A composition for imaging a tumorous disease region includes a fluorescence- or radioactive isotope-labeled ERBB2 aptamer, wherein the ERBB2 aptamer labeled with a radioactive isotope or a fluorescent dye is used to image the tumorous disease region in vivo. The composition may include a labeled hybridized aptamer comprising an aptamer represented as formula 1 hybridized with a labeled-ODN represented as formula 2.

The inventive method relates to a method for the determination of susceptibility or diagnosis of autism or autism spectrum disorders. Diagnosis or determination of susceptibility determinations are predicated on quantitative analysis of endocannibinoid levels or endocannibinoid receptor expression.

Despite the widespread use of nanotechnology in radio-imaging applications, lipoprotein based delivery systems received only limited attention so far. The subject application provides for the synthesis of a novel hydrophobic radio-imaging tracer. This tracer, comprising a hydrazinonicotinic acid (HYNIC)-N-dodecylamide and .sup.99mTc conjugate can be encapsulated into rHDL nanoparticles (NPs). These rHDL NPs can selectively target the Scavenger Receptor type B1 (SR-B1) that is overexpressed on most cancer cells due to excess demand for cholesterol for membrane biogenesis and thus can target tumors in-vivo. Details of the tracer synthesis, characterization of rHDL/tracer complex, in-vitro uptake, stability studies and in-vivo application of this new radio-imaging approach are provided.

A composition for imaging a tumorous disease region includes a fluorescence- or radioactive isotope-labeled ERBB2 aptamer, wherein the ERBB2 aptamer labeled with a radioactive isotope or a fluorescent dye is used to image the tumorous disease region in vivo. The composition may include a labeled hybridized aptamer comprising an aptamer represented as formula 1 hybridized with a labeled-ODN represented as formula 2.

To develop a clinically useful composition and an endoscopic observation method that utilizes WOS properties. The composition for improving diagnostic performance, containing lipids as a component is characterized in that, by administering or loading said composition orally, by intubation or via an endoscope, the lipids are absorbed by gastric tumors, facilitating the detection of tumors and qualitative diagnoses by endoscope. Tumors are thus whitened by administering or loading this composition for improving diagnostic performance prior to endoscopic observation, making it easier to discover and qualitatively diagnose tumors by endoscopic observation.

The present invention provides a molecular assembly whose retention time in a target site is adjusted depending on the kind or purpose of a labeling agent or drug encapsulated therein, and a molecular assembly that can suppress the ABC phenomenon and that can be administered more than once within a short span. A molecular assembly comprising: a branched-type amphiphilic block polymer A comprising a branched hydrophilic block comprising sarcosine and a hydrophobic block comprising a polylactic acid chain; and a functional substance F comprising a functional site and a polylactic acid chain, wherein the polylactic acid chain constituting the hydrophobic block of the amphiphilic block polymer A comprises L-lactic acid units, and the polylactic acid chain contained in the functional substance F comprises D-lactic acid units, or the polylactic acid chain constituting the hydrophobic block of the amphiphilic block polymer A comprises D-lactic acid units, and the polylactic acid chain contained in the functional substance F comprises L-lactic acid units.

The invention relates to a therapeutic composition including a complex having the following formula (1), including a rare-earth radioisotope in ionic form, said complex being solubilized in an organic lipophilic phase: [M(L).sub.3] in which: M denotes the rare-earth radioisotope in ionic form, and L denotes a tropolone ligand or a ligand derived from tropolone.

The present invention relates to a marked fatty acid derivative, a precursor compound thereof, and use thereof in a contrast agent. The derivative is represented by formula I: wherein M is .sup.99mTc or Re; R, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, and A.sub.1-A.sub.12 are independently H, an aliphatic chain or an alicyclic; J, X, and Y are independently absent, or O, S or (II), and J, X, and Y are not simultaneously absent; R.sup.6-R.sup.14 are independently H or an aliphatic chain, and R.sup.13 and R.sup.14 are not H simultaneously; z is 1-6, a is 0-5, b is 0-5, and c is 0-3; d is 0-27, e is 0-27, f is 0-28, g is 0-7, and at least two of d, e, f and g are not 0. The present invention provides a completely novel structure type that can be used for preparing a novel myocardial metabolism contrast agent, possessing important clinical application prospects.