The seedling screen was fast, repeatable and reliable for selecting lines with greater total root length in the young vegetative phase in the field. Lack of significant correlation with reproductive stage root system depth at the field sites used in this study reflected factors not captured in the screen such as time, soil properties, climate variation and plant phenology.

Sulfur mustard has been used as a vesicant chemical warfare agent. To investigate the ocular damage it causes, we studied the effects on chemical casualties in the Iran-Iraq War. The patient population consisted of more than 5,000 chemical casualties, both military and civilian. The range of ocular damage was wide. The most common ocular effects were conjunctivitis and photophobia. Patients with significant corneal involvement are at risk for corneal ulceration and rarely for anterior chamber scarring and neovascularization, any of which would result in prolonged disability. In conclusion, the eye is the organ most sensitive to sulfur mustard vapor. Ocular injuries generally heal completely. In severe cases, blindness may occur. The need for corneal transplantation is rare.

This report describes the synthesis of analogs of 4-[1-(3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (1), commonly known as bexarotene, and their analysis in acting as retinoid-X-receptor (RXR)-specific agonists. Compound 1 has FDA approval to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); however, its use can cause side effects such as hypothyroidism and increased triglyceride concentrations, presumably by disruption of RXR heterodimerization with other nuclear receptors. The novel analogs in the present study have been evaluated for RXR activation in an RXR mammalian-2-hybrid assay as well as an RXRE-mediated transcriptional assay, and for their ability to induce apoptosis, as well as for their mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. Analysis of 11 novel compounds revealed the discovery of 3 analogs that best induce RXR-mediated transcriptional activity, stimulate apoptosis, have comparable Ki and EC50 values to 1, and are selective RXR agonists. Our experimental approach suggests that rational drug design can develop new rexinoids with improved biological properties.

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