Comparing human and mouse salivary glands: A practice guide for salivary researchers

Mice are a widely utilized in vivo model for translational salivary gland research but must be used with caution. Specifically, mouse salivary glands are similar in many ways to human salivary glands (i.e., in terms of their anatomy, histology, and physiology) and are both readily available and relatively easy and affordable to maintain. However, there are some significant differences between the two organisms, and by extension, the salivary glands derived from them must be taken into account for translational studies. The current review details pertinent similarities and differences between human and mouse salivary glands and offers practical guidelines for using both for research purposes.     

Personality Characteristics of Patients Showing Suboptimal Cognitive Effort

This study examined the relationship between performance on the Portland Digit Recognition Test (PDRT) and the MMPI-2 in a group of veterans who were suspected of having motivation to exaggerate cognitive and/or psychiatric symptoms. Number correct on “easy” trials on the PDRT correlated inversely with MMPI-2 measures of psychopathology, whereas number correct on “hard” trials positively correlated with the same scales. Some individuals performed poorly across both types of PDRT trials and had significant MMPI-2 elevations, whereas others performed poorly only on “hard” PDRT trials and had less extreme MMPI-2 elevations. This study reinforces the need to assess the validity of both cognitive and psychiatric symptom complaints.     

Differential Impact of Executive Function on Visual Memory Tasks

Despite their common use in neuropsychological evaluation, little is known about the differential contribution of executive functioning to visual memory tests. In this study, hierarchical regression was used to determine the role of executive functioning on the Visual Reproduction subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale—Third Edition, and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) in a mixed neurological sample of 193 patients. Executive functioning was predictive of Visual Reproduction but not ROCF recall variables after accounting for demographic variables and global cognitive functioning. Only executive tests with a visuospatial component, the Trail-Making Test Part B and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test perseverative responses, were predictive of recall of Visual Reproduction stimuli. Organization of the ROCF was predictive of both Visual Reproduction and ROCF recall. These findings increase our understanding of the executive contribution to two common visual memory tests and may aid in the clinical interpretation of seemingly discrepant visual memory performance.