Abstract: The present invention relates to a cancer-cell-specific polymer compound containing a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy and having a surface to which an antibody against a cancer-cell-specific antigen binds. An object of the present invention is to provide a photodynamic therapeutic agent that can reach the cancer tissue at a low concentration via active targeting and makes complications (e.g., sunlight hypersensitivity) associated with photodynamic therapy unlikely to occur.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic drug that uses hollow protein nanoparticles displaying an antibody against a specific cell or specific tissue. The effectiveness of the drug has been proved by animal testing. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. In a drug according to the present invention, a substance to be transferred into a cell for treating a disease (for example, a cancer treating gene such as a thymidine kinase gene derived from simple herpes virus) is encapsulated in hollow nanoparticles of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein that has been modified to lack its infectivity to hepatocytes and display an antibody). The particle surface of the drug displays an antibody, such as a cancer specific antibody, that recognizes an antigen molecule displayed on the surface of a specific cancer cell.

Abstract: As a versatile means for specifically and safely transporting and transferring substances (genes, proteins, compounds, etc.) into target cells and tissues, hollow nano particles comprising a protein capable of forming particles (e.g., hepatitis B virus surface antigen protein), and a biorecognition molecule introduced therein, are provided.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a disease-treating drug that uses hollow protein nanoparticles to specifically act on a target cell or tissue. The present invention allows a protein drug to be effectively capsulated in the particles. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. The drug according to the present invention is capable of recognizing a specific cell, such as hepatocytes, and manufactured by fusing a disease-treating substance for a target cell (for example, interferon, hepatocyte growth factor etc.) with hollow nanoparticles of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein).

Abstract: The subject invention is hollow nanoparticles that comprise particle-forming first proteins (e.g. hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein), containing a bio-recognizing molecule for recognizing a specific cell, wherein at least one of the first proteins interacts with a second protein (e.g. hepatitis B virus core-antigen protein) forming a capsid structure. With this structure, the present invention provides hollow nanoparticles, that allow transfer of a substance to a specific cell or tissue, and can be manufactured with stable productivity. The present invention further provides a drug made of the hollow nanoparticles.

Abstract: A therapeutic product or drug for therapy of hemophilia may be produced by a simplified method including embedding genes of the blood clotting factors VIII (IX) for therapy of hemophilia in hollow nano particles obtained on expressing the protein having a particle forming function, such as hepatitis B virus surface antigen protein, in eucaryotic cells. The drug so produced is able to introduce the genes of the blood clotting factors efficaciously into liver cells with the least risk of side effects.

Abstract: The invention provides a disease-treating drug, specifically acting particular cells or tissues, which is based on protein hollow nanoparticles. The drug's therapeutic effects are confirmed through animal experiments. The invention also provides a treatment method using the drug. The disease-treating drug comprises a substance to be transferred into a cell for treatment of a disease (for example, cancer-treating, thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus type 1) encapsulated in hollow nanoparticles containing particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface antigen protein modified to lose infectivity to inherent hepatocyte and also display a growth factor) displaying, for example, a growth factor.

Abstract: The invention provides hollow nanoparticles of a protein with the ability to recognize specific cells such as the hepatocytes and to form particles (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein), wherein the protein has a cysteine residue substituted to a different amino acid. The hollow nanoparticles have a stable particle structure and can be used to efficiently transfer substances to specific target cells or tissues. The invention also provides a drug using the hollow nanoparticles.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a diagnosis method and diagnostics for cancers such as human glioma and a therapeutic method and remedies for cancers such as human glioma by identifying tumor suppressive genes or cancer genes useful in diagnosing or treating cancers such as human glioma. Tumor suppressive genes such as RFX1 gene and BGT-1 gene and cancer genes such as HOXD9 gene are screened by comparing a human glioma- or human glioma cell line-origin genomic DNA with a normal tissue-origin genomic DNA in the degree of methylation in CpG island cytosine residues.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cirrhosis model animal having human hepatic tissues affected with cirrhosis. Anti-asialo GM1 antibodies are administered to a scid mouse which is an immune-deficiency animal, and its natural-killer-cell-dependent immune response capability is made defective, and then cirrhosis-patient-derived hepatic tissues are transplanted beneath a kidney membrane of the scid mouse, thereby producing the cirrhosis model animal. The cirrhosis model animal has the human hepatic tissues affected with cirrhosis, so that it is possible to use the cirrhosis model animal in development of a therapy and a therapeutic drug for cirrhosis.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic drug that uses hollow protein nanoparticles displaying an antibody against a specific cell or specific tissue. The effectiveness of the drug has been proved by animal testing. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. In a drug according to the present invention, a substance to be transferred into a cell for treating a disease (for example, a cancer treating gene such as a thymidine kinase gene derived from simple herpes virus) is encapsulated in hollow nanoparticles of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein that has been modified to lack its infectivity to hepatocytes and display an antibody). The particle surface of the drug displays an antibody, such as a cancer specific antibody, that recognizes an antigen molecule displayed on the surface of a specific cancer cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a drug for treating hepatic diseases with the use of hollow protein nanoparticles. The effectiveness of the drug has been proved by animal testing. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. In a drug according to the present invention, a substance to be transferred into a cell for treating a hepatic disease (for example, a cancer treating gene such as a thymidine kinase gene derived from simple herpes virus) is encapsulated in hollow nanoparticles that have an ability to recognize a hepatocyte and are composed of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein).

Abstract: The subject invention provides a disease-treating drug that uses hollow protein nanoparticles to specifically act on a target cell or tissue. The present invention allows a protein drug to be effectively capsulated in the particles. The invention also provides a therapeutic method using such a drug. The drug according to the present invention is capable of recognizing a specific cell, such as hepatocytes, and manufactured by fusing a disease-treating substance for a target cell (for example, interferon, hepatocyte growth factor etc.) with hollow nanoparticles of a particle-forming protein (for example, hepatitis B virus surface-antigen protein).

Abstract: As a versatile means for specifically and safely transporting and transferring substances (genes, proteins, compounds, etc.) into target cells and tissues, hollow nano particles comprising a protein capable of forming particles (e.g., hepatitis B virus surface antigen protein), and a biorecognition molecule introduced therein, are provided.

Abstract: The improved pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) contains a human atrial natriuretic peptide as an effective ingredient. It will combat ARDS against which no therapeutics have been found effective.

Abstract: A press device which is reduced in overall height thereof and in deformation of a press frame and can sufficiently support an eccentric load thereto. The press device comprises a press force generating unit disposed in a press frame and including a lid member secured to the press frame, a cross head having a cylinder chamber in which the lid member is fitted for axial sliding movement and having a blank holder at an end face thereof remote from the lid member, and a pressurizing member fitted for axial sliding movement in a portion of the cylinder chamber remote from the lid member. A shaping element is disposed in the press frame in an opposing relationship to the press force generating unit and has a shaping portion in which the pressurizing member is fitted.

Abstract: Double-stem type extrusion method and apparatus used for extrusion-molding rod-like and tubular products. In order to upset a solid or hollow billet (5, 5A) supplied to a container (1), the end of the container (1) which is on the side of a press stem (6) is closed with a blistering-preventing cover (11) which is not moved relatively to the container (1). A pressure is then applied to the billet (5, 5A) from the side of a die (8) to start the yield deformation thereof from the same side thereof. As the yield deformation movement of the billet (5, 5A) progresses, the air existing between the inner surface of the container and billet (5, 5A) is discharged from the portion of the container (1) which is on the side of the cover (11).

Abstract: An indirect extrusion press in which a seal block (16) is provided with a disc portion (18) to be fitted in a billet receiving bore (25) of a container (24) and is also provided with a cylindrical portion (19) contiguous to the disc portion (18) and having an outside diameter larger than the billet receiving bore (25) which is provided at the fore end of a pressure stem (15), and a die stem (21) is disposed in front of and coaxially with the pressure stem (15). Billet (V) is loaded onto an axis of the press by means of a billet loader (29), then charged into the billet receiving bore (25) of the container (24) from the pressure stem (15) side and then extruded through the die stem (21) in a state wherein one end of the billet receiving bore (25) of the container (24) is closed with the seal block (16).

Abstract: An indirect extrusion press including a press frame body of the Rahmen structure. The press frame body is formed of a press platen and a main cylinder frame, which are rigidly connected together. Movably disposed between the press platen and main cylinder frame is a container adapted to retain a billet therein. A die stem fixedly extends toward the container from the platen while a pressing stem slidably extends toward the container from the main cylinder frame. Hydraulic cylinders are provided with the platen to shift the container back and forth along the longitudinal center line of the press. Hydraulic coupling cylinders are also provided with a crosshead from which the pressing stem extends and the pistons of both cylinders are connected to their respective container holders. The relative position of the container and pressing stem is maintained constant during an extrusion stroke so that the container-shifting force is added to an extrusion force.

Abstract: A mandrel cleaning device capable of automatically performing cleaning operation in an extrusion press of the type which has a pressurizing stem for pressing a billet in a container toward a die and a mandrel axially slidable in and relative to the pressurizing stem for determining the internal shape of a hollow extruding material, the mandrel cleaning device having a rotary mechanism for rotating the mandrel about its axis, a grinder mechanism adapted to grind a tip portion at the fore end of the mandrel, and a transfer mechanism for moving the grinder mechanism toward and away from the mandrel.