(J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012;144:1167-75)”
“Background. The same executive dysfunctions and alterations in neuroimaging tests (both functional and structural) have been found in obsessive-compulsive patients and their first-degree relatives. These neurobiological findings are considered to be intermediate markers of the disease. The aim of
our study was to assess verbal and non-verbal memory in unaffected first-degree relatives, in order to determine whether these neuropsychological functions constitute a new cognitive marker for obsessive-compulsive disorder see more (OCD).
Method. Recall and use of organizational strategies in verbal and non-verbal memory tasks were measured in 25 obsessive-compulsive patients, 25 unaffected first-degree relatives and 25 healthy volunteers.
Results.
First-degree relatives and healthy volunteers did not show differences on most measures of verbal memory. However, during the recall and processing of non-verbal information, deficits were found in first-degree relatives and patients compared with healthy volunteers.
Conclusions. The presence of the same deficits in the execution of non-verbal memory tasks in OCD patients and unaffected first-degree relatives suggests the influence of certain genetic and/or familial factors on this cognitive function in OCD and supports the hypothesis that deficits in non-verbal memory tasks could be considered as cognitive markers of the disorder.”
“Objective: The BIBF 1120 cell line effect of mechanical preconditioning on skeletal myoblasts in engineered tissue constructs was investigated to resolve issues associated with conduction block between skeletal myoblast cells and cardiomyocytes.
Methods: Murine skeletal myoblasts were used to generate engineered tissue constructs with or without application of mechanical strain. After in vitro myotube formation, engineered tissue constructs were co-cultured
for 6 days with viable embryonic heart slices. With the use of sharp electrodes, electrical coupling between engineered tissue constructs and embryonic heart slices was assessed in the presence or absence of pharmacologic agents.
Results: The isolation and expansion procedure for skeletal myoblasts resulted in high yields of homogeneously desmin-positive (97.1% +/- 0.1%) cells. Mechanical strain C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR-7) was exerted on myotubes within engineered tissue constructs during gelation of the matrix, generating preconditioned engineered tissue constructs. Electrical coupling between preconditioned engineered tissue constructs and embryonic heart slices was observed; however, no coupling was apparent when engineered tissue constructs were not subjected to mechanical strain. Coupling of cells from engineered tissue constructs to cells in embryonic heart slices showed slower conduction velocities than myocardial cells with the embryonic heart slices (preconditioned engineered tissue constructs vs embryonic heart slices: 0.04 +/- 0.02 ms vs 0.10 +/- 0.05 ms, P=.