Biomechanics And Biochemistry Of The Aorta In Chronic Aortic Dissection

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and premature death of modern era medicine. It is estimated that approximately 81 million people in the United States (US) currently have one or more of the many forms of cardiovascular disease, resulting in 1 in every 2.8 deaths, or 900,000 deaths per year. 40% of all deaths in Europe are a result of cardiovascular disease in people under the age of 75. Aneurysms form a significant portion of these cardiovascular related deaths and are defined as a permanent and irreversible localised dilation of a blood vessel greater than 50% of its normal diameter. Although aneurysms can form in any blood vessel, the more lethal aneurysms develop in the cranial arteries, and in the thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta. Frequently aneurysms are undetected and if left untreated may eventually expand until rupture with very high levels of morbidity and mortality. The biomechanics and mechanobiology of aneursymal diseases are not fully understood and this monograph aims to provide new insights into aneurysm aetiology and behavior based on the most recent biomechanics research related to this important topic. The contributors to this volume bring together a unique blend of expertise in experimental, computational and tissue biomechanics relating to aneurysm behavior and enable the reader to gain a fresh understanding of key factors influencing aneurysm behavior and treatment. Biological risk factors such as tobacco smoking, sex, age, hypertension, family history and mechanobiological risk factors such as aneurysm geometry and shape as well as mechanical properties of the diseased tissues are considered in detail as are many of the diagnostic and treatment options.

Biomechanics of the Aorta: Modelling for Patient Care is a holistic analysis of the aorta towards its biomechanical description. The book addresses topics such as physiology, clinical imaging, tissue and blood flow modeling, along with knowledge that is needed in diagnostics, aortic rupture prediction, assist surgical planning, and more. It encompasses a wide range of topics from the basic sciences (Vascular biology, Continuum mechanics, Image analysis) to clinical applications, as well as describing and presenting computational studies and experimental benches to mimic, understand and propose the best treatment of aortic pathologies. The book begins with an introduction to the fundamental aspects of the anatomy, biology and physiopathology of the aorta and proceeds to present the main computational fluid dynamic studies and biomechanical and mechanobiological models developed over the last decade. With approaches, methodologies and findings from contributors all over the world, this new volume in the Biomechanics of Living Organs series will increase understanding of aortic function as well as improve the design of medical devices and clinical interventions, including surgical procedures. Represents a comprehensive means for those involved in the aortic research and the related developments in the industry Introduces the most recent imaging technologies to characterize factors, such as aortic geometry, mechanical properties of the aortic tissue, and the local cellular activity in the vessel wall Synthesizes advances in vascular biomechanics, medical imaging and computational finite element fluid and solid models to increase understanding of aorta function

This book presents a selection of cutting-edge methods that allow readers to obtain novel models for nonlinear solid mechanics. Today, engineers need more accurate techniques for modeling solid body mechanics, chiefly due to innovative methods like additive manufacturing—for example, 3D printing—but also due to miniaturization. This book focuses on the formulation of continuum and discrete models for complex materials and systems, and especially the design of metamaterials. It gathers outstanding papers from the international conference IcONSOM 2019

Due to population aging, calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) has become the most common heart valve disease in Western countries. No therapies exist to slow this disease progression, and surgical valve replacement is the only effective treatment. Calcific Aortic Valve Disease covers the contemporary understanding of basic valve biology and the mechanisms of CAVD, provides novel insights into the genetics, proteomics, and metabolomics of CAVD, depicts new strategies in heart valve tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and explores current treatment approaches. As we are on the verge of understanding the mechanisms of CAVD, we hope that this book will enable readers to comprehend our current knowledge and focus on the possibility of preventing disease progression in the future.

Generalized hypermobility has been known since ancient times, and a clinical description of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is said to have first been recorded by Hippocrates in 400 BC. Hypermobility syndromes occur frequently, but the wide spectrum of possible symptoms, coupled with a relative lack of awareness and recognition, are the reason that they are frequently not recognized, or remain undiagnosed. This book is an international, multidisciplinary guide to hypermobility syndromes, and EDS in particular. It aims to create better awareness of hypermobility syndromes among health professionals, including medical specialists, and to be a guide to the management of such syndromes for patients and practitioners. It is intended for use in daily clinical practice rather than as a reference book for research or the latest developments, and has been written to be understandable for any healthcare worker or educated patient without compromise to the scientific content. The book is organized as follows: chapters on classifications and genetics are followed by chapters on individual types, organ (system) manifestations and complications, and finally ethics and therapeutic strategies, with an appendix on surgery and the precautions which should attend it. A special effort has been made to take account of the perspective of the patient; two of the editors have EDS. The book will be of interest to patients with hypermobility syndromes and their families, as well as to all those healthcare practitioners who may encounter such syndromes in the course of their work.

Biology of the Arterial Wall is intended as a general reference text concerned with the biology of the vascular cells and the blood vessel wall under physiological and pathological conditions. One of the major functions of the arteries is to maintain a continuous blood flow to the organs whatever the pressure conditions, thanks to the vasomotor tone of the smooth muscle cells. Great advances have been made over the last decade in the understanding of the endothelial cells as integrators and transducers of signals originating from the blood stream. The pluripotent control functions of the endothelial cells in the vessel wall are now well recognized. A review of endothelial functions and dysfunctions is presented. Cell biology and molecular genetic studies have now identified an array of molecules elaborated by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells and by the blood-borne elements which interact with artery cells, defending the artery against injury and modulating evolving abnormal processes. Molecules which induce or inhibit endothelial and/or smooth muscle cells are currently under great scrutiny. Angiogenesis, which plays a major role in tumor growth, but may also be beneficial as a healing process in muscle ischemia, is discussed. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, has only recently been recognized as an essential process in blood vessel modeling and remodeling. An overview of apoptosis in the vascular system is presented. It is increasingly evident that the adjustments of the blood vessel wall are made in the presence of deforming disease processes such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. The second part of the book is concerned with the blood vessel wall in disease conditions. Several chapters review the role of the vessel and vascular cells in inflammation, and vascular remodeling during arterial hypertension and aging. One chapter is devoted to atherogenesis, atheroma and plaque instability, followed by the pathophysiology of post-angioplasty restenosis, which is a crucial issue in modern interventional cardiology.

Designed to meet the needs of undergraduate students, "Introduction to Biomechanics" takes the fresh approach of combining the viewpoints of both a well-respected teacher and a successful student. With an eye toward practicality without loss of depth of instruction, this book seeks to explain the fundamental concepts of biomechanics. With the accompanying web site providing models, sample problems, review questions and more, Introduction to Biomechanics provides students with the full range of instructional material for this complex and dynamic field.

This book is a dedicated resource for those sitting the Part A of the MCEM (Membership of the College of Emergency Medicine) examination. It forms an essential revision guide for emergency trainees who need to acquire a broad understanding of the basic sciences, which underpin their approach to clinical problems in the emergency department. Common clinical scenarios are used to highlight the essential underlying basic science principles, providing a link between clinical management and a knowledge of the underlying anatomical, physiological, pathological and biochemical processes. Multiple choice questions with reasoned answers are used to confirm the candidates understanding and for self testing. Unlike other recent revision books which provide MCQ questions with extended answers, this book uses clinical cases linked to the most recent basic science aspects of the CEM syllabus to provide a book that not only serves as a useful revision resource for the Part A component of the MCEM examination, but also a unique way of understanding the processes underlying common clinical cases seen every day in the emergency department. This book is essential for trainees sitting the Part A of the MCEM exam and for clinicians and medical students who need to refresh their knowledge of basic sciences relevant to the management of clinical emergencies.

The motivation for writing aseries ofbooks on biomechanics is to bring this rapidly developing subject to students of bioengineering, physiology, and mechanics. In the last decade biomechanics has become a recognized disci pline offered in virtually all universities. Yet there is no adequate textbook for instruction; neither is there a treatise with sufficiently broad coverage. A few books bearing the title of biomechanics are too elementary, others are too specialized. I have long feIt a need for a set of books that will inform students of the physiological and medical applications of biomechanics, and at the same time develop their training in mechanics. We cannot assume that all students come to biomechanics already fully trained in fluid and solid mechanics; their knowledge in these subjects has to be developed as the course proceeds. The scheme adopted in the present series is as follows. First, some basic training in mechanics, to a level about equivalent to the first seven chapters of the author's A First Course in Continuum Mechanics (Prentice-Hall,lnc. 1977), is assumed. We then present some essential parts of biomechanics from the point of view of bioengineering, physiology, and medical applications. In the meantime, mechanics is developed through a sequence of problems and examples. The main text reads like physiology, while the exercises are planned like a mechanics textbook. The instructor may fil1 a dual role: teaching an essential branch of life science, and gradually developing the student's knowledge in mechanics.