University of Bologna 13 articles published in JoVE Bioengineering An Ex Vivo Porcine Model for Hydrodynamic Testing of Experimental Aortic Valve Procedures and Novel Medical Devices V. Reed LaSala1, Halil Beqaj2, Mingze Sun1, Sabrina Castagnini3, Senay Ustunel1, Elizabeth Cordoves2, Kavya Rajesh2, Sophia Jackman2, David Kalfa1,4 1Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, 2College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 3School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, 4Division of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Section of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center We present a method for mounting a porcine aortic valve on a pulse duplicator to test its hydrodynamic properties. This method can be used to determine the change in hydrodynamics after the application of an experimental procedure or novel medical device prior to use in a large animal model. Neuroscience Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery Matteo Zoli*1,2, Lia Talozzi*2, Micaela Mitolo3, Raffaele Lodi2,4, Diego Mazzatenta*1,2, Caterina Tonon*2,3 1IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothalamic-Pituitary Diseases - Pituitary Unit, 2Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 3IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Functional and Molecular Neuroimaging Unit, 4IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna We present a protocol to integrate diffusion MRI tractography in patient work-up to endoscopic endonasal surgery for a skull base tumor. The methods for adopting these neuroimaging studies in the pre- and intra-operative phases are described. Neuroscience High-Content Screening Differentiation and Maturation Analysis of Fetal and Adult Neural Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Cultures Vito Antonio Baldassarro1 1Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna We describe the production of mixed cultures of astrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells derived from fetal or adult neural stem cells differentiating into mature oligodendrocytes, and in vitro modeling of noxious stimuli. The coupling with a cell-based high-content screening technique builds a reliable and robust drug screening system. Medicine Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia Arrigo Cattabriga*1, Maria Adriana Cocozza*1, Giulio Vara*1, Francesca Coppola1, Rita Golfieri1 1Department of Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna The aim of this protocol is to provide a time efficient way to segment volumes of interest on high-resolution CT scans to use for further radiomics analysis. Medicine Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Dry Eye Owing to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Luca Vigo1, Giuseppe Giannaccare2, Stefano Sebastiani2, Marco Pellegrini2, Francesco Carones1 1Carones Ophthalmology Center, 2Ophthalmology Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, DIMES, University of Bologna Dry eye disease is an increasingly common condition, which strongly impair patients' life quality. Recently, a new device employing intense pulsed light, specifically designed for the periocular area, has been shown to improve tear film stability and ocular discomfort symptoms in dry eye disease owing to meibomian gland dysfunction. Engineering Structural Design and Manufacturing of a Cruiser Class Solar Vehicle Giangiacomo Minak1,2,3, Tommaso M. Brugo1, Cristiano Fragassa1,2, Ana Pavlovic2, Felipe V. de Camargo2, Nicola Zavatta3 1Department of Industrial Engineering, Università di Bologna, 2CIRI MAM, Università di Bologna, 3CIRI AERO, Università di Bologna In this work, several aspects related to the structural design process of a full-carbon fiber-reinforced plastic solar vehicle are detailed, focusing on the monocoque chassis, the leaf springs, and the vehicle as a whole during a crash test. Medicine Regenerative Therapy by Suprachoroidal Cell Autograft in Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration: Preliminary In Vivo Report Paolo Giuseppe Limoli1, Enzo Maria Vingolo2, Celeste Limoli1, Sergio Zaccaria Scalinci3, Marcella Nebbioso4 1Low Vision Research Centre of Milan, 2Department of Ophthalmology, A. Fiorini Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 3Glaucoma and Low Vision Study Center, Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplants, University of Bologna, 4Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Sapienza University of Rome The goal of this study is to assess whether the suprachoroidal graft of adipose-derived stem cells included in the stromal vascular fraction and platelets derived from platelet-rich plasma by the Limoli Retinal Restoration Technique can improve visual acuity and retinal sensitivity responses in eyes affected by dry age-related macular degeneration. Behavior Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty in Eyes with Glaucoma Giuseppe Giannaccare1, Stefano Sebastiani1, Emilio C. Campos1 1Ophthalmology Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi Teaching Hospital, DIMES, University of Bologna Glaucoma is a chronic disease with progressive degeneration of optic nerve fibers resulting in decreased visual field. Elevated intraocular pressure is considered the most important and the only treatable risk factor. This manuscript describes a simple, surgeon-friendly, non-incisional technique, named Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty, for reducing intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. Bioengineering Circulating MicroRNA Quantification Using DNA-binding Dye Chemistry and Droplet Digital PCR Manuela Ferracin1, Irene Salamon2, Laura Lupini2, Elena Miotto2, Silvia Sabbioni3, Massimo Negrini4 1Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine - DIMES, University of Bologna, 2Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 3Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 4Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine and Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara A sensitive and accurate method for cell-free microRNAs quantification using a dye-based chemistry and droplet digital PCR technology is described. Behavior Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice Manuela Sellitto1,2, Giuseppe di Pellegrino2 1Department of Biological Psychology, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, 2Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Bologna Giving in to temptation of tasty food may result in long-term overweight problems. This protocol describes how to reduce imprudent preference for edible commodities during hypothetical intertemporal choices in women by associating them with errors. Bioengineering Preparation and Photoacoustic Analysis of Cellular Vehicles Containing Gold Nanorods Lucia Cavigli1, Francesca Tatini1, Claudia Borri2, Fulvio Ratto1, Sonia Centi1, Alberto Cini3, Beatrice Lelli4, Paolo Matteini1, Roberto Pini1 1Institute of Applied Physics, Italian National Research Council, 2Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 4Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna We show the preparation and address the feasibility of cellular vehicles containing gold nanorods for the photoacoustic imaging of cancer. Biology The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli Alessandra Stefan1,2, Alessandro Ceccarelli1, Emanuele Conte1, Alejandro Montón Silva1, Alejandro Hochkoeppler1,2 1Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 2CSGI, Department of Chemistry, University of Firenze Protein co-expression is a powerful alternative to the reconstitution in vitro of protein complexes, and is of help in performing biochemical and genetic tests in vivo. Here we report on the use of protein co-expression in Escherichia coli to obtain protein complexes, and to tune the mutation frequency of cells. Chemistry Hot Biological Catalysis: Isothermal Titration Calorimetry to Characterize Enzymatic Reactions Luca Mazzei1, Stefano Ciurli1, Barbara Zambelli1 1Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna Isothermal titration calorimetry measures heat flow released or absorbed in chemical reactions. This method can be used to quantify enzyme-catalysis. In this paper, the protocol for instrumental setup, experiment running, and data analysis is generally described, and applied to the characterization of enzymatic urea hydrolysis by jack bean urease.
