Renal denervation restores biomechanics of carotid arteries in a rat model of hypertension.

The prevalence of hypertension increases with aging and is associated with increased arterial stiffness. Resistant hypertension is presented when drug treatments fail to regulate a sustained increased blood pressure. Given that the mechanisms between the sympathetic nervous system and the kidney play an important role in blood regulation, renal denervation (RDN) has emerged as a therapeutic potential in resistant hypertension.

Compromised homeostasis in aged carotid arteries revealed by microstructural studies of elastic lamellae.

Healthy arteries are continuously subjected to diverse mechanical stimuli and adapt in order to maintain a mechanical homeostasis which is characterized by a uniform distribution of wall stresses. However, aging may compromise the homeostatic microenvironment within arteries. Structural heterogeneity has been suggested as a potential microstructural mechanism that could lead to homogeneous stress distribution across the arterial wall.

Renal denervation restores biomechanics of carotid arteries in a rat model of hypertension.

The prevalence of hypertension increases with aging and is associated with increased arterial stiffness. Resistant hypertension is presented when drug treatments fail to regulate a sustained increased blood pressure. Given that the mechanisms between the sympathetic nervous system and the kidney play an important role in blood regulation, renal denervation (RDN) has emerged as a therapeutic potential in resistant hypertension.

Harmonic Distortion of Blood Pressure Waveform as a Measure of Arterial Stiffness.

Aging and disease alter the composition and elastic properties of the aortic wall resulting in shape changes in blood pressure waveform (BPW). Here, we propose a new index, harmonic distortion (HD), to characterize BPW and its relationship with other and measures. Using a Fourier transform of the BPW, HD is calculated as the ratio of energy above the fundamental frequency to that at the fundamental frequency.

Biomechanical Properties of Mouse Carotid Arteries With Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome and Aging.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Arteries gradually stiffen with aging; however, it can be worsened by the presence of conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of diet-induced metabolic syndrome and aging on the biomechanical properties of mouse common carotid arteries (CCA).

Effect of Glycation on Interlamellar Bonding of Arterial Elastin.

Background: Interlamellar bonding in the arterial wall is often compromised by cardiovascular diseases. However, several recent nationwide and hospital-based studies have uniformly reported reduced risk of thoracic aortic dissection in patients with diabetes. As one of the primary structural constituents in the arterial wall, elastin plays an important role in providing its interlamellar structural integrity.

Compressive Remodeling Alters Fluid Transport Properties of Collagen Networks - Implications for Tumor Growth.

Biomechanical alterations to the tumor microenvironment include accumulation of solid stresses, extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening and increased fluid pressure in both interstitial and peri-tumoral spaces. The relationship between interstitial fluid pressurization and ECM remodeling in vascularized tumors is well characterized, while earlier biomechanical changes occurring during avascular tumor growth within the peri-tumoral ECM remain poorly understood. Type I collagen, the primary fibrous ECM constituent, bears load in tension while it buckles under compression.

A device for high-throughput monitoring of degradation in soft tissue samples.

This work describes the design and validation of a novel device, the High-Throughput Degradation Monitoring Device (HDD), for monitoring the degradation of 24 soft tissue samples over incubation periods of several days inside a cell culture incubator. The device quantifies sample degradation by monitoring its deformation induced by a static gravity load. Initial instrument design and experimental protocol development focused on quantifying cartilage degeneration.

Quantifying Cartilage Biomechanical Properties Using a Linearized Frequency-Domain Method.

Articular cartilage function relies on its unique mechanical behavior. Cartilage mechanics have been described by several analytic models, whose parameters are usually estimated by fitting their constitutive equations to stress-relaxation data. This procedure can be long and is prone to experimental and fitting errors.