Abstract: The invention provides agents that promote or inhibit neurite elongation comprising as an active ingredient an antibody that recognizes a varicella-zoster virus immediate-early protein and cross-reacts with a brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The invention also provides methods of utilizing such agents to prevent or treat a nervous disease or a disease with nerve hypersensitivity caused by a condition selected from the group consisting of postherpetic neuralgia, chronic pains, experience-dependent social aversion and stress.

Abstract: The dried amniotic membrane is produced by drying a fresh amniotic membrane, which envelopes an embryo of an animal including human, and can be used as a substitute membrane for a membrane tissue in a living body; the dried amniotic membrane is dehydrated and dried so that the dried amniotic membrane can be stored in a dry air in a sterile state; when hydrated again by immersing in water or a buffer solution, the amniotic membrane still has an epithelial cell, a basement membrane and a connective tissue which constitute the fresh amniotic membrane. The dried amniotic membrane is useful as a medical substitute membrane for a membrane tissue in a living body such as a dura mater, a meninx, a pericardium, a pleura and a peritoneum.

Abstract: An object is to overcome the disadvantages of a conventional lyophilized amniotic membrane or the like which causes damages in a cell membrane or an amniotic membrane tissue and is therefore not suitable for use as a substitute membrane for a membrane tissue in a living body, and to provide a novel medical substitute membrane composed of a dried amniotic membrane, which can be used as a substitute membrane for a membrane tissue in a living body. The dried amniotic membrane is produced by drying a fresh amniotic membrane, which envelopes an embryo of an animal including human, and can be used as a substitute membrane for a membrane tissue in a living body; the dried amniotic membrane is dehydrated and dried so that the dried amniotic membrane can be stored in a dry air in a sterile state; when hydrated again by immersing in water or a buffer solution, the amniotic membrane still has an epithelial cell, a basement membrane and a connective tissue which constitute the fresh amniotic membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides agents that promote or inhibit neurite elongation comprising as an active ingredient an antibody that recognizes a varicella-zoster virus immediate-early protein and cross-reacts with a brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The invention also provides methods of utilizing such agents to prevent or treat a nervous disease or a disease with nerve hypersensitivity caused by a condition selected from the group consisting of postherpetic neuralgia, chronic pains, experience-dependent social aversion and stress.