Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

4 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Description of a Novel, Surgically Implanted Neuromodulatory Technique Known As Bilateral Epidural Prefrontal Cortical Stimulation (Epcs) for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)

Nolan R. Williams⁴, Jaspreet Pannu^*4, Brandon S. Bentzley^*4, Thomas Hopkins^*1, Bashar W. Badran¹, E. Baron Short¹, Mark S. George^1,2,3, Istvan Takacs², Ziad Nahas⁵

¹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, ²Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, ³Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, ⁴Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, ⁵American University of Beirut Medical Center

We describe the implantation of 4 epidural stimulation paddles directly above the dura mater over both the left and right frontopolar and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. Placement was verified using postoperative computed tomography (CT) coregistered with presurgical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Neuroscience

Bilateral Assessment of the Corticospinal Pathways of the Ankle Muscles Using Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Charalambos C. Charalambous^1,2, Jing Nong Liang^3,4, Steve A. Kautz^2,5, Mark S. George^5,6, Mark G. Bowden^2,5,7

¹Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, ²Department of Health Sciences and Research, Medical University of South Carolina, ³Department of Physical Therapy, University of Nevada Las Vegas, ⁴Department of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, ⁵Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, ⁶Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, ⁷Division of Physical Therapy, Medical University of South Carolina

The present protocol describes the simultaneous, bilateral assessment of the corticomotor response of the tibialis anterior and soleus during rest and tonic voluntary activation using a single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and neuronavigation system.

Neuroscience

Laboratory Administration of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS): Technique, Targeting, and Considerations

Bashar W. Badran^*1,2,3, Alfred B. Yu^*2, Devin Adair¹, Georgia Mappin³, William H. DeVries³, Dorothea D. Jenkins⁴, Mark S. George^3,5,6, Marom Bikson¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York, ²U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, ³Brain Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, ⁴Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, ⁵Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, ⁶Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

A methodological description of the technique, potential targets, and proper administration of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on the human ear is described.

Bioengineering

Encapsulated Cell Technology for the Delivery of Biologics to the Mouse Eye

Marwa Belhaj¹, Balasubramaniam Annamalai², Nathaniel Parsons², Andrew Shuler¹, Jay Potts¹, Bärbel Rohrer^2,3,4

¹Department of Cell Biology, University of South Carolina, ²Department of Ophthalmology, Division of Research, Medical University of South Carolina, ³Department of Neuroscience, Division of Research, Medical University of South Carolina, ⁴Division of Research, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

Presented here is a protocol for the use of alginate as a polymer in microencapsulation of immortalized cells for long-term delivery of biologics to rodent eyes.