Abstract: Agents for protecting or ameliorating pancreatic cells and tissues which contains as the active ingredient a neurotrophic factor such as BDNF. By using these drugs, degenerative dropout of pancreatic cells and pancreatic hypofunction caused by diabetes, acute/chronic pancreatitis, etc. can be efficaciously prevented and treated.

Abstract: L-ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid derivatives and salts thereof can reduce lactic acid levels in blood, and are useful for treating lactic acidosis and the like caused by administration of amoxapine, theophylline, metformin, phenformin, buformin, nalidixic acid, hopantenic acid, azidothymidine, dideoxycytidine, high caloric transfusion, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, xylitol, lactose, sorbitol or the like.

Abstract: In a FRP leaf spring consisting of a main body and a rib, the main body has a taper portion so tapered that the thickness of the main body varies continuously along the longitudinal direction thereof, and the rib is projected integrally from the main body in the direction of the thickness thereof, extending along the longitudinal direction of the main body, so that the total sectional area of the main body and the rib, as well as the width of the main body, is kept substantially fixed in every position along the longitudinal direction to ensure uniform stress distribution.