Pressure-Corrected Carotid Stiffness and Young's Modulus: Evaluation in an Outpatient Clinic Setting.

Background: Conventional measures for assessing arterial stiffness are inherently pressure dependent. Whereas statistical pressure adjustment is feasible in (larger) populations, it is unsuited for the evaluation of an individual patient. Moreover, statistical "correction" for blood pressure may actually correct for: (i) the acute dependence of arterial stiffness on blood pressure at the time of measurement; and/or (ii) the remodeling effect that blood pressure (hypertension) may have on arterial stiffness, but it cannot distinguish between these processes.

Complementing sparse vascular imaging data by physiological adaptation rules.

Mathematical modeling of pressure and flow waveforms in blood vessels using pulse wave propagation (PWP) models has tremendous potential to support clinical decision making. For a personalized model outcome, measurements of all modeled vessel radii and wall thicknesses are required. In clinical practice, however, data sets are often incomplete.

Large vessels as a tree of transmission lines incorporated in the CircAdapt whole-heart model: A computational tool to examine heart-vessel interaction.

We developed a whole-circulation computational model by integrating a transmission line (TL) model describing vascular wave transmission into the established CircAdapt platform of whole-heart mechanics. In the present paper, we verify the numerical framework of our TL model by benchmark comparison to a previously validated pulse wave propagation (PWP) model. Additionally, we showcase the integrated CircAdapt-TL model, which now includes the heart as well as extensive arterial and venous trees with terminal impedances.

Augmentation index is not a proxy for wave reflection magnitude: mechanistic analysis using a computational model.

The augmentation index (AIx) is deemed to capture the deleterious effect on left ventricular (LV) work of increased wave reflection associated with stiffer arteries. However, its validity as a proxy for wave reflection magnitude has been questioned. We hypothesized that, in addition to increased wave reflection due to increased pulse wave velocity, LV myocardial shortening velocity influences AIx.

Do treatment-induced changes in arterial stiffness affect left ventricular structure? A meta-analysis.

Background: Vascular research demonstrated that pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, is inherently blood pressure dependent. Considering the hypothesized pathophysiological chain of increased arterial stiffness leading to increased blood pressure load with consequent left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) development, we conducted a systematic review of antihypertensive and lifestyle intervention studies to determine the association between, on the one hand, changes in arterial stiffness and blood pressure, and, on the other hand, changes in left ventricular mass (LVM).

Methods: Using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and Web of Science, we identified 23 studies, containing 2573 patients.

Uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis of an arterial wall mechanics model for evaluation of vascular drug therapies.

Quantification of the uncertainty in constitutive model predictions describing arterial wall mechanics is vital towards non-invasive assessment of vascular drug therapies. Therefore, we perform uncertainty quantification to determine uncertainty in mechanical characteristics describing the vessel wall response upon loading. Furthermore, a global variance-based sensitivity analysis is performed to pinpoint measurements that are most rewarding to be measured more precisely.

Carotid Artery Plaque Vulnerability Assessment Using Noninvasive Ultrasound Elastography: Validation With MRI.

Objective: Vulnerable and nonvulnerable carotid artery plaques have different tissue morphology and composition that may affect plaque biomechanics. The objective of this study is to evaluate plaque vulnerability with the use of ultrasound noninvasive vascular elastography (NIVE).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one patients (mean [± SD] age, 69 ± 7 years) with stenosis of the internal carotid artery of 50% or greater were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.

Imaging and modeling of acute pressure-induced changes of collagen and elastin microarchitectures in pig and human resistance arteries.

The impact of disease-related changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) on the mechanical properties of human resistance arteries largely remains to be established. Resistance arteries from both pig and human parietal pericardium (PRA) display a different ECM microarchitecture compared with frequently used rodent mesenteric arteries. We hypothesized that the biaxial mechanics of PRA mirror pressure-induced changes in the ECM microarchitecture.

Head orientation should be considered in ultrasound studies on carotid artery distensibility.

Introduction: During ultrasound distensibility assessment of the carotid artery, the patient's head is usually rotated sideward and slightly upward to optimize visibility of the carotid segment. Head rotation may affect vessel length and thus the longitudinal strain of the arterial segment. Because the longitudinal and circumferential mechanical behaviour of an artery are intrinsically related, head rotation may influence circumferential mechanics and thereby measured distensibility.

Current techniques for management of transverse displaced olecranon fractures.

Background: displaced transverse fractures of the olecranon are the most common fractures occurring in the elbow in adults that requires operative intervention.

Methods: a literature search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct/Scopus, Google Scholar and Google using the keywords 'olecranon', 'fracture', 'internal fixation' and 'tension band wiring', with no limit for time or restrictions to language.

Results: thirty-one clinical articles were selected: 20 retrospective studies, 9 prospective cohort studies, and 2 randomized control trials.

A constitutive modeling interpretation of the relationship among carotid artery stiffness, blood pressure, and age in hypertensive subjects.

Aging has a profound influence on arterial wall structure and function. We have previously reported the relationship among pulse wave velocity, age, and blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. In the present study, we aimed for a quantitative interpretation of the observed changes in wall behavior with age using a constitutive modeling approach.

Pressure-dependence of arterial stiffness: potential clinical implications.

Background: Arterial stiffness measures such as pulse wave velocity (PWV) have a known dependence on actual blood pressure, requiring consideration in cardiovascular risk assessment and management. Given the impact of ageing on arterial wall structure, the pressure-dependence of PWV may vary with age.

Methods: Using a noninvasive model-based approach, combining carotid artery echo-tracking and tonometry waveforms, we obtained pressure-area curves in 23 hypertensive patients at baseline and after 3 months of antihypertensive treatment.

Biomechanical studies on transverse olecranon and patellar fractures: a systematic review with the development of a new scoring method.

Introduction: Several methods of transverse patellar and olecranon fixation have been described. This article compares biomechanical studies of various fixation methods using a newly developed scoring method.

Source Of Data: The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Google were searched for relevant studies.

Treatment of transverse patellar fractures: a comparison between metallic and non-metallic implants.

Introduction: Several methods of transverse patellar fixation have been described. This study compares the clinical outcome and the occurrence of complications of various fixation methods.

Sources Of Data: The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Google were searched.