TY - JOUR A1 - Pressler, Axel A1 - Esefeld, Katrin A1 - Scherr, Johannes A1 - Ali, Mohammad A1 - Hanssen, Henner A1 - Kotliar, Konstantin A1 - Lanzl, Ines A1 - Halle, Martin A1 - Kaemmerer, Harald A1 - Schmidt-Trucksäss, Arno A1 - Hager, Alfred T1 - Structural alterations of retinal arterioles in adults late after repair of aortic isthmic coarctation JF - The American Journal of Cardiology N2 - Patients after coarctation repair still have an increased risk of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. This has been explained by the persisting hypertension and alterations in the peripheral vessels. However, involvement of the central vessels such as the retinal arteries is virtually unknown. A total of 34 patients after coarctation repair (22 men and 12 women; 23 to 58 years old, age range 0 to 32 years at surgical repair) and 34 nonhypertensive controls underwent structural and functional retinal vessel analysis. Using structural analysis, the vessel diameters were measured. Using functional analysis, the endothelium-dependent vessel dilation in response to flicker light stimulation was assessed. In the patients after coarctation repair, the retinal arteriolar diameter was significantly reduced compared to that of the controls (median 182 μm, first to third quartile 171 to 197; vs 197 μm, first to third quartile 193 to 206; p <0.001). These findings were independent of the peripheral blood pressure and age at intervention. No differences were found for venules. The functional analysis findings were not different between the patients and controls (maximum dilation 3.5%, first to third quartile 2.1% to 4.5% vs 3.6%, first to third quartile 2.2% to 4.3%; p = 0.81), indicating preserved autoregulative mechanisms. In conclusion, the retinal artery diameter is reduced in patients after coarctation repair, independent of their current blood pressure level and age at intervention. As a structural marker of chronic vessel damage associated with past, current, or future hypertension, retinal arteriolar narrowing has been linked to stroke incidence. These results indicate an involvement of cerebral microcirculation in aortic coarctation, despite timely repair, and might contribute to explain the increased rate of cerebrovascular events in such patients. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.10.070 SN - 0002-9149 VL - 105 IS - 5 SP - 740 EP - 744 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kotliar, Konstantin A1 - Nagel, Edgar A1 - Vilser, Walthard A1 - Seidova, Seid-Fatima A1 - Lanzl, Ines T1 - Microstructural alterations of retinal arterial blood column along the vessel axis in systemic hypertension JF - Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, IOVS N2 - Purpose: Image analysis by the retinal vessel analyzer (RVA) observes retinal vessels in their dynamic state online noninvasively along a chosen vessel segment. It has been found that high-frequency diameter changes in the retinal artery blood column along the vessel increase significantly in anamnestically healthy volunteers with increasing age and in patients with glaucoma during vascular dilation. This study was undertaken to investigate whether longitudinal sections of the retinal artery blood column are altered in systemic hypertension. Methods: Retinal arteries of 15 untreated patients with essential arterial hypertension (age, 50.9 ± 11.9 years) and of 15 age-matched anamnestically healthy volunteers were examined by RVA. After baseline assessment, a monochromatic luminance flicker (530–600 nm; 12.5 Hz; 20 s) was applied to evoke retinal vasodilation. Differences in amplitude and frequency of spatial artery blood column diameter change along segments (longitudinal arterial profiles) of 1 mm in length were measured and analyzed using Fourier transformation. Results: In the control group, average reduced power spectra (ARPS) of longitudinal arterial profiles did not differ when arteries changed from constriction to dilation. In the systemic hypertension group, ARPS during constriction, baseline, and restoration were identical and differed from ARPS during dilation (P < 0.05). Longitudinal arterial profiles in both groups showed significant dissimilitude at baseline and restoration (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The retinal artery blood column demonstrates microstructural alterations in systemic hypertension and is less irregular along the vessel axis during vessel dilation. These microstructural changes may be an indication of alterations in vessel wall rigidity, vascular endothelial function, and smooth muscle cells in this disease, leading to impaired perfusion and regulation. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.09-3649 SN - 0146-0404 VL - 51 IS - 4 SP - 2165 EP - 2172 PB - ARVO CY - Rockville, Md. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leimena, W. A1 - Artmann, Gerhard A1 - Dachwald, Bernd A1 - Temiz Artmann, Aysegül A1 - Gossmann, Matthias A1 - Digel, Ilya T1 - Feasibility of an in-situ microbial decontamination of an ice-melting probe JF - Eurasian Chemico-Technological Journal N2 - Autonomous robotic systems for penetrating thick ice shells with simultaneous collecting of scientific data are very promising devices in both terrestrial (glacier, climate research) and extra-terrestrial applications. Technical challenges in development of such systems are numerous and include 3D-navigation, an appropriate energy source, motion control, etc. Not less important is the problem of forward contamination of the pristine glacial environments with microorganisms and biomolecules from the surface of the probe. This study was devoted to establishing a laboratory model for microbial contamination of a newly constructed ice-melting probe called IceMole and to analyse the viability and amount of the contaminating microorganisms as a function of distance. The used bacterial strains were Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6051) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 11775). The main objective was development of an efficient and reliable in-situ decontamination method of the melting probe. Therefore, several chemical substances were tested in respect of their efficacy to eliminate bacteria on the surface of the melting probe at low temperature (0 - 5 °C) and at continuous dilution by melted water. Our study has shown that at least 99.9% decontamination of the IceMole can be successfully achieved by the injection of 30% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide and 3% (v/v) sodium hypochlorite into the drilling site. We were able to reproduce this result in both time-dependent and depth-dependent experiments. The sufficient amount of 30% (v/v) H₂O₂ or 3% (v/v) NaClO has been found to be approximately 18 L per cm² of the probe’s surface. Y1 - 2010 SN - 1562-3920 U6 - https://doi.org/10.18321/ectj37 VL - 12 IS - 2 SP - 145 EP - 150 PB - Institute of Combustion Problems CY - Almaty ER - TY - GEN A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Mai, A. A1 - Waluga, C. A1 - Bergmann, B. A1 - Tran, L. A1 - Vonderstein, K. A1 - Behr, Marek A1 - Mottaghy, K. T1 - Numerical Modeling of Flow-Related Thrombus Formation under Physiological and Non-Physiological Flow Conditions T2 - Acta Physiologica N2 - Aims: Thrombotic complications due to activation of platelets and plasmatic clotting factors belong still to the most investigated topics in the field of study of patho-physiological mechanisms. Mathematical modeling of thrombotic reactions is established and validated in test cases. Aim of this study is to experimentally evaluate and computationally simulate platelets under the influence of well-defined shear flow conditions. Platelet behaviour and reactions are experimentally reproduced, measured and used for validation of the numerical simulation. Methods: A mathematical model of platelet activation, adhesion and aggregation has been implemented into a finite element CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code. The approach is based on the advective and diffusive transport equations for resting platelets, activated platelets and platelet released agonists. Adhesion rates for the reactive surfaces depend on the hemocompatibility properties of the surface and the local shear rate. Experiments with citrate-anticoagulated freshly-drawn whole blood are performed in a perfusion flow chamber as well as in a system of rotating cylinders for Couette and Taylor-vortex flow. Different biomaterials are used. The activation, drop of platelet concentration, adhesion and aggregation are quantified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and flow cytometry. Results: Regions and flow conditions with a high potential for thrombus growth could be identified. The experiments clearly show the influence of the blood contacting material and flow properties. By means of SEM diverse platelet adhesion patterns are observed. Numerical analysis can explain the patterns and the degree of thrombus formation. Conclusion: The numerical method shows good agreement with experimental data indicating a possible prediction of initiation of activation and detection of the local adhesion areas in connection with the role of Von-Willebrand-Factor. Y1 - 2010 SN - 1748-1716 N1 - Joint Congress of the Scandinavian and German Physiological Societies, Copenhagen, Denmark, March 27-30, 2010 VL - 198 IS - Supplement 677 SP - 185 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Mai, A. A1 - Bergmann, B. A1 - Waluga, C. A1 - Behr, Marek A1 - Tran, L. A1 - Vonderstein, K. A1 - Mottaghy, K. T1 - Modeling and Numerical Simulation of Blood Damage Y1 - 2010 N1 - Posterpresentation ; Umbrella Symposium "Modelling and Simulation in Medicine, Engineering and Sciences", Forschungszentrum Jülich, January 18-20, 2010 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Probst, M. A1 - Mai, A. A1 - Behr, Marek A1 - Tran, L. A1 - Vonderstein, K. A1 - Mottaghy, K. T1 - Numerical Prediction of Blood Damage in Biomedical Devices Y1 - 2010 N1 - Biomedica: The Life Science Summit, Aachen, Germany , 2010-03-17 - 2010-03-18 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Probst, M. A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Borrmann, E. A1 - Elgeti, S. A1 - Nicolai, M. A1 - Behr, Marek T1 - Hemodynamic Modeling for Numerical Analysis and Design of Medical Devices Y1 - 2010 N1 - Posterpresentation ; NIC Symposium 2010 ; 24 - 25 February 2010 Jülich, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Nam, J. A1 - Waluga, C. A1 - Behr, Marek A1 - Pasquali, M. A1 - Mottaghy, K. T1 - Modeling and Numerical Analysis of Platelet Activation, Adhesion and Aggregation in Artificial Organs T2 - ASAIO Journal N2 - Purpose of Study: Thrombosis-related complications are among the leading causes for morbidity and mortality in patients who depend on artificial organs. For the prediction of platelet behavior both the flow conditions inside the device and the thrombogenic properties of the blood-contacting surfaces must be considered. Platelet reactions under the influence of well-defined shear rates are experimentally evaluated and numerically simulated. The approach is intended for the analysis of VAD and oxygenator design. Methods Used: A mathematical model of platelet activation, adhesion and aggregation has been implemented into a finite element CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code. The approach is based on the advective and diffusive transport equations for resting and activated platelets and platelet released agonists. Experiments with citrate-anticoagulated freshly-drawn whole blood are performed in a perfusion flow chamber as well as in a system of rotating cylinders for Couette and Taylor-vortex flow. Different biomaterials are used. The activation, adhesion and aggregation are quantified using scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry. Summary of Results: Regions and flow conditions with a high potential for thrombus growth could be identified. The experiments clearly show the influence of the blood contacting material and governing shear rates. Numerical analysis can explain observed adhesion patterns and the degree of thrombus formation Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mat.0000369377.65122.a3 SN - 1538-943X N1 - 56th annual conference, American Society of Artificial Organs (ASAIO), Baltimore, USA, May 27-29, 2010 VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 85 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jansen, S. V. A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Laumen, M. A1 - Kaufmann, T. A1 - Hormes, M. A1 - Behr, Marek A1 - Schmitz-Rode, T. A1 - Steinseifer, U. T1 - Investigation of Steady Flow Through a Realistic Model of the Thoracic Human Aorta Using 3D Stereo PIV and CFD-Simulation JF - ASAIO Journal Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mat.0000369377.65122.a3 N1 - American Society of Artificial Organs (ASAIO), Baltimore, USA, May 27-29, 2010 VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 98 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - GEN A1 - Nam, J. A1 - Arora, D. A1 - Behbahani, Mehdi A1 - Probst, M. A1 - Benkowski, R. A1 - Behr, Marek A1 - Pasquali, M. T1 - New computational method in hemolysis analysis for artificial heart pump T2 - ASAIO Journal N2 - The MicroMed DeBakey ventricular assist device is an axial flow pump designed for providing long-term support to end-stage heartfailure patients. Previously, we presented computational analysis of the blood pump flow. From the analysis, we were able to identify regions of high shear and recirculating flow that may cause blood damage, for example, deformation and fragmentation of the red blood cell (RBC). This mechanical hemolysis can be predicted using a tensor-based blood damage model that is based on the physical properties of the RBCs, for example, the relaxation time of the RBC membrane. However, an extensive and detailed analysis was complicated by the fact that the previous method predicts hemolysis along a finite number of pathlines traversed by the RBCs, possibly omitting parts of the flow domain. Furthermore, it is computationally expensive and is not easily parallelizable. Here, we propose a new method to estimate hemolysis. The method is based on treating the shape of droplet (tensor) as a field variable, like velocity in the Navier-Stokes system. The governing equation for the RBC shape is treated by least-squares finite element method and the volume conservation of the RBC is augmented by Lagrangian multiplier. Unlike the previous method, the proposed method can visualize areas of high RBC strain that is potentially dangerous for mechanical hemolysis. Also, the amount of plasma-free hemoglobin and, consequently, normalized index of hemolysis can be computed as a byproduct. The method is tested in a simple shear flow for validation and an artery graft flow is chosen to show its potential usefulness. Finally, the method is applied to the blood damage estimation for the pump. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mat.0000369377.65122.a3 N1 - 56th Annual Conference of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO), May 27 - 29, 2010, Baltimore, Maryland VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 98 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER -