Abstract: Described herein is the discovery that HGFs activate the growth and migration of lymphatic endothelial cells and thereby promote lymphangiogenesis. The present invention is based on this finding, and provides lymphangiogenesis-promoting agents comprising as active ingredients HGFs, or proteins or compounds functionally equivalent thereto. Based on the finding described above, the present invention also provides methods for promoting lymphangiogenesis which comprise the step of locally administering HGFs or proteins functionally equivalent thereto to affected areas in patients with lymphedema.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic or improving agent for a lifestyle-related disease, containing an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of the lifestyle-related disease-related factor, wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.

Abstract: It is possible to stimulate the angiogenesis of an ischemic site declined by diabetes and to recuperate ischemic disease by administering HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) gene to the diabetic ischemic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaccine for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes using a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence of a non-human mammal, which corresponds to SEQ ID NO: 2, and the like as an immunogen, which induces a neutralizing antibody to DPP-4, and a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for diabetes, which contains a DDP-4 neutralizing antibody that recognizes a partial amino acid sequence of the aforementioned DDP-4.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides which have an excellent angiogenesis-inducing activity and an excellent antibacterial activity and medical uses thereof are disclosed. The amino acid sequences of the novel polypeptides are shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 6. These polypeptides have angiogenesis-inducing and antibacterial activities. Such polypeptides are useful for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of skin wounds caused by a cut wound, surgical wound, erosion, burn, decubitus, intractable wound, skin ulcer, leg ulcer, diabetic ulcer, occlusive arterial disease or arteriosclerosis obliteran, and for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of bacterial infection in such skin wounds, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drug for preventing or treating inflammation-associated diseases in which a periostin isoform having cell adhesion activity is involved, and also provides an inhibitor of a periostin isoform having cell adhesion activity.

Abstract: An object of the present invention to discover a short peptide having an anti-aging effect and to provide a novel anti-aging agent comprising the peptide as an active ingredient. The inventors have discovered that a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence ELKLIFLHRLKRLRKRLKRK (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a partial sequence thereof and having one or more effects selected from the group consisting of promoting fibroblast growth, promoting hyaluronic acid production and contracting a collagen gel, or a derivative or salt of the peptide is useful as an active ingredient of an anti-aging agent.

Abstract: An oral preparation for the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease with infection by a pathogen, containing a killed lactic acid bacterium expressing, on the surface, an antigen of the pathogen, or a microparticulated form thereof, which has an average particle size of 2.68-30 ?m. An oral preparation for inducing cellular immunity to a target antigen, containing a killed lactic acid bacterium expressing the target antigen on the surface or a microparticulated form thereof, which has a particle size of 2.68-30 ?m.

Abstract: Biocompatible nanoparticles 1 which entrap a bioactive substance and whose surface is positive-charge-modified are electrically adhered to a balloon portion 9 of a catheter main body 5 through a negatively charged resin layer 11, and thus a nanoparticle layer 12 is formed. After the catheter main body 5 is indwell in vivo, the nanoparticles 1 are gradually eluted from the nanoparticle layer 12 and are effectively delivered to cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for cancer, containing an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of VEGF and/or a specific epitope of angiopoietin-2, wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide which has an excellent angiogenesis-inducing activity and an excellent antibacterial activity, and a novel angiogenesis-inducing agent which contains the polypeptide as an effective ingredient or a novel agent for treating a wound(s) which contains the polypeptide as an effective ingredient are disclosed. The polypeptide of the present invention is a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence is shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 6, 8 and 10. The angiogenesis-inducing agent which contains the polypeptide of the present invention as an effective ingredient is useful for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of a disease such as a burns, decubitus, wound, skin ulcer, leg ulcer, diabetic ulcer, occlusive arterial disease and arteriosclerosis obliteran.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for performing treatment against a skin disease, the pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one decoy and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The at least one decoy may be selected from the group consisting of an NF-?B decoy, a STAT-1 decoy, a GATA-3 decoy, a STAT-6 decoy, an AP-1 decoy and an Ets decoy. The at least one decoy may be an oligonucleotide including at least two decoys bonded to each other, the at least two decoys being selected from the group consisting of an NF-?B decoy, a STAT-1 decoy, a GATA-3 decoy, a STAT-6 decoy, an AP-1 decoy and an Ets decoy. The skin disease may be atopic dermatitis, psoriasis vulgaris, contact dermatitis, keloid, bedsore, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide which has an excellent angiogenesis-inducing activity and an excellent antibacterial activity, and a novel angiogenesis-inducing agent which contains the polypeptide as an effective ingredient or a novel agent for treating a wound(s) which contains the polypeptide as an effective ingredient are disclosed. The polypeptide of the present invention is a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence is shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 6, 8 and 10. The angiogenesis-inducing agent which contains the polypeptide of the present invention as an effective ingredient is useful for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of a disease such as a burns, decubitus, wound, skin ulcer, leg ulcer, diabetic ulcer, occlusive arterial disease and arteriosclerosis obliteran.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic or improving agent for a lifestyle-related disease, containing an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of the lifestyle-related disease-related factor, wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for the treatment or prophylaxis of arteriosclerosis comprising an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of apolipoprotein (a), wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circular dumbbell oligodeoxynucleotide (CDODN) comprising two loop structures and a stem structure, wherein the stem structure comprises a nucleotide sequence capable of binding the DNA-binding domain of a transcriptional factor. The present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising said CDODN. The pharmaceutical composition can be used for treating and/or preventing a disease or disorder related to such a transcriptional factor. The present invention also provides a method for treating and/or preventing a disease or disorder related to such a transcriptional factor, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a CDODN comprising two loop structures and a stem structure, wherein the stem structure comprises a nucleotide sequence capable of binding the DNA-binding domain of the transcriptional factor.

Abstract: A dialysis probe includes a tubular dialysis membrane sealed at its tip, a support tube coupled at a tip to a rear end of the dialysis membrane, a cap portion for securing a rear end of the support tube, an inlet conduit extending through the cap portion toward the tip of the dialysis membrane within a space to guide a perfusate into the space, an outlet conduit extending through the cap portion toward the tip of the dialysis membrane within the space to guide the perfusate in the space outside the space, and at least one air-exposure through-hole provided in the cap portion for maintaining the space at atmospheric pressure. The inlet conduit has a longer protruding length from the rear end of the support tube when compared to the outlet conduit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antibody against a periostin isoform having anti-cell adhesive activity, especially an anti-periostin antibody having the ability to neutralize anti-cell adhesive properties, as well as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for periostin-related diseases comprising the antibody. The present invention also provides methods for detecting and quantifying the periostin isoform in a sample by using the antibody, as well as a method for diagnosing periostin-related diseases comprising measuring the amount of the periostin isoform by the detection or quantification method.

Abstract: A method for improving cerebral circulation or treating a cerebral blood flow disorder, comprising administering a pharmacologically effective amount of an angiotensin II receptor blocker to a human.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide which has an excellent angiogenesis-inducing activity and an excellent antibacterial activity, and a novel angiogenesis-inducing agent which contains the polypeptide as an effective ingredient or a novel agent for treating a wound(s) which contains the polypeptide as an effective ingredient are disclosed. The polypeptide of the present invention is a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence is shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 6, 8 and 10. The angiogenesis-inducing agent which contains the polypeptide of the present invention as an effective ingredient is useful for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of a disease such as a burns, decubitus, wound, skin ulcer, leg ulcer, diabetic ulcer, occlusive arterial disease and arteriosclerosis obliteran.