Reduced order methods for parametric optimal flow control in coronary bypass grafts, toward patient-specific data assimilation

Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) surgery is an invasive procedure performed to circumvent partial or complete blood flow blockage in coronary artery disease. In this work, we apply a numerical optimal flow control model to patient-specific geometries of CABG, reconstructed from clinical images of real-life surgical cases, in parameterized settings. The aim of these applications is to match known physiological data with numerical hemodynamics corresponding to different scenarios, arisen by tuning some parameters. Such applications are an initial step toward matching patient-specific physiological data in patient-specific vascular geometries as best as possible. Two critical challenges that reportedly arise in such problems are: (a) lack of robust quantification of meaningful boundary conditions required to match known data as best as possible and (b) high computational cost. In this work, we utilize unknown control variables in the optimal flow control problems to take care of the first challenge. Moreover, to address the second challenge, we propose a time-efficient and reliable computational environment for such parameterized problems by projecting them onto a low-dimensional solution manifold through proper orthogonal decomposition-Galerkin

Variation in the carotid bifurcation geometry of young versus older adults: Implications for geometric risk of atherosclerosis

Background and Purpose - Retrospective analysis of clinical data has demonstrated major variations in carotid bifurcation geometry, in support of the notion that an individual\u27s vascular anatomy or local hemodynamics may influence the development of atherosclerosis. On the other hand, anecdotal evidence suggests that vessel geometry is more homogenous in youth, which would tend to undermine this geometric risk hypothesis. The purpose of our study was to test whether the latter is indeed the case. Methods - Cross-sectional images of the carotid bifurcations of 25 young adults (24±4 years) and a control group of 25 older subjects (63±10 years) were acquired via MRI. Robust and objective techniques were developed to automatically characterize the 3D geometry of the bifurcation and the relative dimensions of the internal, external, and common carotid arteries (ICA, ECA, and CCA, respectively). Results - Young vessels exhibited significantly less interindividual variation in the following geometric parameters: bifurcation angle (48.5±6.3° versus 63.6±15.4°); ICA angle (21.6±6.7° versus 29.2±11.3°); CCA tortuosity (0.010±0.003 versus 0.014±0.011); ICA tortuosity (0.025±0.013 versus 0.086±0.105); ECA/CCA diameter ratio (0.81±0.06 versus 0.75±0.13), ICA/CCA (0.81 ±0.06 versus 0.77±0.12) diameter ratio, and bifurcation area ratio (1.32±0.15 versus 1.19±0.35). Conclusions - The finding of more modest interindividual variations in young adults suggests that, if there is a geometric risk for atherosclerosis, its early detection may prove challenging. Taken together with the major interindividual variations seen in older vessels, it suggests a more complex interrelationship between vascular geometry, local hemodynamics, vascular aging, and atherosclerosis, the elucidation of which now calls for prospective studies. © 2005 American Heart Association, Inc

Profile of a Cohort of 78 Italian Patients with Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid: Correlation Between Reactivity Profile and Clinical Involvement

Direct diagnosis of mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is not easy. Circulating autoantibodies targeting bullous pemphigoid antigens of 180 kDa and 230 kDa (BP180 and BP230), \u3b16\u3b24 integrin, laminin 332 and type VII collagen (Col VII) are not always present. The aims of this study were to characterize the humoral immune response of a cohort of Italian patients with MMP, its association with clinical involvement and severity, and to design an algorithm for efficient serological diagnosis. Seventy-eight MMP sera were studied retrospectively by indirect immunofluorescence on salt-split skin, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting. Indirect immunofluorescence on salt-split skin resulted in the most sensitive approach for diagnosis of MMP. BP180 was the major autoantigen in MMP patients with oral and cutaneous involvement. Significant associations were found between BP180 reactivity and oral and cutaneous localization of the lesions (p\u2009=\u20090.006), and between Col VII positivity and Setterfield severity score (p\u2009=\u20090.020)

Rationale and design of the RESOLVE trial: lanreotide as a volume reducing treatment for polycystic livers in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Contains fulltext : 109282.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: A large proportion of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) suffers from polycystic liver disease. Symptoms arise when liver volume increases. The somatostatin analogue lanreotide has proven to reduce liver volume in patients with polycystic liver disease. However, this study also included patients with isolated polycystic liver disease (PCLD). The RESOLVE trial aims to assess the efficacy of lanreotide treatment in ADPKD patients with symptomatic polycystic livers. In this study we present the design of the RESOLVE trial. METHODS/DESIGN: This open-label clinical trial evaluates the effect of 6 months of lanreotide in ADPKD patients with symptomatic polycystic livers. Primary outcome is change in liver volume determined by computerised tomography-volumetry. Secondary outcomes are changes in total kidney volume, kidney intermediate volume and renal function. Furthermore, urinary (NGAL, alpha1-microglobulin, KIM-1, H-FABP, MCP-1) and serum (fibroblast growth factor 23) biomarkers associated with ADPKD disease severity are assessed to investigate whether these biomarkers predict treatment responses to lanreotide. Moreover, safety and tolerability of the drug in ADPKD patients will be assessed. DISCUSSION: We anticipate that lanreotide is an effective therapeutic option for ADPKD patients with symptomatic polycystic livers and that this trial aids in the identification of patient related factors that predict treatment response. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinical trials.gov NCT01354405

The effect of turbulent viscous shear stress on red blood cell hemolysis

[[abstract]]Non-physiologic turbulent flow occurs in medical cardiovascular devices resulting in hemodynamic stresses that may damage red blood cells (RBC) and cause hemolysis. Hemolysis was previously thought to result from Reynolds shear stress (RSS) in turbulent flows. A more recent hypothesis suggests that turbulent viscous shear stresses (TVSS) at spatial scales similar in size to RBCs are related to their damage. We applied two-dimensional digital particle image velocimetry to measure the flow field of a free-submerged axisymmetric jet that was utilized to hemolyze porcine RBCs in selected locations. Assuming a dynamic equilibrium for the sub-grid scale (SGS) energy flux between the resolved and the sub-grid scales, the SGS energy flux was calculated from the strain rate tensor computed from the resolved velocity fields. The SGS stress was determined by the Smagorinsky model, from which the turbulence dissipation rate and then TVSS were estimated. Our results showed the hemolytic threshold of the Reynolds stresses was up to 517 Pa, and the TVSSs were at least an order of magnitude less than the RSS. The results provide further insight into the relationship between turbulence and RBC damage.[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]紙本[[countrycodes]]JP

Virtual reality surgery simulation: A survey on patient specific solution

For surgeons, the precise anatomy structure and its dynamics are important in the surgery interaction, which is critical for generating the immersive experience in VR based surgical training applications. Presently, a normal therapeutic scheme might not be able to be straightforwardly applied to a specific patient, because the diagnostic results are based on averages, which result in a rough solution. Patient Specific Modeling (PSM), using patient-specific medical image data (e.g. CT, MRI, or Ultrasound), could deliver a computational anatomical model. It provides the potential for surgeons to practice the operation procedures for a particular patient, which will improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment, thus enhance the prophetic ability of VR simulation framework and raise the patient care. This paper presents a general review based on existing literature of patient specific surgical simulation on data acquisition, medical image segmentation, computational mesh generation, and soft tissue real time simulation

Fluorescent Microangiography Is a Novel and Widely Applicable Technique for Delineating the Renal Microvasculature

Rarefaction of the renal microvasculature correlates with declining kidney function. However, current technologies commonly used for its evaluation are limited by their reliance on endothelial cell antigen expression and assessment in two dimensions. We set out to establish a widely applicable and unbiased optical sectioning method to enable three dimensional imaging and reconstruction of the renal microvessels based on their luminal filling. The kidneys of subtotally nephrectomized (SNx) rats and their sham-operated counterparts were subjected to either routine two-dimensional immunohistochemistry or the novel technique of fluorescent microangiography (FMA). The latter was achieved by perfusion of the kidney with an agarose suspension of fluorescent polystyrene microspheres followed by optical sectioning of 200 µm thick cross-sections using a confocal microscope. The fluorescent microangiography method enabled the three-dimensional reconstruction of virtual microvascular casts and confirmed a reduction in both glomerular and peritubular capillary density in the kidneys of SNx rats, despite an overall increase in glomerular volume. FMA is an uncomplicated technique for evaluating the renal microvasculature that circumvents many of the limitations imposed by conventional analysis of two-dimensional tissue sections