Objectives: According to our previous work, aripiprazole exerted a protective effect on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated PC12 cells; haloperidol did not. Because aripiprazole has distinct affinities to a set of neurotransmitter receptor subtypes, this study aimed to clarify which subtype is responsible for rescuing cells from 0.25 mM H₂O₂ exposure.
Methods: A set of compounds, which are more specific to each subset of G-protein coupled receptors, were examined for their ability to mimic the pharmacological effects of aripiprazole or haloperidol, including their Ki values. The viability of PC12 cells cultured with test compounds with or without H₂O₂ was assessed using WST-8 reagent.
Results: Results from in vitro studies using PC12 cells showed that agonism at serotonin 5-HT2C-receptors based on the antagonism against 5-HT2B-receptors played a significant role in resistingH₂O₂-induced cell death. However, the use of a specific 5-HT2B-receptor agonist instead of a 5-HT2B-receptor antagonist completely negated the effect of a specific 5-HT2C-receptor agonist. Furthermore, unlike the dopamine D1-receptor specific antagonist, none of the agonists of dopamine D2-, D3-, and D4-receptors ameliorated the cytopathic effects of H₂O₂.
Conclusion: Antagonism at 5-HT2B-receptors is fundamental for the protection of PC12 cells against the cytopathic effects caused by 0.25 mM H₂O₂. However, the role of negatively regulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate in this phenomenon requires further investigation.

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Objectives: We examined whether selected factors were associated with activity limitation used to calculate the healthy life expectancy in accordance with the target of Health Japan 21 (the second term).
Methods: Data for 6251 subjects were obtained from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions and the National Health and Nutrition Survey, both of which were conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan in 2010. The age-adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of limitation of activity for the assessed factors were estimated using a logistic model.
Results:, The percentage of persons with activity limitation was 12.1% of men and 15.6% of women. For men, low body mass index (BMI) (AOR: 2.02, p=0.008), high blood pressure (AOR: 1.53, p=0.021), high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (AOR: 1.99, p=0.000), a small number of steps (AOR: 1.68, p=0.002), and high intake of salt (AOR: 0.69, p=0.010) were significantly associated with limitation of activity. For women, high BMI (AOR: 1.49, p=0.003), a small number of steps (AOR: 1.48, p=0.009), and high intake of salt (AOR: 0.77, p=0.017) were significantly associated with activity limitation.
Conclusion: We identified several factors that were associated with activity limitation. Our results from cross-sectional data require careful interpretation before concluding whether these relationships are causal

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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a quantitative method for myocardial blood flow (MBF) measurement using contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) images with bolus tracking and helical scanning.
Materials and Methods: Nine canine models of left anterior descending artery stenosis were prepared and underwent MDCT perfusion imaging during adenosine infusion to study a wide range of flow parameters. Neutron-activated microspheres were injected to document MBF during adenosine infusion. Six animals underwent dynamic MDCT perfusion imaging, and K₁ and k₂ (which represent the first-order transfer constants from left ventricular blood to myocardium and from myocardium to the vascular system, respectively) were measured using a two-compartment model. The results were compared against microsphere MBF measurements, and the extraction fraction (E) of contrast agent and the mean value of k₁/k₂ were calculated. Six animals then underwent helical CT perfusion imaging, and neutron-activated microspheres were injected to document MBF during adenosine infusion. For each animal, based on E, K₁/k₂, time-registered helical CT myocardial data, and arterial input function data, tables of myocardial CT values versus MBF were simulated for various MBF values to create look-up tables from the myocardial CT value to MBF. The CT-derived MBF values were compared against the microsphere MBF measurements.
Results: A strong linear correlation was observed between the MDCT-derived MBF and the microsphere MBF (y = 1.065x – 0.616, R² = 0.838). Conclusions: Regional MBF can be measured accurately using a combination of bolus tracking and time-registered helical CT data from contrast-enhanced MDCT scanning during adenosine stress.

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The laparoscopic approach has weaknesses in terms of its inability to provide an adequate overview of the operative field and its lack of tactile sensation, easily leading to disorientation during surgery. This is especially true in liver resection for deeply located small tumors. Anatomic resection, which removes the portal territory of the tumorbearing area, is recommended for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because it increases the chance of removing all transportal tumor cell dissemination and secures clearance of small tumors inside the area. Preservation of residual liver volume is also required for patients with deteriorated liver function. We performed laparoscopic small (one segment or less) anatomic liver resection for a deeply located small tumor in a cirrhotic liver with preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) simulation.
　A 70-year-old man with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis was admitted for treatment of a lesion in liver segment 6. CT demonstrated a 1.0-cm lesion deep within segment 6 between the portal branches of subsegments 6a and 6c. The patient underwent laparoscopic anatomic liver resection of subsegments 6a and 6c using 3D-CT simulation. The deeply located small HCC was contained in the resected specimen with a negative margin, and pathological examination showed well-differentiated HCC. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he was well without recurrence 26 months postoperatively.
　Laparoscopic small anatomic liver resection with preoperative 3D-CT simulation facilitates removal of deeply located small tumors with an increased chance of removing transportal cancer cell dissemination, maximizing liver preservation, and achieving negative-margin resection.

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