Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a substance which can be used as an active ingredient for improving neuropathic pain having a mechanism of action different from those of currently available agents and, therefore, provide an improving agent for neuropathic pain which rarely interacts with currently available agents and also does not have adverse reactions similar to those of currently available agents. An improving agent for neuropathic pain due to a hyperalgesic response of the present invention for resolution is characterized by comprising, as an active ingredient, a lyase (an elimination enzyme) which has an activity of degrading a chondroitin sulfate chain of a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, and is typified by chondroitinase ABC which selectively removes chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate of a proteoglycan.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a substance which is able to be an active ingredient for the improvement of dysfunction caused by nerve damage. An improving agent for dysfunction due to nerve damage of the present invention as a means for resolution thereof is characterized in that it comprises an endo-?-N-acetylglucosaminidase type enzyme which hydrolyzes an N-acetylglucosamide bond in a keratan sulfate backbone as an active ingredient. When the improving agent of the present invention is administered, clinical improvement is achieved in motor neuron dysfunction and sensory neuron dysfunction such as neuropathic pain represented by a pain caused by allodynia and hyperalgesic reaction of the object to be treated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleus pulposus filler or the like which is to be packed into an area in deformed intervertebral disc wherein normal nucleus should be located and can be stabley maintained for a long time More preferably, the present invention provides a nucleus pulposus filler comprising a crosslinked chondroitin sulfate as an active ingredient. The photocrosslinked chondroitin sulfate is preferably the following one: a photocrosslinked chondroitin sulfate obtainable by freezing a photoreactive chondroitin sulfate-containing solution comprising: a photoreactive chondroitin sulfate to which a photoreactive group is bound; an aqueous solvent capable of dissolving the photoreactive chondroitin sulfate; and any one substance selected from the group consisting of an alcohol having aqueous solvent miscibility, a surfactant, and a cheleting agent; irradiating the resulting frozen product with light; and then melting the frozen product.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a substance which can be used as an active ingredient for improving neuropathic pain having a novel mechanism of action different from those of currently available agents and, therefore, provide an improving agent for neuropathic pain which rarely interacts with currently available agents and also does not have adverse reactions similar to those of currently available agents. An improving agent for neuropathic pain due to a hyperalgesic response of the present invention as a means for resolution is characterized by comprising, as an active ingredient, a lyase (an elimination enzyme) which has an activity of degrading a chondroitin sulfate chain of a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, and is typified by chondroitinase ABC which selectively removes chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate of a proteoglycan.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a substance which can be used as an active ingredient for improving neuropathic pain having a novel mechanism of action different from those of currently available agents and, therefore, provide an improving agent for neuropathic pain which rarely interacts with currently available agents and also does not have adverse reactions similar to those of currently available agents. An improving agent for neuropathic pain due to a hyperalgesic response of the present invention as a means for resolution is characterized by comprising, as an active ingredient, a lyase (an elimination enzyme) which has an activity of degrading a chondroitin sulfate chain of a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, and is typified by chondroitinase ABC which selectively removes chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate of a proteoglycan.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleus pulposus filler or the like which is to be packed into an area in deformed intervertebral disc wherein normal nucleus should be located and can be stabley maintained for a long time More preferably, the present invention provides a nucleus pulposus filler comprising a crosslinked chondroitin sulfate as an active ingredient. The photocrosslinked chondroitin sulfate is preferably the following one: a photocrosslinked chondroitin sulfate obtainable by freezing a photoreactive chondroitin sulfate-containing solution comprising: a photoreactive chondroitin sulfate to which a photoreactive group is bound; an aqueous solvent capable of dissolving the photoreactive chondroitin sulfate; and any one substance selected from the group consisting of an alcohol having aqueous solvent miscibility, a surfactant, and a cheleting agent; irradiating the resulting frozen product with light; and then melting the frozen product.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a substance which is able to be an active ingredient for the improvement of dysfunction caused by nerve damage. An improving agent for dysfunction due to nerve damage of the present invention as a means for resolution thereof is characterized in that it comprises an endo-?-N-acetylglucosaminidase type enzyme which hydrolyzes an N-acetylglucosamide bond in a keratan sulfate backbone as an active ingredient. When the improving agent of the present invention is administered, clinical improvement is achieved in motor neuron dysfunction and sensory neuron dysfunction such as neuropathic pain represented by a pain caused by allodynia and hyperalgesic reaction of the object to be treated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleus pulposus filler or the like which is to be packed into an area in deformed intervertebral disc wherein normal nucleus should be located and can be stabley maintained for a long time. More preferably, the present invention provides a nucleus pulposus filler comprising a crosslinked chondroitin sulfate as an active ingredient. The photocrosslinked chondroitin sulfate is preferably the following one: a photocrosslinked chondroitin sulfate obtainable by freezing a photoreactive chondroitin sulfate-containing solution comprising: a photoreactive chondroitin sulfate to which a photoreactive group is bound; an aqueous solvent capable of dissolving the photoreactive chondroitin sulfate; and any one substance selected from the group consisting of an alcohol having aqueous solvent miscibility, a surfactant, and a cheleting agent; irradiating the resulting frozen product with light; and then melting the frozen product.

Abstract: A vertebral connecting rod and a spinal osteosynthesis device are disclosed. The vertebral connecting rod 1, which is adapted to be rigidly supported with a pair of spinal implants 5, 5 anchored to vertebral bodies 3, 3 such as thoracic vertebrae or lumbar vertebrae etc., has a pin-shaped section 7 of which one distal end formed with a hook segment 11 for hanging an interconnecting member 9. A slip-out protective member 19 is engageable with the hook segment 11. In a preferred embodiment, the pin-shaped section has at its arbitrary position formed with an engagement convex segment 27 adapted to engage with a corresponding engagement concave recess formed in the spinal implant 5.

Abstract: A vertebral connecting rod and a spinal osteosynthesis device are disclosed. The vertebral connecting rod 1, which is adapted to be rigidly supported with a pair of spinal implants 5, 5 anchored to vertebral bodies 3, 3 such as thoracic vertebrae or lumbar vertebrae etc., has a pin-shaped section 7 of which one distal end formed with a hook segment 11 for hanging an interconnecting member 9. A slip-out protective member 19 is engageable with the hook segment 11. In a preferred embodiment, the pin-shaped section has at its arbitrary position formed with an engagement convex segment 27 adapted to engage with a corresponding engagement concave recess formed in the spinal implant 5.

Abstract: In a driving apparatus for ultrasonic motor, a variable oscillator (44) varies oscillating frequency responding to current level of detected current which flows to a piezoelectric member (1, 2) and is in proportion to mechanical vibration of the piezoelectric member (1, 2) when mechanical resonance frequency varies by change of environmental condition.