This invention provides a screening method for sterol regulatory element binding protein pathway-specific inhibitors using a mutant cultured cell, as well as therapeutic agents for hyperlipemia, arterial sclerosis, obesity or cancer containing an SREBP pathway-specific inhibitor selected by said screening method. Techniques for bonding one end of a lead line to one end of a multi-strand non-metallic braid are provided. This is facilitated by using one or more interruption controls stored in memory and associated with each guest program. An overall rating is calculated for an option with respect to the dimension as a function of the weights and option ratings.