Otsuka Pharma obtains registration in Japan for new pro patch”, for percutaneous application of a dopamine receptor agonist “
Indications are Parkinson’s disease and idiopathic restless legs syndrome Otsuka Pharma press release, Dec. 25, 2012
Shiseido succeeds in imageing penetration of skin horny layer by cosmetics
The method is based on tape stripping combined with DESI-MSI and strip-by-strip 3D data processing. The thickness of the horny layer is about 20 micrometer. When the whitening agent 4-methoxy potassium salicylate (4MSK) developed by Shiseido was applied to human skin, the method was able to show the process of penetration over 5 layers. Shiseido […]
Ehi Drink, Matsuyama, commercializes ß-cryptoxanthin-containing drink („Ashita no Karada“)
The drink contains 3 mg of ß-cryptoxanthin in 125 ml, corresponding to the content of 3 satsuma oranges. ß-Cryptoxanthin is considered a functional food which has antioxidant properties Symposium of MAFF, Tokyo, Dec. 19, 2012
Okayama bioventure develops “Neo-Nisin”, an oral care product for aged and diseased persons
The Okayama bioventure, collaborating with Kyushu University (Prof. Kenji SONOMOTO), has developed a formulation based on nisin A and plum extracts Kyushu University press release, Dec. 19, 2012
Tadaomi TAKENAWA and Yoshinori WATANABE win 2012 Takehashi Uehara Memorial prize
The prize is for distinguished services in life science research, especially health, and stands at 20 million Yen (~200.000 €). This year’s winners: Professor Tadaomi TAKENAWA of Kobe University, a researcher at Kobe University Medical Department who studies phosphoinositol-related signal transduction by mass spectrometry, and Professor Yoshinori WATANABE of the University of Tokyo whose focus […]
RIKEN team establishs high yeast diversity in Japan
A total of 1021 yeast strains was isolated from soil samples and plant materials collected from Japan’s subtropical Iriomote Island and the cool temperate Rishiri Island. Based on sequence analyses of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene, these 1021 strains were tentatively classified into 183 species, with apparent new species accounting for approximately […]
Osaka team develops life imageing based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer(BRET)
Using Renilla luciferase (“nano lantern”) and chemiluminescence, the group could image Ca2+, cyclic adenosine monophosphate and adenosine 5′-triphosphate dynamics in environments where the use of fluorescent indicators was not feasible. With this technology, cancer tissues of a mouse could be observed in vivo and real time at video rates. Nature Communications doi:10.1038/ncomms2248
Calpis reports progress in mneme-improving properties of Lactobacillus helveticus
Calpis had reported already at the Japan Society of Biotechnology Meeting in October in Kobe that a lactoprotein-derived peptide isolated from L. helveticus showed mneme-improving properties in mice, https://www.calpis.co.jp/corporate/press/releaseC1268.pdf. Now, by joint research with Chubu University (Dr Hidehiko YOKOGOSHI) Calpis reported that mneme-improving properties were also found in human volunteers who consumed Lactobacillus helveticus containing […]
Lactoferrin research draws further industrial interest
The 5th meeting of the Japanese Association for Lactoferrin, held on Oct. 27 at Showa University, was attended by about 150 people including several companies, among them NRL Pharma, Lion, Sunstar, Morinaga Milk Industry, Saraya and Menicon. Effects of lactoferrin described at this meeting are strengthening of teeth and bones, suppression of premature delivery, improvement […]
RIKEN to reorganize plant research
According to a report in Nikkei Biotech, the Plant Science Center and the Biomass Engineering Research Program, both at RIKEN Yokohama’s Center, might reorganize shortly into a RIKEN Research Center for Environmental Resources which will include a plant immunology research group (a pertinent position has been offered by RIKEN). Nikkei Biotech, Dec. 6, 2012