Rate control with intravenous diltiazem, verapamil, and metoprolol in acute atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate.

Introduction: Diltiazem is a preferred agent for rate control in atrial fibrillation due to its quick onset, minimal side effects, and low cost. Due to its intermittent national shortage since February 2018, the utilization of intravenous metoprolol and verapamil has increased. This study investigated the effect of intravenous diltiazem, metoprolol, and verapamil on rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate.

Characterization of Thioesterases Related to Tomato Methylketone Synthase 2.

2-Methylketones are involved in plant defense and fragrance and have industrial applications as flavor additives and for biofuel production. We isolated three genes from the crop plant Solanum melongena (eggplant) and investigated these as candidates for methylketone production. The wild tomato methylketone synthase 2 (ShMKS2), which hydrolyzes β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier proteins (ACP) to release β-ketoacids in the penultimate step of methylketone synthesis, was used as a query to identify three homologs from : SmMKS2-1, SmMKS2-2, and SmMKS2-3 Expression and functional characterization of SmMKS2s in showed that SmMKS2-1 and SmMKS2-2 exhibited the thioesterase activity against different β-ketoacyl-ACP substrates to generate the corresponding saturated and unsaturated β-ketoacids, which can undergo decarboxylation to form their respective 2-methylketone products, whereas SmMKS2-3 showed no activity.

Contrasting acclimation abilities of two dominant boreal conifers to elevated CO and temperature.

High latitude forests will experience large changes in temperature and CO concentrations this century. We evaluated the effects of future climate conditions on 2 dominant boreal tree species, Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.