Abstract: A method for producing a sustained-release preparation, which comprises dispersing a physiologically active polypeptide into an organic solvent solution of a biodegradable polymer and removing the organic solvent, wherein the polypeptide is a powder obtained by lyophilizing an aqueous solution of the polypeptide which solution has a water-miscible organic solvent and/or a volatile salt; which improves the ease of handling of the physiologically active polypeptide powder in the process for producing the preparation; which makes it possible to industrially produce the sustained-release preparation in large scale; which provides a sustained-release preparation showing high and stable concentration of the active component in blood in long term, low initial release ratio of the physiologically active polypeptide, and high entrapment ratio of the polypeptide into the sustained-release preparation.

Abstract: According to a first embodiment, there is provided a sustained-release preparation comprising a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble polyvalent metal salt of a water-soluble physiologically active substance which is not an endothelin antagonist, and a biodegradable polymer. The sustained-release preparation of the first embodiment is highly efficient in incorporating the water-soluble physiologically active substance and suppresses the initial burst of the water-soluble physiologically active substance. The sustained-release preparation of the present invention is capable of releasing the water-soluble physiologically active substance while retaining its bioactivity after administration in vivo. Furthermore, the water-soluble physiologically active substance in the sustained-release preparation is kept stable for a long period of time, with little loss of bioactivity.

Abstract: A voltage is applied between a cylindrical cutting grindstone 2 that rotates about a vertical axis Y and a cylindrical truing grindstone 6 that rotates about a horizontal axis X. The vertical outer surface 2a and the horizontal lower surface 2b of the cutting grindstone are trued by a plasma discharge. Then without applying the voltage, the cutting grindstone 2 is trued mechanically by the truing grindstone 6, and while the outer periphery and lower surface of the cutting grindstone are dressed electrolytically, the outer periphery and lower surface are made to contact a workpiece 1 and process a micro-V groove. This method makes it possible to produce an immersion grating with a high resolution using hard, brittle materials such as germanium, gallium arsenide and lithium niobate.

Abstract: A device for fabricating a high-density microarray for cDNA or protein having an arbitrary pattern comprises an electrospray part for electrostatically spraying solutions containing a plurality of kinds of biologically active samples one by one, a support part supporting sample chips on which samples in the solutions sprayed from the electrospray part are deposited, a mask part disposed between the electrospray part and the support part and having holes the number of which is the same as that of the sample chips so as to selectively deposit the samples simultaneously in the adequate positions corresponding to the sample chips, a moving part for fabricating microarrays at a time by relatively moving the sample chip support part and the mask part and depositing the samples on the sample chips. Therefore the device can fabricate a large number of inexpensive high-density microarrays.

Abstract: A conductive grindstone 12, a circular disk-like discharge electrode 14 with an outer rim 14a that can access a machining surface 12a of the grindstone, an electrode rotating device 16, a position controlling device 18 that controls the relative position between the outer rim of the electrode and the grindstone, a voltage applying device 20 for applying voltage pulses between the grindstone and the electrode, and a mist-supplying device 22 that supplies pressurized conductive mist between the grindstone and the electrode are provided. The pressurized conductive mist is a mixture of a low-conductivity aqueous solution and compressed air. A plasma discharge is generated between the grindstone and the electrode by means of this pressurized conductive mist, and the grindstone is subjected to truing.

Abstract: A rotating table 2 that holds a flat neutron lens component 1 and rotates about an axis of rotation Z, a circular-disk type of metal-bonded grinding wheel 3 with tapering surface 3a on the outer periphery thereof, a grinding wheel driving device 4 drives and rotates the grinding wheel around the axis A thereof, an electrode 5 with a surface close to the single tapering surface or the plurality of tapering surfaces of the grinding wheel, a power source 6 that applies an electrolytic voltage between the grinding wheel and the electrode, and a grinding fluid feeder 8 that supplies a conducting grinding fluid between the grinding wheel and the electrode are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex of human growth hormone and zinc containing human growth hormone and zinc at a molar ratio of about 1:1.6 to about 1:2.4, and a sustained-release preparation which comprises the complex of human growth hormone and zinc and a biodegradable polymer and which has a high entrapment ratio of human growth hormone and exhibits a stable sustained-release suppressing the initial burst.

Abstract: A method of producing sustained-release microcapsules which comprises dispersing a physiologically active polypeptide into a solution of a biodegradable polymer and zinc oxide in an organic solvent, followed by removing the organic solvent; which provides a sustained-release preparation showing a high entrapment ratio of the physiologically active polypeptide and its constant high blood concentration levels over a long period of time.

Abstract: According to a first embodiment, there is provided a sustained-release preparation comprising a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble polyvalent metal salt of a water-soluble physiologically active substance which is not an endothelin antagonist, and a biodegradable polymer. The sustained-release preparation of the first embodiment is highly efficient in incorporating the water-soluble physiologically active substance and suppresses the initial burst of the water-soluble physiologically active substance. The sustained-release preparation of the present invention is capable of releasing the water-soluble physiologically active substance while retaining its bioactivity after administration in vivo. Furthermore, the water-soluble physiologically active substance in the sustained-release preparation is kept stable for a long period of time, with little loss of bioactivity.

Abstract: A sample extrusion device 12 for sequentially extruding a sample 1 in a predetermined direction, a sample cutting device 14 for sequentially cutting the extruded sample, and a con-focal image pickup device 16 for focusing an illuminating light at a section portion that was cut to pick up two-dimensional images of the cut section from a reflected light thereof are provided to reconstruct an internal structure of the sample from many two-dimensional images (continuous section images) that differ in the cutting positions. The sample can be continuously cut to continuously observe the sectional images thereof under no influence of the sample being seen transparently, the entirety of the sample can be observed in almost the same condition even though the sample is colored with a fluorescent dye, and thereby, the internal structure of the sample can be reconstructed with a high precision.

Abstract: According to a first embodiment, there is provided a sustained-release preparation comprising a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble polyvalent metal salt of a water-soluble physiologically active substance which is not an endothelin antagonist, and a biodegradable polymer. The sustained-release preparation of the first embodiment is highly efficient in incorporating the water-soluble physiologically active substance and suppresses the initial burst of the water-soluble physiologically active substance. The sustained-release preparation of the present invention is capable of releasing the water-soluble physiologically active substance while retaining its bioactivity after administration in vivo. Furthermore, the water-soluble physiologically active substance in the sustained-release preparation is kept stable for a long period of time, with little loss of bioactivity.

Abstract: An electrolytic in-process dressing device 10 is provided with a disk-shaped metal-bonded grindstone 2 with a surface 2a with a circular arc shape with a radius R at its outer periphery and a numerical control device 16. The disk-shaped metal-bonded grindstone 2 rotates around an axis Y, and the grindstone is dressed electrolytically while the device 10 grinds the workpiece 1. The numerical control device 16 is provided with a rotary truing device 12 that rotates around the X axis that orthogonally crosses the axis of rotation Y and trues the circular arc surface 2a, a shape measuring device 14 for measuring the shape of the circular arc surface of the grindstone and the shape of the processed surface of workpiece 1 on the machine, and controls the grindstone numerically in the three directions along the axes X, Y and Z. The numerical control device 16 moves the grindstone in three axial directions and repeats the operations of truing, grinding and measurements on-line.

Abstract: A voltage is applied between a cylindrical cutting grindstone 2 that rotates about a vertical axis Y and a cylindrical truing grindstone 6 that rotates about a horizontal axis X. The vertical outer surface 2a and the horizontal lower surface 2b of the cutting grindstone are trued by a plasma discharge. Then without applying the voltage, the cutting grindstone 2 is trued mechanically by the truing grindstone 6, and while the outer periphery and lower surface of the cutting grindstone are dressed electrolytically, the outer periphery and lower surface are made to contact a workpiece 1 and process a micro-V groove. This method makes it possible to produce an immersion grating with a high resolution using hard, brittle materials such as germanium, gallium arsenide and lithium niobate.

Abstract: This invention provides a sustained-release preparation comprising a biodegradable polymer metal salt and broactive polypeptide, with enhanced entrapment of the bioactive polypeptides, a suppression of initial burst, and a constant long-term release of the bioactive polypeptides.

Abstract: There are provided an electrically conductive grindstone 12 for machining a workpiece 1, a disc-shaped discharge electrode 14 having an outer peripheral edge 14a which can be disposed in the vicinity of a machining surface 12a of the grindstone, an electrode rotating unit 16 for rotating the electrode around an axial center Z, a position controller 18 for controlling a relative position of the outer peripheral edge of the electrode and the grindstone, a voltage applying unit 20 for applying a predetermined voltage between the grindstone and the electrode in a pulse manner, and a machining liquid supply unit 22 for supplying an alkaline liquid between the grindstone and the electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex of human growth hormone and zinc containing human growth hormone and zinc at a molar ratio of about 1:1.6 to about 1:2.4, and a sustained-release preparation which comprises the complex of human growth hormone and zinc and a biodegradable polymer and which has a high entrapment ratio of human growth hormone and exhibits a stable sustained-release suppressing the initial burst.

Abstract: A method of producing sustained-release microcapsules which comprises dispersing a physiologically active polypeptide into a solution of a biodegradable polymer and zinc oxide in an organic solvent, followed by removing the organic solvent; which provides a sustained-release preparation showing a high entrapment ratio of the physiologically active polypeptide and its constant high blood concentration levels over a long period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex of human growth hormone and zinc containing human growth hormone and zinc at a molar ratio of about 1:1.6 to about 1:2.4, and a sustained-release preparation which comprises the complex of human growth hormone and zinc and a biodegradable polymer and which has a high entrapment ratio of human growth hormone and exhibits a stable sustained-release suppressing the initial burst.

Abstract: According to a first embodiment, there is provided a sustained-release preparation comprising a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble polyvalent metal salt of a water-soluble physiologically active substance which is not an endothelin antagonist, and a biodegradable polymer. The sustained-release preparation of the first embodiment is highly efficient in incorporating the water-soluble physiologically active substance and suppresses the initial burst of the water-soluble physiologically active substance. The sustained-release preparation of the present invention is capable of releasing the water-soluble physiologically active substance while retaining its bioactivity after administration in vivo. Furthermore, the water-soluble physiologically active substance in the sustained-release preparation is kept stable for a long period of time, with little loss of bioactivity.

Abstract: A parenteral pharmaceutical preparation comprises a matrix containing a physiologically active peptide or protein and a polyglycerol diester of a saturated fatty acid, and the matrix is in a solid form at room temperature. The molecular weight of the physiologically active peptide or protein is 2,000 dalton or more. The saturated fatty acid includes fatty acids having about 16 to 30 carbon atoms such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, etc. The matrix may be in a pillar or granular form. The parenteral pharmaceutical preparation can be used as an injectable solid administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly (for example, a pellet or tablet for implantation), a suppository or the like, and can release the physiologically active peptide or protein sustainedly for a prolonged period of one week or more.