Medical University of Vienna

An optimized technique for the microsurgical creation of arterial bifurcation aneurysms mimicking bifurcation human cerebral aneurysms is described. A venous pouch is sutured into an artificially created true bifurcation of both common carotid arteries. Facilitated microsurgical techniques and aggressive postoperative anticoagulation and analgesia lead to minimized morbidity rates and high aneurysm patency rates.

We here present an optimized, detailed protocol for double immunostaining in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded rat central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral lymph node (LN) tissue sections.

As prosthetic development moves towards the goal of natural control, harnessing amputees’ inherent ability to learn new motor skills may enable proficiency. This manuscript describes a structured rehabilitation protocol, which includes imitation, repetition, and reinforcement learning strategies, for improved multifunctional prosthetic control.

This manuscript describes how to conduct (single molecule) Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)- based assays to measure the binding dynamics between T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) and antigenic peptide-loaded MHC molecules as they occur within the immunological synapse of a T-cell in contact with a functionalized planar supported lipid bilayer.

Preparation of protein-functionalized planar glass-supported lipid bilayers, determination of protein mobility within and measurement of protein densities is shown here. A roadmap to building a noise-reduced Total Internal Reflection microscope is outlined, which allows visualizing single bilayer-resident fluorochromes with high spatiotemporal resolution.

Here, we present a protocol for rapid muscle fiber analyses, which allows improved staining quality, and thereby automatic acquisition and quantification of fiber populations using the freely available software ImageJ.

The goal of this protocol is to demonstrate the preparation, culture, treatment, and immunostaining of neonatal murine cochlear explants. The technique can be utilized as an in vitro screening tool in hearing research.

The goal of this protocol is to outline the collection and processing of human surgical samples for multiple downstream applications in vestibular schwannoma and Schwann cell research.

We provide simple and robust protocols for processing biopsy material of various species, embryos of biomedical model organisms and samples of other organic tissues in order to permit digital volume data generation with the high-resolution episcopic microscopy method.

This article describes experimental protocols to study ex vivo contractions of human myometrium and their application in drug discovery. This technique is used to improve the understanding of myometrial physiology and pathophysiology as well as to validate pharmacological data from novel research probes or drug leads.

The current article describes the generation and metabolic characterization of high-fat diet-fed mice as a model of diet-induced insulin resistance and obesity. It further features detailed protocols to perform the oral glucose tolerance test and the insulin tolerance test, monitoring whole-body alterations of glucose metabolism in vivo.

The goal of this protocol is to provide an animal model of cochlear implantation, which can be used to address a multitude of research questions. Potential applications include the evaluation of pharmaceutical interventions or electrical stimulation for beneficial effects on hearing thresholds or electrode impedances.

Here we describe a detailed protocol for invasive measurements of hemodynamic parameters including portal pressure, splanchnic blood flow, and systemic hemodynamics in order to characterize the portal hypertensive syndrome in rats.

The protocol presented here allows the reproduction of a widespread grey matter demyelination of both cortical hemispheres in adult male Dark Agouti rats. The method comprises of intracerebral implantation of a catheter, subclinical immunization against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, and intracerebral injection of a pro-inflammatory cytokine mixture through the implanted catheter.

The number of novel biomaterials engineered for repairing large bone lesions is continuously expanding with the aim to enhance bone healing and overcome the complications associated with bone transplantation. Here, we present a multidisciplinary strategy for pre-clinical biocompatibility testing of biomaterials for bone repair.

Here we describe a minimally invasive syngeneic orthotopic transplantation model of mouse lung adenocarcinoma cells as a time- and cost-reducing model to study non-small cell lung cancer.

Here, we present a protocol for measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG),the gold standard to diagnose clinically significant portal hypertension. Moreover, we describe how to perform a transjugular liver biopsy within the same session.

This manuscript describes a FACS-based protocol for isolation of papillary and reticular fibroblasts from human skin. It circumvents in vitro culture which was inevitable with the commonly used isolation protocol via explant cultures. The emanating fibroblast subsets are functionally distinct and display differential gene expression and localization within the dermis.

Here, we represent a protocol for the fully automated radiolabelling of [¹¹C]SNAP-7941 and the analysis of the real-time kinetics of this PET-tracer on P-gp expressing and non-expressing cells.

Optimal functional outcomes after bionic reconstruction in patients with global brachial plexus injury depend on a structured rehabilitation protocol. Surface electromyographic guided training may improve the amplitude, separation and consistency of EMG signals, which - after elective amputation of a functionless hand - control and drive a prosthetic hand.

Here, we present a protocol for the motor rehabilitation of patients with severe nerve injuries and selective nerve transfer surgery. It aims at restoring the motor function proposing several stages in patient education, early-stage therapy after surgery and interventions for rehabilitation after successful re-innervation of the nerve’s target.

Large genetic screens in model organisms have led to the identification of negative genetic interactions. Here, we describe a data integration workflow using data from genetic screens in model organisms to delineate drug combinations targeting synthetic lethal interactions in cancer.

This article presents an efficient method to perform myocardial ischemia and subsequent chronic reperfusion in rats using a minimally invasive approach. In addition, left ventricular hemodynamic function of rats is assessed by echocardiography and isolated working heart methods. 

The electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) is a novel approach for quantitative detection of endogenous and exogenously applied MeCP2 protein variants, which produces highly quantitative, accurate and reproducible measurements with low intra- and inter-assay error over a wide working range. Here, the protocol for the MeCP2-ECLIA in a 96-well format is described.

This protocol delineates the technical setting of a developed mixed reality application that is used for immersive analytics. Based on this, measures are presented, which were used in a study to gain insights into usability aspects of the developed technical solution.

We describe the steps for the percutaneous implantation of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), a mechanical circulatory support device. It acts by counterpulsation, inflating at the onset of diastole, augmenting diastolic aortic pressure and improving coronary blood flow and systemic perfusion, and deflating before systole, reducing left ventricular afterload.

We present the preparation of acute pancreatic tissue slices and their use in confocal laser scanning microscopy to study calcium dynamics simultaneously in a large number of live cells, over long time periods, and with high spatiotemporal resolution.

This work presents a protocol to enhance prosthetic function after selective nerve transfer surgery. Rehabilitation interventions include patient information and selection, support of wound healing, cortical re-activation of sensory-motor areas of the upper limb, training of selective muscle activation, prosthetic handling in daily life, and regular follow-up assessments.

The current protocol presents a fast, efficient, and gentle method for isolating single cells suitable for single-cell RNA-seq analysis from a continuously growing mouse incisor, mouse molar, and human teeth.

This article presents a method for spatiotemporal analysis of mobile, single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET)-based probes using widefield fluorescence microscopy. The newly developed software toolkit allows the determination of smFRET time traces of moving probes, including the correct FRET efficiency and the molecular positions, as functions of time.

The present protocol describes new tools for SPR binding assays to examine CV-N binding to HA, S glycoprotein, related hybrid-type glycans, and high-mannose oligosaccharides. SPR is used to determine the K_D for binding either dimeric or monomeric CV-N to these glycans.

Here, we describe the technique for the microsurgical creation of giant bifurcation aneurysms in rabbits for the evaluation of endovascular devices.