Abstract: A pump unit and a pump capable of detecting characteristics of a conveyance article and a method for detecting the characteristics of the conveyance article. A pump unit includes an outer cylinder; an inner cylinder disposed on an inner circumference side of the outer cylinder; and a pressure supply chamber provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the pump unit being configured to convey a conveyance article in the inner cylinder by supplying a pressurizing medium into the pressure supply chamber and thereby causing the inner cylinder to expand inwardly in a radial direction, in which the pump unit further includes a conveyance article information acquiring device configured to acquire information on the conveyance article in the inner cylinder at a time when the inner cylinder is expanded.

Abstract: By using ion exchange column chromatography or calcium carbonate to an aqueous solution containing a compound A represented by the following formula and citric acid, citric acid in the aqueous solution is removed and a crystalline compound A is obtained by being thereafter subjected to several steps. Further a high-purity noncrystalline compound A is obtained by using calcium carbonate, sulfuric acid, an organic solvent and the like to the aqueous solution containing the compound A and citric acid to remove citric acid and the crystalline compound A in the solution. The configuration of the crystalline compound A is an SS isomer in the RS notation system. The configuration of the noncrystalline compound A is an SR isomer.

Abstract: Compounds (citric acid derivatives) represented by formulas (1) and (2) below are novel compounds having an inhibitory effect against liver disorder and can be used as liver disorder inhibitors and food additives (wherein R1 represents a C1 to C3 alkyl group optionally having a carboxyl group or a hydroxyl group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or R1 and R2 optionally form a cyclic structure together to represent a C2 to C3 alkylene chain).

Abstract: The present invention provides a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and particularly non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) comprising an ume (Japanese apricot) juice concentrate or a processed product thereof. The prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent is obtained by utilizing a component contained in a plant or a processed product thereof, and hence is safe and easily taken. It has been confirmed that when the ume juice concentrate or the processed product thereof is orally administered to a streptozocin (STZ)-induced NAFLD model mouse or an STZ-induced NASH model mouse, liver fibrogenesis can be reduced.

Abstract: By using ion exchange column chromatography or calcium carbonate to an aqueous solution containing a compound A represented by the following formula and citric acid, citric acid in the aqueous solution is removed and a crystalline compound A is obtained by being thereafter subjected to several steps. Further a high-purity noncrystalline compound A is obtained by using calcium carbonate, sulfuric acid, an organic solvent and the like to the aqueous solution containing the compound A and citric acid to remove citric acid and the crystalline compound A in the solution. The configuration of the crystalline compound A is an SS isomer in the RS notation system. The configuration of the noncrystalline compound A is an SR isomer.

Abstract: Compounds (citric acid derivatives) represented by formulas (1) and (2) below are novel compounds having an inhibitory effect against liver disorder and can be used as liver disorder inhibitors and food additives (wherein R1 represents a C1 to C3 alkyl group optionally having a carboxyl group or a hydroxyl group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or R1 and R2 optionally form a cyclic structure together to represent a C2 to C3 alkylene chain).

Abstract: Compounds (citric acid derivatives) represented by formulas (1) and (2) below are novel compounds having an inhibitory effect against liver disorder and can be used as liver disorder inhibitors and food additives (wherein R1 represents a C1 to C3 alkyl group optionally having a carboxyl group or a hydroxyl group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or R1 and R2 optionally form a cyclic structure together to represent a C2 to C3 alkylene chain).

Abstract: Compounds (citric acid derivatives) represented by formulas (1) and (2) below are novel compounds having an inhibitory effect against liver disorder and can be used as liver disorder inhibitors and food additives (wherein R1 represents a C1 to C3 alkyl group optionally having a carboxyl group or a hydroxyl group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or R1 and R2 optionally form a cyclic structure together to represent a C2 to C3 alkylene chain).

Abstract: The present invention provides a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and particularly non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) comprising an ume (Japanese apricot) juice concentrate or a processed product thereof. The prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent is obtained by utilizing a component contained in a plant or a processed product thereof, and hence is safe and easily taken. It has been confirmed that when the ume juice concentrate or the processed product thereof is orally administered to a streptozocin (STZ)-induced NAFLD model mouse or an STZ-induced NASH model mouse, liver fibrogenesis can be reduced.