Visualization of Porous Composite Battery Electrode Fabrication Dynamics for Different Formulations and Conditions Using Hard X-ray Microradiography.

Porous composite battery electrode performance is influenced by a large number of manufacturing decisions. While it is common to evaluate only finished electrodes when making process adjustments, one must then make inferences about the fabrication process dynamics from static results, which makes process optimization very costly and time-consuming. To get information about the dynamics of the manufacturing processes of these composites, we have built a miniature coating and drying apparatus capable of fabricating lab-scale electrode laminates while operating within an X-ray beamline hutch.

Genetic modulation of brugada syndrome by a common polymorphism.

Background: Brugada syndrome predisposes some subjects to ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Mutations in SCN5A gene have been associated with approximately 25% of Brugada syndrome patients. A common variant in SCN5A, H558R has shown to improve sodium channel activity in mutated channels.

Expression, distribution and regulation of sex steroid hormone receptors in mouse heart.

The effects of sex hormones on the heart are dependent on the presence and distribution of sex steroid hormone receptors (SSHR) in cardiac tissue. This study used subcellular fractionation, Western blot analysis and densitometry to characterize the subcellular distribution and abundance of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha, ERbeta and androgen receptor (AR) in atrial and ventricular tissue from male and female mice. The results showed that in both atrial and ventricular tissue ERalpha was primarily found in the sarcolemma, whereas ERbeta and AR were predominantly located in the nucleus and cytosol.

A mutation in the sodium channel is responsible for the association of long QT syndrome and familial atrial fibrillation.

Background: Type 3 long-QT syndrome (LQT-3) is caused by gain-of-function mutations in the SCN5A encoding the cardiac sodium channel. Familial atrial fibrillation (AF), previously considered a potassium channelopathy, has recently been related to sodium genetic variants, both in isolated forms and in patients with underlying heart disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the first family associating LQT-3 and AF due to a gain-of-function mutation in SCN5A and assess the usefulness of the sodium blocker flecainide in individuals with both phenotypes.

Differences in 12-lead electrocardiogram between symptomatic and asymptomatic Brugada syndrome patients.

Introduction: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited disorder that predisposes some subjects to sudden cardiac death (SCD). It is not well established which BrS patients are at risk of severe arrhythmias. Our aim was to study whether standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) would give useful information for this purpose.

Cardiac arrest and left ventricular fibrosis in a Finnish family with the lamin A/C mutation.

Introduction: We screened the candidate genes from a Finnish family in which the mother was resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation and the daughter died suddenly without any prior cardiac symptoms.

Methods And Results: In addition to screening of potential structural gene mutations, phenotyping of the proband and medico-legal autopsy of the victim of the sudden death, including histopathological examinations, were performed. Genetic screening revealed an R541C mutation in the lamin A/C gene both in the proband and her daughter.

Isolation and characterization of subcellular protein fractions from mouse heart.

In this study, we report different protocols used to obtain highly enriched and well-characterized protein fractions that could be used to determine the subcellular localization of proteins. Different protein fractions (total, cytosolic, total membrane, sarcolemmal, and nuclear) were isolated from mouse heart by a combination of either polytron homogenization or liquid nitrogen pulverization followed by density gradient centrifugation. Triton X-100 was used in specific fractions to help in the solubilization of proteins obtained with fractionation protocols.

Sex and strain differences in adult mouse cardiac repolarization: importance of androgens.

Objective: Gender differences in mouse cardiac repolarization have been reported to be due to the stimulatory action of androgens on the ultrarapid delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(Kur)) and its underlying Kv1.5 channel. To confirm the regulation of ventricular repolarization by androgens, the present study compared two strains of mice (CD-1 and C57BL/6) that present different androgen levels.