Abstract: SCCA1 and SCCA2 genes, whose expression were greatly changed in a plurality of cells by stimulating respiratory tract epithelial cells with IL-4 or IL-13, were obtained as allergy related genes. Furthermore, elevation of blood level of expression products of these genes accompanying bronchial asthmatic attack was elucidated. This invention provides a method of testing for bronchial asthmatic attack that uses as indicators, expression levels of these genes in biological samples.

Abstract: T cells from multiple subjects who showed different cedar pollen specific IgE titers were prepared before and after cedar pollen dispersal, and differential display analysis was performed to screen for pollen antigen responsive genes. As a result, a novel gene was successfully isolated whose expression is significantly higher in subjects with high cedar pollen specific IgE titer. The inventors have found that it is possible to use this gene to test for an allergic disease and to screen for candidate compounds for therapeutic drugs for an allergic disease.

Abstract: The present inventors collected blood samples from multiple normal healthy subjects and allergic disease patients, and conducted differential display analysis to search for genes with different expression levels among them. As a result, the present inventors succeeded in isolating genes whose expression levels were increased in the patient group. The present inventors discovered that these genes can be utilized in testing for allergic disease, and screening for compounds that serve as candidate therapeutic agents for allergic disease.

Abstract: Six genes, whose expressions were greatly changed in a plurality of cells by stimulating respiratory tract epithelial cells with IL-4 or IL-13, were obtained as allergy related genes. This invention provides a method of testing for allergic diseases, and method of screening for compounds useful in treating such diseases, that use as indicators, expression levels of these genes in biological samples.

Abstract: SCCA1 and SCCA2 genes, whose expression were greatly changed in a plurality of cells by stimulating respiratory tract epithelial cells with IL-4 or IL-13, were obtained as allergy related genes. Furthermore, elevation of blood level of expression products of these genes accompanying bronchial asthmatic attack was elucidated. This invention provides a method of testing for bronchial asthmatic attack that uses as indicators, expression levels of these genes in biological samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a deodorant composition capable of removing an odor component such as a carbonyl group-containing compound with high efficiency. The composition includes a deodorizing compound which itself creates no problem of odor and corrosion. The present invention also relates to a deodorizer and filter containing the composition which are compact in size and can remove the odor component in a simple manner, and a method of deodorization using the composition. The deodorant composition includes the compound reactive with the odor component in the presence of moisture, and a water-absorbing substance. The odor component is a carbonyl group-containing compound. The deodorizing compound reactive with the odor component is at least one selected from the group consisting of monohydric phenols, polyhydric phenols, and derivatives thereof, and among them, resorcin is preferable.

Abstract: A catalyst (3) for purifying an automotive exhaust gas, in which inner and outer catalytic layers (5,6), each of which has a base material and a catalytic material held by the base material, are stratified on a honeycomb-type carrier (4). In the catalyst (3), the inner catalytic layer (5) contains a palladium component as the catalytic component. Further the inner catalytic layer (5) contains a nickel oxide component for preventing poisoning of the palladium component. On the other hand, though the outer catalytic layer (6) contains a rhodium component as the catalytic component, it does not contain a palladium component nor a nickel oxide component.