OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the multiphase pulsatile blood flow in the left coronary artery tree with stenosis.
METHODS: The 3D left coronary artery model was reconstructed using 2D computerized tomography (CT) scan images. The Red Blood Cell (RBC) and varying hemodynamic parameters for single and multiphase blood flow conditions were analyzed.
RESULTS: Results asserted that the multiphase blood flow modeling has a maximum velocity of 1.017 m/s and1.339 m/s at the stenosed region during the systolic and diastolic phases respectively. The increase in Wall Shear Stress (WSS) observed at the stenosed region during the diastole phase as compared during the systolic phase. It was also observed that the highest Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) regions are found in the downstream area of stenosis and across the bifurcations. The increase in RBCs velocity from 0.45 m/s to 0.6 m/s across the stenosis was also noticed.
CONCLUSION: The computational multiphase blood flow analysis improves the understanding and accuracy of the complex flow conditions of blood elements (RBC and Plasma) and provides the progression of the disease development in the coronary arteries. This study helps to enhance the diagnosis of the blocked (stenosed) arteries more precisely compared to the single-phase blood flow modeling.
OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to identify important parameters in designing tasks that efficiently assess hand function of stroke patients and to quantify potential benefits of robotic assessment modules to predict the conventional assessment score with iRest.
METHODS: Twelve predictive variables were explored, relating to movement time, velocity, strategy, accuracy and smoothness from three robotic assessment modules which are Draw I, Draw Diamond and Draw Circle. Regression models using up to four predictors were developed to describe the MAS.
RESULTS: Results show that the time given should be not too long and it would affect the trajectory error. Besides, result also shows that it is possible to use iRest in predicting MAS score.
CONCLUSION: There is a potential of using iRest, a non-motorized device in predicting MAS score.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the subcutaneous tissue response towards nano ZOE cements (ZOE-A and ZOE-B) in comparison to conventional ZOE (ZOE-K).
METHODS: Test materials were implanted into 15 New Zealand white rabbits. Tissue samples were obtained after 7, 14, and 30 days (n = 5 per period) for histopathological evaluation of inflammatory cell infiltrate, fibrous tissue condensation, and abscess formation.
RESULTS: ZOE-A showed the lowest score for the variable macrophage and lymphocyte at day 7. Both ZOE-A and ZOE-B presented lower fibrous tissue condensation and abscess formation compared to conventional ZOE-K. By day 30, ZOE-A exhibited less lymphocytic and neutrophilic infiltrate compared to the other materials, while ZOE-B had the lowest score for macrophages. ZOE-K exerted higher inflammatory cell response at almost all of the experimental periods. All of the materials resulted in thin fiber condensation after 30 days.
CONCLUSIONS: Rabbit tissue implanted with ZOE-A and ZOE-B showed better response compared to ZOE-K.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of the model and control strategies, benchmarking simulations are performed using the PlatEMO platform.
METHODS: The Pure Multi-objective Optimal Control Problem (PMOCP) and the Hybrid Multi-objective Optimal Control Problem (HMOCP) are two different forms of optimal control problems that are solved using revolutionary metaheuristic optimisation algorithms. The utilization of the Hypervolume (HV) performance indicator allows for the comparison of various metaheuristic optimization algorithms in their efficacy for solving the PMOCP and HMOCP.
RESULTS: Results indicate that the MOPSO algorithm excels in solving the HMOCP, with M-MOPSO outperforming for PMOCP in HV analysis.
CONCLUSION: Despite not directly addressing immediate clinical concerns, these findings indicates that the stability shifts at critical thresholds may impact treatment efficacy.
OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to elucidate the two-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis of the blood flow and the effect of stenosis on hemodynamic parameters.
METHODS: A patient-specific 3D model of the left coronary artery was constructed based on computed tomography (CT) images. The blood is assumed to be incompressible, homogenous, and behaves as Non-Newtonian, while the artery is considered as a nonlinear elastic, anisotropic, and incompressible material. Pulsatile flow conditions were applied at the boundary. Two-way coupled FSI modeling approach was used between fluid and solid domain. The hemodynamic parameters such as the pressure, velocity streamline, and wall shear stress were analyzed in the fluid domain and the solid domain deformation.
RESULTS: The simulated results reveal that pressure drop exists in the vicinity of stenosis and a recirculation region after the stenosis. It was noted that stenosis leads to high wall stress. The results also demonstrate an overestimation of wall shear stress and velocity in the rigid wall CFD model compared to the FSI model.
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study is to investigate the capability of random walks as knee cartilage segmentation method.
METHODS: Experts would scribble on knee cartilage image to initialize random walks segmentation. Then, reproducibility of the method is assessed against manual segmentation by using Dice Similarity Index. The evaluation consists of normal cartilage and diseased cartilage sections which is divided into whole and single cartilage categories.
RESULTS: A total of 15 normal images and 10 osteoarthritic images were included. The results showed that random walks method has demonstrated high reproducibility in both normal cartilage (observer 1: 0.83±0.028 and observer 2: 0.82±0.026) and osteoarthritic cartilage (observer 1: 0.80±0.069 and observer 2: 0.83±0.029). Besides, results from both experts were found to be consistent with each other, suggesting the inter-observer variation is insignificant (Normal: P=0.21; Diseased: P=0.15).
CONCLUSION: The proposed segmentation model has overcame technical problems reported by existing semi-automated techniques and demonstrated highly reproducible and consistent results against manual segmentation method.