Abstract: A method for detecting a condition in a patient with disturbance of consciousness, by analyzing an amount and/or activity of a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, and a kit for detecting a condition in a patient with disturbance of consciousness, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, or a von Willebrand factor or a fragment thereof, are disclosed. Examples of the detection of a condition include a detection of cerebrovascular disease, a detection of arteriosclerotic vascular disease, and a detection or prediction of severity.

Abstract: A method for determining an appropriate treatment option for a patient who has been diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) but who may have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) and the amount of vWF in a patient that has been diagnosed with DIC is disclosed. Using the method of the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be made from among patients diagnosed with DIC, which could not previously be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers. Also disclosed is a kit for determining an appropriate treatment option, the kit comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13.

Abstract: A method of detecting thrombosis or the degree of thrombophilia by measuring a von Willebrand factor cleaving protease, and a kit for detecting thrombosis or the degree of thrombophilia, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof specifically binding to a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, are disclosed. The detection method and the detection kit have an excellent convenience, rapidity, and specificity.

Abstract: A method for determining an appropriate treatment option for a patient who has been diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) but who may have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) and the amount of vWF in a patient that has been diagnosed with DIC is disclosed. Using the method of the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be made from among patients diagnosed with DIC, which could not previously be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers. Also disclosed is a kit for determining an appropriate treatment option, the kit comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13.

Abstract: A method of detecting platelet thrombosis or organ failure in a patient suffering from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), comprising analyzing a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease and/or a cleaving factor thereof, is disclosed. A kit for detecting platelet thrombosis or organ failure in a patient suffering from DIC or SIRS, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, and/or an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to a cleaving factor of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting a condition in a patient with disturbance of consciousness, by analyzing an amount and/or activity of a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, and a kit for detecting a condition in a patient with disturbance of consciousness, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, or a von Willebrand factor or a fragment thereof, are disclosed. Examples of the detection of a condition include a detection of cerebrovascular disease, a detection of arteriosclerotic vascular disease, and a detection or prediction of severity.

Abstract: A method of analyzing an enzyme, comprising (1) bringing a sample suspected of containing an enzyme to be analyzed into contact with an enzyme substrate which is immobilized on an insoluble carrier and can be cleaved by the enzyme, in a liquid, (2) separating the insoluble carrier from the liquid, and (3) analyzing a substrate or a fragment thereof which remains on the insoluble carrier and/or a fragment of the substrate which is released from the insoluble carrier into the liquid; and a kit for analyzing an enzyme, comprising at least an enzyme substrate which is immobilized on an insoluble carrier and can be cleaved by the enzyme, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining a condition of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) (preferably also the amount of vWF) in a patient suffering from DIC, and a kit for determining a condition of DIC, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13, are disclosed. According to the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be carried out from among patients with DIC, which could not be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers.

Abstract: A method of detecting platelet thrombosis or organ failure in a patient suffering from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), comprising analyzing a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease and/or a cleaving factor thereof, is disclosed. A kit for detecting platelet thrombosis or organ failure in a patient suffering from DIC or SIRS, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, and/or an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to a cleaving factor of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of detecting thrombosis or the degree of thrombophilia by measuring a von Willebrand factor cleaving protease, and a kit for detecting thrombosis or the degree of thrombophilia, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof specifically binding to a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, are disclosed. The detection method and the detection kit have an excellent convenience, rapidity, and specificity.

Abstract: A method for detecting infection with enterohemorrhagic E. coli which comprises holding enterohemorrhagic E. coli lipopolysaccharides on carrier particles, reacting an anti-lipopolysaccharide antibody in samples with the lipopolysaccharides on the carrier particles, and then determining the extent at agglutination of the carrier particles.

Abstract: The invention is based on an electronic still camera for converting a taken optical image of the subject into digital image data, and recording into a memory card incorporating semiconductor memories, in which the digital image data obtained from this electronic still camera is stored in a large-capacity recording medium through an exclusive recording device, or displayed in plural monitors, or stored in a disk or magnetic tape by existing recording devices or even compressed, expanded, edited or processed, so that it may satisfy versatile requests of users sufficiently.

Abstract: The invention is based on an electronic still camera for converting a taken optical image of the subject into digital image data, and recording into a memory card incorporating semiconductor memories, in which the digital image data obtained from this electronic still camera is stored in a large-capacity recording medium through an exclusive recording device, or displayed in plural monitors, or stored in a disk or magnetic tape by existing recording devices or even compressed, expanded, edited or processed, so that it may satisfy versatile requests of users sufficiently.

Abstract: In a voluntary-muscle strength measurement method and a muscular tonus state judgment method, the muscle strength of a voluntary muscle and the muscular tonus state can be measured accurately and objectively. The muscle strength of a voluntary muscle as the examiner pulls apart an O-ring shape formed with the thumb and another finger of subject's hand is measured with a first sensor placed at at least one point on the two fingers forming O-ring shape, and it is detected whether or not two fingers forming O-ring shape were pulled apart with a second sensor placed between two fingers forming O-ring shape, and the muscle strength at the time two fingers forming O-ring shape were pulled apart is measured by the detected outputs of the first and second sensors. Thereby, the O-ring test can be executed accurately and the muscle strength of a voluntary muscle can be measured with high reliability.

Abstract: The invention is based on an electronic still camera for converting a taken optical image of the subject into digital image data, and recording into a memory card incorporating semiconductor memories, in which the digital image data obtained from this electronic still camera is stored in a large-capacity recording medium through an exclusive recording device, or displayed in plural monitors, or stored in a disk or magnetic tape by existing recording devices or even compressed, expanded, edited or processed, so that it may satisfy versatile requests of users sufficiently.

Abstract: In a voluntary-muscle strength measurement method and a muscular tonus state judgment method, the muscle strength of a voluntary muscle and the muscular tonus state can be measured accurately and objectively. The muscle strength of a voluntary muscle as the examiner pulls apart an O-ring shape formed with the thumb and another finger of subject's hand is measured with a first sensor placed at at least one point on the two fingers forming O-ring shape, and it is detected whether or not two fingers forming O-ring shape were pulled apart with a second sensor placed between two fingers forming O-ring shape, and the muscle strength at the time two fingers forming O-ring shape were pulled apart is measured by the detected outputs of the first and second sensors. Thereby, the O-ring test can be executed accurately and the muscle strength of a voluntary muscle can be measured with high reliability.