Abstract: A colonic delivery solid preparation containing chitosan powder, which can control the dissolution of a medicament therefrom in the large intestine and release the medicament contained therein specifically in the large intestine, obtained by successively coating a medicament-containing solid material with (1) a water-insoluble polymer having a chitosan powder dispersed therein and (2) an enteric polymer; and a solid preparation containing chitosan powder, which can partly release a medicament in the stomach and, after passing through the small intestine, disintegrate at an accelerated rate in the large intestine and release a medicament in the large intestine, obtained by coating a medicament-containing solid material with a water-insoluble polymer having a chitosan powder dispersed therein.

Abstract: A compound or its salts that inhibit the activity of the polypeptide or receptor of the present invention and the antibody of the present invention as well as the antisense DNA of the present invention are useful as, e.g., gastric acid secretion inhibitors, mucosa protectants, mineral absorption promoters, etc., which are less toxic and safe, and can be used as, e.g., agents for preventing/treating upper digestive tract disorders, antibacterial agents to Helicobacter pylori, etc. A compound or its salts that promote the activity of the polypeptide or receptor of the present invention, the polypeptide or receptor of the present invention and the DNA of the present invention can be used as, e.g., gastric acid secretion promoters and can be used as, e.g., agents for preventing/treating dyspepsia, bone metabolism disorders, anemia, etc. A compound or its salts that promote the activity of the polypeptide or receptor of the present invention, the polypeptide of the present invention, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds or their salts that promote or inhibit the activities of a protein comprising the same or substantially the same as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, compounds or their salts that promote or inhibit the activities of a gene for said protein, antisense polynucleotides comprising the whole or part of a base sequence complimentary or substantially complimentary to the base sequence of a polynucleotide encoding said protein or its partial peptide, antibodies to said protein, etc. These compounds or their salts, antisense nucleotides, antibodies, etc. can be used as agents for the prevention/treatment of mental disorders, prolactin-related disorders, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filter medium reducing an increase in pressure drop while in use even in an environment where ultrafine particles form a large proportion of the particles to be collected. The filter medium includes a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, an air-permeable supporting member and a web layer made of polymeric fibers formed by electrospinning (charge induction spinning, electrostatic spinning). The filter medium of the present invention may include an air-permeable adhesive layer adjacent to the web layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening an agonist or antagonist to a G protein-coupled receptor protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof, which comprises using the receptor protein or a salt thereof and the ligand or a salt thereof; etc. The present invention is useful for screening agents for the prevention/treatment of, e.g., leukopenia, leukemia, lymphoma, malignant tumor, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disorders, tonsil disorders, collagen disease, inflammatory disease, leukocytosis, heart failure, inherited muscle disorders, muscular dystrophy, neuromuscular degenerative disease, myocardial infarction, obesity, mellitus diabetes, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytosis, cancer, pulmonary edema, multiple organ failure, etc.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a ligand to GPR8, its DNA, etc., and more particularly, a polypeptide capable of binding to GPR8 or its amides or esters, or salts thereof, as well as its DNA, etc. The ligand to GPR8 of the present invention is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of a GPR8 expression system, screening candidate compounds for drugs such as preventive/therapeutic agents for obesity, appetite stimulants, prolactin production inhibitors, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medicament for preventing/treating cancer, comprising a tacrine compound, or a compound promoting the binding between the tacrine compound and a protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: Batch processing program is performed in a computer. Job steps are executed in a manner that, when the number of job steps is determined by the determining means to exceed the maximum number of processes, successive job steps defined as pipe processing objects are divided in units of a maximum number of job steps corresponding to the maximum number of processes. A pipe is used for data transfer between respective job steps within a same segment divided, and a temporary file is used for data transfer between each set of adjacent job steps each belonging to a different segment. When the number of job steps is determined by the determining means to not exceed the maximum number of processes, a pipe is used for data transfer between respective job steps of all of the successive job steps defined as the pipe processing objects.

Abstract: The antibody of the present invention, which specifically reacts with the N-terminal or C-terminal partial peptide of TGR23-2 ligand, is useful in detecting and quantifying the TGR23-2 ligand. Moreover, it is useful as a preventing/treating agent and a diagnostic agent for cancer, etc.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a novel polypeptide, a receptor, a DNA thereof, and the like. Specifically, the present invention provides a polypeptide having a binding ability to the protein represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, or its amide, its ester or its salt, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, an antisense polynucleotide or an antibody to the polypeptide, a screening of agent for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity, etc., which comprises using the above, and the like. The polypeptide, receptor, polynucleotide, antisense polynucleotide, antibody and the like are useful for an agent of prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity and the like. Further, they are useful for a screening of an agent for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides uses of a polypeptide having a ligand activity to a sensory epithelium neuropeptide-like receptor (SENR) which is a G protein-coupled receptor protein, and a DNA encoding the same. More specifically, the present invention provides an anti-attention-deficit-disorder or anti-narcolepsy agent, which comprises a polypeptide having a ligand activity for SENR or a salt thereof, as well as a method for screening compounds having an anti-attention-deficit-disorder or anti-narcolepsy activity or compounds having an anti-anxiety, anti-depression, anti-insomnia, anti-schizophrenia or anti-fear activity or salts thereof, which comprises using the above polypeptide or a precursor protein of the polypeptide or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening method for a compound or a salt thereof that alters the binding property of MCH or a salt thereof to SLT or a salt thereof, or a partial peptide thereof, an amide or an ester thereof, or a salt thereof, characterized by using MCH, a derivative or a salt thereof and SLT or a salt thereof, or a partial peptide thereof, an amide or an ester thereof, or a salt thereof. The screening method of the present invention is useful for screening an SLT agonist, which can be used as an agent for promoting appetite (eating), and an SLT antagonist, which can be used as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for obesity.

Abstract: A GPR7 ligand containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 wherein the N-terminal amino acid residue may optionally be brominated, is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of the GPR7 expression system, in screening a candidate compound for a drug such as an antiobestic, etc.

Abstract: A melanin-concentrating hormone antagonist which comprises a compound of the formula: wherein Ar1 is a cyclic group which may have substituents; X is a spacer having a main chain of 1 to 6 atoms; Y is a bond or a spacer having a main chain of 1 to 6 atoms; Ar is a monocyclic aromatic ring which may be condensed with a 4 to 8 membered non-aromatic ring, and may have further substituents; R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may have substituents; R1 and R2, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, may form a nitrogen-containing hetero ring which may have substituents; R2 may form a spiro ring together with Ar; or R2, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom and Y, may form a nitrogen-containing hetero ring which may have substituents; or a salt thereof; which is useful as an agent for preventing or treating obesity, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides preventive/therapeutic agents for anorexia nervosa and preventive/therapeutic agents for obesity. More specifically, the present invention provides a method and kit for screening a compound or its salt that changes the binding properties of GPR7 to a polypeptide capable of binding specifically to GPR7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to screening of an agonist/antagonist, etc. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of screening an agonist or antagonist of a G protein-coupled receptor protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof, which comprises using the receptor protein or a salt thereof and a cholesterol metabolism-related substance, and so on.

Abstract: The antibody of the present invention, which specifically reacts with a partial peptide at the N-terminal region or the C-terminal region of NPW, which enables to quantify NPW with highly sensitivity and specifically. Moreover, this antibody is useful as an agent for preventing/treating infertility, renal edema, digestive ulcer, gastric hyperacidity, etc., and a diagnostic for these diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening method/screening kit for screening a compound or its salt that changes the binding properties of (a) a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 19, its partial peptides, or salts thereof, and (b) a ligand capable of binding specifically to the protein; compounds obtained by the screening or salts thereof; pharmaceuticals comprising the compounds or salts thereof; a protein containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 19; etc. The compounds obtained by the screening of the present invention are useful as agents for the prevention/treatment of, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, immunological diseases, edema, acid indigestion, etc.

Abstract: As previous processing of measurement in which gas to be measured containing, as gas components, carbon dioxide 13CO2 and carbon dioxide 12CO2, is introduced into a cell, and in which the intensities of transmitted lights having wavelengths suitable for measurement of the respective gas components, are measured and then data-processed to measure the concentrations of the gas components, the air having a predetermined volume Va is sucked by a gas injection device 21, a gas exhaust valve V6 of a cell 11 is closed and the air stored in the gas injection device 21 is transferred to the cell 11 filled with the air at an atmospheric pressure, thereby to pressurize the cell inside. The pressure thus pressurized is measured as P. The cell volume Vc is subtracted from the product obtained by multiplying the sum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula: wherein R1 is an acyl group, R2 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, R3 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, R4 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, n is from 0 to 4, and X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or the like, or a salt thereof. The invention also provides a compound which has a TGR23 antagonist activity and thus is useful for prevention and treatment of cancer.