These results suggest that the presence of male sex steroid hormones in male rabbits helps to suppress rate- and drug-induced delays in cardiac repolarization. DHT action produces increased current densities for I(K1) and I(Kr) and a left-shift in the V(1/2) for I(Kr) that could account, at least in part, for the observed QTc differences between males and females. Since little change was seen in ventricular RERG gene expression, DHT action in the heart may influence I(Kr) via post-transcriptional and/or post-translational mechanisms.

Electroanatomical navigation significantly reduced fluoroscopic exposure without compromising safety, efficacy, or recurrence. Subjects with AVNRT and right-sided accessory pathways derived the greatest benefit as did those requiring prolonged fluoroscopy by the conventional approach.

Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants in human diets and their intake is associated with chronic disease prevention. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a common vegetable in diets worldwide, but its nutritional content is relatively low. To elucidate the genetic basis of antioxidant content in lettuce, we measured the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and chlorophyll (Chl) content as a proxy of β-carotene in an F(8) recombinant inbred line (RIL) in multiple production cycles at two different production sites. Plants were phenotyped at the open-leaf stage to measure genetic potential (GP) or at market maturity (MM) to measure the influence of head architecture ('head' or 'open'). Main effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified at MM (three Chl and one ORAC QTL) and GP (two ORAC QTL). No main effect QTL for Chl was detected at GP, but epistatic interaction was identified in one pair of marker intervals for each trait at GP. Interactions with environment were also detected for both main and epistatic effects (two for main effect, and one for epistatic effect). Main effect QTL for plant architecture and nutritional traits at MM colocated to a single genomic region. Chlorophyll contents and ORAC values at MM were significantly higher and Chl a to Chl b ratios were lower in 'open' types compared to 'head' types. The nutritional traits assessed for GP showed a significant association with plant architecture suggesting pleiotropic effects or closely linked genes. Taken together, the antioxidant and chlorophyll content of lettuce is controlled by complex mechanisms and participating alleles change depending on growth stage and production environment.

We report the synthesis and characterization of catechol-functionalized film-forming latexes that display excellent adhesion to low-surface-energy polyolefin-based substrates. The aromatic 1,2-diol functional group in catechol derivatives is believed to be responsible for enhancing the adhesion of a variety of polymers to a range of substrates. Here, we describe a postpolymerization modification approach to the design of emulsion polymers with catechol-functionalized side chains. A series of analogous small-molecule reactions, together with latex characterization by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and liquid chromatography (LC) methods, provides evidence for polymer functionalization. Films prepared from catechol-containing latexes displayed remarkable adhesion to challenging, commercially-available thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) (as determined by a standard ASTM cross-hatch method). We provide evidence that covalent bonding and the unique catechol structure are required to promote adhesion. The catechol-functionalized emulsion polymers reported here represent a new class of functional latex, and this postpolymerization modification approach will present further opportunities to improve, modulate, and control the adhesion of water-borne coatings to a variety of polyolefin-based substrates.

No abstract