The present invention provides a heterocyclic compound having an orexin type 2 receptor agonist activity.

A compound represented by the formula (I):

##STR00001## wherein each symbol is as described in the description, or a salt thereof has an orexin type 2 receptor agonist activity, and is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of narcolepsy.

There is provided a composition that comprises a propionic acid bacterium or a composition that comprises an oligosaccharide. The composition that comprises a propionic acid bacterium or the composition that comprises an oligosaccharide can suppress an increase of body weight of a subject by having the subject ingest the composition.

The present invention provides a solid composition containing an amorphous poorly water-soluble material, and a method for producing the same. The solid composition of the present invention is a solid composition containing an amorphous poorly water-soluble material (1a), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (2), and one or more types of water-soluble polysaccharides (3) other than hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, and is characterized in that an XRD analysis value of the solid composition is 4.0% or less.

Use of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in preparing a medicine or health-care food for preventing neonatal congenital heart disease in peri-pregnancy and/or pregnant women has an effect of preventing congenital heart disease. The prophylactic dosage of the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate can be greater than 1 mg. Compared with synthetic folic acid, high-dose use has no teratogenic effect. Thus the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate can prevent birth defects in a high dose and can be used for preventing neonatal congenital heart disease.

According to the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising a population of mitochondria with a smaller size and a population of lipid membrane-based vesicles encapsulating mitochondria in a closed space and a method for producing the composition.

According to the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising a population of mitochondria with a smaller size and a population of lipid membrane-based vesicles encapsulating mitochondria in a closed space and a method for producing the composition.

The present invention provides a novel compound having an excellent β-lactamase inhibitory effect. The present invention provides: a compound which has an excellent β-lactamase inhibitory effect, and is represented by formula (1a), (1b) or (11); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. This compound provides a prophylactic or therapeutic agent effective for bacterial infections when used in combination with β-lactam-based drugs or used as a single agent. The present invention also provides a prophylactic or therapeutic agent effective for treating various diseases, by being used in combination with β-lactam-based drugs.

This disclosure provides methods of using compositions comprising amino acid entities to reduce fat infiltration in muscle, particularly under conditions of muscle dysfunction. The disclosure also provides methods for enhancing muscle function by reducing fat infiltration in the muscle comprising administering an effective amount of the compositions to a subject in need thereof.

This disclosure provides methods of using compositions comprising amino acid entities to reduce fat infiltration in muscle, particularly under conditions of muscle dysfunction. The disclosure also provides methods for enhancing muscle function by reducing fat infiltration in the muscle comprising administering an effective amount of the compositions to a subject in need thereof.

The disclosure provides a method for producing hepatocytes or hepatic progenitor cells; a method for suppressing hepatocyte aging using a drug causing histone hyperacetylation; a hepatocyte anti-aging agent; a method for increasing hepatocyte plasticity; and a drug for increasing hepatocyte plasticity.