Abstract: An object is to provide a joint function-improving composition which is useful for prevention or treatment of various arthropathies such as osteoarthritis including knee osteoarthritis as a typical example and rheumatoid arthritis because the composition has an action of promoting growth of chondrocytes and an action of suppressing the production of an inflammation factor, a cartilage matrix degradation factor, a pain factor or a neuronal outgrowth factor by synoviocytes and to provide a joint function-improving product containing the composition such as a food or a drink, feed and a medicine.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a novel technique for preventing muscle atrophy by directly promoting muscle synthesis or suppressing muscle degradation without through physical activity. An agent for preventing muscle atrophy containing a lactic acid bacterium having a muscle synthesis-promoting effect and/or a muscle degradation-suppressing effect, a treated product of the lactic acid bacterium or an extract thereof as an active ingredient in which the lactic acid bacterium having a muscle synthesis-promoting effect is Lactobacillus gasseri or the like and the lactic acid bacterium having a muscle degradation-suppressing effect is Lactobacillus reuteri or the like is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhibitory agent of membrane fusion between a virus envelope and a cell membrane of a host cell for the virus, wherein the inhibitory agent comprises a serine protease inhibitor, and a therapeutic agent or a therapeutic composition, comprising the inhibitory agent. More specifically, the present invention relates to the inhibitory agent, wherein the serine protease inhibitor is one or more of a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof, or a solvate or hydrate thereof, and a therapeutic agent or a therapeutic composition, comprising the inhibitory agent: wherein R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, each of which may optionally comprise a heteroatom.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a novel fluorescent probe for dipeptidyl peptidase IV, and a detection method and a detection kit using the fluorescent probe. [Solution] A fluorescent probe for detecting dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), said probe comprising a compound represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof. In formula (I): A and B are either the same or different and independently represent an amino acid residue, provided that A is bonded via an amide bond to NH in an adjacent formula and B is bonded via an amide bond to A; R1 represents hydrogen atom(s) or 1 to 4 substituents bonded to the benzene ring, said substituents being either the same or different; R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group or a halogen atom; R8 and R9 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and X represents a C1-C3 alkylene group.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a novel fluorescent probe for dipeptidyl peptidase IV, and a detection method and a detection kit using the fluorescent probe. [Solution] A fluorescent probe for detecting dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), said probe comprising a compound represented by formula (I) or a salt, thereof. In formula (I): A and B are either the same or different and independently represent an amino acid residue, provided that A is bonded via an amide bond to NH in an adjacent formula and B is bonded via an amide bond to A; R1 represents hydrogen atom(s) or 1 to 4 substituents bonded to the benzene ring, said substituents being either the same or different; R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group or a halogen atom; R8 and R9 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and X represents a C1-C5 alkylene group.

Abstract: A dead cell of a lactic acid bacterium or a culture containing the dead cell of a lactic acid bacterium is added to the dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, milk beverage or the like in an amount of 0.001 wt % or more in dry weight of the dead cell, therefore, it is possible to enhance the growth of a lactic acid bacterium, to shorten the time required for fermentation, and to improve the viability of a lactic acid bacterium during storage over a long period, without affecting the flavor or production cost of the dairy product.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel agent for improving the viability of lactic acid bacteria, which has an excellent effect on the improvement of the viability of lactic acid bacteria in the product, has no adverse effect on the flavor of the product and requires less production cost. An agent for improving the viability of lactic acid bacteria characterized by using manganese as an effective ingredient. A manganese-containing material may be used as manganese. Manganese is preferably formulated at 5 ?g/100 g or more in the final product.

Abstract: An agent for promoting the secretion of adiponectin and/or suppressing decrease of adiponectin, a food or beverage for promoting the secretion of adiponectin and/or suppressing decrease of adiponectin, and a feed, each of which comprises a culture supernatant of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (FERM BP-10953) as an active ingredient.