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Vuong TNAM, Bartolf‐Kopp M, Andelovic K, Jungst T, Farbehi N, Wise SG, Hayward C, Stevens MC, Rnjak‐Kovacina J. Integrating Computational and Biological Hemodynamic Approaches to Improve Modeling of Atherosclerotic Arteries. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2307627. [PMID: 38704690 PMCID: PMC11234431 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of cardiovascular disease, resulting in mortality, elevated healthcare costs, diminished productivity, and reduced quality of life for individuals and their communities. This is exacerbated by the limited understanding of its underlying causes and limitations in current therapeutic interventions, highlighting the need for sophisticated models of atherosclerosis. This review critically evaluates the computational and biological models of atherosclerosis, focusing on the study of hemodynamics in atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Computational models account for the geometrical complexities and hemodynamics of the blood vessels and stenoses, but they fail to capture the complex biological processes involved in atherosclerosis. Different in vitro and in vivo biological models can capture aspects of the biological complexity of healthy and stenosed vessels, but rarely mimic the human anatomy and physiological hemodynamics, and require significantly more time, cost, and resources. Therefore, emerging strategies are examined that integrate computational and biological models, and the potential of advances in imaging, biofabrication, and machine learning is explored in developing more effective models of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Bartolf‐Kopp
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and DentistryInstitute of Functional Materials and Biofabrication (IFB)KeyLab Polymers for Medicine of the Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI)University of WürzburgPleicherwall 297070WürzburgGermany
| | - Kristina Andelovic
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and DentistryInstitute of Functional Materials and Biofabrication (IFB)KeyLab Polymers for Medicine of the Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI)University of WürzburgPleicherwall 297070WürzburgGermany
| | - Tomasz Jungst
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and DentistryInstitute of Functional Materials and Biofabrication (IFB)KeyLab Polymers for Medicine of the Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI)University of WürzburgPleicherwall 297070WürzburgGermany
- Department of Orthopedics, Regenerative Medicine Center UtrechtUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht3584Netherlands
| | - Nona Farbehi
- Graduate School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydney2052Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSW2052Australia
- Garvan Weizmann Center for Cellular GenomicsGarvan Institute of Medical ResearchSydneyNSW2010Australia
| | - Steven G. Wise
- School of Medical SciencesUniversity of SydneySydneyNSW2006Australia
| | - Christopher Hayward
- St Vincent's HospitalSydneyVictor Chang Cardiac Research InstituteSydney2010Australia
| | | | - Jelena Rnjak‐Kovacina
- Graduate School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydney2052Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSW2052Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine (ACN)University of New South WalesSydneyNSW2052Australia
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Matrai AA, Varga A, Fazekas LA, Bedocs-Barath B, Nellamkuzhi NJ, Nghi TB, Nemeth N, Deak A. Effect of Bile on Hemodynamics and Blood Micro-Rheological Parameters in Experimental Models of Bilhemia. Metabolites 2024; 14:211. [PMID: 38668339 PMCID: PMC11052063 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14040211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
As a rare complication of liver injury and certain interventions, bile can enter the bloodstream depending on the pressure gradient, resulting in bilhemia. Its micro-rheological and hemodynamic effects are still unclear. We aimed to study these parameters in experimental bilhemia models. Under general anesthesia, via laparotomy, bile was obtained by gallbladder puncture from pigs and by choledochal duct cannulation from rats. In vitro, 1 µL and 5 µL of bile were mixed with 500 µL of anticoagulated autologous blood. The systemic effect was also assessed (i.v. bile, 200 µL/bwkg). Hemodynamic and hematological parameters were monitored, and red blood cell (RBC) deformability and aggregation were determined. RBC deformability significantly decreased with the increasing bile concentration in vitro (1 µL: p = 0.033; 5 µL: p < 0.001) in both species. The RBC aggregation index values were concomitantly worsened (1 µL: p < 0.001; 5 µL: p < 0.001). The mean arterial pressure and heart rate decreased by 15.2 ± 6.9% and 4.6 ± 2.1% in rats (in 10.6 ± 2.6 s) and by 32.1 ± 14% and 25.2 ± 11.63% in pigs (in 48.3 ± 18.9 s). Restoration of the values was observed in 45 ± 9.5 s (rats) and 130 ± 20 s (pigs). Bilhemia directly affected the hemodynamic parameters and caused micro-rheological deterioration. The magnitude and dynamics of the changes were different for the two species.
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De Nisco G, Hartman EMJ, Torta E, Daemen J, Chiastra C, Gallo D, Morbiducci U, Wentzel JJ. Predicting Lipid-Rich Plaque Progression in Coronary Arteries Using Multimodal Imaging and Wall Shear Stress Signatures. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:976-986. [PMID: 38328935 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plaque composition and wall shear stress (WSS) magnitude act as well-established players in coronary plaque progression. However, WSS magnitude per se does not completely capture the mechanical stimulus to which the endothelium is subjected, since endothelial cells experience changes in the WSS spatiotemporal configuration on the luminal surface. This study explores WSS profile and lipid content signatures of plaque progression to identify novel biomarkers of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with acute coronary syndrome underwent coronary computed tomography angiography, near-infrared spectroscopy intravascular ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography of at least 1 nonculprit vessel at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Baseline coronary artery geometries were reconstructed from intravascular ultrasound and coronary computed tomography angiography and combined with flow information to perform computational fluid dynamics simulations to assess the timeaveraged WSS magnitude (TAWSS) and the variability in the contraction/expansion action exerted by WSS on the endothelium, which can be assessed by the topological shear variation index (TSVI). Plaque progression was measured as intravascular ultrasound-derived percentage atheroma volume change at 1-year follow-up (Δplaque atheroma volume). Plaque composition information was extracted from near-infrared spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS Exposure to high TSVI and low TAWSS was associated with higher plaque progression (4.00±0.69% and 3.60±0.62%, respectively). Plaque composition acted synergistically with TSVI or TAWSS, resulting in the highest plaque progression (≥5.90%) at locations where lipid-rich content is exposed to high TSVI or low TAWSS. CONCLUSIONS Luminal exposure to high TSVI, solely or combined with a lipid-rich plaque phenotype, is associated with enhanced plaque progression at 1-year follow-up. Where plaque progression occurred, low TAWSS was also observed. These findings suggest TSVI, in addition to low TAWSS, as a potential biomechanical predictor for plaque progression, showing promise for clinical translation to improve patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe De Nisco
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Eline M J Hartman
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (E.M.J.H., J.D., J.J.W.)
| | - Elena Torta
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Joost Daemen
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (E.M.J.H., J.D., J.J.W.)
| | - Claudio Chiastra
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Diego Gallo
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- PolitoMed Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (G.D.N., E.T., C.C., D.G., U.M.)
| | - Jolanda J Wentzel
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (E.M.J.H., J.D., J.J.W.)
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De Nisco G, Lodi Rizzini M, Verardi R, Chiastra C, Candreva A, De Ferrari G, D'Ascenzo F, Gallo D, Morbiducci U. Modelling blood flow in coronary arteries: Newtonian or shear-thinning non-Newtonian rheology? COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 242:107823. [PMID: 37757568 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The combination of medical imaging and computational hemodynamics is a promising technology to diagnose/prognose coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the clinical translation of in silico hemodynamic models is still hampered by assumptions/idealizations that must be introduced in model-based strategies and that necessarily imply uncertainty. This study aims to provide a definite answer to the open question of how to properly model blood rheological properties in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of coronary hemodynamics. METHODS The geometry of the right coronary artery (RCA) of 144 hemodynamically stable patients with different stenosis degree were reconstructed from angiography. On them, unsteady-state CFD simulations were carried out. On each reconstructed RCA two different simulation strategies were applied to account for blood rheological properties, implementing (i) a Newtonian (N) and (ii) a shear-thinning non-Newtonian (non-N) rheological model. Their impact was evaluated in terms of wall shear stress (WSS magnitude, multidirectionality, topological skeleton) and helical flow (strength, topology) profiles. Additionally, luminal surface areas (SAs) exposed to shear disturbances were identified and the co-localization of paired N and non-N SAs was quantified in terms of similarity index (SI). RESULTS The comparison between paired N vs. shear-thinning non-N simulations revealed remarkably similar profiles of WSS-based and helicity-based quantities, independent of the adopted blood rheology model and of the degree of stenosis of the vessel. Statistically, for each paired N and non-N hemodynamic quantity emerged negligible bias from Bland-Altman plots, and strong positive linear correlation (r > 0.94 for almost all the WSS-based quantities, r > 0.99 for helicity-based quantities). Moreover, a remarkable co-localization of N vs. non-N luminal SAs exposed to disturbed shear clearly emerged (SI distribution 0.95 [0.93, 0.97]). Helical flow topology resulted to be unaffected by blood rheological properties. CONCLUSIONS This study, performed on 288 angio-based CFD simulations on 144 RCA models presenting with different degrees of stenosis, suggests that the assumptions on blood rheology have negligible impact both on WSS and helical flow profiles associated with CAD, thus definitively answering to the question "is Newtonian assumption for blood rheology adequate in coronary hemodynamics simulations?".
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe De Nisco
- Polito(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Maurizio Lodi Rizzini
- Polito(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Roberto Verardi
- Hemodynamic Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Claudio Chiastra
- Polito(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Candreva
- Polito(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Gaetano De Ferrari
- Hemodynamic Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Fabrizio D'Ascenzo
- Hemodynamic Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Diego Gallo
- Polito(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- Polito(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
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Chiastra C, Zuin M, Rigatelli G, D’Ascenzo F, De Ferrari GM, Collet C, Chatzizisis YS, Gallo D, Morbiducci U. Computational fluid dynamics as supporting technology for coronary artery disease diagnosis and treatment: an international survey. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1216796. [PMID: 37719972 PMCID: PMC10501454 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1216796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is emerging as an effective technology able to improve procedural outcomes and enhance clinical decision-making in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study aims to assess the state of knowledge, use and clinical acceptability of CFD in the diagnosis and treatment of CAD. Methods We realized a 20-questions international, anonymous, cross-sectional survey to cardiologists to test their knowledge and confidence on CFD as a technology applied to patients suffering from CAD. Responses were recorded between May 18, 2022, and June 12, 2022. Results A total of 466 interventional cardiologists (mean age 48.4 ± 8.3 years, males 362), from 42 different countries completed the survey, for a response rate of 45.9%. Of these, 66.6% declared to be familiar with the term CFD, especially for optimization of existing interventional techniques (16.1%) and assessment of hemodynamic quantities related with CAD (13.7%). About 30% of respondents correctly answered to the questions exploring their knowledge on the pathophysiological role of some CFD-derived quantities such as wall shear stress and helical flow in coronary arteries. Among respondents, 85.9% would consider patient-specific CFD-based analysis in daily interventional practice while 94.2% declared to be interested in receiving a brief foundation course on the basic CFD principles. Finally, 87.7% of respondents declared to be interested in a cath-lab software able to conduct affordable CFD-based analyses at the point-of-care. Conclusions Interventional cardiologists reported to be profoundly interested in adopting CFD simulations as a technology supporting decision making in the treatment of CAD in daily practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Chiastra
- PoliToMed Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Zuin
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gianluca Rigatelli
- Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Madre Teresa Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Fabrizio D’Ascenzo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Città Della Salute e Della Scienza Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Gaetano Maria De Ferrari
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Città Della Salute e Della Scienza Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Yiannis S. Chatzizisis
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Diego Gallo
- PoliToMed Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- PoliToMed Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
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Soni SS, D'Elia AM, Rodell CB. Control of the post-infarct immune microenvironment through biotherapeutic and biomaterial-based approaches. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2023; 13:1983-2014. [PMID: 36763330 PMCID: PMC9913034 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01290-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic heart failure (IHF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, for which heart transplantation remains the only definitive treatment. IHF manifests from myocardial infarction (MI) that initiates tissue remodeling processes, mediated by mechanical changes in the tissue (loss of contractility, softening of the myocardium) that are interdependent with cellular mechanisms (cardiomyocyte death, inflammatory response). The early remodeling phase is characterized by robust inflammation that is necessary for tissue debridement and the initiation of repair processes. While later transition toward an immunoregenerative function is desirable, functional reorientation from an inflammatory to reparatory environment is often lacking, trapping the heart in a chronically inflamed state that perpetuates cardiomyocyte death, ventricular dilatation, excess fibrosis, and progressive IHF. Therapies can redirect the immune microenvironment, including biotherapeutic and biomaterial-based approaches. In this review, we outline these existing approaches, with a particular focus on the immunomodulatory effects of therapeutics (small molecule drugs, biomolecules, and cell or cell-derived products). Cardioprotective strategies, often focusing on immunosuppression, have shown promise in pre-clinical and clinical trials. However, immunoregenerative therapies are emerging that often benefit from exacerbating early inflammation. Biomaterials can be used to enhance these therapies as a result of their intrinsic immunomodulatory properties, parallel mechanisms of action (e.g., mechanical restraint), or by enabling cell or tissue-targeted delivery. We further discuss translatability and the continued progress of technologies and procedures that contribute to the bench-to-bedside development of these critically needed treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya S Soni
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Arielle M D'Elia
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Christopher B Rodell
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Mazzi V, De Nisco G, Calò K, Chiastra C, Daemen J, Steinman DA, Wentzel JJ, Morbiducci U, Gallo D. Divergence of the normalized wall shear stress as an effective computational template of low-density lipoprotein polarization at the arterial blood-vessel wall interface. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 226:107174. [PMID: 36223707 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.107174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Near-wall transport of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in arteries plays a relevant role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. Although it can be modelled in silico by coupling the Navier-Stokes equations with the 3D advection-diffusion (AD) equation, the associated computational cost is high. As wall shear stress (WSS) represents a first-order approximation of the near-wall velocity in arteries, we aimed at identifying computationally convenient WSS-based quantities to infer LDL near-wall transport based on the underlying near-wall hemodynamics in five models of three human arterial districts (aorta, carotid bifurcations, coronary arteries). The simulated LDL transport and its WSS-based surrogates were qualitatively compared with in vivo longitudinal measurements of wall thickness growth on the coronary artery models. METHODS Numerical simulations of blood flow coupled with AD equations for LDL transport and blood-wall transfer were performed. The co-localization of the simulated LDL concentration polarization patterns with luminal surface areas characterized by low cycle-average WSS, near-wall flow stagnation and WSS attracting patterns was quantitatively assessed by the similarity index (SI). In detail, the latter two represent features of the WSS topological skeleton, obtained respectively through the Lagrangian tracking of surface-born particles, and the Eulerian analysis of the divergence of the normalized cycle-average WSS vector field. RESULTS Convergence of the solution of the AD problem required the simulation of 3 (coronary artery) to 10 (aorta) additional cardiac cycles with respect to the Navier-Stokes problem. Co-localization results underlined that WSS topological skeleton features indicating near-wall flow stagnation and WSS attracting patterns identified LDL concentration polarization profiles more effectively than low WSS, as indicated by higher SI values (SI range: 0.17-0.50 for low WSS; 0.24-0.57 for WSS topological skeleton features). Moreover, the correspondence between the simulated LDL uptake and WSS-based quantities profiles with the in vivo measured wall thickness growth in coronary arteries appears promising. CONCLUSIONS The recently introduced Eulerian approach for identifying WSS attracting patterns from the divergence of normalized WSS provides a computationally affordable template of the LDL polarization at the arterial blood-wall interface without simulating the AD problem. It thus candidates as an effective biomechanical tool for elucidating the mechanistic link amongst LDL transfer at the arterial blood-wall interface, WSS and atherogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Mazzi
- PoliTo(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Nisco
- PoliTo(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Karol Calò
- PoliTo(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Claudio Chiastra
- PoliTo(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Joost Daemen
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David A Steinman
- Biomedical Simulation Lab, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jolanda J Wentzel
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- PoliTo(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Diego Gallo
- PoliTo(BIO)Med Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.
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Shen C, Gharleghi R, Li DD, Beier S. Helical Flow in Healthy and Diseased Patient-specific Coronary Bifurcations. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:3977-3980. [PMID: 36086059 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Helical flow (HF) exists in healthy and diseased coronary bifurcations and was found to have a protective atherosclerotic vascular effect in other vessels. However, the role of HF in patient-specific human coronary arteries still needs further study, and is therefore the objective of this study in both healthy and diseased bifurcations. Computational studies were conducted on 16 patient-specific coronary bifurcations, including eight healthy and eight identical cases with idealized narrowing to represent disease. In general, higher HF intensity may have a favorable effect as it corelated to the reduction of the percentage vessel area exposed to adverse time averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS%) in both healthy and diseased models. The HF intensity and distribution of each model varies due to the complex shape of patient-specific models. The presence of disease appears to have an important impact on the downstream HF patterns and the TAWSS distributions. Clinical Relevance- By understanding the relationship between HF and hemodynamics, HF may be used as a predictor for the formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque in coronary arteries instead of near-wall WSS measures, which can be determined with higher accuracy in vivo.
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Brandt MM, Cheng C, Merkus D, Duncker DJ, Sorop O. Mechanobiology of Microvascular Function and Structure in Health and Disease: Focus on the Coronary Circulation. Front Physiol 2022; 12:771960. [PMID: 35002759 PMCID: PMC8733629 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.771960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronary microvasculature plays a key role in regulating the tight coupling between myocardial perfusion and myocardial oxygen demand across a wide range of cardiac activity. Short-term regulation of coronary blood flow in response to metabolic stimuli is achieved via adjustment of vascular diameter in different segments of the microvasculature in conjunction with mechanical forces eliciting myogenic and flow-mediated vasodilation. In contrast, chronic adjustments in flow regulation also involve microvascular structural modifications, termed remodeling. Vascular remodeling encompasses changes in microvascular diameter and/or density being largely modulated by mechanical forces acting on the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle cells. Whereas in recent years, substantial knowledge has been gathered regarding the molecular mechanisms controlling microvascular tone and how these are altered in various diseases, the structural adaptations in response to pathologic situations are less well understood. In this article, we review the factors involved in coronary microvascular functional and structural alterations in obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease and the molecular mechanisms involved therein with a focus on mechanobiology. Cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic dysregulation, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and aging have been shown to induce microvascular (endothelial) dysfunction and vascular remodeling. Additionally, alterations in biomechanical forces produced by a coronary artery stenosis are associated with microvascular functional and structural alterations. Future studies should be directed at further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the coronary microvascular functional and structural alterations in disease; a deeper understanding of these mechanisms is critical for the identification of potential new targets for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten M Brandt
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Caroline Cheng
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Division of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Daphne Merkus
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Walter Brendel Center of Experimental Medicine (WBex), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich, Munich Heart Alliance (MHA), Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk J Duncker
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Oana Sorop
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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