Abstract: An arrhythmic state detection assisting device includes an acquisition unit, a derivation unit and an estimation unit. The acquisition unit acquires image information obtained by capturing an image of a predetermined part of a subject with an image capture device that captures a color moving image. The derivation unit derives a variance value, for a predetermined interval, of periods of a periodic change in a green luminance component in the image information acquired by the acquisition unit. As the variance value derived by the derivation unit becomes greater, the estimation unit estimates a higher likelihood that an arrhythmia is occurring in the subject.

Abstract: Provided is a thrombin-carrying hemostatic sheet that is suitable for hemostasis during surgery, in particular, for hemostasis during spine surgery, that is convenient without preparation before use, and that is bioabsorbable and can be embedded in the body as it is. The hemostatic sheet is composed of a gelatin sponge carrying an effective amount of thrombin, wherein (A) the density is 30 to 55 mg/cm3, and (B) the shape maintaining angle in wet conditions is 55 to 120°.

Abstract: This discloses a novel human or rat polypeptide useful in improving and/or preventing organ fibrosis and a polynucleotide encoding the aforementioned polypeptide, an expression vector containing the aforementioned polynucleotide, and a cell transfected with the aforementioned expression vector. The aforementioned polynucleotide shows a remarkable decrease in the expression dose in the kidney of a chronic renal insufficiency model rat and in the bladder of a rat suffering from the induction of fibrotic conditions in the bladder, compared with a normal individual. Also, the production of extracellular matrix is suppressed by overexpression of the aforementioned polypeptide. Also disclosed are the promoter region of the aforementioned polypeptide, a method for screening a remedy for fibrotic conditions, and a process for producing a medicinal composition for improving fibrotic conditions which contains a substance obtained by the aforementioned screening method as the active ingredient.

Abstract: A method for identifying and screening a novel substance promoting the transcription induction activity of PPAR? and improving insulin resistance by promoting the interaction between PPAR promoting the transcription induction activity of PPAR? and p68 RNA helicase and/or promoting the expression of p68RNA helicase is disclosed. The method is a new type method for screening an agent for improving insulin resistance by promoting the transcription induction activity of PPAR? which is different from the conventional PPAR agonist. Furthermore, the method for producing a pharmaceutical composition for improving insulin resistance which comprises the substance obtainable by the above method for screening as an active ingredient is disclosed.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide, a cell transfected with the expression vector, an antibody or a fragment thereof binding to the polypeptide, and a process for producing the polypeptide are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel apatite composite ceramic useful for implants such as artificial dental root, artificial bone or the like. The apatite composite ceramic comprises an interconnected structure of fluorapatite phase and an at least partially crystallized biologically active glass phase, which ceramic is obtained by reaction-sintering at a sintering temperature of 700.degree.-1100.degree. C. at a pressure of at least atmospheric pressure a powder mixture of a synthetic hydroxyapatite (A) and a biologically active glass (B) containing fluoride ions and having a crystallization temperature below the sintering temperature in a weight ratio of A/B ranging from 60/40 to 30/70. The reaction-sintered material has excellent biological affinity and high mechanical strength.

Abstract: A dental implant and a method of making same are disclosed. The dental implant comprises a biocompatible metal core and a multi-layer bioglass coating applied on the core. The outer layer of the multi-layer coating is formed of a bioglass whose chemical composition is selected from within the range of composition particularly defined by the present invention and which has substantially the same thermal expansion coefficient as the core. The inner layer is formed of a bioglass whose chemical composition is substantially the same as the glass of the outer layer with the exception that the content of TiO.sub.2 is increased within a particularly determined range.

Abstract: A biologically active glass and class-ceramic composition useful for making surgical and dental implants comprising, by mol %,:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 35.about.60 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 5.about.15 Na.sub.2 O 10.about. 30 CaO 5.about. 40 TiO.sub.2 0.5.about. 10 P.sub.2 O.sub.5 0.about. 15 K.sub.2 O 0.about. 20 Li.sub.2 O 0.about. 10 MgO 0.about. 5 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 + ZrO.sub.2 + Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 0.about. 8 La.sub.2 O.sub.3 + Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 + Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 0.about.8 and F.sub.2 0.about.15.

Abstract: Dental implant is composed of a core and a coating layer of a biologically active glass or glass-ceramic material covering at least a part of the core to be embedded in the jawbone. The glass or glass-ceramic layer comprises at least two separated portions spaced from each other.

Abstract: A dental implant is disclosed which comprises a dental root part to be embedded in a jaw bone alone or in combination with a dental crown part or a dental crown support part. At least a major portion of the surface of the dental root part to be in contact with the jaw bone is formed of a biologically active material. The contour of the surface of the dental root part is rotationally symmetrical with its diameter being constant or decreased monotonously from its one end, that is, the collum dentis portion to the other end, that is, the root end portion. The root end portion is smoothly closed.