University of Pittsburgh Medical Center 6 articles published in JoVE Behavior Operative Technique and Nuances for the Stereoelectroencephalographic (SEEG) Methodology Utilizing a Robotic Stereotactic Guidance System Amir H. Faraji1, Zachary C. Gersey2,3, Danielle M. Corson2,3, James C. Sweat2,3, Jorge A. Gonzalez-Martinez2,3 1Department of Neurological Surgery, Houston Methodist, 2Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3Epilepsy Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center The SEEG methodology is simplified and made faster with a stereotactic robot. Careful attention must be paid to the registration of the preoperative volumetric MRI to the patient prior to use of the robot in the OR. The robot streamlines the procedure, leading to decreased operative times and accurate implantations. Biology Isolation of Human Primary Valve Cells for In vitro Disease Modeling Rolando A. Cuevas1, Claire C. Chu1, William J. Moorhead III1, Ryan Wong1, Ibrahim Sultan2, Cynthia St. Hilaire1,3 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, and the Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 2Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh and Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh This protocol describes the collection of human aortic valves extracted during surgical aortic valve replacement procedures or from cadaveric tissue, and the subsequent isolation, expansion, and characterization of patient specific primary valve endothelial and interstitial cells. Included are important details regarding the processes needed to ensure cell viability and phenotype specificity. Immunology and Infection Bone Marrow Transplantation Platform to Investigate the Role of Dendritic Cells in Graft-versus-Host Disease Hung D. Nguyen*1, Phung Thanh Huong*2, Krystal Hossack1, Sanjeev Gurshaney1, Kevin Ezhakunnel1, Thien-Huong Huynh1, Anamaria Morales Alvarez1, Nhat-Tu Le3, Hung N. Luu4,5 1Cancer Division, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, 2Department of Biochemistry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, 3Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 4Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 5Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Center Graft-versus-host disease is a major complication after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Dendritic cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease. The current article describes a novel bone marrow transplantation platform to investigate the role of dendritic cells in the development of graft-versus-host disease and the graft-versus-leukemia effect. Medicine Technical Detail for Robot Assisted Pancreaticoduodenectomy Alex C. Kim1, Rebecca C. Rist1, Amer H. Zureikat1 1Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center The following manuscript details a stepwise approach to the robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy performed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Cancer Research A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Phillip Huyett1, Mark Gilbert1, Lijun Liu2, Robert L. Ferris2, Seungwon Kim1 1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Perineural invasion (PNI) is a common feature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), conferring lower survival rates. Its mechanisms are poorly understood. Utilizing neurites generated from murine dorsal root ganglia confined to a semisolid matrix, the pathways involved in the PNI of HNSCC cell lines can be investigated. Neuroscience In vivo Optogenetic Stimulation of the Rodent Central Nervous System Michelle M. Sidor1, Thomas J. Davidson2, Kay M. Tye3, Melissa R. Warden4, Karl Diesseroth2,5, Colleen A. McClung1 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 3Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 4Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 5Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Optogenetics has become a powerful tool for use in behavioral neuroscience experiments. This protocol offers a step-by-step guide to the design and set-up of laser systems, and provides a full protocol for carrying out multiple and simultaneous in vivo optogenetic stimulations compatible with most rodent behavioral testing paradigms.
