Several lines of evidence suggest that osteocytes play a critical role in bone remodeling. Both healthy and apoptotic osteocytes can send signals to other bone surface cells such as osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteoclast precursors, and bone lining cells through canalicular networks. Osteocytes responding to mechanical strain may also send signals to other cells. To determine the role for osteocytes an mechanical strain in bone remodeling, we examined the effects of fluid flow shear stress on osteoclast precursor cell and osteoblast proliferation and recruitment induced by osteocytes. In addition, the effects of fluid flow shear stress on osteocyte M-CSF, RANKL, and OPG mRNA expression were also examined. MLO-Y4 cells were used as an in vitro model for osteocytes, RAW 264.7 cells and MOCP-5 cells as osteoclast precursors, and 2T3 cells as osteoblasts. MLO-Y4 cells conditioned medium (Y4-CM) was collected after 24h culture. For fluid flow experiments, MLO-Y4 cells were exposed to 2h of pulsatile fluid flow (PFF) at 2, 4, 8,
Objective: To investigate the impact of fibroids on the blood flow of the uterine and subendometrial arteries and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Methods: In this study, we analyzed 86 IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in which a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol was used for controlled ovarian stimulation between January 2008 and March 2009. The subjects comprised 86 infertile women with (fibroid group, n=43) or without (control group, n=43) uterine fibroids. Results: Patient characteristics were similar between the fibroid and control groups. The IVF/ICSI outcomes in patients with fibroids were similar to those of patients in the control group. The resistance index (RI) and pulsatile index (PI) of the uterine and subendometrial arteries on the day of embryo transfer were also comparable between the two groups. IVF outcomes and uterine hemodynamics in patients with multiple (
Backgrounds: The present study in angulated coronary stenosis was to evaluate the influence of velocity and wall shear stress (WSS) on coronary atherosclerosis, the changes of hemodynamic indices following coronary stenting, as well as their effect of evolving in-stent restenosis using human in vivo hemodynamic parameters and computed simulation quantitatively and qualitatively. Methods: Initial and follow-up coronary angiographies in the patients with angulated coronary stenosis were performed (n=80). Optimal coronary stenting in angulated coronary stenosis had two models: < 50 % angle changed(model 1, n=43), > 50% angle changed group (model 2, n=37) according to percent change of vascular angle between pre- and post-intracoronary stenting. Flow-velocity wave obtained from in vivo intracoronary Doppler study data was used for in vitro numerical simulation. Spatial and temporal patterns of velocity vector and recirculation area were drawn throughout the selected segment of coronary models. WSS of pre/post-intracoronary stenting were calculated from three-dimensional computer simulation. Results: Follow-up coronary angiogram demonstrated significant difference in the percent of diameter stenosis between two groups (group 1:
Latin hypercube sampling is widely used design-of-experiment technique to select design points for simulation which are then used to construct a surrogate model. The exploration/exploitation properties of surrogate models depend on the size and distribution of design points in the chosen design space. The present study aimed at evaluating the performance characteristics of various surrogate models depending on the Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) procedure (sample size and spatial distribution) for a diverse set of optimization problems. The analysis was carried out for two types of problems: (1) thermal-fluid design problems (optimizations of convergent-divergent micromixer coupled with pulsatile flow and boot-shaped ribs), and (2) analytical test functions (six-hump camel back, Branin-Hoo, Hartman 3, and Hartman 6 functions). The three surrogate models, namely, response surface approximation, Kriging, and radial basis neural networks were tested. The important findings are illustrated using Box-plots. The surrogate models were analyzed in terms of global exploration (accuracy over the domain space) and local exploitation (ease of finding the global optimum point). Radial basis neural networks showed the best overall performance in global exploration characteristics as well as tendency to find the approximate optimal solution for the majority of tested problems. To build a surrogate model, it is recommended to use an initial sample size equal to 15 times the number of design variables. The study will provide useful guidelines on the effect of initial sample size and distribution on surrogate construction and subsequent optimization using LHS sampling plan.
Background: We have hypothesized that, if a low resistant gravity-flow membrane oxygenator is used, then the twin blood sacs of TPLS can be located at downstream of the membrane oxyenator, which may double the pulse rate at a given pump rate and increase the pump output. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal configuration for the ECLS circuits by using the concept of pulse energy and pump output. Material and Method: Animals were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a total cardiopulmonary bypass model. In the serial group, a conventional membrane oxygenator was located between the twin blood sacs. In the parallel group, the twin blood sacs were placed downstream of the gravity-flow membrane oxygenator. Energy equivalent pressure (EEP) and pump output were collected at pump-setting rates of 30, 40, and 50 BPM. Result: At the given pump-setting rate, the pulse rate was doubled in the parallel group. Percent changes of mean arterial pressure to EEP were
Background : Ventricular assist devices(VADs) are being used for patients in postcvardiotomy cardiogenic shock status bridge to cardiac transplant settings and in post-myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock. The VAD which was developed at the Deparment of medical engineering in Dankook University College of Medicine was a pneumatically driven device and can maintain pulsatile flow. The goal of this study is to develop animal experimental models using the VAD and to clarify the reliability and hemodynamic property adequacy of end organ perfusion durability and severity of thrombotic-hemolytic tendency of the device. Material and Method : The pneumatic VAD was applied to 8 adult female lambs, We examined some hemodynamic parameters such as arterial blood pressure pulmonary capillary wedge pressure(pcwp) pulmonary artery pressure(PAP) left atrial pressure hour urine output cardiac index VAD flow EKG to determine the reliability of the VAD and hemodynamic compatibility of the experimental animals within 24 hours of experiment. We also observed the end organ perfusion durability of the VAD and thrombotic-hemolytic property of the VAD after 24 hours of VAD insertion. Result: We could monitor all hemodynamic parameters including pcwp PAP cardiac index EKG, adn hour urine as true clinical settings. We observed that the reliability of the VAD was excellent and the hemodynamic property of the experimental animal and end organ perfusion were adequate within 24 hours of experiment. In four lambs surviving 24 hours after insertion the reliability of the VAD and end organ perfusion were excellent and no thrombotic-hemolytic tendency was noted. However after 15 days of experiment the diaphragm of the VAD was torn and it was recommende that the durability of the VAD should be extended. Conclusion : e conclude that the pneumatic VAD developed at Dankook University Biomedical Engineering has good hemodynamic property and low thromboembolic tendency and presents adequate end organ perfusion but we noted that the durability of the device should be expanded further. It will be possible to do more reliable experiment in the future according to the animal experimental method developed in this study especially with the heart failure models.
BACKGROUND: Adding pulsation to the Fontan circulation might change the fate of patients palliated by this procedure. Our aim was to compare the pulsatility index (PI) of the pulmonary artery (PA) between the various modifications of Fontan palliation. METHODS: Doppler-derived PI was measured in PA branches of a cohort of 28 patients palliated by 6 modifications of Fontan procedure. A group of normal individuals was included for comparison. RESULTS: Atriopulmonary connection (APC) group had the highest PA branches PI and statistically was close to the PI of the normal individuals (right pulmonary artery [RPA] PI of 1.58 vs. 1.63; p = 0.99 and left pulmonary artery [LPA] PI of 1.54 vs. 1.68; p = 0.46, respectively). The lowest PA branches PI was seen in the group of extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection (RPA PI of 0.62 and LPA PI of 0.65). Other 4 modifications including the extracardiac conduit with oversewn pulmonary valve, extracardiac conduit with preserved adjusted antegrade flow, extracardiac conduit from inferior vena cava onto the rudimentary right ventricle and lateral tunnel had a mean "RPA and LPA" PI of "1.19 and 1.17", "1.16 and 1.11", "1.13 and 1.11", "0.82 and 0.84", respectively. The modified Dunnett's post hoc test has shown a significant statistical decline in PI of all modifications compared to the normal individuals except for the APC group. CONCLUSIONS: Fontan palliated patients in different groups of surgical modification showed a spectrum of Doppler-derived PI with the highest amounts belong to the groups of pulsatile Fontan.
Background: This paper aimed to verify the effects of renal replacement therapy on changing the levels of serum creatinine for different veno-arterial and veno-venous configurations in prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients. Methods: The subjects were chosen 71 patients who had undergone more than 1,440 minutes (24 hours) of the therapy from among 117 patients who had undergone ECMO insertion between January 2008 and December 2012. The patients were separated into the veno-arterial configuration group I (51 patients) and the veno-venous configuration group II (20 patients). The difference in the level of serum creatinine (
The wall shear stress in the vicinity of end-to end anastomoses under steady flow conditions was measured using a flush-mounted hot-film anemometer(FMHFA) probe. The experimental measurements were in good agreement with numerical results except in flow with low Reynolds numbers. The wall shear stress increased proximal to the anastomosis in flow from the Penrose tubing (simulating an artery) to the PTFE: graft. In flow from the PTFE graft to the Penrose tubing, low wall shear stress was observed distal to the anastomosis. Abnormal distributions of wall shear stress in the vicinity of the anastomosis, resulting from the compliance mismatch between the graft and the host artery, might be an important factor of ANFH formation and the graft failure. The present study suggests a correlation between regions of the low wall shear stress and the development of anastomotic neointimal fibrous hyperplasia(ANPH) in end-to-end anastomoses. 30523 T00401030523 ^x Air pressure decay(APD) rate and ultrafiltration rate(UFR) tests were performed on new and saline rinsed dialyzers as well as those roused in patients several times. C-DAK 4000 (Cordis Dow) and CF IS-11 (Baxter Travenol) reused dialyzers obtained from the dialysis clinic were used in the present study. The new dialyzers exhibited a relatively flat APD, whereas saline rinsed and reused dialyzers showed considerable amount of decay. C-DAH dialyzers had a larger APD(11.70
The wall shear stress in the vicinity of end-to end anastomoses under steady flow conditions was measured using a flush-mounted hot-film anemometer(FMHFA) probe. The experimental measurements were in good agreement with numerical results except in flow with low Reynolds numbers. The wall shear stress increased proximal to the anastomosis in flow from the Penrose tubing (simulating an artery) to the PTFE: graft. In flow from the PTFE graft to the Penrose tubing, low wall shear stress was observed distal to the anastomosis. Abnormal distributions of wall shear stress in the vicinity of the anastomosis, resulting from the compliance mismatch between the graft and the host artery, might be an important factor of ANFH formation and the graft failure. The present study suggests a correlation between regions of the low wall shear stress and the development of anastomotic neointimal fibrous hyperplasia(ANPH) in end-to-end anastomoses. 30523 T00401030523 ^x Air pressure decay(APD) rate and ultrafiltration rate(UFR) tests were performed on new and saline rinsed dialyzers as well as those roused in patients several times. C-DAK 4000 (Cordis Dow) and CF IS-11 (Baxter Travenol) reused dialyzers obtained from the dialysis clinic were used in the present study. The new dialyzers exhibited a relatively flat APD, whereas saline rinsed and reused dialyzers showed considerable amount of decay. C-DAH dialyzers had a larger APD(11.70