Provided is a diagnostic drug for evaluating permeability of intestinal mucosa, including chitin and/or chitosan as a main component. The chitin and/or chitosan to be used preferably has a weight average molecular weight prepared to a range of from 1,000 to 11,600.

A system for treating cancer and evaluating chemo-preventive potential of PHC and its prepared chitosan nanoparticles is described. The rats are divided into eight groups, from which group 1 is served as normal control, and group 2-8 are given single dose of DEN and repeated dose of CCl.sub.4, wherein freshly prepared solution of DEN in normal saline is used for the induction of HCC in rats by administering 200 mg/kg, i.p., PHC (2:1:1) in normal saline suspension to administer at doses of 900 mg/kg, wherein serum and tissue samples are collected after anesthetizing overnight fasted rats using intraperitoneal administration of thiopentone sodium at a dose of 40 mg/kg, wherein the collected serum and tissue samples is treated and thereby the chemo-preventive potential of PHC (2:1:1) and its prepared chitosan nanoparticles is evaluated upon determining liver markers, antioxidant parameters, total bilirubin, protein, lipid peroxidation, and liver cancer biomarkers.

The invention relates to biocompatible, bioabsorbable derivatized non-crosslinked chitosan compositions optionally crosslinked to gelatin/collagen by 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) for biomedical use and methods of making and testing such compositions, including a modified acute systemic toxicity test. The compositions comprise derivatized chitosan reacetylated to a degree of N-deacetylation (DDA) of between about 15% and 40%. The compositions are typically bioabsorbed in about 90 days or less and can be made to bioabsorb at differing rates of speed. The compositions are initially soluble in aqueous solution below pH 6.5. The compositions have an acid content that can be adjusted between about 0% (w/w) and about 8% (w/w) to customize the composition for uses that require and/or tolerate differing levels of cytotoxicity, adhesion, composition cohesion, and cell infiltration into the composition.

A method for determining the degree of sensitivity of a strain of fungus to an antifungal agent by using the possible change in a chitin level in a population of cells of a strain of fungus to an antifungal agent. The change is determined compared to the chitin level of a population of cells of said strain of fungus in the absence of antifungal agent.

Provided is a diagnostic drug for evaluating permeability of intestinal mucosa, including chitin and/or chitosan as a main component. The chitin and/or chitosan to be used preferably has a weight average molecular weight prepared to a range of from 1,000 to 11,600.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for correctly measuring zygomycota. The present inventors have found that conventionally difficult zygomycota measurement can be performed through subjecting an untreated specimen to an acid treatment. The present invention provides a method for measuring zygomycota, the method including measuring zygomycota in a specimen that was subjected to an acid treatment; an agent for preparing a specimen for measurement of zygomycota; a method for preparing a specimen for measurement of zygomycota; and a reagent kit for measuring zygomycota.

The present invention relates to a method and a composition for detecting the presence of arthropods, and/or their eggs, in the hair of the body and/or head of a subject.

The invention relates to biocompatible, bioabsorbable derivatized non-crosslinked chitosan compositions optionally crosslinked to gelatin/collagen by 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) for biomedical use and methods of making and testing such compositions, including a modified acute systemic toxicity test. The compositions comprise derivatized chitosan reacetylated to a degree of N-deacetylation (DDA) of between about 15% and 40%. The compositions are typically bioabsorbed in about 90 days or less and can be made to bioabsorb at differing rates of speed. The compositions are initially soluble in aqueous solution below pH 6.5. The compositions have an acid content that can be adjusted between about 0% (w/w) and about 8% (w/w) to customize the composition for uses that require and/or tolerate differing levels of cytotoxicity, adhesion, composition cohesion, and cell infiltration into the composition.

The invention relates to biocompatible, bioabsorbable derivatized non-crosslinked chitosan compositions optionally crosslinked to gelatin/collagen by 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) for biomedical use and methods of making and testing such compositions, including a modified acute systemic toxicity test. The compositions comprise derivatized chitosan reacetylated to a degree of N-deacetylation (DDA) of between about 15% and 40%. The compositions are typically bioabsorbed in about 90 days or less and can be made to bioabsorb at differing rates of speed. The compositions are initially soluble in aqueous solution below pH 6.5. The compositions have an acid content that can be adjusted between about 0% (w/w) and about 8% (w/w) to customize the composition for uses that require and/or tolerate differing levels of cytotoxicity, adhesion, composition cohesion, and cell infiltration into the composition.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for correctly measuring zygomycota. The present inventors have found that conventionally difficult zygomycota measurement can be performed through subjecting an untreated specimen to an acid treatment. The present invention provides a method for measuring zygomycota, the method including measuring zygomycota in a specimen that was subjected to an acid treatment; an agent for preparing a specimen for measurement of zygomycota; a method for preparing a specimen for measurement of zygomycota; and a reagent kit for measuring zygomycota.