Manual of research techniques in cardiovascular medicine

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Cover; Dedication; Title page; Copyright page; Contents; List of Contributors; Preface; About the Companion Website; Part 1: Electrophysiology; 1: Measurement of calcium transient ex vivo; Introduction; Preparation and fluorescent indicator loading; Optical setup; Calibration; Analysis and interpretation; Set-by-step procedure; References; 2: Confocal imaging of intracellular calcium cycling in isolated cardiac myocytes; Introduction; Materials and methods; Chamber, electrical stimulation, and superfusate delivery apparatus; Confocal microscope system.

Cell loading of fluorescent Ca2+ indicatorsExperimental approach; Data analyses; Weaknesses and strengths of the method and alternative approaches; Conclusions; References; 3: Generating a large animal model of persistent atrial fibrillation; Introduction; Insights from tachypacing-induced AF models; Protocol; Generating a tachypacing-induced AF model; Pacing protocols; Ventricular rate during AF: to ablate or not to ablate; Strengths and weaknesses of the model; Complications and alternative approaches to study AF; Potential complications; Alternative AF models; Conclusion; Acknowledgement.

Choices to make before an experimentAP recording procedure; Frequent problems; AP analysis; Alternative approaches and extensions; Weaknesses and strengths; Conclusion; References; 6: Patch-clamp recordings from isolated cardiac myocytes; Introduction; Theory of patch-clamp recording; Cell-attached configuration; Whole-cell recording configuration; Inside-out excised patch configuration; Outside-out excised patch configuration; Instrumentation for patch-clamp recordings; Experimental aspects of patch-clamp recordings; Gigaseal formation; Whole-cell recordings.

Whole-cell voltage-clamp protocols, data acquisition, and analysisConclusions and future directions; References; 7: Optical mapping of the heart; Introduction; Protocols; Experimental set-up; Tissue preparations (Figure 7.2); Staining and image acquisition; Data processing and analysis; Representative results; Alternative approaches; Weaknesses and strengths of method; Conclusions; References; Part 2: Isolation and Maintenance of Primary Stem Cells; 8: Isolation of colony-forming endothelial progenitor cells; Introduction; Materials; Laboratory reagents; Laboratory equipment; Methods."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

While some research methods or techniques are applicable in several areas of medicine, research in cardiovascular diseases requires knowledge of an increasing array of procedures, techniques and measurements that are highly specialized and unique to this area of investigation. Edited by senior clinical investigators who are recognized leaders in cardiovascular medicine worldwide, this book provides readers with a comprehensive, practical ""how-to-do-it"" review of best-practice techniques for cardiovascular research.