Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a spectral image acquisition unit configured to acquire a spectral image that is an image generated using photoacoustic signals corresponding to a plurality of different wavelengths, based on photoacoustic waves generated by radiating lights with the plurality of different wavelengths to an object into which a contrast agent has been injected, a contrast agent information acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the contrast agent, a region determination unit configured to determine a region corresponding to the contrast agent in the spectral image on the basis of the information about the contrast agent, and a display control unit configured to display the spectral image such that the region corresponding to the contrast agent is distinguishable from a region other than the region corresponding to the contrast agent.

Abstract: An aspect provides an image processing apparatus processing three-dimensional image data generated based on a photoacoustic wave generated from inside of a subject.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a data acquisition unit configured to acquire, in time series, first image data that have been generated based on acoustic waves generated by irradiating a subject, into which a contrast agent has been injected, with light a plurality of times and that correspond respectively to the plurality of times of light irradiation; and an image generation unit configured to generate second image data indicating a region corresponding to the contrast agent in the plurality of first image data on the basis of the plurality of the first image data acquired in time series.

Abstract: A system includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire a first image generated by imaging fluorescence that is generated by emitting excitation light onto a subject into which a fluorescent contrast agent has been introduced; and a photoacoustic measuring unit configured to implement photoacoustic measurement by receiving a photoacoustic wave generated in response to light emission onto the subject, wherein the photoacoustic measuring unit is further configured to control the photoacoustic measurement on the basis of the first image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting or diagnosing in vitro Alzheimer's disease, or memory and/or cognitive disorders, using a human biological sample and the inactivation of STAT3 protein as an indication, and a method for screening for a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease or memory and/or cognitive disorders, using the activation of STAT3 protein as an indication.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a drug delivery system toward a demyelinating lesion. It is also intended to provide a biochemical marker of a demyelinating lesion. A delivery system for a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for a demyelinating disease characterized in that a substance capable of specifically recognizing Contactin is conjugated to an active ingredient of a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for a demyelinating disease is provided. Also provided is a method of evaluating and/or differentiating a demyelinating disease, including measuring the expression of Contactin in a body fluid.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is directed to search receptors based on the information of HN signaling pathways in order to find Humanin receptor or Humanin-like polypeptide receptor (HNR), and to reveal a mechanism of promoting or suppressing the intracellular signal transduction for neuroprotecting activity of HN and identify a compound involved in the mechanism. The aspect of the invention is directed to a method for screening of HNR agonist and HNR antagonist, to utilize the screened compound in development of a drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease, and to provide an assay system of AD neuronal cell death, and to provide methods for the compulsory expression of HNR gene or knocking-out of intracellular genes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of a neurodegenerative disease, comprising the following polypeptide shown in any of (a) to (c): (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala-Pro-Ala-Gly-Ala-Ser-Arg-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Asp-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 1); (b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having a deletion, substitution, insertion, and/or addition of one or several amino acids in the amino acid sequence consisting of Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala-Pro-Ala-Gly-Ala-Ser-Arg-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Asp-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 1), and having an activity that inhibits neuronal cell death associated with neurodegenerative disease; and (c) a modified polypeptide from the polypeptide (a) or (b), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a drug delivery system toward a demyelinating lesion. It is also intended to provide a biochemical marker of a demyelinating lesion. A delivery system for a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for a demyelinating disease characterized in that a substance capable of specifically recognizing Contactin is conjugated to an active ingredient of a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for a demyelinating disease is provided. Also provided is a method of evaluating and/or differentiating a demyelinating disease, including measuring the expression of Contactin in a body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions composing, as an active ingredient, a substance capable of activating the ? chain of Fc receptors (FcR?) (provided that the substance is not an immunoglobulin for intravenous injection), and agents for stimulating myelinogenesis. The invention also provides agents for stimulating the differentiation of oligodendroglial precursor cells, agents for activating Fyn tyrosine kinase, and agents for stimulating the expression of myelin basic protein, all comprising a substance capable of activating FcR? as an active ingredient. Further, the invention provides a method of detecting myelinogenetic oligodendroglias or precursor cells thereof which comprises using the expression of FcR? in oligodendroglias or precursor cells thereof as an indicator.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an agent effective for the treatment and/or prevention of motor neuron disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The present invention provides a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for motor neuron disease comprising the following oligopeptide shown in any of (a) to (c) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient: (a) an oligopeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 1); (b) an oligopeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having a deletion, substitution, insertion, or addition of one or several amino acids in Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 1), and having an activity that inhibits neuronal cell death caused by a mutant superoxide dismutase-1 gene; and (c) a modified oligopeptide from the oligopeptide (a) or (b).

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is directed to search receptors based on the information of HN signaling pathways in order to find Humanin receptor or Humanin-like polypeptide receptor (HNR), and to reveal a mechanism of promoting or suppressing the intracellular signal transduction for neuroprotecting activity of HN and identify a compound involved in the mechanism. The aspect of the invention is directed to a method for screening of HNR agonist and HNR antagonist, to utilize the screened compound in development of a drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease, and to provide an assay system of AD neuronal cell death, and to provide methods for the compulsory expression of HNR gene or knocking-out of intracellular genes.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an agent effective for the treatment and/or prevention of motor neuron disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The present invention provides a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for motor neuron disease comprising the following oligopeptide shown in any of (a) to (c) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient: (a) an oligopeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 1); (b) an oligopeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having a deletion, substitution, insertion, or addition of one or several amino acids in Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 1), and having an activity that inhibits neuronal cell death caused by a mutant superoxide dismutase-1 gene; and (c) a modified oligopeptide from the oligopeptide (a) or (b).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of a neurodegenerative disease, comprising the following polypeptide shown in any of (a) to (c): (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala-Pro-Ala-Gly-Ala-Ser-Arg-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Asp-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 1); (b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having a deletion, substitution, insertion, and/or addition of one or several amino acids in the amino acid sequence consisting of Ser-Ala-Leu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala-Pro-Ala-Gly-Ala-Ser-Arg-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Asp-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 1), and having an activity that inhibits neuronal cell death associated with neurodegenerative disease; and (c) a modified polypeptide from the polypeptide (a) or (b), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting or diagnosing in vitro Alzheimer's disease, or memory and/or cognitive disorders, using a human biological sample and the inactivation of STAT3 protein as an indication, and a method for screening for a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease or memory and/or cognitive disorders, using the activation of STAT3 protein as an indication.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions composing, as an active ingredient, a substance capable of activating the ? chain of Fc receptors (FcR?) (provided that the substance is not an immunoglobulin for intravenous injection), and agents for stimulating myelinogenesis. The invention also provides agents for stimulating the differentiation of oligodendroglial precursor cells, agents for activating Fyn tyrosine kinase, and agents for stimulating the expression of myelin basic protein, all comprising a substance capable of activating FcR? as an active ingredient. Further, the invention provides a method of detecting myelinogenetic oligodendroglias or precursor cells thereof which comprises using the expression of FcR? in oligodendroglias or precursor cells thereof as an indicator.

Abstract: In an animal embryo or tissue, the following wholeamount treatment is carried out so that gene expression is detected. First, a sample such as an embryo or a tissue is fixed and then pretreated by acetylating an amine with acetic anhydride and eliminating lipids by using xylene. Next, in situ RT-PCR is performed with the use of a dNTP/analog mixture in an mRNA Selective PCR Kit™ (manufactured by TAKARA) and dig-dUTP™ (manufactured by Roche), under modification conditions at 85° C. As a result, genomic DNA is not amplified but DNA originating in mRNA—is specifically amplified and labeled. Finally, the thus amplified DNA is detected by using digoxigenin as an indication. Thus, it is possible to provide a method of detecting gene expression whereby three-dimensional results can be obtained in an animal embryo or tissue at a high detection sensitivity by simple procedures and a kit and an apparatus to be used therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising, as an active ingredient, a substance capable of activating the ? chain of Fc receptors (FcR?) (provided that the substance is not an immunoglobulin for intravenous injection), and agents for stimulating myelinogenesis. The invention also provides agents for stimulating the differentiation of oligodendroglial precursor cells, agents for activating Fyn tyrosine kinase, and agents for stimulating the expression of myelin basic protein, all comprising a substance capable of activating FcR? as an active ingredient. Further, the invention provides a method of detecting myelinogenetic oligodenroglias or precursor cells thereof which comprises using the expression of FcR? in oligodendroglias or precursor cells thereof as an indicator.