Washington University

12 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

Using an EEG-Based Brain-Computer Interface for Virtual Cursor Movement with BCI2000

J. Adam Wilson¹, Gerwin Schalk², Léo M. Walton¹, Justin C. Williams¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, ²Wadsworth Center, New York State Dept. of Health

In this video, we demonstrate the steps required to run a brain-computer interface experiment, including setting up the EEG cap, calibrating the system, and training the user to move a cursor in two dimensions using imagined movements.

Biology

Tracking Morphogenetic Tissue Deformations in the Early Chick Embryo

Benjamen A. Filas¹, Victor D. Varner¹, Dmitry A. Voronov^1,2, Larry A. Taber^1,3

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, ²Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, ³Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University

This article describes surface labeling and ex ovo tissue culture in the early chick embryo. Techniques amenable to time-lapse bright field, fluorescence, and optical coherence tomography imaging are presented. Tracking surface labels with high spatiotemporal resolution enables kinematic quantities such as morphogenetic strains (deformations) to be calculated in both two and three dimensions.

Biology

Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through ¹³C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids

Le You¹, Lawrence Page², Xueyang Feng¹, Bert Berla¹, Himadri B. Pakrasi³, Yinjie J. Tang¹

¹Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University, ²Department of Biology, Washington University, ³Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering and Department of Biology, Washington University

¹³C-isotope labeling is a useful technique for determining the cell central metabolism for various types of microorganisms. After cells have been cultured with a specific labeled substrate, GC-MS measurement can reveal functional metabolic pathways based on unique labeling patterns in proteinogenic amino acids.

Neuroscience

Recording Human Electrocorticographic (ECoG) Signals for Neuroscientific Research and Real-time Functional Cortical Mapping

N. Jeremy Hill¹, Disha Gupta^1,2, Peter Brunner^1,2, Aysegul Gunduz^1,2, Matthew A. Adamo³, Anthony Ritaccio², Gerwin Schalk^1,2,4,5,6,7

¹Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, ²Department of Neurology, Albany Medical College, ³Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, ⁴Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University, ⁵Department of Biomed. Eng., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, ⁶Department of Biomed. Sci., State University of New York at Albany, ⁷Department of Elec. and Comp. Eng., University of Texas at El Paso

We present a method for collecting electrocorticographic signals for research purposes from humans who are undergoing invasive epilepsy monitoring. We show how to use the BCI2000 software platform for data collection, signal processing and stimulus presentation. Specifically, we demonstrate SIGFRIED, a BCI2000-based tool for real-time functional brain mapping.

Medicine

A Method for Quantifying Upper Limb Performance in Daily Life Using Accelerometers

Catherine E. Lang^1,2,3, Kimberly J. Waddell¹, Joseph W. Klaesner^1,4,5, Marghuretta D. Bland^1,2,3

¹Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, ²Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, ³Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, ⁴Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, ⁵Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University

This protocol describes a method to quantify upper limb performance in daily life using wrist-worn accelerometers.

Medicine

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Wyatt E. Lanik¹, Lily Xu², Cliff J. Luke¹, Elise Z. Hu², Pranjal Agrawal², Victoria S. Liu², Rajesh Kumar¹, Alexa M. Bolock¹, Congrong Ma³, Misty Good¹

¹Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, ²Washington University, ³Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

This protocol describes how to establish an enteroid culture system from neonatal mouse or premature human intestine as well as an efficient method to collect milk from mice.

Biochemistry

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade

Zhiping Zhang¹, Shuhang Fan¹, Zhiqiang Chen¹, Yanzhi He¹, Mengfei Huang¹, Li Ding¹, Yanyan Zhang⁵, Lin Chen¹, Xinyue Zhang^1,2,3,4

¹College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, ²Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, ³Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, ⁴Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, ⁵The Testing Center, Yangzhou University

The derivation of a flavonol is crucial for its application in healthcare and the food industry. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the biosynthesis of a flavonol from a flavanone and discuss the crucial steps and its advantages over other approaches.

Biology

Isolation of Human Neutrophils from Whole Blood and Buffy Coats

Alan Y. Hsu¹, Zhicheng Peng¹, Hongbo Luo¹, Fabien Loison^1,2

¹Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Lab Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston, and Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, ²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University

This protocol details a method for the isolation of neutrophils from whole blood, buffy coats, or leukapheresis membranes, achieving good yield, high purity, and minimal cell activation. We utilize gradient purification, red blood cell (RBC) sedimentation, and RBC lysis to obtain a high-quality/purity neutrophil preparation.

Environment

Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India

Karthikeyan D. Rajamani¹, Sankar Sambandam¹, Krishnendu Mukhopadhyay¹, Naveen Puttaswamy¹, Gurusamy Thangavel¹, Durairaj Natesan¹, Rengaraj Ramasamy¹, Saritha Sendhil¹, Amudha Natarajan¹, Vigneswari Aravindalochan¹, Ajay Pillarisetti², Michael Johnson³, Joshua Rosenthal^*4, Kyle Steenland⁵, Ricardo Piedhrahita³, Jennifer Peel⁶, Maggie L. Clark⁶, Dana Boyd Barr⁵, Sarah Rajkumar⁶, Bonnie Young⁶, Shirin Jabbarzadeh⁷, Ghislaine Rosa⁸, Miles Kirby⁹, Lindsay J. Underhill¹⁰, Anaite Diaz-Artiga¹¹, Amy Lovvorn⁵, William Checkley¹², Thomas Clasen⁵, Kalpana Balakrishnan¹

¹Department of Environmental Health Engineering, ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Faculty of Public Health, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed University), ²Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, ³Berkeley Air Monitoring Group, ⁴Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, National Institutes of Health, ⁵Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, ⁶Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, ⁷Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, ⁸Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, ⁹Department of Global Health & Population, Harvard, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, ¹⁰Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University, ¹¹Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, ¹²Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University

We detail the consistent, high-quality procedures used throughout air and biological sampling processes at Indian field sites during a large randomized controlled trial. Insights gathered from the oversight of applications of innovative technologies, adapted for exposure assessment in rural regions, enable better field data collection practices with more reliable outcomes.

Engineering

A Coregistered Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging Protocol for the Transvaginal Imaging of Ovarian Lesions

Haolin Nie¹, Hongbo Luo², Lin Chen¹, Quing Zhu^1,3

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, ²Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering, Washington University, ³Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine

We report a coregistered ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging protocol for the transvaginal imaging of ovarian/adnexal lesions. The protocol may be valuable to other translational photoacoustic imaging studies, especially those using commercial ultrasound arrays for the detection of photoacoustic signals and standard delay-and-sum beamforming algorithms for imaging.

Bioengineering

Electromyometrial Imaging of Uterine Contractions in Pregnant Women

Hui Wang^*1,2,3, Zichao Wen^*2,3, Wenjie Wu^2,3,4, Zhexian Sun^2,3,4, Qing Wang⁵, Alan L. Schwartz⁶, Phillip Cuculich⁷, Alison G. Cahill⁸, George A. Macones⁸, Yong Wang^2,3,4,5

¹Department of Physics, Washington University, ²Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, ³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, ⁴Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, ⁵Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, ⁶Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, ⁷Department of Cardiology, Washington University School of Medicine, ⁸Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School

We present a protocol for conducting electromyometrial imaging (EMMI), including the following procedures: multiple electromyography electrode sensor recordings from the body surface, magnetic resonance imaging, and uterine electrical signal reconstruction.

Biochemistry

Characterizing Modulators of Protease-Activated Receptors with a Calcium Mobilization Assay Using a Plate Reader

Jacob T. DeRousse^1,2,3, Chris Dockendorff^1,2

¹Function Therapeutics, ²Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, ³School of Medicine, Washington University

An improved protocol for a calcium mobilization assay with endothelial cells, used to identify ligands of protease-activated receptors (PARs), has been developed. The new protocol reduces total assay time by 90-120 min and yields reproducible concentration-response curves.