The present invention aims to provide a lactoferrin fusion protein, which is configured to retain the biological activities of natural lactoferrin, to have a significantly prolonged in vivo lifetime, and to be more clinically useful than natural and gene recombinant lactoferrin, as well as a method for preparation thereof, etc. The present invention provides a fusion protein formed with a protein or peptide comprising an FcRn-binding region and lactoferrin or a biologically active fragment or peptide of lactoferrin, which is represented by:
(LF-s-Y)n or (Y-s-LF)n
[wherein LF represents lactoferrin or a biologically active fragment or peptide of lactoferrin, represents the protein or peptide comprising an FcRn-binding region, s represents ally amino acid sequence of 0 to 10 residues, and n represents an integer of 1 to 10], or a variant thereof.

Provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for the treatment of an enteric nervous system disorder. Such methods may comprise administering to a subject an effective amount of a phenothiazine compound, a peripherally restricted dopamine decarboxylase inhibitor, and/or a peripherally restricted dopamine D2 receptor antagonist that does not substantially inhibit hERG channels.

The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) ##STR00001##
wherein R, R.sup.1a, R.sup.1b, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and X are as described in the description, to their preparation, to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and to their use as pharmaceuticals, to pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more compounds of formula (I), to methods for the preparation of such compounds of formula (I), and especially to their use as TPH modulators.

The present invention provides a method for producing a soft gel capsule comprising uncoated probiotic bacteria, the method comprising gentle mixing the uncoated probiotic bacteria with at least one oil to obtain a soft gel capsule fill material at a temperature in the range of 5 to 15° C., encapsulating the fill material in a soft gel capsule made of a gelatin having a melting point in the range of 11 to 28° C.; and drying the soft gel capsule in one or more steps to a water activity of at the most 0.25 at a temperature of at the most 25° C., as well as soft gel capsules produced by this method. The present invention further provides a soft gel capsule comprising dried, uncoated, non-spore-forming probiotic bacteria wherein the soft gel capsule comprises at least E+09 viable bacteria after 24 months of storage at 25° C., e.g. at least 2 E+09 viable bacteria after 12 months of storage at 25° C.

The present invention aims to provide a compound that may be useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of constipation and the like. The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein each symbol is as described in the specification, or a salt thereof.

The present invention aims to provide a compound that may be useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of constipation and the like. The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein each symbol is as described in the specification, or a salt thereof.

The present invention relates to a lactic acid fermented product of cassia seeds. The fermented product of the present invention uses cassia seeds, which have long been used and have proven their safety without causing side effects. Due to this advantage, the lactic acid fermented product of the present invention is effective in increasing the number, water content, and/or weight of feces. The effects of the lactic acid fermented product according to the present invention are comparable to those of sennoside, which is a therapeutic agent for stimulant constipation and whose use in health functional foods is forbidden because of its side effects, and Dulcolax-S, which is currently commercially available and includes bisacodyl and sodium docusate as active ingredients. Therefore, the lactic acid fermented product of the present invention can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing constipation or health functional foods for ameliorating or preventing constipation. In addition, the present invention relates to Lactobacillus kefiri strain MJ90. The strain is advantageous for the preparation of the lactic acid fermented product with enhanced activity in the treatment, amelioration or prevention of constipation.

The present invention relates to stable pharmaceutical compositions comprising linaclotide or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as to various methods and processes for the preparation and use of the compositions.

The present invention provides a highly palatable colon cleansing formulation that utilizes a low chloride electrolyte-replenishing base solution. When formulated with polyethylene glycol and a selected sugar alcohol, the formulation offers the advantages of superior palatability without undesirable concomitant side effects or a decrease in cleansing efficacy.

Provided is a laxative tablet which includes magnesium oxide as a main constituent, wherein (1) the particle size by volume of 50% (D50) of particles which emerge when the tablet is suspended in water is 70 μm or less as determined by laser diffractometry, (2) the particle size by volume of 90% (D90) of the particles which emerge when the tablet is suspended in water is 130 μm or less as determined by laser diffractometry, and (3) the dissolution time of the tablet when the tablet is suspended in water according to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia—general testing methods—dissolution testing methods is 10 seconds or less.