Iodometry is one of the easiest, most rapid and accurate methods for the determination of a relatively small amount of oxidizing agent, such as residual chlorine. Starch has long been used as a useful color indicator in iodometry. However, we found that PVA (polyvinyl alcohol with partially saponificated; e.g., saponification degree of 88%) is a more useful color indicator than starch. For exam...

Whether 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM, < or = 5mmol/l) suppresses primarily crossbridge cycling or total Ca(2+) handling in the blood-perfused whole heart remains controversial. Although BDM seems to suppress primarily total Ca(2+) handling in canine hearts, more evidence is lacking. We therefore analyzed the cardiac mechanoenergetics, namely, E(max) (contractility), PVA (total mechanical energ...

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is a life-threatening inherited cardiomyopathy with an estimated prevalence of 1 per 5000 individuals characterized by the replacement of the cardiac myocytes with fibrofatty tissue leading to ventricular arrhythmias, right ventricular failure, and sudden cardiac death. ARVD/C is commonly inherited in an autosomal dominant manne...

The desmogleins are a family of cadherins cell-cell adhesion molecules consisting of proteins DSG1, DSG2, DSG3, and DSG4. They play a role in the formation of desmosomes, which form the major types of intercellular adhesive junctions. DSGs are currently thought to be involved in autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and inherited diseases. Patients with pemphigus, an autoimmune blistering d...

Abstract Background Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is inherited cardiac disease with unresolved treatment. ARVC progressive and leads to lethal arrhythmias terminal heart failure. Most often encountered mutations are in desmosomal genes [1]. Purpose We aimed generate transgenic mice exact copy of genetic defects found Japanese cohort patients, describe the phenotype, ide...