Abstract: A diagnostic agent for pancreatic exocrine function comprising an amino acid or a peptide containing at least one 13C or 14C atom, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof other than Bz-Tyr-13C-PABA is provided.

Abstract: A preparation for the diagnosis of pancreatic exocrine function by determining the amount in which a substance administered to a subject or a degradation product or metabolite thereof migrates into the blood and/or is excreted out of the body, wherein the substance is carried by a carrier and released from the carrier when exposed to the action of a pancreatic exocrine function-related factor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic agent for diabetes, comprising a compound labelled with 13C at least at one specific position selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (g): (a) galactose, fructose or xylose labelled with 13C at least atone specific position, or a starch composed of glucose units labelled with 13C at least at one specific position; (b) an amino acid labelled with 13C at least at one specific position; (c) lactic acid or citric acid labelled with 13C at least at one specific position; (d) a fatty acid labelled with 13C at least at one specific position; (e) a glyceride labelled with 13C at least at one specific position; (f) glycerol labelled with 13C at least at one specific position; and (g) aminopyrin of which the dimethylamino group at position 4 is labelled with 13C, phenacetin of which the ethoxy group is labelled with 13C at position 1, or methacetin of which the methoxy group is labelled with 13C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a 13C-labeled oligosaccharide or polysaccharide or a salt thereof excluding U-13C-maltose, 13C-starch, 1-13C-maltotetraose and 1-13C-amylose; a derivative of the 13C-labeled oligosaccharide or polysaccharide or salt thereof; a 13C-labeled inclusion complex or a salt thereof, which comprises a cyclodextrin or a modified derivative thereof as a host molecule; a 13C- or 14C-labeled fluorescein ester compound or a salt thereof; and a diagnostic agents for pancreatic exocrine function comprising these compounds 13C- or 14C-labeled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic agent for diabetes, which comprises glucose labelled with 13C at a specific position, or pyruvic acid labelled with 13C at least one specific position. According to the present invention, there is provided a diagnostic agent for diabetes which can be used safely without side effects to give accurate results immediately with less physical pains on the subject. The present diagnostic agent for diabetes can distinguish between healthy persons and patients with diabetes even under the circumstances where the patients are easily missed, and further it can determine the type of diabetes (insulin-dependent type or insulin-independent type).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reagent for evaluating a hepatic operation, comprising an aromatic amino acid, methionine, alanine, fructose or galactose labelled with 13C at least at one position. According to the present invention, there is provided a reagent for evaluating a hepatic operation, which imposes less physical burden on a subject, can give accurate test results immediately and can be used safely without side effects. The reagent of the invention is useful for measuring the accurate liver excision ratio, liver regeneration/increase ratio or liver weight of a subject after a hepatic operation. With the reagent of the invention, information which is useful for evaluating a hepatic operation and the degree of invasion by the operation and for diagnosis is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic agent for liver function, comprising a compound labelled with .sup.13 C at least at one specific position selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (f):(a) galactose, glucose or xylose labelled with .sup.13 C at least at one specific position or a starch composed of glucose units labelled with .sup.13 C at least at one specific position;(b) a polar amino acid, heterocyclic amino acid, isoleucine or valine labelled with .sup.13 C at least at one specific position;(c) a carboxylic acid constituting the glycolytic pathway or the citric acid cycle, labelled with .sup.13 C at least at one specific position;(d) a fatty acid labelled with .sup.13 C at least at one specific position;(e) a glyceride labelled with .sup.13 C at least at one specific position; and(f) glycerol labelled with .sup.13 C at least at one specific position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing diabetes, which comprises administering a diagnostic agent comprising glucose labeled with .sup.13 C at a specific position, or pyruvic acid labeled with .sup.13 C in at least one specific position. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of diagnosing diabetes by administering a diagnostic agent which can be used safely without side effects to give accurate results immediately with less physical pains on the subject. The present method of diagnosing diabetes can distinguish between healthy persons and patients with diabetes even under the circumstances where the patients are easily missed, and further it can determine the type of diabetes (insulin-dependent type or insulin-independent type).

Abstract: In a nib structure of a writing instrument of the type having a tubular nib fitted to a forward end of a tubular tip of the instrument, the tubular nib is provided with a concentrically reduced diameter portion having an outer surface gently sloped from the ends toward a middle portion of the nib, and a radiused peripheral edge at a rearward end of the nib. The nib structure provides easy and accurate fitting of the nib into the tubular tip.

Abstract: A writing instrument comprises a writing nib having a writing tip at one end and an enlarged head portion at the other end, and a resilient seat urging the head portion of the nib toward a tip of the instrument. The nib is movably secured in a nib holder body in such a manner that a writing pressure enables the nib to move backward against the resilient force of the seat to form an ink-feed space between the head portion and the nib holder body. When the writing instrument is not in use, the head portion is engaged with the nib holder body to close the ink-feed space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic agent for diabetes, which comprises glucose labelled with 13C at a specific position, or pyruvic acid labelled with 13C at least one specific position. According to the present invention, there is provided a diagnostic agent for diabetes which can be used safely without side effects to give accurate results immediately with less physical pains on the subject. The present diagnostic agent for diabetes can distinguish between healthy persons and patients with diabetes even under the circumstances where the patients are easily missed, and further it can determine the type of diabetes (insulin-dependent type or insulin-independent type).