoter for the production of nitric oxide or nitric oxide synthase in a living body, comprising, as active ingredient(s), at least one selected from pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, a pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid salt, or a pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid derivative, or arginine in addition thereto, as well as a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide an oxidative stress inhibitor which is capable of suppressing the expression of a cytotoxic protein and the activation of a gene transcriptional regulatory factor taking part such expression of a cytotoxic protein and exhibits good feeling upon use and safety; to provide a method for preventing, retarding, alleviating or treating a skin change due to aging or an undesirable aesthetic skin change, both caused or promoted by an oxidative stress; and to provide a cosmetic composition or dermatologic preparation for external use comprising the oxidative stress inhibitor as an effective ingredient, and for those purposes are employed an oxidative stress inhibiting agent which comprises, as an effective ingredient, at least one selected from cysteine or cystine derivatives and the salts thereof.