The gravitationally unstable gas disk of a starburst galaxy 12 billion years ago.

Galaxies in the early Universe that are bright at submillimetre wavelengths (submillimetre-bright galaxies) are forming stars at a rate roughly 1,000 times higher than the Milky Way. A large fraction of the new stars form in the central kiloparsec of the galaxy1-3, a region that is comparable in size to the massive, quiescent galaxies found at the peak of cosmic star-formation history4 and the cores of present-day giant elliptical galaxies. The physical and kinematic properties inside these compact starburst cores are poorly understood because probing them at relevant spatial scales requires extremely high angular resolution. Here we report observations with a linear resolution of 550 parsecs of gas and dust in an unlensed, submillimetre-bright galaxy at a redshift of z = 4.3, when the Universe was less than two billion years old. We resolve the spatial and kinematic structure of the molecular gas inside the heavily dust-obscured core and show that the underlying gas disk is clumpy and rotationally supported (that is, its rotation velocity is larger than the velocity dispersion). Our analysis of the molecular gas mass per unit area suggests that the starburst disk is gravitationally unstable, which implies that the self-gravity of the gas is stronger than the differential rotation of the disk and the internal pressure due to stellar-radiation feedback. As a result of the gravitational instability in the disk, the molecular gas would be consumed by star formation on a timescale of 100 million years, which is comparable to gas depletion times in merging starburst galaxies5.

Genome-wide association mapping and examination of possible maternal effect for the pace trait of horses.

Previously, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) related to gait type was identified at position 22 999 655 of chromosome 23 in the coding region of DMRT3 (DMRT3:Ser301Ter) by showing that a cytosine (C) to adenine (A) mutation of this SNP induced pace in the Icelandic horse. We investigated the effect of DMRT3:Ser301Ter on the gait of Hokkaido Native Horses, a Japanese native breed, and examined genetic factors other than DMRT3 by exploring genome-wide SNPs related to gait determination. All animals exhibiting pace were AA for DMRT3:Ser301Ter, confirming the association of DMRT3:Ser301Ter with gait determination; however, 14.3% of the animals exhibiting trot also had AA for DMRT3:Ser301Ter, suggesting the presence of another factor(s) cooperatively working with DMRT3:Ser301Ter for gait determination. SNPs on chromosomes 13 and 23 were detected by genome-wide association analysis (false discovery rate <0.05), although SNPs on chromosome 23 were all located in the vicinity of DMRT3:Ser301Ter, confirming the association with DMRT3. A genome-wide association study targeting only animals with AA for DMRT3:Ser301Ter to examine genetic factors cooperatively working with DMRT3:Ser301Ter for gait determination suggested associations of 23 SNPs on six chromosomes. In a series of analyses of the effect of a maternal factor (dam's gait) on gait determination, the effect was suggested in comparison of the frequencies of exhibiting pace in gait checks in only two animal groups having dams with different DMRT3:Ser301Ter genotypes (P < 0.05), suggesting that the gait of the dam does not have a major effect on whether progeny homozygous for the DMRT3:Ser301Ter mutation will preferentially pace or trot.

Spectroscopic properties and location of the Ce(3+) energy levels in Y3Al2Ga3O12 and Y3Ga5O12 at ambient and high hydrostatic pressure.

In this study, we present the high pressure spectroscopy of Y3Al2Ga3O12 (YAGG) and Y3Ga5O12 (YGG) ceramics doped with Ce(3+) and Cr(3+). We have found that high hydrostatic pressure recovers the Ce(3+) luminescence in YGG. The pressure-induced shifts of the ground state and the 5d1 excited state of Ce(3+) with respect to the conduction band edge were estimated. Our experimental data allowed us to also obtain the shifts of the conduction and valence band edges, and the ground state and the 5d1 state of Ce(3+) ions have been estimated with respect to the vacuum level. It has been shown that simple equivalence between the external hydrostatic pressure and intrinsic chemical pressure related to different compositions of the isostructural matrices does not exist in garnet lattices.

Brain-mimicking phantom for biomechanical validation of motion sensitive MR imaging techniques.

Motion sensitive MR imaging techniques allow for the non-invasive evaluation of biological tissues by using different excitation schemes, including physiological/intrinsic motions caused by cardiac pulsation or respiration, and vibrations caused by an external actuator. The mechanical biomarkers extracted through these imaging techniques have been shown to hold diagnostic value for various neurological disorders and conditions. Amplified MRI (aMRI), a cardiac gated imaging technique, can help track and quantify low frequency intrinsic motion of the brain. As for high frequency actuation, the mechanical response of brain tissue can be measured by applying external high frequency actuation in combination with a motion sensitive MR imaging sequence called Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE). Due to the frequency-dependent behavior of brain mechanics, there is a need to develop brain phantom models that can mimic the broadband mechanical response of the brain in order to validate motion-sensitive MR imaging techniques. Here, we have designed a novel phantom test setup that enables both the low and high frequency responses of a brain-mimicking phantom to be captured, allowing for both aMRI and MRE imaging techniques to be applied on the same phantom model. This setup combines two different vibration sources: a pneumatic actuator, for low frequency/intrinsic motion (1 Hz) for use in aMRI, and a piezoelectric actuator for high frequency actuation (30-60 Hz) for use in MRE. Our results show that in MRE experiments performed from 30 Hz through 60 Hz, propagating shear waves attenuate faster at higher driving frequencies, consistent with results in the literature. Furthermore, actuator coupling has a substantial effect on wave amplitude, with weaker coupling causing lower amplitude wave field images, specifically shown in the top-surface shear loading configuration. For intrinsic actuation, our results indicate that aMRI linearly amplifies motion up to at least an amplification factor of 9 for instances of both visible and sub-voxel motion, validated by varying power levels of pneumatic actuation (40%-80% power) under MR, and through video analysis outside the MRI scanner room. While this investigation used a homogeneous brain-mimicking phantom, our setup can be used to study the mechanics of non-homogeneous phantom configurations with bio-interfaces in the future.

Effects of deep sedation under mechanical ventilation on cognitive outcome in patients undergoing surgery for oral and maxillofacial cancer and microvascular reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive impairment after intensive care unit (ICU) admission is becoming increasingly recognized. High-dose deep sedation has been suggested to play an important role in the development of cognitive impairment. However, the impact of heavy sedation as a single cause in the development of cognitive impairment in ICU patients remains unclear. In this study we investigated whether a three-day deep sedation protocol could reduce cognitive function in mechanically ventilated non-critical patients. DESIGN: A prospective observational study was carried out. PATIENTS: A total of 17 surgical patients were studied. INTERVENTION: None. VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Cognitive function before and after ICU admission. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients requiring three days of sedation after microvascular reconstruction were initially enrolled in the study. Sedation in the ICU was maintained with propofol and dexmedetomidine combined with fentanyl. Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of 6 neuropsychological tests two days before surgery and three weeks after surgery. Finally, a total of 17 patients were included in the analysis. Cognitive impairment (defined as a decline of >20% from the pre-admission cognitive evaluation scores in at least two of 6 tests) was observed in 5 of the 17 patients (29%). However, there were no significant differences between the pre- and post-admission cognitive evaluations in 6 tests. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-term cognitive function can be impaired in some patients subjected to deep sedation during several days following maxillary-mandibular oral surgery with microvascular reconstruction.

Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the porcine antiviral MX1 and MX2 genes.

The porcine MX1 and MX2 promoters were characterized in this study. Sequencing of the 332-bp MX1 promoter region identified 15 substitutions and insertions at three positions in 21 pigs from 15 breeds, in which nine genotypes were classified. Among the nine genotypes, no statistically significant differences in the promoter activities were observed after interferon (IFN-alpha 2b) treatment of transiently transfected cells containing constructs with luciferase reporter plasmids. The 341-bp MX2 promoter region contained regulatory sequences for ISRE, GC box, Sp1 and AP-1, as well as a TATA box. Nucleotide sequences of the MX2 promoter region revealed four substitutions and one deletion, in which six genotypes were classified. Among the six genotypes, a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in MX2 promoter activities after IFN-alpha 2b treatment was detected in transiently transfected cells.

Requirement of the Auxin Polar Transport System in Early Stages of Arabidopsis Floral Bud Formation.

The pin-formed mutant pin 1-1, one of the Arabidopsis flower mutants, has several structural abnormalities in inflorescence axes, flowers, and leaves. In some cases, pin1-1 forms a flower with abnormal structure (wide petals, no stamens, pistil-like structure with no ovules in the ovary) at the top of inflorescence axes. In other cases, no floral buds are formed on the axes. An independently isolated allelic mutant (pin1-2) shows similar phenotypes. These mutant phenotypes are exactly the same in wild-type plants cultured in the presence of chemical compounds known as auxin polar transport inhibitors: 9-hydroxyfluorene-9-carboxylic acid or N-(1-naphthyl)phthalamic acid. We tested the polar transport activity of indole-3-acetic acid and the endogenous amount of free indole-3-acetic acid in the tissue of inflorescence axes of the pin1 mutants and wild type. The polar transport activity in the pin 1-1 mutant and in the pin1-2 mutant was decreased to 14% and 7% of wild type, respectively. These observations strongly suggest that the normal level of polar transport activity in the inflorescence axes is required in early developmental stages of floral bud formation in Arabidopsis and that the primary function of the pin1 gene is auxin polar transport in the inflorescence axis.

Molecular cloning, polymorphism, and functional activity of the bovine and water buffalo Mx2 gene promoter region.

BACKGROUND: Bovine Mx2 gene sequences were already reported, but further information about the gene properties is not yet available. The objective of the current study was to elucidate the structural properties of the bovine Mx2 gene mainly the promoter region and its possible functional role. If available, such information would help in assessing the functional properties of the gene, which was reported to confer antiviral action against recombinant VSV. RESULTS: Examinations on the bovine genomic BAC clone-confirmed to contain the Mx2 gene-revealed 883-bp sequences. A computer scan unequivocally identified a 788-bp promoter region containing a typical TATA box, three ISREs and other promoter-specific motifs. Comparative analysis of nine bovine genomic DNA samples showed 19 nucleotide substitutions suggesting the existence of five different genotypes in the promoter region. The water buffalo Mx2 promoter region was determined by using primers based on the bovine Mx2 promoter region disclosing 893-bp, with 56 substitutions, two insertions, 9 and 1 nt at two different sites. A functional analysis of the putative ISRE indicated that ISRE played a synergetic role in the activation of bovine Mx2 gene transcription. CONCLUSION: Bovine and water buffalo Mx2 promoter region was identified disclosing, the conserved ISRE, located in the proximal end of the promoter region like other members of the antiviral family, suggesting functional activity under interferon stimulation.

Pathophysiological significance of in vivo ESR signal decay in brain damage caused by X-irradiation. Radiation effect on nitroxyl decay of a lipophilic spin probe in the head region.

X-irradiation of mice decreased the decay rate of the in vivo ESR signal in the head region to 75% of the control when 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-yloxy (MCPROXYL), a lipophilic and blood-brain barrier-permeable spin probe, was used. We attempted to identify the specific factor responsible for the decrease in the signal decay rate caused by X-irradiation. The signal decay of MCPROXYL in the head region depends on the following three factors: (1) blood concentration of MCPROXYL, (2) reduction to the corresponding hydroxylamine in the brain tissue, and (3) effusion of MCPROXYL from the brain tissue. Irradiation at 15 Gy did not significantly change the rate of decrease of blood concentration of MCPROXYL at 1 h post-irradiation. The reducing activity of the brain homogenate was not changed by the X-irradiation (15 Gy). The contents of MCPROXYL and its hydroxylamine derivative in the brain of 15 Gy-irradiated mice remained higher than in non-irradiated mice. These findings suggest that the effect of X-irradiation observed by in vivo ESR is attributable not to the redox reaction of MCPROXYL in the brain but to the change of the efflux rate of the MCPROXYL from the brain.

Topically administered timolol and dorzolamide reduce intraocular pressure and protect retinal ganglion cells in a rat experimental glaucoma model.

AIMS: This study sought to elucidate the effects of timolol and dorzolamide on intraocular pressure (IOP) and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in an experimental model of glaucoma in rat. METHODS: Mild elevation of IOP was induced in rats by intracameral injection of India ink and subsequent laser trabecular photocoagulation. IOP was measured before the surgical procedures and weekly thereafter. Timolol (0.5%), timolol XE (0.5%), dorzolamide (1%), and artificial tears (vehicle) were topically applied daily. Retinal sections were prepared for histology to determine RGC number. RESULTS: Timolol, timolol XE, and dorzolamide induced a significant reduction in IOP (p<0.05) and counteracted the reduction in RGC number that occurred in vehicle treated glaucomatous eyes (p<0.05). The coefficient of correlation between RGC number and IOP was significant in the dorzolamide treated group (r = -0.908, p<0.005), but not in other groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both timolol formulation and dorzolamide reduced IOP and protected RGCs in a rat model of experimental glaucoma. It cannot be ruled out that timolol might protect RGCs by additional mechanisms other than simply lowering of IOP.

Reactions of copper(II)-oligopeptide complexes with hydrogen peroxide: effects of biological reductants.

Cu(II) complexes with oligopeptides containing histidyl residue in the second or third position could scarcely activate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), but they could activate H2O2 to yield hydroxyl radical (.OH) in the presence of biological reductants such as cysteine and ascorbic acid. Further, DNA single strand breakage was also observed during the reactions of Cu(II)-glycylglycylhistidylglycine (GGHG) with H2O2 in the presence of same biological reductants.

Oxidation of spin-traps by chlorine dioxide (ClO2) radical in aqueous solutions: first ESR evidence of formation of new nitroxide radicals.

The reactivities of the chlorine dioxide (ClO2), which is a stable free radical towards some water-soluble spin-traps were investigated in aqueous solutions by an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The ClO2 radical was generated from the redox reaction of Ti3+ with potassium chlorate (KClO3) in aqueous solutions. When one of the spin-traps, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), was included in the Ti3+-KClO3 reaction system, ESR spectrum due to the ClO2 radical completely disappeared and a new ESR spectrum [aN(1) = 0.72 mT, aH(2) = 0.41 mT], which is different from that of DMPO-ClO2 adduct, was observed. The ESR parameters of this new ESR signal was identical to those of 5,5-dimethylpyrrolidone-(2)-oxyl-(1) (DMPOX), suggesting the radical species giving the new ESR spectrum is assignable to DMPOX. The similar ESR spectrum consisting of a triplet [aN(1) = 0.69 mT] was observed when the derivative of DMPO, 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (M4PO) was included in the Ti3+-KClO3 reaction system. This radical species is attributed to the oxidation product of M4PO, 3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidone-(2)-oxyl-(1) (M4POX). When another nitrone spin-trap, alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-t-butylnitrone (POBN) was used as a spin-trap, the ESR signal intensity due to the ClO2 radical decreased and a new ESR signal consisting of a triplet [aN(1) = 0.76 mT] was observed. The similar ESR spectrum was observed when N-t-butyl-alpha- nitrone (PBN) was used as a spin-trap. This ESR parameter [a(N)(1) = 0.85 mT] was identical to the oxidation product of PBN, PBNX. Thus, the new ESR signal observed from POBN may be assigned to the oxidation product of POBN, POBNX. These results suggest that the ClO2, radical does not form the stable spin adducts with nitrone spin-traps, but oxidizes these spin-traps to give the corresponding nitroxyl radicals. On the other hand, nitroso spin-traps, 5,5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzenesulfonate (DBNBS), and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) did not trap the ClO2 radical. This result indicates that an unpaired electron of the ClO2 radical is localized on oxygen atom, because nitroso spin-traps cannot form the stable spin adduct with oxygen-centered radical.

Hepatic tolerance to hypotension as assessed by the changes in arterial ketone body ratio in the state of brain death.

Hepatic tolerance to hypotension was assessed by changes in arterial ketone body ratio (KBR) and hepatic energy charge levels in experimental brain death induced by epidural ballooning in dogs, and compared with the hemorrhagic shock model. Systolic arterial blood pressure was significantly decreased from 182 mmHg to 67 mmHg after completion of brain death (P less than 0.01), but KBR was maintained at near the control value of 1.098 +/- 0.051 in spite of marked hypotension. Hepatic energy charge was 0.846 +/- 0.016 and remained at normal level. No significant changes were observed in lactate level, total bilirubin, SGPT, and LDH. SGOT was slightly elevated but was still within normal limits (P less than 0.05). Light microscopic examination revealed no apparent ischemic change in the centrilobular region under hematoxylin and eosin staining. By contrast, KBR decreased from 0.975 +/- 0.054 to 0.273 +/- 0.060 following hypotension in the Wiggers' shock model (P less than 0.01). Lactate levels were gradually elevated significantly (P less than 0.05), but no significant increases were observed in total bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, and LDH. It is suggested that the hepatic energy status is well maintained in the state of brain death, in which state the liver has high tolerance to marked hypotension until shortly before stoppage of the heart.

Ultrastructural localization of myocilin in human trabecular meshwork cells and tissues.

We examined ultrastructurally the localization of myocilin (formerly called trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response, or TIGR) protein in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and in normal human TM tissues. The TM, a specialized tissue located at the chamber angle of the eye, is believed to be responsible for the development of glaucoma. The myocilin gene has been directly linked to both juvenile and primary open-angle glaucomas, and multiple mutations have been identified. Human TM cells were treated with 0.1 mM of dexamethasone (DEX) to induce myocilin expression. This protein was immunolocalized by colloidal gold electron microscopy using an anti-human myocilin polyclonal antibody. Double labeling with different sizes of gold particles was also performed with additional monoclonal antibodies specific for cell organelles and structures. In both DEX-treated and untreated cultured cells, myocilin was associated with mitochondria, cytoplasmic filaments, and vesicles. In TM tissues, myocilin was localized to mitochondria and cytoplasmic filaments of TM cells, elastic-like fibers in trabecular beams, and extracellular matrices in the juxtacanalicular region. These results indicate that myocilin is localized both intracellularly and extracellularly at multiple sites. This protein may exert diverse biological functions at different sites.

Hepatic amyloidosis in Japan: histological and morphometric analysis based on amyloid proteins.

To investigate the relationship between the tissue distribution and the types of amyloid proteins, the detailed histopathologic features of the available liver in 284 cases of amyloidosis were examined. We classified hepatic amyloidosis into three types, namely, the vascular pattern, parenchymal pattern, and stromal pattern according to the topographic distribution pattern of amyloid. Of the 152 amyloid A (AA) cases, all but one exhibited the vascular pattern; the single exception had the parenchymal pattern. Among 117 amyloid light chain (AL) cases, 51.3% exhibited the vascular pattern and 43.6% the parenchymal pattern. The stromal pattern was observed in 5.1% of the cases but was found only in AL amyloidosis. The parenchymal and stromal patterns in the liver seemed to be characteristic morphological distributions of AL amyloidosis. Routine histochemical study is useful to distinguish AL from AA, although some ethnic differences were apparent. Morphometric results showed that the walls of the hepatic arteries with amyloid deposition were significantly thicker than walls in arteries from the control group. The arterial walls in AA amyloidosis, especially, were significantly thicker than walls in AL amyloidosis of any pattern.

Permeability of gadolinium-DTPA through two types of hemodialysis membrane.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Gadolinium diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) was injected intravenously for magnetic resonance imaging in patients with impaired renal function, and the permeabilities of two types of general hemodialysis (HD) membrane to this agent were compared. METHODS: One of the HD membranes, Nipro FB-210-U membrane (U membrane), has a larger pore size than the other, Nipro FB-210-M membrane (M membrane). On the same day as magnetic resonance imaging was performed, the patient underwent a 4-hour HD session. Blood was sampled before and at five points after the start of HD. RESULTS: Mean dialysance of Gd-DTPA was 175.8 to 185.8 mL/min with the U membrane and 120.5 to 130.1 mL/min with the M membrane. The elimination rate was 91.1% with the U membrane and 81.1% with the M membrane 4 hours after the start of HD. The permeability was significantly higher with the U membrane than with the M membrane. CONCLUSION: Although it is more expensive, the U membrane should be chosen rather than the M membrane for HD to remove Gd-DTPA from the body as efficiently as possible.

Influence of dopamine on the liver assessed by changes in arterial ketone body ratio in brain-dead dogs.

The influence of dopamine on liver metabolism in the state of brain death was assessed by measuring arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) in dogs. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was significantly decreased, from 137.4 +/- 3.7 to 64.7 +/- 2.8 mm Hg, 1 hour after completion of brain death (p less than 0.01). In the control group AKBR was maintained at the near control value of 1.07 thereafter, concomitant with a significant decrease in serum lactate levels, despite marked hypotension (p less than 0.05). Dopamine infusion at rates of 5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min sustained both AKBR and MABP at near control values. In contrast, dopamine given at doses greater than 15 micrograms/kg/min caused a significant reduction of AKBR, to less than 0.66 +/- 0.12 (p less than 0.01), although MABP was restored to near-normal levels. In addition, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly elevated, reflecting liver cell injury. It is suggested that the liver is primarily tolerant to hypotension in the state of brain death and that dopamine administered at a rate of 15 micrograms/kg/min or more impairs liver metabolism by reducing the redox state (free nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide/reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide) of liver mitochondria.

Calpain inhibitor inhibits secretory granule maturation and secretion of GH.

Clathrin- and AP-1-coated buds are present on immature secretory granules of endocrine cells that mature into clathrin-uncoated granules. The mechanism of clathrin and adaptor protein uncoating has remained obscure. Benzyloxycarbonyl-L-leucyl-L-leucinal (ZLLal), a calpain inhibitor, reduced growth hormone (GH) secretion with intracellular accumulation, in a GH-secreting rat pituitary tumor cell. Pulse and chase demonstrated that ZLLal retarded the turnover of clathrin (Clt.H) and adaptins. ZLLal-treatment co-immunoprecipitated the increased amounts of GH with Clt.H and adaptins compared to control cells, suggesting the intracellular accumulation of immature secretory granules. Clt.H and adaptins were limited-proteolyzed by m-calpain in vitro, indicating that calpain may be involved partly in the maturation of secretory granules in endocrine cells via the process of clathrin uncoating.

A prolongation of hepatic vascular exclusion by in situ hypothermic perfusion in dogs.

In situ hypothermic hepatic perfusion was performed in dogs to explore whether the time limit of hepatic vascular exclusion could be prolonged. During hepatic vascular exclusion, hepatic hypothermic perfusion was performed via portal vein using various perfusates under active bypass from the portal vein and infrahepatic inferior vena cava area to the superior vena cava system. Dogs receiving hepatic hypothermic perfusion for 1 hour died when given Ringer's solution but survived more than 7 days when given Euro-Collins' and University of Wisconsin solutions. Although dogs tolerated 2 hours of hepatic hypothermic perfusion when give University of Wisconsin solution, all dogs died by 2 hours of hepatic hypothermic perfusion when given Euro-Collins' solution. The hepatic energy charge and arterial ketone body ratio of dogs that died were significantly lower than for those that survived. This suggests that the regimen of hepatic hypothermic perfusion with University of Wisconsin solution is able to maintain the energy metabolism of the liver under hepatic vascular exclusion for prolonged periods, hence, its possible clinical application.

Noninvasive evaluation of cytochrome c oxidase activity of the liver. Its prognostic value for hepatic resection.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the relationship between the noninvasive evaluation of hepatic mitochondrial function, the redox tolerance test, and cytochrome c oxidase activity of the liver, focusing on surgical risk in hepatic resection. DESIGN: Six-month randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Inpatients in surgical department. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients who underwent hepatic resection (n = 36) and other abdominal operations (n = 4). INTERVENTION: Preoperative, noninvasive: The redox tolerance test, which measures the changes in arterial ketone body ratio in response to 75 g of oral glucose loading. Intraoperative, invasive: Cytochrome c oxidase activity and energy charge of the liver. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Correlation of the index in the redox tolerance test (RTI) with cytochrome c oxidase activity, both of which predict the postoperative course. RESULTS: The RTI values were negatively correlated with the maximal velocity (Vmax) and Michaelis constant (Km) values of cytochrome c oxidase activity. The maximal velocity and Michaelis constant values in patients with RTI values above or equal to 0.5 (group A, n = 29) were significantly lower than those in patients with RTI values below 0.5 (group B, n = 11). Eight (72.7%) of 11 patients in group B experienced postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The RTI is a noninvasive method of assessing the hepatic energy metabolism and can be a useful index for evaluating surgical risk in hepatectomy.