Low density lipoprotein transport through patient-specific thoracic arterial wall.

Background And Aims: The distribution of Low density lipoprotein (LDL) within the arterial wall is helpful in understanding the onset and development of atherosclerosis. The objective of the study is to study the transport and LDL distribution within patient-specific arterial wall using computational analysis under normal and hypertensive conditions.

Methods: Patient specific model of the thoracic aorta is computationally examined.

Low Density Lipoprotein transport in the normal human aortic arch.

Background: To understand the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis is essential to elucidate the blood flow and the transport of molecules in the cardiovascular system. The purpose of this computational study is to elucidate the relationship between low wall shear stress (WSS) - high site concentration of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and atherosclerotic sites in the normal human aortic arch under physiological flow and mass transport conditions.

Methods: The numerical simulation couples the flow equations with the transport equation applying realistic boundary conditions at the wall in terms of blood-side concentration.

Patient-specific arterial system flow oscillation.

Background: Atherosclerosis formation depends on the biomechanical blood flow properties. The temporal variation during the cardiac cycle has been proposed as a decisive atherogenic factor. Patient-specific (complex configuration) of the vessel promotes flow disturbances.

Low-Density Lipoprotein concentration in the normal Left Coronary Artery tree.

Background: The blood flow and transportation of molecules in the cardiovascular system plays a crucial role in the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis. This computational study elucidates the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) site concentration in the entire normal human 3D tree of the LCA.

Methods: A 3D geometry model of the normal human LCA tree is constructed.

Role of Multimodal Evaluation of Cerebral Hemodynamics in Selecting Patients with Symptomatic Carotid or Middle Cerebral Artery Steno-occlusive Disease for Revascularization.

Background: The circle of Willis provides collateral pathways to perfuse the affected vascular territories in patients with severe stenoocclusive disease of major arteries. The collateral perfusion may become insufficient in certain physiological circumstances due to failed vasodilatory reserve and intracranial steal phenomenon, so-called 'Reversed-Robinhood syndrome'. We evaluated cerebral hemodynamics and vasodilatory reserve in patients with symptomatic distal internal carotid (ICA) or middle cerebral artery (MCA) severe steno-occlusive disease.

Spatial and phasic oscillation of non-Newtonian wall shear stress in human left coronary artery bifurcation: an insight to atherogenesis.

Objective: To investigate the wall shear stress oscillation in a normal human left coronary artery bifurcation computational model by applying non-Newtonian blood properties and phasic flow.

Methods: The three-dimensional geometry of the investigated model included the left main coronary artery along with its two main branches, namely the left anterior descending and the left circumflex artery. For the computational analyses a pulsatile non-Newtonian flow was applied.

Nonlinear analysis of biomagnetic signals recorded from the umbilical artery in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.

Objective: In this study we investigated the hemodynamics of the feto-placental circulation in normal and pre-eclamptic near term pregnancies using the biomagnetometer SQUID. Thirteen abnormal and 25 normal pregnancies were included in this study.

Study Design: The biomagnetic signals were analyzed using nonlinear analysis in order to differentiate these two types of pregnancies.

Attenuation of epilepsy with application of external magnetic fields: a case report.

We have previously demonstrated that magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain measurements in patients with seizure disorders show significant MEG activity often in the absence of conventional EEG abnormalities. We localized foci of seizure activity using the mapping technique characterized by the ISO-Spectral Amplitude (ISO-SA) on the scalp distribution of specified spectral components or frequency bands of the emitted MEG Fourier power spectrum. In addition, using an electronic device, we utilized the above recorded activity to emit back the same intensity and frequency of magnetic field to the presumed epileptic foci.

Melatonin and petit-mal epilepsy: an hypothesis.

Intraventricular administration of the opioid peptide leucine-enkephalin has been reported to induce petit-mal-like seizures in rats. These seizures have been found to be an age-dependent phenomenon. In rats, the full manifestation of these seizures develops after 4 weeks of age during which time ethosuximide was effective in aborting these seizures, while phenytoin and phenobarbital were ineffective.

Magnetic fields mimic the behavioral effects of REM sleep deprivation in humans.

The discovery of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep by Aserinsky and Kleitman in 1953 initiated the impetus for sleep research and specifically the investigations of the effects of REM sleep deprivation (RSD) on animal and human behavior. The behavioral effects of RSD include the enhancement of motivational and "drive"-related behaviors. In laboratory animals, RSD has been reported to increase appetite, sexual behavior, aggressiveness, and locomotor activity.

Magnetic fields alter the circadian periodicity of seizures.

We have recently reported that application of external, weak magnetic fields attenuated seizures in epileptic patients (Anninos et al., 1991). However, the mechanisms by which magnetic stimulation reduces seizure activity are unknown.

Alpha rhythm and the pineal gland.

Alpha rhythm is classically described as a bilateral posterior rhythm of substantially constant frequency in the range of 8-13 Hz which is enhanced by mental relaxation and blocked by attention. Since the full expression of alpha rhythm has been shown to occur coincident with puberty, it is possible that the establishment of alpha rhythm is subject to neuroendocrine influences which govern psychosexual maturation. There is ample evidence to indicate that the pineal gland is implicated in cerebral maturation and psychosexual development.

Magnetic fields in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Levodopa-induced dyskinesias are a common complication of chronic dopaminergic therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The overall prevalence of levodopa-induced dyskinesias ranges from 40%-90% and is related to the underlying disease process, pharmacologic factors, and to the duration of high dose levodopa therapy. The mechanisms underlying the emergence of levodopa-induced dyskinesias are unknown, although most investigators favor the theory that striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity is directly responsible for the development of these abnormal movements.

Melatonin as a proconvulsive hormone in humans.

The pineal gland and melatonin exert a major influence in the control of brain electrical activity and have been shown to be involved in seizure and sleep mechanisms. Since pinealectomy has been reported to result in seizures in experimental animals, it is assumed that melatonin has anticonvulsant properties. Indeed, limited studies in humans with temporal lobe epilepsy indicate that melatonin attenuates seizure activity.

Melatonin and maturation of REM sleep.

The discovery in 1953 of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and the appreciation that sleep is a heterogeneous physiological state stimulated major research into sleep disorders. Electroencephalographic studies have shown that the amount of REM sleep changes with age. While newborns spend almost 50% of their sleep time in REM, the percentage of REM sleep decreases to 30% by the age of 3 months and to 20% by the age of 6 months.

Magnetic stimulation in the treatment of partial seizures.

We have recently demonstrated that Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain measurements in patients with seizure disorders show significant MEG activity often in the absence of conventional EEG abnormalities. We localized foci of seizure activity using the mapping technique characterized by the ISO-Spectral Amplitude (ISO-SA) on the scalp distribution of specified spectral components or frequency bands of the emitted MEG Fourier power spectrum. In addition, using an electronic device, we utilized the above recorded activity to emit back the same intensity and frequency of magnetic field to the presumed epileptic foci.

Localization and cure of epileptic foci with the use of MEG measurements.

Systematic studies with pathological subjects with focal and general epilepsies using magnetoencephalographic (MEG) measurements showed significant brain activities even if they are not present in the electroencephalogram EEG. Using a mapping technique characterized by an isospectral amplitude (ISO-SA) of the scalp distribution of specified spectral components or frequency bands of the MEG power spectrum we were able to localize the epileptic foci. This localization of epileptic foci gives us information on the emitted magnetic field intensity and frequency for each focal point on the map of the patient.