腹主动脉瘤的流固耦合分析方法研究

目的:将流固耦合分析方法运用于血流动力学的研究,可以获得更加准确的结果,为临床诊断和治疗提供有效的指导.方法:本文运用ANSYS和CFX对腹主动脉瘤(Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm,AAA)进行流固耦合模拟分析,以便获得动脉瘤的血流速度和瘤壁的应力分布,判断易破裂危险区域.结果:实验结果表明,本例的腹部主动脉瘤应力峰值位于瘤体颈部.结论:流动和壁面切应力分布揭示动脉瘤颈部为破裂的危险区域.     

腹主动脉瘤炎症机制的研究进展

腹主动脉瘤是血管外科最高危的血管退化性疾病之一,其最严重的后果是由于薄弱的动脉管壁无法承受血流冲击,导致动脉瘤壁破裂,引起的猝死。随着我国人口老龄化形势日趋严峻,腹主动脉瘤的发病率也逐年上升,成为威胁我国人民生命健康的重要疾病之一。随着对腹主动脉瘤认识的进步,影像学检查手段的增多,该疾病的确诊率已大大提高,但其具体的发病机制仍不完全清楚。目前已知腹主动脉瘤的发生与吸烟、性别、氧化应激、基质蛋白酶、血脂等多种因素相关,最新的研究显示炎症反应在腹主动脉瘤的发生发展过程中起到重要作用,本文主要对腹主动脉瘤与白细胞相关的炎症反应机制的最新研究进展予以综述。     

不同体重对正常饮食下小鼠腹主动脉瘤进展影响的回顾性研究

目的 分析正常饮食情况下,术前体重对猪胰弹性蛋白酶(PPE)诱导的小鼠腹主动脉瘤进展的影响。方法 回顾分析本实验室最近半年44例PPE诱导的小鼠腹主动脉瘤模型中,术前不同体重对后期腹主动脉直径和腹主动脉瘤进展的影响,分析两者的相关性。对术前体重低于25 g的8例入选小鼠(模型组1)和术前体重高于30 g的8例入选小鼠(模型组2)进行体重、脂肪分布、腹主动脉直径、腹主动脉直径变化、腹主动脉瘤病变组织学和免疫组织化学比较。正常阴性对照小鼠未给与任何处理。结果 44例小鼠腹主动脉瘤血管直径和术前体重的相关系数为0.005,未发现体重对腹主动脉瘤进展有显著影响。进一步分析发现,模型1组和模型2组在术后14 d血管直径(1.35 mm vs 1.27 mm)和血管直径变化上(0.85 mm vs 0.72 mm)差异没有显著性。相比正常血管,模型组1和模型组2小鼠在术后14 d,腹主动脉肾下灌注段直径显著增加,全部形成动脉瘤。组织学呈弹性纤维断裂、平滑肌细胞耗竭、炎症反应增加和血管新生异常等典型的腹主动脉瘤病变特征。结论 在正常饮食小鼠,体重未见影响腹主动脉瘤的进展。     

灌溉水稻生长发育和潜力产量的模拟模型

本文提出的HDRICE模型是灌溉水稻生长的生理生态模型,它由相互衍接的水稻形态发育、干物质积累和叶面积发育三模块组成。形态发育模块用以模拟逐日温度和日长对水稻发育的影响,其参数可反映水稻品种的基本营养性、感温性和感光性;干物质积累模块用以模拟冠层CO_2同化、作物的维持呼吸和生长呼吸及干物质分配等过程;叶面积发育模块用以模拟叶面积指数的动态。本文还讨论了模型的输入参数和模型检验。模型可应用于模拟水稻的生长发育,预测水稻品种潜在产量及为取得潜在产量所必需的群体数量指标。     

家兔肾下腹主动脉瘤模型的建立

目的:建立简易、稳定性高的家兔肾下腹主动脉瘤模型.方法:选取健康雄性家兔32只设立盐水灌注对照,采用弹力蛋白酶灌注肾下腹主动脉的方法进行模型制作,利用不同染色方法,分别于术后2天,7天取标本观察灌注段腹主动脉的成瘤情况,形态学变化及病理改变.结果:8只弹力蛋白酶灌注术后7天组有6只存活,腹主动脉直径扩张均大于100%,与各对照组相比差异有统计学意义.病理改变体现为炎性细胞浸润,血管中层弹力组织破坏.结论:家免腹主动脉瘤模型操作简易,病理特征稳定,建模成功率较高.     

三羟基黄酮通过抑制JNK和p38 MAPK信号途径减少血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的小鼠腹主动脉瘤形成

腹主动脉瘤是指腹主动脉的局限性、永久性扩张.在西方社会,腹主动脉瘤发病率约为8%.目前,针对腹主动脉瘤的药物治疗效果有限.本研究证实在实验小鼠(Mus musculus)中,三羟基黄酮(传统中药黄芩的主要成分)可以降低血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的腹主动脉瘤发生率和严重程度.病理生理机制方面,三羟基黄酮可以减少小鼠腹主动脉壁内活性氧的产生.同时三羟基黄酮还可以抑制动脉壁内由血管紧张素Ⅱ诱发的炎性细胞浸润.此外,通过降低基质金属蛋白酶2和基质金属蛋白酶9的活性,三羟基黄酮可以显著抑制细胞外基质降解.分子机制方面,三羟基黄酮主要通过下调血管紧张素Ⅰ型受体进而抑制丝裂原活化蛋白激酶信号传导通路发挥作用.本研究表明,三羟基黄酮能够有效抑制腹主动脉瘤的发生发展.     

小兴安岭低山区红松生长的气候响应机制

基于小兴安岭红松的树轮资料,确定了Tree-Ring生态机理模型模拟红松树木生长的参数.应用Tree-Ring模型对小兴安岭红松的生长过程进行了模拟,结果显示Tree-Ring模型在该地具有较好的适用性.参数敏感性分析表明红松树木生长比较敏感的参数是光合最低温度、光合最适温度下限、最适土壤体积含水率上限和最大土壤体积含水率.模拟发现,红松树轮宽度变化主要受到生长季上一年10月份气温和当年4月份气温变化控制.形成层开始生长平均是在4月下旬,这时水分充足,而温度在光合最低温度和最适温度下限之间,温度愈高,光合速率愈大,储存的养料愈多,因此表现为与树轮宽度的正相关关系.形成层生长结束的时间平均在10月上旬,用于形成层细胞生长的光合产物的消耗减少,而光合速率随着温度的升高而增大,因此,10月份的气温越高为下一年储存的养料越多,翌年易形成宽轮.     

油菜分枝拓扑结构随机模拟

油菜(Brassica napus L.)具有复杂的分枝结构,其分枝为向顶式发生(出现)、向基式扩展,这种独特的生长模式使得油菜个体植株间的构型存在很大的差异.本研究利用与位置有关的生长延迟函数,计算各分枝从发生到扩展的时间间隔,来模拟油菜分枝这种独特的生长模式.此外,利用随机概率模型来模拟油菜植株间分枝数、主干和分枝的叶元数等.通过实际测量的四个油菜品种(ZY18, ZY50, ZS72和ZS11)的数据,采用最小二乘法对该模型的参数进行校准.结果表明,该随机模型能够模拟油菜植株拓扑结构,并根据参数估计的结果分析不同品种的拓扑结构差异性.本研究提出了新的简化方法模拟油菜分枝的生长模式,该模型可与油菜生长模型相结合,从而模拟油菜的动态生长过程.     

基于器官生物量构建植株形态的玉米虚拟模型

探讨了基于玉米器官生物量模拟其形态的方法,并应用2000年田间试验数据提取了玉米节间、叶鞘和叶片的形态构建参数。基于玉米虚拟模型生物量分配模块模拟的器官生物量积累和建立的形态构建方法与提取的参数,模拟了2001年玉米不同生长阶段的器官形态,模拟结果与田间试验数据吻合较好。应用本模型实现了玉米生长过程中植株各个器官形态变化以及植株高度、叶面积动态的模拟,并实现了植株形态的可视化。     

植物物候变化的全气候生产要素影响机制与模型研究

物候是气候变化的重要指示指标,不仅是植被动态模型的重要参数,也是陆地碳循环模型和大气环流模式的重要参数.本文从物候变化机制和物候模拟模型两方面综述了植物物候研究最新进展,剖析了物候研究趋势,指出当前物候研究大都仅考虑单一气候因子或少数几个气候因子的影响,涉及多气候因子相互作用影响的研究仍很少,还没有开展植物全气候生产要素相互作用影响物候的研究;受物候变化机制认识与研究物种的限制,现有物候模型仍不能反映植被生长的真实性,也不能有效模拟物候变化.本文指出,全面认识物候变化的机制迫切需要考虑影响植物物候的全气候生产要素及其相互作用,为物候模型发展提供依据.本文基于植物光合作用是最主要的物候影响因子的研究结论,提出采用气候生产潜力作为植物物候变化驱动因子,不仅体现气候环境因子对植物生产的综合作用及其在植物生长全过程中的一致性,还体现了生物因子、环境因子及其相互作用以及极端天气气候事件的影响,从而实现物候的准确模拟.本文提出的未来物候研究方向,有助于丰富物候认知、提升陆地碳循环和大气环流模式模拟的准确性.     

A model of growth and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm

We present here a coupled mathematical model of growth and failure of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The failure portion of the model is based on the constitutive theory of softening hyperelasticity where the classical hyperelastic law is enhanced with a new constant indicating the maximum energy that an infinitesimal material volume can accumulate without failure. The new constant controls material failure and it can be interpreted as the average energy of molecular bonds from the microstructural standpoint. The constitutive model is compared to the data from uniaxial tension tests providing an excellent fit to the experiment. The AAA failure model is coupled with a phenomenological theory of soft tissue growth. The unified theory includes both momentum and mass balance laws coupled with the help of the constitutive equations. The microstructural alterations in the production of elastin and remodeling of collagen are reflected in the changing macroscopic parameters characterizing tissue stiffness, strength and density. The coupled theory is used to simulate growth and rupture of an idealized spherical AAA. The results of the simulation showing possible AAA ruptures in growth are reasonable qualitatively while the quantitative calibration of the model will require further clinical observations and in vitro tests. The presented model is the first where growth and rupture are coupled.     

Joint modelling of longitudinal and time-to-event data with application to predicting abdominal aortic aneurysm growth and rupture

Shared random effects joint models are becoming increasingly popular for investigating the relationship between longitudinal and time‐to‐event data. Although appealing, such complex models are computationally intensive, and quick, approximate methods may provide a reasonable alternative. In this paper, we first compare the shared random effects model with two approximate approaches: a naïve proportional hazards model with time‐dependent covariate and a two‐stage joint model, which uses plug‐in estimates of the fitted values from a longitudinal analysis as covariates in a survival model. We show that the approximate approaches should be avoided since they can severely underestimate any association between the current underlying longitudinal value and the event hazard. We present classical and Bayesian implementations of the shared random effects model and highlight the advantages of the latter for making predictions. We then apply the models described to a study of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) to investigate the association between AAA diameter and the hazard of AAA rupture. Out‐of‐sample predictions of future AAA growth and hazard of rupture are derived from Bayesian posterior predictive distributions, which are easily calculated within an MCMC framework. Finally, using a multivariate survival sub‐model we show that underlying diameter rather than the rate of growth is the most important predictor of AAA rupture.     

Evolving mechanical properties of a model of abdominal aortic aneurysm

The novel three-dimensional (3D) mathematical model for the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) of Watton et al. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 3(2): 98–113, (2004) describes how changes in the micro-structure of the arterial wall lead to the development of AAA, during which collagen remodels to compensate for loss of elastin. In this paper, we examine the influence of several of the model’s material and remodelling parameters on growth rates of the AAA and compare with clinical data. Furthermore, we calculate the dynamic properties of the AAA at different stages in its development and examine the evolution of clinically measurable mechanical properties. The model predicts that the maximum diameter of the aneurysm increases exponentially and that the ratio of systolic to diastolic diameter decreases from 1.13 to 1.02 as the aneurysm develops; these predictions are consistent with physiological observations of Vardulaki et al. Br J Surg 85:1674–1680 (1998) and Lanne et al. Eur J Vasc Surg 6:178–184 (1992), respectively. We conclude that mathematical models of aneurysm growth have the potential to be useful, noninvasive diagnostic tools and thus merit further development.     

Model studies of the flow in abdominal aortic aneurysms during resting and exercise conditions

Pulsatile flow in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models has been examined in order to understand the hemodynamics that may contribute to growth of an AAA. The model studies were conducted by experiments (flow visualization and laser Doppler velocimetry) and by numerical simulation using physiologically realistic resting and exercise flow conditions. We characterize the flow for two AAA model shapes and sizes emulating early AAA development through moderate AAA growth (mean and peak Reynolds numbers of 362<Re_mean<1053 and 3308<Re_peak<5696 with Womersley parameter 16.4<<21.2). The results of our investigation indicate that AAA flow can be divided into three flow regimes: (i) Attached flow over the entire cycle in small AAAs at resting conditions, (ii) vortex formation and translation in moderate size AAAs at resting conditions, and (iii) vortex formation, translation and turbulence in moderate size AAAs under exercise conditions. The second two regimes are classified in the medical literature as disturbed flow conditions that have been correlated with atherogenesis as well as thrombogenesis. Thus, AAA disturbed hemodynamics may be a contributing factor to AAA growth by accelerating the degeneration of the arterial wall. Our investigation also concluded that vortex development is considerably weaker in an asymmetric AAA. Furthermore, turbulence was not observed in the asymmetric model. Finally, our investigation suggests a new mode of transition to turbulence: vortex ring instability and bursting to turbulence. The transition process depends on a combination of the pulsatile flow conditions and the tube cross-sectional area change.     

The preventive effect of fish oil on abdominal aortic aneurysm development

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disease involving gradual dilation of the abdominal aorta and high rupture‐related mortality rates. AAA is histologically characterized by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and extracellular matrix degradation in the vascular wall. We previously demonstrated that aortic hypoperfusion could cause the vascular inflammation and AAA formation. However, the preventive method for hypoperfusion‐induced AAA remains unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effect of fish oil on AAA development using a hypoperfusion‐induced AAA animal model. Dilation of the abdominal aorta in the fish oil administration group was smaller than in the control group. Collagen destruction and oxidative stress were suppressed in the fish oil administration group than in the control group. These results suggested that fish oil could prevent the development of AAA induced by hypoperfusion.     

Hypoperfusion of the Adventitial Vasa Vasorum Develops an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

The aortic wall is perfused by the adventitial vasa vasorum (VV). Tissue hypoxia has previously been observed as a manifestation of enlarged abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). We sought to determine whether hypoperfusion of the adventitial VV could develop AAAs. We created a novel animal model of adventitial VV hypoperfusion with a combination of a polyurethane catheter insertion and a suture ligation of the infrarenal abdominal aorta in rats. VV hypoperfusion caused tissue hypoxia and developed infrarenal AAA, which had similar morphological and pathological characteristics to human AAA. In human AAA tissue, the adventitial VV were stenotic in both small AAAs (30–49 mm in diameter) and in large AAAs (> 50 mm in diameter), with the sac tissue in these AAAs being ischemic and hypoxic. These results indicate that hypoperfusion of adventitial VV has critical effects on the development of infrarenal AAA.     

Toward a biomechanical tool to evaluate rupture potential of abdominal aortic aneurysm: identification of a finite strain constitutive model and evaluation of its applicability

Knowledge of the wall stresses in an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may be helpful in evaluating the need for surgical intervention to avoid rupture. This must be preceded by the development of a more suitable finite strain constitutive model for AAA, as none currently exists. Additionally, reliable stress analysis of in vivo AAA for the purposes of clinical diagnostics requires patient-specific values of the material parameters, which are difficult to determine noninvasively. The purpose of this work, therefore, was three-fold: (1) to develop a finite strain constitutive model for AAA; (2) to estimate the variation of model parameters within a sample population; and (3) to evaluate the sensitivity of computed stress distribution in AAA due to this biologic variation. We propose here a two parameter, hyperelastic, isotropic, incompressible material model and utilize experimental data from 69 freshly excised AAA specimens to both develop the functional form of the model and estimate its material parameters. Parametric analyses were performed via repeated finite element computations to determine the effect of varying each of the two model parameters on the stress distribution in a three-dimensional AAA model. The agreement between experimental data and the proposed functional form of the constitutive law was very good (R2 > 0.9). Our finite element simulations showed that the computed AAA wall stresses changed by only 4% or less when both the parameters were varied within the 95% confidence intervals for the patient population studied. This observation indicates that in lieu of the patient-specific material parameters, which are difficult to determine the use of population mean values is sufficiently accurate for the model to be reasonably employed in a clinical setting. We believe that this is an important advancement toward the development of a computational tool for the estimation of rupture potential for individual AAA, for which there is great clinical need.     

Intrasac pressure changes and vascular remodeling after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: review and biomechanical model simulation

In this paper, we review existing clinical research data on post-endovascular repair (EVAR) intrasac pressure and relation with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) size changes. Based on the review, we hypothesize that intrasac pressure has a significant impact on post-EVAR AAA size changes, and post-EVAR remodeling depends also on how the pressure has changed over a period of time. The previously developed model of an AAA based on a constrained mixture approach is extended to include vascular adaptation after EVAR using an idealized geometry. Computational simulation shows that the same mechanism of collagen stress-mediated remodeling in AAA expansion induces the aneurysm wall to shrink in a reduced sac-pressure after post-EVAR. Computational simulation suggests that the intrasac pressure of 60 mm?Hg is a critical value. At this value, the AAA remains stable, while values above cause the AAA to expand and values below cause the AAA to shrink. There are, however, variations between individuals due to different cellular sensitivities in stress-mediated adaptation. Computer simulation also indicates that an initial decrease in intrasac pressure helps the AAA shrink even if the pressure increases after some time. The presented study suggests that biomechanics has a major effect on initial adaptation after EVAR and also illustrates the utility of a computational model of vascular growth and remodeling in predicting diameter changes during the progression and after the treatment of AAAs.     

The effects of aneurysm on the biaxial mechanical behavior of human abdominal aorta

The biomechanical response of normal and pathologic human abdominal aortic tissue to uniaxial loading conditions is insufficient for the characterization of its three-dimensional (3D) mechanical behavior. Planar biaxial mechanical evaluation allows for 3D constitutive modeling of nearly incompressible tissues, as well as the investigation of the nature of mechanical anisotropy. In the current study, 26 abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) tissue samples and 8 age-matched (> 60 years of age) nonaneurysmal abdominal aortic (AA) tissue samples were obtained and tested using a tension-controlled biaxial testing protocol. Graphical response functions (Sun et al., 2003. J. Biomech. Eng. 125, 372-380) were used as a guide to describe the pseudo-elastic response of AA and AAA. Based on the observed pseudo-elastic response, a four-parameter exponential strain energy function developed by Vito (1990. J. Biomech. Eng. 112, 153-159) was used from which both an individual specimen and group material parameter sets were determined for both AA and AAA. Peak Green strain values in the circumferential (Ethetatheta,max) and longitudinal (ELL,max) directions under an equibiaxial tension of 120 N/m were also compared. The strain energy function fit all of the individual specimens well with an average R2 of 0.95 +/- 0.02 and 0.90 +/- 0.02 (mean +/- SEM) for the AA and AAA groups, respectively. The average Ethetatheta,max at 200 N/m equibiaxial tension was found to be significantly smaller for AAAs as compared to AAs (0.07 +/- 0.01 versus 0.13 +/- 0.03, respectively; p < 0.01). There was also a pronounced increase in the circumferential stiffness for AAA tissue as compared to AA tissue, indicating a larger degree of anisotropy for this tissue as compared to age-matched AA tissue. We also observed that the four-parameter Fung-elastic model was not able to fit the AAA tissue mechanical response using physically realistic material parameter values. It was concluded that aneurysmal degeneration of the abdominal aorta is associated with an increase in mechanical anisotropy, with preferential stiffening in the circumferential direction.     

Challenges of applying circulating biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysm progression

As a prevalent potentially life-threatening condition, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) presents increasing risk of rupture as its diameter grows. However, rapid progression and rupture may occasionally occur in smaller AAAs. Earlier surgery for patients with high risk of disease progression may improve the outcome. Therefore, more precise indicators for invasive treatment in addition to diameter and abdominal symptoms are demanded. This systematic review aimed to identify potential circulating biomarkers that may predict growth rate of AAA. Cochrane and PubMed library were searched (until August 2020) for researches which reported circulating biomarkers associated with AAA expansion, and 25 papers were included. Twenty-eight identified biomarkers were further classified into five categories (inflammation and oxidative stress, matrix degradation, hematology and lipid metabolism, thrombosis and fibrinolysis, and others), and discussed further with their correlation and regression analysis results. Larger prospective trials are required to establish and evaluate prognostic models with highest values with these markers.