Abstract: A preventive and/or therapeutic agent for inflammatory respiratory tract diseases containing, as an active ingredient, a steroid derivative represented by the following formula (1): (wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, or —OCOR1 (wherein R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group which may be substituted by a halogen atom or a cycloalkyl group; a cycloalkyl group; or an aryl group)). These compounds can continuously suppress respiratory tract inflammation and respiratory tract hyperreaction and show a high site selectivity and little systemic effect when administered directly to the respiratory tract. By virtue of these characteristics, these compounds are remarkably useful in clinical medicine as highly safe preventive and/or therapeutic agents for inflammatory respiratory tract diseases which can be administered for a long period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are quinoline derivatives having dual mechanistic properties, referred to in this patent document as “acetylcholine enhancers”, i.e., compounds which evidence acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity, and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist activity. A particularly preferred compound is 2-[2-(1-benzylpiperizin-4-yl)ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-9-methoxy-1H-pyrrolo [3,4-b] quinolin-1-one hemifumarate, referred to herein as Compound A (“Cm.A”).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are quinoline derivatives having dual mechanistic properties, referred to in this patent document as “acetylcholine enhancers”, i.e., compounds which evidence acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity, and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist activity. A particularly preferred compound is 2-[2-(1-benzylpiperizin-4-yl)ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-9-methoxy-1H-pyrrolo [3,4-b] quinolin-1-one hemifumarate, referred to herein as Compound A (“Cm.A”).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are quinoline derivatives having dual mechanistic properties, referred to in this patent document as “acetylcholine enhancers”, i.e., compounds which evidence acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity, and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist activity. A particularly preferred compound is 2-[2-(1-benzylpiperizin-4-yl) ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-9-methoxy-1H-pyrrolo [3,4-b] quinolin-1-one hemifumarate, referred to herein as Compound A (“Cm.A”).

Abstract: A compact and inexpensive zoom lens having a variable power ratio of two or greater and reduced total length of the lens system. The compact zoom lens comprises a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power in this order from the object side. The first lens group includes a negative lens component L.sub.1 and a positive lens L.sub.2 in this order from the object side. The second lens group includes a positive lens component L.sub.3, a negative lens L.sub.4 and a positive lens L.sub.5 positioned in this order from the object side with an air gap between them. When the focal legth of the whole lens system is varied from its wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group is being moved toward the object side from the image side. This zoom lens satisfies the conditions0.7<f.sub.2 /F.sub.W <1.4-1.7<f.sub.1 /F.sub.W <-1.0where f.sub.1 is the focal length of the first lens group, f.sub.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power, and a third lens group having negative refractive power. In zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first and second lens groups is increased and the distance between the second and third lens groups is decreased. The second lens group includes a front group having low refractive power and a rear group having positive refractive power. The rear group is movable in a direction almost perpendicular to the optical axis.