Influence of external head cooling on the head, core body and blood temperatures using 3D whole-body model.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of external head cooling on alleviating the heat stress in the human body by analyzing the temperatures of the core body (T), blood (T) and head (T) during exercise conditions using 3D whole body model.

Design/methodology/approach: Computational study is conducted to comprehend the influence of external head cooling on T, T and T. The Pennes bioheat and energy balance equations formulated for the whole-body model are solved concurrently to obtain T, T and T for external head cooling values from 33 to 233 W/m Increased external head cooling of 404 W/m is used to compare the numerical and experimental Th data.

Improved design and characterization of PLGA/PLA-coated Chitosan based micro-implants for controlled release of hydrophilic drugs.

Repetitive intravitreal injections of Methotrexate (MTX), a hydrophilic chemotherapeutic drug, are currently used to treat selected vitreoretinal (VR) diseases, such as intraocular lymphoma. To avoid complications associated with the rapid release of MTX from the injections, a Polylactic acid (PLA) and Chitosan (CS)-based MTX micro-implant prototype was fabricated in an earlier study, which showed a sustained therapeutic release rate of 0.2-2.

Noninvasive Electroretinography Assessment of Intravitreal Sustained-Release Methotrexate Microimplants in Rabbit Eyes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to noninvasively evaluate the safety and toxicity of a chitosan (CS) and polylactic acid (PLA)-based sustained-release methotrexate (MTX) intravitreal microimplant in normal rabbit eyes using electroretinography (ERG).

Methods: PLA-coated CS-based microimplants containing 400 μg of MTX and placebo microimplants (without drug) were surgically implanted in the vitreous of the right and the left eyes, respectively, in each of the 8 New Zealand rabbits using minimally invasive technique. At each predetermined time points (days 5, 12, 19, and 33), ERG was conducted on 2 rabbits to evaluate the safety of the microimplants administered in each eye.

Ultrasonographical assessment of implanted biodegradable device for long-term slow release of methotrexate into the vitreous.

Our group has developed a biodegradable drug delivery device (micro-implant) for long-term slow intraocular release of methotrexate (MTX) that can be implanted in the peripheral vitreous. The purpose of this study was to assess the position of the implanted devices and the status of the adjacent vitreous and peripheral retina over time using B-scan ocular ultrasonography (US). In each of the eight New Zealand rabbits used in this study, a chitosan (CS) and poly-lactic acid (PLA)-based micro-implant containing approximately 400 μg of MTX and a placebo micro-implant without MTX were inserted into the peripheral vitreous of the right and left eyes, respective, employing minimally invasive surgery.

Biodegradable chitosan and polylactic acid-based intraocular micro-implant for sustained release of methotrexate into vitreous: analysis of pharmacokinetics and toxicity in rabbit eyes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of a chitosan (CS) and polylactic acid (PLA) based methotrexate (MTX) intravitreal micro-implant in an animal model using rabbit eyes.

Methods: CS- and PLA-based micro-implants containing 400 μg of MTX were fabricated using lyophilization and dip-coating techniques. The micro-implants were surgically implanted in the vitreous of eight New Zealand rabbits employing minimally invasive technique.

Enhanced capture of magnetic microbeads using combination of reduced magnetic field strength and sequentially switched electroosmotic flow--a numerical study.

Magnetophoretic immunoassay is a widely used technique in lab-on-chip systems for detection and isolation of target cells, pathogens, and biomolecules. In this method, target pathogens (antigens) bind to specific antibodies coated on magnetic microbeads (mMBs) which are then separated using an external magnetic field for further analysis. Better capture of mMB is important for improving the sensitivity and performance of magnetophoretic assay.

New techniques for determining the longitudinal effects of local hemodynamics on the intima-media thickness in arteriovenous fistulae in an animal model.

Remodeling in the arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) is believed to be a hemodynamic-driven process, which results in extreme changes in the diameter and intima-media thickening (IMT) of vessels over time. This study aims to describe the successful development of techniques that enabled correlation of changes in local and longitudinal wall shear stress (WSS) with the temporal variations of the diameter and IMT in the venous segment of AVFs. An AVF was created between the femoral artery and vein of a 50-kg pig.

Influence of variable native arterial diameter and vasculature status on coronary diagnostic parameters.

In current practice, diagnostic parameters, such as fractional flow reserve (FFR) and coronary flow reserve (CFR), are used to determine the severity of a coronary artery stenosis. FFR is defined as the ratio of hyperemic pressures distal (p(rh)) and proximal (p(ah)) to a stenosis. CFR is the ratio of flow at hyperemic and basal condition.