Mean EPO concentration was 62% higher for HF subjects with CSA th

Mean EPO concentration was 62% higher for HF subjects with CSA than for healthy controls (P = 0.004). The magnitude of nocturnal hypoxaemia was significantly and positively

related to EPO concentration (r = 0.45, P = 0.02). Advanced HF was also significantly and positively related SYN-117 to EPO concentration (r = 0.43, P = 0.02). On multivariate analysis, the presence of combined nocturnal hypoxaemia and advanced HF yielded greater correlation to EPO concentration than either factor alone (r = 0.57, P = 0.04 and P = 0.05, respectively). Linear regression demonstrated that the combination of New York Heart Association Class and CSA was strongly associated with EPO concentration (P < 0.0001).\n\nConclusion In non-anaemic HF patients, advanced HF and hypoxaemia due to CSA may each be independently associated with increased serum EPO concentration.”
“Patients with temporal lobe seizures sometimes experience what John Hughlings Jackson described

as “dreamy states” during seizure onset. These phenomena may be characterized by a re-experiencing of past events, feelings of familiarity (deja vu), and hallucinations. In previous reports, patients have been aware of the illusory nature of their experiences. Here, however, the case of a patient with a documented 37-year history of temporal lobe epilepsy who is not aware is described. Fifteen years ago, the patient saw visions of traumatic autobiographical events that he had never previously recalled. He believed them to be veridical memories from his childhood, although evidence from his family suggests see more that they were not. The patient’s psychological reaction to the “recovery” of these traumatic “memories” was severe enough to qualify as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To our knowledge, this is the first report of PTSD caused by the misattribution of mental states that accompany a seizure. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Surprisingly, a high frequency of interspecific

sea turtle hybrids has been previously recorded in a nesting site along a short stretch of the Brazilian coast. Mitochondrial DNA data indicated that as much as 43% of the females identified as Eretmochelys imbricata are hybrids in this area (Bahia State of Brazil). It is a remarkable find, because most of the nesting sites surveyed worldwide, including some in northern Brazil, presents Selleckchem Autophagy inhibitor no hybrids, and rare Caribbean sites present no more than 2% of hybrids. Thus, a detailed understanding of the hybridization process is needed to evaluate natural or anthropogenic causes of this regional phenomenon in Brazil, which could be an important factor 432 affecting the conservation of this population. We analysed a set of 12 nuclear markers to investigate the pattern of hybridization involving three species of sea turtles: hawksbill (E. imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). Our data indicate that most of the individuals in the crossings L. olivacea x E.

Given that non-virulent Mycobacterium smegmatis also controls act

Given that non-virulent Mycobacterium smegmatis also controls actin filament assembly to prolong its intracellular survival inside host cells, we performed a global transcriptomic analysis to assess the modulation of miRNAs upon M. smegmatis infection of the murine M phi cell line, J774A.1.

This 123 approach identified miR-142-3p as a key candidate to be involved in the regulation of actin selleck kinase inhibitor dynamics required in phagocytosis. We unequivocally demonstrate that miR-142-3p targets N-Wasp, an actin-binding protein required during microbial challenge. A gain-of-function approach for miR-142-3p revealed a down-regulation of N-Wasp expression accompanied by a decrease of mycobacteria intake, while a loss-of-function approach

yielded the reciprocal increase of the phagocytosis process. Equally important, we show Mtb induces the early expression of miR-142-3p and partially down-regulates N-Wasp protein levels in both the murine J774A.1 cell line and primary human M phi s. As proof of principle, the partial siRNA-mediated knock down of N-Wasp resulted in a decrease of Mtb intake by human M phi s, reflected in lower levels of colony-forming units (CFU) counts over time. We therefore propose the modulation of miRNAs as a novel strategy in mycobacterial infection to control factors involved in actin filament assembly and other early events of phagolysosome biogenesis.”
“Purpose\n\nTo determine whether the Conrad Program, which allows states to recruit 30 foreign-trained

physicians per year to work in underserved settings, is meeting its goal of increasing AZD8055 the number of physicians in Washington State’s underserved areas. Sapanisertib Participating physicians have completed their residency training in, and want to continue residing in, the United States.\n\nMethod\n\nThe authors identified all J-1 visa waiver physicians assigned to employers in Washington between 1995 and 2003, tracked them (whenever possible) through public databases to their current locations, and surveyed them about their experiences in, and subsequent to, the program.\n\nResults\n\nThe authors tracked 141 of 155 physicians (91%). Of those 141, 77 (55%) responded to the survey. These respondents reported that they remained with their J-1 waiver employers a median of 23 (range: 0-120) months longer than their required commitment periods and that they remained in practices serving primarily underserved populations for, on average, 34 (0-120) consecutive months after fulfilling their commitments. After leaving J-1 waiver employers, 35 of 47 physicians (74%) who served in rural areas moved toward more urban areas, and 57% (80/141) still live in the state. Whereas most expressed satisfaction with the program, 29/77 (38%) felt employers should have shown them more respect.

Human Rh C glycoprotein (RhCG) forms a trimeric complex that play

Human Rh C glycoprotein (RhCG) forms a trimeric complex that plays an essential role in ammonia excretion and renal pH regulation. The X-ray crystallographic structure of human RhCG, determined at 2.1 angstrom resolution, reveals the mechanism of ammonia transport. Each monomer contains 12 transmembrane

helices, one more than in the bacterial homologs. Reconstituted into proteoliposomes, RhCG conducts NH(3) to raise internal pH. Models of the erythrocyte Rh complex based on our RhCG structure suggest that the erythrocytic Rh complex is composed of stochastically assembled heterotrimers of RhAG, RhD, and RhCE.”
“Recently, interest on the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the pathophysiology of selleck kinase inhibitor hypertension has shifted toward greater emphasis on new developments in local RAS in specific tissues. We have focused our recent investigations on the role of the intrarenal-intratubular RAS in hypertension. All of the components needed for angiotensin II generation are present within the various compartments in the kidney. This brief review is focused on recent evidence that inappropriate activation of renin in distal nephron segments, by acting on angiotensinogen generated in the proximal

tubule cells and delivered to the distal nephron may contribute to increased distal intrarenal angiotensin II formation, eFT-508 in vivo sodium retention, and development and progression of hypertension. J Am Soc Hypertens 2009;3(2):96-104. (C) 2009 American Society of Hypertension. All rights reserved.”
“Root rot of papaya, caused by Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae, is the most widespread and important disease of papaya and is particularly damaging to many papaya varieties popular in southern India, such as Coorg Honey Dew and Surya. The objective of this study was to evaluate biocontrol agents (BCAs) under controlled BMS-345541 chemical structure and field 432 conditions for their efficacy against Phytophthora infecting papaya cv. Surya and to detect and quantify the reduction in the pathogen population by immunological techniques. Glomus mosseae, Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas

fluorescens were inoculated at the time of planting in the nursery and at the time of transplanting in single, dual and tripartite combinations allowing colonization up to 90 days. Plants were challenged thereafter with Phytophthora inoculum multiplied on specialized Phytophthora medium. Uninoculated plants and those inoculated with pathogen only were controls. All the BCAs in general improved plant growth and reduced severity of disease compared to uninoculated control in both pot experiments and under field conditions. Plants preinoculated with G. mosseae + T. harzianum, provided the best results when challenged with Phytophthora, with increased plant height, girth and yield and also reduced disease severity over plants not inoculated with BCAs.

[Bayesian; gene duplication;

gene loss; horizontal gene t

[Bayesian; gene duplication;

gene loss; horizontal gene transfer; lateral gene transfer; MCMC; phylogenetics.].”
“In this paper we present a model that predicts the softening of apple during ripening in the postharvest phase. Apple ripening starts with an autocatalytic production Compound C mouse of ethylene, which triggers a multitude of biochemical processes like the degradation of cell wall material. This triggering of the ripening process has been modelled as a biological switch-using the activator-depleted substrate model, which is proposed earlier by Meinhardt in the field of developmental biology. The model has been calibrated using storage experiments using various apple cultivars. Furthermore, the model is proven to be valid using independent experimental data of Elstar apple under dynamic storage conditions. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background: To investigate the obstetrical

and perinatal impact of oocyte donation, a cohort of women who conceived after OD was compared with a matched control GSK690693 order group of women who became pregnant through in vitro fertilisation with autologous oocytes (AO).\n\nMethods: A matched-pair analysis has been performed at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the UZ Brussel, Dutch speaking Free University of Brussel. A total of 410 pregnancies resulted in birth beyond 20 weeks of gestation occurring over a period of 10 years, including 205 oocyte donation pregnancies and 205 LY2157299 ICSI pregnancies with autologous oocytes (AO). Patients in the OD group were matched on a one-to-one basis with the AO group in terms of age, ethnicity, parity and plurality. Matched groups were compared using paired t-tests for continuous variables and McNemar test for categorical variables. A conditional logistic regression analyses was performed adjusting for paternal age, age of the oocyte donor, number of embryos transferred, and singleton/twin pregnancy.\n\nResults: Oocyte donation was associated with an increased risk of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) (matched OR: 1.502 CI: 1.024-2.204), and first trimester bleeding (matched OR: 1.493 CI: 1.036-2.15). No differences were observed 4 between the

two matched groups with regard to gestational age, mean birth weight and length, head circumference and Apgar scores.\n\n]Conclusions: Oocyte donation is associated with an increased risk for PIH and first trimester bleeding independent of the recipients’ age, parity and plurality, and independent of the age of the donor or the partner. However, oocyte donation has no impact on the overall perinatal outcome.”
“Background: Ongoing technological advances in genome sequencing are allowing bacterial genomes to be sequenced at ever-lower cost. However, nearly all of these new techniques concomitantly decrease genome quality, primarily due to the inability of their relatively short read lengths to bridge certain genomic regions, e. g., those containing repeats.

The purpose of this study was to identify candidate plasma biomar

The purpose of this study was to identify candidate plasma biomarkers to aid in diagnosis of lung Selleckchem DMXAA cancer in at-risk individuals. We found increased expression of the CXC chemokine connective tissue-activating peptide (CTAP)-III from

plasma specimens of lung cancer patients compared to at-risk control subjects. Identification of the peptide was confirmed by the addition of an anti-NAP-2 antibody that recognizes CTAP-III and NAP-2. We also quantified and verified the increased levels of plasma CTAP-III with ELISA in patients with lung cancer (mean +/- SD, 1859 +/- 1219 ng/mL) compared to controls (698 +/- 434 ng/mL; P<0.001). Our findings demonstrate elevated plasma levels of CTAP-III occur in lung cancer patients. Further studies are required to determine if this chemokine could be utilized in a blood-based biomarker panel for the diagnosis of lung cancer.”
“Eggshells are typically considered to be garbage because they have no value as food but they favor microbial growth. Vast quantities of eggshell waste are available

from food processing, baking, and hatching industries. The present study provides a simple Screening Library clinical trial hydrothermal method to obtain high-purity hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles from eggshells and three kinds of fruit waste extracts: grape, sweet potato, and pomelo peels. These synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy studies. The results showed that hydrothermal reaction times and biomolecule amounts influenced product shape, product size, and synthetic HA crystal morphology. The HA taken from pomelo peelings exhibited good aspect ratios with physical shapes similar to those of the crystalline HA structures of natural human bone. HA synthesized from eggshell powders contains several important trace

elements, such Selleck MG 132 as Na, Mg, and Sr. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.”
“Techno3 logical advances in both hardware and software have made possible the realization of sophisticated biological imaging experiments using the optical microscope. As a result, modern microscopy experiments are capable of producing complex image datasets. For a given data analysis task, the images in a set are arranged, based on the requirements of the task, by attributes such as the time and focus levels at which they were acquired. Importantly, different tasks performed over the course of an analysis are often facilitated by the use of different arrangements of the images. We present a software framework that supports the use of different logical image arrangements to analyze a physical set of images. This framework, called the Microscopy Image Analysis Tool (MIATool), realizes the logical arrangements using arrays of pointers to the images, thereby removing the need to replicate and manipulate the actual images in their storage medium.

Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to

evalua

Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro study was to

evaluate the influence of digitizing techniques on the fit of implant-retained crowns with 2 antirotational features. Material and Methods. An experimental working cast housing a tissue-level dental implant was created. Resin-retained abutments with different antirotational features were connected to the implant. Optical impressions of 2 abutment types were obtained separately with 1 chairside and 2 laboratory approaches. Alumina silicate restorations were milled from chairside optical impressions, and ceramic oxide cores were milled from laboratory optical impressions. Restoration fit was evaluated from axial sections of restorations with silicone materials representing the https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ly3023414.html marginal and axial gaps. 17DMAG ic50 Axial and marginal fits were measured on digital photographs of the 4 sectioned specimens with a computer program. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare differences between abutments with 2 different antirotational features and digitizing techniques separately for the marginal and axial fits of single implant-retained crowns. A post hoc least significant difference test was used to compare digitizing techniques

(alpha=.05). Results. Significant differences in the marginal fit of single-implant-retained crowns were found among digitizing techniques (P=.011) and between antirotational features (P smaller than .001). No significant difference in the axial fit of single-implant-retained crowns was found among digitizing techniques (P=.905) or between antirotational features (P=.075). Conclusions. Within the limitations of this in vitro study,

the marginal fit of single-implant-retained crowns was affected by antirotational abutment features. Furthermore, digitizing techniques were found to play an important role in the marginal fit of single-implant-retained restorations.”
“Recently, nanomaterials have been utilized in various fields. In particular, amorphous nanosilica particles are increasingly being used in a range of applications, including cosmetics, LY3023414 food technology, and medical diagnostics. However, there is concern that the unique characteristics of nanomaterials might induce undesirable effects. The roles played by the physical characteristics of nanomaterials in cellular responses have not yet been elucidated precisely. Here, by using nanosilica particles (nSPs) with a diameter of 70 nm whose surface was either unmodified (nSP70) or modified with amine (nSP70-N) or carboxyl groups (nSP70-C), we examined the relationship between the surface properties of nSPs and cellular responses such as cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and DNA damage. To compare the cytotoxicity of nSP70, nSP70-N, or nSP70-N, we examined in vitro cell viability after nSP treatment.

In contrast, heterogeneity in the cost that individuals pay to pu

In contrast, heterogeneity in the cost that individuals pay to punish for selfish behavior allows altruistic behavior to be maintained more easily. Fewer punishers are needed to deter selfish behavior, and the individuals that punish will mostly belong to the class that pays a

lower cost to do so. This effect is amplified when individuals that pay a lower cost for punishing inflict a higher punishment.\n\nThe two population models differ when individuals that pay a low cost for punishing also inflict a lower punishment. In this situation, altruistic behavior becomes harder to maintain in an infinite and well-mixed population. However, this effect does not occur when the population is spatially structured. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) are noninfectious and the assembly of influenza Wnt cancer VLPs depends on the interactions of M1 proteins and/or other viral surface proteins, such as HA, NA, and M2, with the cellular lipid membranes. In this study www.selleckchem.com/products/ml323.html we propose that M2 protein can

be used as a molecular fabricator without disrupting the assembly of VLPs and while retaining the native structures of HA and NA envelope protein oligomers on the particle surfaces. First, we demonstrated that influenza VLPs can be fabricated by the M2 fusion of enhanced green fluorescent protein for imaging single virus entering A549 cells. Second, we engineered two molecular adjuvants (flagellin and profilin) fused to M2 protein to generate molecular adjuvanted VLPs. Theses molecular adjuvanted

VLPs had stimulatory functions, including increasing TNF-alpha production and promoting the maturation of dendritic cells. Immunization of mice with molecular adjuvanted VLPs also enhanced the response of the neutralizing antibodies against homologous and heterologous H5N1 viruses. The results can provide useful information for imaging single viruses and designing novel vaccines against influenza virus infection. (C) 2011 MK-2206 supplier Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Malaria is the commonest cause of childhood morbidity in Western Kenya with varied heamatological consequences. The t study sought to elucidate the haemotological changes in children infected with malaria and their impact on improved diagnosis and therapy of childhood malaria.\n\nMethods: Haematological parameters in 961 children, including 523 malaria-infected and 438 non-malaria infected, living in Kisumu West District, an area of malaria holoendemic transmission in Western Kenya were evaluated.\n\nResults: The following parameters were significantly lower in malaria-infected children; platelets, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cell count and haemoglobin (Hb), while absolute monocyte and neutrophil counts, and mean platelet volume (MPV) were higher in comparison to non-malaria infected children.


“Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Vibrio vulnificus (i


“Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Vibrio vulnificus (isolate I, VVC and isolate II, VVB) were raised using heat-killed and heat-killed plus SDS-mercaptoethanol treated forms of VVC and VVB for immunizing Swiss mice. Twenty three hybridomas producing MAbs against V vulnificus were selected and divided into five groups according to their specificities to different V vulnificus isolates and apparent 3 protein antigens which ranged from similar to 3-50 kDa. Four groups were specific to V vulnificus without cross reactivity to either other Vibrio spp. or other bacterial species. In dot blot based assays, one group of MAbs were specific to VVC, with a sensitivity

of similar to 1.6 x 10(7) CFU ml(-1) (similar to 1.6 x 10(4) cells spot(-1)), and bound to proteins of similar to 50 and similar to 39 kDa. Other MAbs, binding to proteins ranging selleck screening library from similar to 3-14 and similar to 40 kDa, detected VVB (but not VVC) with high sensitivity at similar to 1.6 x 10(5) and 4 x 10(6) CFU ml(-1) (similar to 1.6 x 10(2) and 4 x 10(3) cells spot(-1)), respectively. In addition, certain MAbs were able to recognize V. vulnificus in tissues by means of immunohistochemistry. The remaining groups demonstrated cross reactivity to Vibrio fluvialis. MAbs from this study can, therefore, detect the difference between some isolates of V. vulnificus and in addition to pathogen detection may, with further antibodies, form

the basis of serovar typing isolates in the future. (C) 2008 Elsevier Navitoclax B.V.

All rights reserved.”
“Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus causes severe encephalitis with serious sequelae in humans. An epizootiological survey of wild rodents is selleck chemicals effective to detect TBE virus-endemic areas; however, limited serological diagnostic methods are available to detect anti-TBE virus antibodies in wild rodents. In this study, ELISAs for the detection of rodent antibodies against the TBE virus were developed using two recombinant proteins, domain III of the E protein (EdIII) and subviral particles (SPs), as the antigens. As compared with the neutralization test, the ELISA using EdIII had 77.1% sensitivity and 80.0% specificity, and the ELISA using SPs had 91.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Furthermore, when the ELISAs were applied to the epizootiological survey in the TBE virus-endemic area, both of the ELISAs was able to detect wild rodents with TBE virus-specific antibodies. This is the first study to show that ELISAs using recombinant antigens can be safe and useful in the detection of TBE virus-infected wild rodents in epizootiological research.”
“Background: The occipitocervicopectoral flap has a local skin pedicle in the occipital region, with the distal portion of the flap in the pectoral region. One disadvantage of the occipitocervicopectoral flap is its limited flap length. To overcome this disadvantage, a perforator supercharging technique was applied to enlarge the original flap length.

Meat from EM had higher androstenone and skatole odour and flavou

Meat from EM had higher androstenone and skatole odour and flavour than meat from FE, IM and CM and lower sweetness odour scores. High correlations were found between androstenone and skatole levels assessed by trained panelists, chemical

analysis and consumers’ acceptability. Moreover meat from EM is mainly related to androstenone and skatole attributes. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. ACY-241 Epigenetics inhibitor All rights reserved.”
“A 55-year-old female presented with bilateral progressive retinal vasculitis. She was on systemic and intravitreal steroids on the basis of uveitis work-up result (negative result including rapid plasma reagin), but her visual acuity continued to deteriorate to light perception only. Ocular examination showed retinal vasculitis, multiple yellow placoid lesions and severe 432 macula edema in both eyes. Repeated work-up revealed positivity of fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption in serum and subsequently in cerebrospinal fluid. Ocular syphilis

was diagnosed. And intravenous penicillin G resulted in rapid resolution of vasculitis and macular edema. To avoid delay in the diagnosis of ocular syphilis, high index of suspicion and repeating serological tests (including both treponemal and non-treponemal tests) are warranted.”
“Two mechanisms safeguard the bipolar attachment of chromosomes in mitosis. A correction mechanism destabilizes erroneous attachments that do not generate tension across sister kinetochores [1]. In response to unattached kinetochores, the mitotic checkpoint delays MRT67307 mouse anaphase onset by inhibiting the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C-Cdc20) [2]. Upon satisfaction of both pathways, the APC/C-Cdc20 elicits the degradation of securin and cyclin B [3]. This liberates separase triggering sister chromatid disjunction and inactivates cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) causing Galardin molecular weight mitotic exit. How eukaryotic cells avoid the engagement of attachment monitoring mechanisms when sister chromatids split and tension is lost at anaphase is poorly understood [4]. Here we show that Cdk1 inactivation

disables mitotic checkpoint surveillance at anaphase onset in human cells. Preventing cyclin B1 proteolysis at the time of sister chromatid disjunction destabilizes kinetochore-microtubule attachments and triggers the engagement of the mitotic checkpoint. As a consequence, mitotic checkpoint proteins accumulate at anaphase kinetochores, the APC/C-Cdc20 is inhibited, and securin reaccumulates. Conversely, acute pharmacological inhibition of Cdk1 abrogates the engagement and maintenance of the mitotic checkpoint upon microtubule depolymerization. We propose that the simultaneous destruction of securin and cyclin B elicited by the APC/C-Cdc20 couples chromosome segregation to the dissolution of attachment monitoring mechanisms during mitotic exit.

We evaluated the association between socioeconomic status and the

We evaluated the association between socioeconomic status and the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest, a condition that accounts for a substantial proportion of cardiovascular-related deaths, in seven large North American urban populations.\n\nMethods: Using a population-based registry, we collected data on out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occurring at home or at a residential institution from Apr. 1, 2006, to Mar. 31, 2007. We limited the analysis to cardiac arrests in seven metropolitan areas in the United States (Dallas, Texas; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;

Portland, Oregon; and Seattle-King County, Washington) and Canada (Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario; and Vancouver, British Columbia). Each incident was linked to a census tract; tracts were classified into quartiles of median household income.\n\nResults: A total of 9235 sudden cardiac arrests were included in the analysis. For all www.selleckchem.com/products/AZD1152-HQPA.html sites combined, the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest in the lowest socioeconomic quartile was nearly double that in the highest quartile (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-2.0). This disparity was greater among people less than 65 years old (IRR 2.7, 95% CI 2.5-3.0) than among those 65 or older (IRR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2-1.4). After adjustment for study site and for population age structure of each census

tract, the disparity across socio economic quartiles for all ages combined was greater in the United States (IRR 2.0, 95% CI 1.9-2.2)

than in Canada (IRR Cell Cycle inhibitor 1.8, 95% CI 1.6-2.0) (p < 0.001 for interaction).\n\nInterpretation: The incidence of sudden cardiac arrest at home or at a residential institution was higher in poorer neighbourhoods of the US and Canadian sites studied, selleck although the association was attenuated in Canada. The disparity across socioeconomic quartiles was greatest among people younger than 65. The association be tween socio economic status and incidence of sudden cardiac arrest merits consideration in the development of strategies to improve survival from sudden cardiac arrest, and possibly to identify opportunities for prevention.”
“Background: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH, 30 degrees C) protects the brain from hypoxic injury. However, TH may potentiate the occurrence of lethal ventricular fibrillation (VF), although the mechanism remains unclear. The present study explored the hypothesis that TH enhances wavebreaks during VF and Si pacing, facilitates 4 pacing-induced spatially discordant alternans (SDA), and increases the vulnerability of pacing-induced VF\n\nMethods and Results: Using an optical mapping system, epicardial activations of VF were studied in 7 Langendorff-perfused isolated rabbit hearts at baseline (37 degrees C), TH (30 degrees C), and rewarming (37 degrees C). Action potential duration (APD)/conduction velocity (CV) restitution and APD alternans (n=6 hearts) were determined by S1 pacing at these 3 stages.