Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily and quantitatively evaluating a degree of fatigue of a human being, a kit therefor, and an application thereof. Specifically, by measuring a concentration of amino acid in plasma taken from a subject, the degree of fatigue of the subject in daily life can be easily and quantitatively evaluated. Furthermore, an in vivo anti-fatigue effect of an anti-fatigue substance and that of an anti-fatigue food product can be measured.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating the degree of fatigue of a human body. The evaluation method of the present invention is characterized by evaluating the degree of fatigue of a human body by using, as an index, change in waveform of a pulse wave, particularly acceleration pulse wave.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for transition metal-promoted carbonylation via isocyanate using carbon-isotope labeled carbon monoxide are provided. The resultant carbon-isotope labeled compounds are useful as radiopharmaceuticals, especially for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Associated kits for PET studies are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a neurodegenerative disease therapeutic agent containing as its active ingredient a (15R)-isocarbacycline derivative indicated by the following formula [I] or a 15-deoxy-isocarbacycline derivative indicated by the following formula [III]: (wherein, R1 represents a C1-C6 alkylene group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C7, alkyl group or protective group); or, (wherein, R1 and R2 are the same as those defined in formula [I]).

Abstract: Novel calcium-independent phospholipases A2; genes encoding the same; an antibody against them; an inherent promoter or a regulator gene which comprises a base sequence occurring in intron and inducing site-specific expression in response to an external stimulus; a method of expressing a target protein in response to an external stimulus; and an organism having this gene transferred thereinto. Novel calcium-independent phospholipases A2 having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5 or an amino acid sequence derived from such an amino acid sequence by the substitution, deletion or addition of one or more amino acids; a gene having a base sequence occurring in an intron and being capable of initiating RNA transcription due to an external stimulus such as a stimulus with kainic acid or an electrical stimulus; a method of regulating expression by using the gene; and an organism having the gene transferred thereinto.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apoptosis inhibitor containing a 15R-isocarbacyclin derivative or a 15-deoxy-isocarbacyclin derivative, which can be manufactured easily and economically by means of chemical synthesis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a labelled .beta.-cyano-L-alanine and a .gamma.-cyano-.alpha.-aminobutyric acid, of which cyano group carbon is labelled with radionuclide .sup.11 C or .sup.14 C, or stable isotope .sup.13 C. The present invention also provides a labelled amino acids such as asparagine, asparatic acid, DABA, GABA, glutamine and glutamic acid synthesized by using the labelled .beta.-cyano-L-alanine and the .gamma.-cyano-.alpha.-aminobutyric acid as an intermediate. The labelled amino acids are useful for in vivo imaging of tumors and brain functions.

Abstract: To permit detection of trace unstable reaction products to clarify the reaction process of oxygenation, this invenion provides a method of introducing positron nuclide .sup.15 O as an oxygen additive into the reaction system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a labelled acyl-L-carnitine, which is an acyl-L-carnitine, a salt thereof or a derivative thereof, of which carbon group is labelled with a radionuclide or a stable isotope. It is possible to diagnose human diseases falling under acyl-carnitine metabolic syndrome, or human diseases due to structural/functional disorder of the brain by measuring the behavior of the labelled acyl-L-carnitine in various tissues or a biological sample from a subject administered with one or more kinds of the labelled acyl-L-carnitines.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel isocarbacyclin derivatives useful for search and study of prostacyclin receptor and as a therapeutic drug for central nervous system diseases, which derivatives are expressed by the following formula ?I!: ##STR1## ?where, R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or cation of an appropriate amount, and R.sup.2 an alkylene group.

Abstract: A receptor (binding protein) specific for 6(R)-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin which is a drug effective for neuropsychiatric disorders such as infantile autism is provided. This receptor is contained in the cytosol fraction or the membrane fraction obtained from a homogenate of an animal organ. It is solubilized from the membrane fraction in the presence of 3-{(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio}-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS). This receptor is characterized in that the binding ability thereof to 6R-BH4 is mostly lost by heating at 100.degree. C. for 10 minutes, the binding ability thereof to 6R-BH4 is significantly lost by incubating with trypsin at 37.degree. C. for 15 minutes, and said receptor shows a relative molecular weight of about 340 to 380 kilodaltons when specifically bound to tritium-labeled 6R-BH4 and analyzed with a molecular sieve provided with a COSMOSIL 5 Diol-300 column.

Abstract: A memory card device and method of rewriting the same which require no separate memory for saving all data in a chip containing data to be rewritten, and in which data are not lost due to a power source failure that may occur during writing operation. Each of a plurality of chips which constitute a memory card is provided with; a logic address, a control region containing a write start number and a write completion number, and a data region. An erased chip is prepared within the memory card device. A write start number in a chip containing data to be rewritten is written, for example, into the erased chip by performing incrementing operation. Data in the data region which is not to be rewritten in a chip containing data to be rewritten are copied into the erased chip and new rewrite data are written into the erased chip. A write completion number in the chip containing data to be rewritten is written, for example, into the erased chip by performing incrementing operation on the write completion number.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of infantile autism which contains tetrahydrobiopterin or a derivative thereof as a major effective ingredient and 5-hydroxytryptophan and/or L-DOPA as an optional auxiliary effective ingredient is provided.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of infantile autism which contains tetrahydrobiopterin or a derivative thereof as a major effective ingredient and 5-hydroxytryptophan and/or L-DOPA as an optional auxiliary effective ingredient is provided.