Abstract: An imaging apparatus is equipped with a voltage control section, which individually controls the focus distance of a lens managed on the basis of each of a plurality of pieces of management information in accordance with a predetermined control condition corresponding to each of the pieces of management information and switches the focus distance of the lens at the time of imaging at a predetermined switching period in accordance with the focus distance indicated by each piece of management information while switching the plurality of pieces of management information at the predetermined switching period.

Abstract: A sustained-release preparation which comprises a physiologically active peptide of general formula wherein X represents an acyl group; R1, R2 and R4 each represents an aromatic cyclic group; R3 represents a D-amino acid residue or a group of the formula wherein R3? is a heterocyclic group; R5 represents a group of the formula —(CH2)n—R5? wherein n is 2 or 3, and R5? is an amino group which may optionally be substituted, an aromatic cyclic group or an O-glycosyl group; R6 represents a group of the formula —(CH2)n—R6? wherein n is 2 or 3, and R6? is an amino group which may optionally be substituted; R7 represents a D-amino acid residue or an azaglycyl residue; and Q represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, or a salt thereof and a biodegradable polymer having a terminal carboxyl group. The sustained-release preparation shows a constant release of the peptide over a long time and is substantially free from an initial burst.

Abstract: Provided is a sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone which combines biodegradability with sustained-release performance while avoiding the use of an organic solvent as much as possible, allows the sustained-release of a human growth hormone over 3 days or more and reduction in the initial burst release, can contain a human growth hormone at 10% or more, can quantitatively adsorb and encapsulate a human growth hormone at up to 20%, and has excellent dispersion and needle penetration properties. A process for producing the sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone is also provided. The sustained-release microparticle preparation comprises a porous apatite derivative, a human growth hormone, and a water-soluble divalent metal compound.

Abstract: To provide protein drug sustained-release microparticle preparations for injection that in the production thereof, minimize the use of organic solvents and avoid the simultaneous use of an organic solvent immiscible with water and an aqueous solution and that with respect to the obtained product, simultaneously have in vivo disappearing and sustained-release capabilities, slowly release the contained protein drug at a substantially constant rate over a period of three days or more and realize a drug content of 5% or more, excelling in dispersibility and needle passability; and to provide a process for producing the same. The protein drug sustained-release microparticle preparations for injection comprise a porous apatite or derivative thereof containing a protein drug and, provided thereon by coating or adhesion, an in vivo disappearing polymer.

Abstract: Provided are a production process for a polymeric micelle which is stable and has a high drug content and a composition containing such polymeric micelle. Disclosed are a production process for a polymeric micelle, comprising the steps of dissolving a drug and a specific copolymer in a water non-miscible organic solvent to prepare a solution, mixing the resulting solution with water to form an O/W type emulsion and then slowly volatilizing the organic solvent from the solution, and a polymeric micelle composition charged therein with a water-scarcely soluble drug, which can be obtained by the above production process.

Abstract: A drug and a biodegradable polymer having at least one carboxyl group are encapsulated into nanoparticle which is formed by a block copolymer having a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment. This invention thus provides a drug-encapsulated nanoparticle which shows an increased in vivo drug-stability.

Abstract: Provided is a sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone which combines biodegradability with sustained-release performance while avoiding the use of an organic solvent as much as possible, allows the sustained-release of a human growth hormone over 3 days or more and reduction in the initial burst release, can contain a human growth hormone at 10% or more, can quantitatively adsorb and encapsulate a human growth hormone at up to 20%, and has excellent dispersion and needle penetration properties. A process for producing the sustained-release microparticle preparation of a human growth hormone is also provided. The sustained-release microparticle preparation comprises a porous apatite derivative, a human growth hormone, and a water-soluble divalent metal compound.

Abstract: Sustained release microparticles suitable for various types of drugs, or drug-containing sustained release microparticles capable of sustained release of drugs over a period of three days or more and capable of inhibiting initial burst release; a process for producing the same; and preparations containing the microparticles are disclosed. The drug-containing sustained release microparticles comprise a drug other than human growth hormone and a porous apatite derivative, and optionally include a water-soluble bivalent metal compound.

Abstract: A sustained-release preparation which comprises a physiologically active peptide of general formula wherein X represents an acyl group; R1, R2 and R4 each represents an aromatic cyclic group; R3 represents a D-amino acid residue or a group of the formula wherein R3? is a heterocyclic group; R5 represents a group of the formula —(CH2)n—R5? wherein n is 2 or 3, and R5? is an amino group which may optionally be substituted, an aromatic cyclic group or an O-glycosyl group; R6 represents a group of the formula —(CH2)n—R6? wherein n is 2 or 3, and R6? is an amino group which may optionally be substituted; R7 represents a D-amino acid residue or an azaglycyl residue; and Q represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, or a salt thereof and a biodegradable polymer having a terminal carboxyl group. The sustained-release preparation shows a constant release of the peptide over a long time and is substantially free from an initial burst.

Abstract: Provided are a composition for preparing a lyophilized preparation, comprising a drug-encapsulating polymer micelle and saccharides and/or polyethylene glycol as a stabilizing agent, a lyophilized preparation and a process for producing them. The lyophilized preparation thus provided is easily restructured to an aqueous preparation using an aqueous medium.

Abstract: Provided are a production process for a polymeric micelle which is stable and has a high drug content and a composition containing such polymeric micelle. Disclosed are a production process for a polymeric micelle, comprising the steps of dissolving a drug and a specific copolymer in a water non-miscible organic solvent to prepare a solution, mixing the resulting solution with water to form an O/W type emulsion and then slowly volatilizing the organic solvent from the solution, and a polymeric micelle composition charged therein with a water-scarcely soluble drug, which can be obtained by the above production process.

Abstract: A sustained-release preparation which comprises a physiologically active peptide of general formula: wherein X represents an acyl group; R1, R2 and R4 each represents an aromatic cyclic group; R3 represents a D-amino acid residue or a group of the formula: wherein R3′ is a heterocyclic group; R5 represents a group of the formula —(CH2)n—R5′ wherein n is 2 or 3, and R5′ is an amino group which may optionally be substituted, an aromatic cyclic group or an O-glycosyl group; R6 represents a group of the formula —(CH2)n—R6′ wherein n is 2 or 3, and R6′ is an amino group which may optionally be substituted; R7 represents a D-amino acid residue or an azaglycyl residue; and Q represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, or a salt thereof and a biodegradable polymer having a terminal carboxyl group.

Abstract: A sustained-release preparation which comprises a physiologically active peptide of general formula 1

Abstract: A sustained-release preparation which comprises a physiologically active peptide of general formula 1

Abstract: A sustained-release preparation which comprises a physiologically active peptide of general formula 1

Abstract: Provided are a production process for a polymeric micelle which is stable and has a high drug content and a composition containing such polymeric micelle. Disclosed are a production process for a polymeric micelle, comprising the steps of dissolving a drug and a specific copolymer in a water non-miscible organic solvent to prepare a solution, mixing the resulting solution with water to form an O/W type emulsion and then slowly volatilizing the organic solvent from the solution, and a polymeric micelle composition charged therein with a water-scarcely soluble drug, which can be obtained by the above production process.

Abstract: This invention provides a red tide eliminating composition comprising:(a) at least one (polyoxyalkylene) fatty acid ester represented by the formula (1)RCOO (AO)nH (1)wherein R represents a C.sub.7-22 alkyl or alkenyl group, n represents an integer of 1 to 30 and AO represents a C.sub.2-4 alkylene oxide, and(b) at least one powdery adsorbent; wherein, based on the total weight of the above at least one (polyoxyalkylene) fatty acid ester (a) represented by the formula (1) and the above at least one adsorbent (b), the above at least one (polyoxyalkylene) fatty acid ester (a) represented by the formula (1) is present in an amount of 1 to 70 wt. % and the above at least one adsorbent (b) is present in an amount of 99 to 30 wt. %; and a method for eliminating red tide by use of the composition.

Abstract: A sustained-release preparation which comprises a physiologically active peptide of general formula ##STR1## wherein X represents an acyl group; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 each represents an aromatic cyclic group;R.sub.3 represents a D-amino acid residue or a group of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 ' is a heterocyclic group; R.sub.5 represents a group of the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --R.sub.5 ' wherein n is 2 or 3, and R.sub.5 ' is an amino group which may optionally be substituted, an aromatic cyclic group or an O-glycosyl group;R.sub.6 represents a group of the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --R.sub.6 ' wherein n is 2 or 3, and R.sub.6 ' is an amino group which may optionally be substituted;R.sub.7 represents a D-amino acid residue or an azaglycyl residue; andQ represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, or a salt thereof and a biodegradable polymer having a terminal carboxyl group.

Abstract: This invention provides a microcapsule designed for zero order release of a physiologically active polypeptide over a period of at least two months, which is produced by preparing a water-in-oil emulsion comprising an inner aqueous layer containing about 20 to 70% (w/w) of said polypeptide and an oil layer containing a copolymer or homopolymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 7,000 to 30,000, wherein the composition ratio of lactic acid/glycolic acid in the copolymer or homopolymer is 80/10 to 100/0, and then subjecting said water-in oil emulsion to microencapsulation.

Abstract: A method of producing sustained-release microcapsules containing a biologically active substance from an W/O emulsion comprising an inner aqueous phase containing said biologically active substance and an external oil phase containing a biodegradable polymer, characterized in that microcapsules formed on microencapsulation of said biologically active substance with said biodegradable polymer are heated at a temperature not lower than the glass transition temperature of said biodegradable polymer but not so high as to cause aggregation of the microcapsules. This method enables the production of very useful sustained release microcapsules adapted to release a bologically active substance at a calculated rate over a protracted time period starting immediately following administration without an initial burst within one day following administration.