Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a viscoelastic composition having excellent operability, which is suitable for use in securing the field of view of an endoscope when opaque dark-colored liquid accumulates inside a canal and obstructs the field of view of the endoscope, the viscoelastic composition securing the field of view by pushing the liquid aside, and to provide a method for securing the field of view of an endoscope using the viscoelastic composition. The viscoelastic composition for securing the field of view of an endoscope comprises a substance having viscoelastic properties and water, preferably has a hardness of 550 N/m2 or less, a viscosity (25° C.) of 200 to 2,000 mPa·s, and a loss tangent of 0.6 or less, and more preferably has an electrical conductivity of 250 ?S/cm or less. The method for securing the field of view of an endoscope comprises feeding the viscoelastic composition from a proximal part of the endoscope, through a channel, into a distal part of the endoscope.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a viscoelastic composition having excellent operability, which is suitable for use in securing the field of view of an endoscope when opaque dark-colored liquid accumulates inside a canal and obstructs the field of view of the endoscope, the viscoelastic composition securing the field of view by pushing the liquid aside, and to provide a method for securing the field of view of an endoscope using the viscoelastic composition. The viscoelastic composition for securing the field of view of an endoscope comprises a substance having viscoelastic properties and water, preferably has a hardness of 550 N/m2 or less, a viscosity (25° C.) of 200 to 2,000 mPa·s, and a loss tangent of 0.6 or less, and more preferably has an electrical conductivity of 250 ?S/cm or less. The method for securing the field of view of an endoscope comprises feeding the viscoelastic composition from a proximal part of the endoscope, through a channel, into a distal part of the endoscope.

Abstract: A viscoelastic composition for securing the field of view of an endoscope, the viscoelastic composition comprising a thickening substance and water and having a shear storage modulus G? of 0.7 Pa or more, and a method for securing the field of view of an endoscope, the method comprising feeding the viscoelastic composition from a proximal part of the endoscope, through a channel, into a distal part of the endoscope.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a viscoelastic composition having excellent operability, which is suitable for use in securing the field of view of an endoscope when opaque dark-colored liquid accumulates inside a canal and obstructs the field of view of the endoscope, the viscoelastic composition securing the field of view by pushing the liquid aside, and to provide a method for securing the field of view of an endoscope using the viscoelastic composition. The viscoelastic composition for securing the field of view of an endoscope comprises a substance having viscoelastic properties and water, preferably has a hardness of 550 N/m2 or less, a viscosity (25° C.) of 200 to 2,000 mPa·s, and a loss tangent of 0.6 or less, and more preferably has an electrical conductivity of 250 ?S/cm or less. The method for securing the field of view of an endoscope comprises feeding the viscoelastic composition from a proximal part of the endoscope, through a channel, into a distal part of the endoscope.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to analyze the function of anti-angiogenic factors in cardiac valves or such to elucidate the developmental mechanism of angiogenesis-induced diseases. A more specific objective is to provide therapeutic agents for angiogenesis-induced diseases such as valvular heart disease, and methods of efficiently screening for the therapeutic agents. The present inventors discovered that chondromodulin-I was markedly expressed in cardiac valves, and plays an important role in maintaining normal functions of the valves by preventing angiogenesis, thickening, and calcification which lead to valvular heart diseases. Chondromodulin-I proteins and substances that activate the expression or function of the proteins are expected to have therapeutic effects against angiogenesis-induced diseases.

Abstract: A novel human chondromodulin-I protein having a molecular weight of about 26,000 dalton on SDS-PAGE and capable of stimulating the growth of chondrocytes with or without FGF, promoting the differential potency of these cells, and inhibiting the growth of vascular endothelial cells, a DNA encoding this protein, expression vector containing the DNA, a transformant capable of producing recombinant chondromodulin-I protein, a process for producing chondromodulin-I protein by culturing the transformant and a pharmaceutical composition containing chondromodulin-I protein as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A novel chondromodulin-I protein having a molecular weight of about 26,000 dalton on SDS-PAGE and capable of stimulating the growth of chondrocytes with or without FGF and promoting the differential potency of said cells, a DNA encoding said protein, expression vector containing said DNA, a transformant capable of producing recombinant chondromodulin-I protein, a process for producing chondromodulin-I protein by culturing said transformant and a pharmaceutical composition containing chondromodulin-I protein as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A novel chondromodulin-II protein having a molecular weight of about 16,000 dalton on SDS-PAGE, capable of stimulating the growth of chondrocytes with or without fibroblast growth factor and promoting the differential potency of said cells, and a pharmaceutical composition containing said protein as an active ingredient.