In this study financed by AMED the trick was to substitute glutamate and glucose in the iPS culture medium. In such case, the ratio of residual undifferentiated iPS cells in the expanded cardiomyocytes intended for transplantation was less than 0.001 %. Clinical studies based on this finding were already announced. China Bio news release, June […]
NEDO starts program on robot-assisted maintenance of public infrastructure
The focus is on the maintenance of bridges and rivers, using this approach to develop new technologies and standards for air-borne and underwater robots. NEDO news release, June 30, 2016
PeptiDream Co. starts pre-clinical studies on anti-influenza drug
The hemagglutinin-inhibiting peptide PD-001 was co-developed with Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Research Institute and successfully tested on cynomolgus monkeys. PeptiDream news release, June 29, 2016
Shiseido starts clinical studies to transplant autologous hair root sheath cells
Dermal sheat cup cells (DSC) are involved in male and female middle-age alopecia (hair loss). In collaboration with Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Shiseido is preparing for a clinical study on 60 volunteers (male and female) where DSC are isolated from the skalp of each person, expanded in Shiseido’s cell processing center and in a single […]
Yakult finds fucosyl lactose the main component for Bifidobacteria dominance in the intestinal flora of babies
Among breast milk oligosaccharides (HMO), fucosyl lactose is the main component to ensure the dominance of Bifidobacteria in the intestinal flora of babies. Key factor is the availability of a FL transporter in the Bifidobacteria strains. Yakult offers fermented milk products for babies which contain a Bifidobacterium bifidum strain (BF-1) which survives stomach passage. However, […]
Hayashibara obtains FDA GRAS status for iso maltodextrin
The polysaccharide („Fibryxa“) is prepared from starch by α proprietary glucosyltransferase and α-amylase. The product was launched in Japan in 2015. It dissolves very well in water, is odorless and is considered a dietary fiber with excellent stability and appeal which can be blended with a wide range of food and beverages. Its health effects […]
Takenaka Co. achieve highest airtightness performance in biosafety experiment facility
The 600 m2 two floor demonstration facility has not only passed all standards required as to WHO regulations but also has demonstrated complete decontamination after cross-contamination in fields such as drug discovery or cell handling. Takenaka news release, June 26, 2016
RIKEN’s Shoubu (iris) supercomuter ranks first in the world on energy saving
The supercomputer was built in collaboration with PEZY Computing. The > 1 petaflop computer’s ZettaScaler-1.6 processors are cooled by immersion bathes and achieve 6.673 GFLOPS / W. RIKEN news release, June 24, 2016
RIKEN and Malaysia Science University publish genome sequence of Hevea brasiliensis, the rubber tree
Sequencers of Illumina and Pacific Biosciences were used to achieve the location of the about 84.000 genes of this plant. Natural rubber is produced at a scale of 12 million t/y, the use in tires account for 90%. Malaysia is the 6th largest producer of natural rubber, far behind Indonesia and Thailand which produces about […]
Kitasato University and Stanley Electric study growth promotion of fish in aquaculture using green LED light
After irradiation of a test basin with green LED light for 4 weeks, marbled sole, the main fish species of Tokyo Bay, grew 1.2 times in length and 1.4 times in body weight as compared to standard cultivation. Spotted halibut and flounders showed similar effects. The experiments are part of a preparation for „Edo-style Tokyo […]