An object of the present invention is to provide a protective method for liver comprising the administration of an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus to a patient who needs the treatment and to provide a liver protective agent, etc. where such an extract is an active ingredient. In the present invention, it has been recognized that, in hepatocytes, activation of NF-B, expression of NF-B target genes, activation of JNK, apoptosis and fat accumulation can be inhibited or suppressed. The agent containing the extract as an active ingredient is a drug exhibiting less adverse action and high safety. Accordingly, the present invention provides very useful protective method for liver and liver protecting agent.

Methods of producing human stem cells are disclosed for parthenogenetically activating human oocytes by manipulation of O.sub.2 tension, including manipulation of Ca.sup.2+ under high O.sub.2 tension and contacting oocytes with serine threonine kinase inhibitors under low O.sub.2 tension, isolating inner cell masses (ICMs) from the activated oocytes, and culturing the cells of the isolated ICMs under high O.sub.2 tension. Moreover, methods are described for the production of stems cells from activated oocytes in the absence of non-human animal products, including the use of human feeder cells/products for culturing ICM/stem cells. Stem cells produced by the disclosed methods are also described.

Methods of producing human stem cells are disclosed for parthenogenetically activating human oocytes by manipulation of O.sub.2 tension, including manipulation of Ca.sup.2+ under high O.sub.2 tension and contacting oocytes with serine threonine kinase inhibitors under low O.sub.2 tension, isolating inner cell masses (ICMs) from the activated oocytes, and culturing the cells of the isolated ICMs under high O.sub.2 tension. Moreover, methods are described for the production of stems cells from activated oocytes in the absence of non-human animal products, including the use of human feeder cells/products for culturing ICM/stem cells. Stem cells produced by the disclosed methods are also described.

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fibrosis inhibitor that solves the problem of inhibiting fibrosis of an organ or tissue surface, and especially of inhibiting fibrosis of an epicardial surface. Furthermore, by inhibiting fibrosis, the present invention prevents or reduces subsequent development of adhesions to avoid organ or tissue damage during re-operation. Provided is a fibrosis inhibitor for inhibiting fibrosis of a tissue by fixing a biocompatible polymer to a tissue where it is desirable to inhibit fibrosis.

The present invention relates to the use of collagen hydrolysate for improving endurance performance by increasing mitochondrial activity. Further, the invention relates to the use of collagen hydrolysate for stimulating lipid catabolism, and in particular for reducing body weight, by increasing mitochondrial activity.

The present invention relates to the use of collagen hydrolysate for improving endurance performance by increasing mitochondrial activity. Further, the invention relates to the use of collagen hydrolysate for stimulating lipid catabolism, and in particular for reducing body weight, by increasing mitochondrial activity.

The present invention relates to the use of collagen hydrolysate for improving endurance performance by increasing mitochondrial activity. Further, the invention relates to the use of collagen hydrolysate for stimulating lipid catabolism, and in particular for reducing body weight, by increasing mitochondrial activity.

An inhibiting or alleviating agent for amyloid beta (Aβ)-induced damage in hippocampus including an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus. Also relates to the use of the extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus in the preparation of an agent for inhibiting or alleviating Aβ-induced damage in hippocampus.

An inhibiting or alleviating agent for amyloid beta (Aβ)-induced damage in hippocampus including an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus. Also relates to the use of the extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus in the preparation of an agent for inhibiting or alleviating Aβ-induced damage in hippocampus.

Skin regeneration or grafting is promoted utilizing a structure including a multi-layer sheet of collagen membrane material which includes a purified collagen barrier sheet material derived from natural collagen-containing tissue, the barrier sheet material including a barrier layer with an outer smooth barrier face and a fibrous face opposite the smooth barrier face. The structure further includes a matrix layer of collagen sponge material adjacent to the fibrous face. The matrix layer of collagen sponge material is resorbed by a body of a subject at a substantially faster rate than the barrier sheet material.