Abstract: A leg movement acquisition unit 1 continuously acquires leg movements of a sleeping subject. An apnea detection unit 2 detects whether or not the subject is in a state of apnea. A movement analysis unit 3 determines whether or not the detected leg movement satisfies previously determined conditions. These previously determined conditions include at least the following conditions (a) to (d): (a) The duration of leg movement is within a previously determined range; (b) intensity of leg movement is a previously determined value or greater; (c) leg movements satisfying conditions (a) and (b) continue for a previously determined number of times within a previously determined duration; and (d) the leg movement is not movement from immediately before to immediately after an apnea state that has been detected by the apnea detection unit. A coefficient calculation unit 4 calculates a coefficient based on the number of times of leg movement that satisfied the previously determined conditions.

Abstract: A leg movement acquisition unit 1 continuously acquires leg movements of a sleeping subject. An apnea detection unit 2 detects whether or not the subject is in a state of apnea. A movement analysis unit 3 determines whether or not the detected leg movement satisfies previously determined conditions. These previously determined conditions include at least the following conditions (a) to (d): (a) The duration of leg movement is within a previously determined range; (b) intensity of leg movement is a previously determined value or greater; (c) leg movements satisfying conditions (a) and (b) continue for a previously determined number of times within a previously determined duration; and (d) the leg movement is not movement from immediately before to immediately after an apnea state that has been detected by the apnea detection unit. A coefficient calculation unit 4 calculates a coefficient based on the number of times of leg movement that satisfied the previously determined conditions.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of evaluating whether or not a subject has a predisposition to obesity or an obesity-related condition or disease, a kit for conducting the method, an anti-obesity drug having an effect of preventing or treating obesity or an obesity-related condition or disease, a method of screening the anti-obesity drug, a non-human animal having a deficiency in the gene associated with obesity, and an adipose tissue or adipocyte of the animal. The method of evaluating a predisposition to obesity of the present invention is a method of evaluating whether or not a subject has a predisposition to obesity or an obesity-related condition or disease. The method includes the step of detecting a copy number variation (CNV) in intron 1 of SLC25A24 gene or a gene polymorphism having a linkage disequilibrium relationship with the CNV in a sample containing a human gene of the subject.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of evaluating whether or not a subject has a predisposition to obesity or an obesity-related condition or disease, a kit for conducting the method, an anti-obesity drug having an effect of preventing or treating obesity or an obesity-related condition or disease, a method of screening the anti-obesity drug, a non-human animal having a deficiency in the gene associated with obesity, and an adipose tissue or adipocyte of the animal. The method of evaluating a predisposition to obesity of the present invention is a method of evaluating whether or not a subject has a predisposition to obesity or an obesity-related condition or disease. The method includes the step of detecting a copy number variation (CNV) in intron 1 of SLC25A24 gene or a gene polymorphism having a linkage disequilibrium relationship with the CNV in a sample containing a human gene of the subject.

Abstract: A rapid vascular endothelium function examining method with improved reproducibility is provided. An apparatus for the method comprises systems for acquiring ultrasound images by an ultrasound probe, processing the acquired images and moving/rotating the ultrasound probe. The method comprises: a first step where the acquired image is processed so that the center of a blood vessel is laid on the center of the image; a second step where a series of operations for acquiring an image, processing the acquired image and moving the probe based on the processed result, are repeated so that the probe is moved in parallel to the blood vessel; a third step where the similar operations to the second step are executed so that the probe is moved in parallel to and immediately above the blood vessel; a fourth step for determining a blood vessel diameter from the finally acquired image at the third step.

Abstract: A rapid vascular endothelium function examining method with improved reproducibility is provided. An apparatus for the method comprises systems for acquiring ultrasound images by an ultrasound probe, processing the acquired images and moving/rotating the ultrasound probe. The method comprises: a first step where the acquired image is processed so that the center of a blood vessel is laid on the center of the image; a second step where a series of operations for acquiring an image, processing the acquired image and moving the probe based on the processed result, are repeated so that the probe is moved in parallel to the blood vessel; a third step where the similar operations to the second step are executed so that the probe is moved in parallel to and immediately above the blood vessel; a fourth step for determining a blood vessel diameter from the finally acquired image at the third step.

Abstract: A method for anticipating sensitivity to a medicine for osteoporosis is provided which is characterized by analyzing respective genetic polymorphisms of a vitamin D receptor gene, an estrogen receptor gene, and an apolipoprotein E gene from a genome DNA contained in a sample obtained from a human, and anticipating, based on the analyzed combination of the genetic polymorphisms, that the sample is derived from an individual who shows a specific priority to sensitivities to a plurality of remedies for osteoporosis. A reagent for simultaneously detecting genetic polymorphisms is also provided which contains amplification primers and/or detection probes specific to respective genes of the vitamin D receptor gene, apolipoprotein E gene, and estrogen receptor gene. Further, a method for simultaneously detecting these genes, and a method for selecting remedies for bone disease based on the genetic polymorphisms are provided.