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Artif Organs 2019 Feb 21. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Penn State Health Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA.

The objective of this translational study was to evaluate the FDA-approved PediMag, CentriMag, and Rotaflow centrifugal blood pumps in terms of hemodynamic performance using simulated neonatal and pediatric ECMO circuits with different sizes of arterial and venous cannulae. Cost of disposable pump heads was another important variable for this particular study. The experimental circuit was composed of one of the centrifugal pump heads, a polymethylpentene (PMP) membrane oxygenator, neonatal and pediatric arterial/venous cannulae, and 1/4-inch ID tubing. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Feb 21. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.

Artif Organs 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Teikyo University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Artif Organs 2019 Feb;43(2):207-208

Artif Organs 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Federal Rural University of Semiarid Region (UFERSA) -, Department of Animal Sciences, Av. Francisco Mota, 572 Mossoró Rio Grande do Norte, 59.625-900, Brazil.

A titanium surface nitrided by plasma contains nitrogen ions that guarantee resistance to corrosion and biocompatibility. Despite this, no descriptions concerning the influence of the expression of cell adhesion proteins and their influence on osteogenic cell differentiation are available. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the response of murine pre-osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1) cultured on nitrided titanium surfaces. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Anne´s Faculty Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.

There is ample evidence that maintenance of basic physical fitness through exercise training is crucial for patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Rehabilitation based on neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of thigh muscles has been shown to have many beneficial effects in patients with chronic diseases. It is likely that NMES could have beneficial effects also in patients on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Division of Cardiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.

The clinical significance of positive anti-hepatitis C virus antibody tests in recipients of left ventricular assist devices remains unclear. In light of emerging evidence suggesting the possibility of persistent low-level hepatitis C virus infection in patients with positive anti-hepatitis C virus antibody test but negative hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid, it is very important to distinguish the truly false positive hepatitis C virus antibodies, in recipients of continuous flow left ventricular assist devices, from those suggestive of a prior clinically resolved infection or one where a low-level viremia may have persisted. We conducted a retrospective analysis of left ventricular assist device recipients at our institution. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Medical Intensive Care Unit, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

Low flow extracorporeal veno-venous CO removal (ECCO R) therapy is used to remove CO while reducing ventilation intensity. However, the use of this technique is limited because efficiency of CO removal and potential beneficial effects on pulmonary hemodynamics are not precisely established. Moreover, this technique requires anticoagulation that may induce severe complications in critically ill patients. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Unit, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

The results of neonatal aortic arch surgery using cerebro-myocardial perfusion were analyzed. Selective cerebral and myocardial perfusion, using two separate pump rotors, was compared with standard perfusion, using a single pump rotor with an arterial line Y-connector. Between May 2008 and May 2016, 69 consecutive neonates underwent arch repair using either selective cerebro-myocardial perfusion (Group A, n = 34) or standard perfusion (Group B, n = 35). Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

Background: In earlier studies, we developed in vivo tissue-engineered, autologous, small-caliber vascular grafts, called "biotubes," which withstand systemic blood pressure and exhibit excellent performance as small-caliber vascular prostheses in animal models. However, biotube preparation takes 4 weeks; therefore, biotubes cannot be applied in emergency situations. Moreover, for responses to various types of surgery, grafts should ideally be readily available in advance. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan;43(1):97-98

Artif Organs 2019 Feb 28;43(2):105-108. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Artificial Organs Editorial Office, Painesville, OH, USA.

In this Editor's Review, articles published in 2018 are organized by category and summarized. We provide a brief reflection of the research and progress in artificial organs intended to advance and better human life while providing insight for continued application of these technologies and methods. Artificial Organs continues in the original mission of its founders "to foster communications in the field of artificial organs on an international level". Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

An electrical stimulus is a new approach to neural differentiation of stem cells. In this work, the neural differentiation of conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells (CJMSCs) on a new 3D conductive fibrous scaffold of silk fibroin (SF) and reduced graphene oxide (rGo) were examined. rGo (3. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.

Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is often used to support patients in decompensated heart failure. Placement of the IABP via the axillary artery facilitates long-term support with the device and may allow for the conversion of an acute heart failure (HF) patient into a chronic HF patient using a modified weaning protocol; allowing for medical symptom management and removal of mechanical support. We will discuss strategies for supporting these complicated patients. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Biofluid Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

Two limitations have been discovered in the derivation of the Eulerian method of hemolysis prediction using a linearized blood damage function. First is that in the transformation from the Lagrangian material volume of the original power-law model to a fixed Eulerian control volume, the spatial dependence of duration of exposure to fluid stress was neglected. This omission has the implication that the Eulerian method as reported is valid only for steady, uniaxial flow in which velocity is constant along streamlines. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Center for Liver Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Korea.

Artif Organs 2019 Feb;43(2):109-118

CD Laboratory for the Restoration of Extremity Function, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Even though the hand comprises only 1% of our body weight, about 30% of our central nervous systems (CNS) capacity is related to its control. The loss of a hand thus presents not only the loss of the most important tool allowing us to interact with our environment, but also leaves a dramatic sensory-motor deficit that challenges our CNS. Reconstruction of hand function is therefore not only an essential part of restoring body integrity and functional wholeness but also closes the loop of our neural circuits diminishing phantom sensation and neural pain. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 14. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, United Kingdom.

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Mechanical Circulatory Support Program, Emergency Cardiac Care, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA.

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 28. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.

Various risk models with differing discriminatory power and predictive accuracy have been used to predict right ventricular failure (RVF) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. There remains an unmet need for a contemporary risk score for continuous flow (CF)-LVADs. We sought to independently validate and compare existing risk models in a large cohort of patients and develop a simple, yet highly predictive risk score for acute, severe RVF. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether processing residual pump blood with ultrafiltration could increase the increment of hemoglobin after residual pump blood reinfusion and evaluate its influence on plasma-free hemoglobin (pFHb) level and postoperative renal function. Sixty adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were assigned to 2 groups, based on pump blood processing strategy: ultrafiltration plus reinfusion (n = 30) or reinfusion (control; n = 30). Increment in hemoglobin and pFHb after reinfusion (ΔHgb, ΔpFHb), reinfusion volume, postoperative chest drainage volume (first 24 h), duration of mechanical ventilation, changes in serum creatinine, and prevalence of AKI were compared between the 2 groups. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Penn State Health Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA.

The objective of this study was to do an in vitro evaluation of venous line pressure using different venous line lengths and venous cannula sizes in pediatric venoarterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS) and venovenous ECLS (VV-ECLS) circuits. The pediatric VA-ECLS circuit consisted of a Xenios i-cor diagonal pump, a Maquet Quadrox-i pediatric oxygenator, a Medtronic Biomedicus arterial cannula, a Biomedicus venous cannula, and 1/4″ ID arterial and venous tubing. The pediatric VV-ECLS circuit was similar, except it included a Maquet Avalon ELITE bi-caval dual lumen cannula. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Med. Klinik und Poliklinik II-Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Endoluminal left atrial appendage occlusion is an emerging therapy to treat patients suffering from atrial fibrillation with contraindications against oral anticoagulation. Different occlusion devices have been introduced into the clinical setting while comparative studies between the devices are sparse. This in vitro study compares several endoluminal left atrial appendage occlusion systems regarding 2 mechanical properties: radial (RF) and tug force (TF). Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina Ringgold Standard Institution, Electrical Engineering, Joinville, Brazil.

This article presents experimental and computational results of electroporation in rat liver. The experiments were performed using different forms of electrodes and waveforms of applied electric pulses. For the numerical simulation, the electroporation model proposed by Ramos and Weinert in a previous publication was used. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Biofluid Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.

A long-standing goal in the field of biofluid mechanics has been to reliably predict hemolysis across the wide range of flows that can occur in prosthetic cardiovascular devices. A scalar representation of the complex three-dimensional fluid stresses that are exerted on cells is an attractive alternative for the simplicity that it lends to the computations. The appropriateness of the commonly used von-Mises-like scalar stress as a universal hemolysis scaling parameter was previously evaluated, finding that erythrocyte membrane tensions calculated for laminar shear and extensional flows and for three cases of turbulent flow were widely divergent for the same value of scalar stress. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 26. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Département d'Anesthésie Réanimation, Université Paris Sorbonne, APHP, CHU Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France.

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is an important tool in managing severe cardio-circulatory and respiratory failures. The axillary and the femoral sites are the most frequently used for arterial cannulation. There is no current evidence favoring one site over the other. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 26. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Service de médecine intensive-réanimation, Institut de Cardiométabolisme et Nutrition (ICAN), Groupe Hospitalier La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Paris, France.

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 25. Epub 2018 Dec 25.

National Research Center for Cardiac Surgery, Astana, Kazakhstan.

Artif Organs 2018 Dec;42(12):1242

Artif Organs 2018 Dec;42(12):1111

Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Office, 10 W. Erie St. #200, Painesville, OH 44077.

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK.

Medical devices, such as ventricular assist devices (VADs), introduce both foreign materials and artificial shear stress to the circulatory system. The effects these have on leukocytes and the immune response are not well understood. Understanding how these two elements combine to affect leukocytes may reveal why some patients are susceptible to recurrent device-related infections and provide insight into the development of pump thrombosis. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Brain injury associated with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) has been recognized in patients with congenital heart diseases and those undergoing aortic arch surgeries. However, the preclinical investigation of long-term cerebral injury and recovery mechanisms related to DHCA has been restricted to a satisfactory recovery animal model with a determined recovery time. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a long-term surviving DHCA model without blood priming in rats, in order to investigate the pathophysiology of long-term complications in further studies. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Pediatric Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides cardiorespiratory support during cardiopulmonary resuscitation unresponsive to conventional methods. Here, we analyzed the extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) results of children in a cardiac arrest setting after cardiac surgery. Of 3119 cases of pediatric open-heart surgery, 31 required postoperative ECMO. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Health Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic properties and microemboli capture associated with different vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) vacuum levels and venous reservoir levels in a neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. Trials were conducted in 2 parallel circuits to compare the performance of Capiox Baby RX05 oxygenator with separate AF02 arterial filter to Capiox FX05 oxygenator with integrated arterial filter. Arterial cannula flow rate to the patient was held at 500 mL/min and temperature maintained at 32°C, while VAVD vacuum levels (0 mm Hg, -15 mm Hg, -30 mm Hg, -45 mm Hg, -60 mm Hg) and venous reservoir levels (50 mL, 200 mL) were evaluated in both oxygenators. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 1;43(1):54-59. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France.

Measurement of lactate concentrations during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a reliable monitoring tool for the assessment of the adequacy of perfusion, and a predictor of poor outcome. However, increased lactate production, which is multifactorial (anaerobic metabolism, hyperglycemia), increased lactate load by packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions, and decreased lactate clearance may all result in hyperlactatemia. The aim of this study was to estimate the clearance of lactate in infants undergoing surgery with CPB, using the lactate load from the PRBCs transfusions received during CPB. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Clinic for General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Short term normothermic reconditioning by machine perfusion after cold storage has shown beneficial effects in renal transplantation models. Systematic investigations concerning the inclusion of washed erythrocytes as oxygen carriers are lacking in this context. Porcine kidneys were subjected to 20 h of static cold storage. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Jan 28;43(1):14-16. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Artif Organs 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.

Although the efficacy of external stents for vein grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting has been recognized, the ideal diameter and material of the stent remain controversial. We created a new external stent made of soft polyester mesh and performed an animal experiment using canines. Bilateral saphenous vein grafts were interposed in the bilateral common carotid artery of 10 beagles. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North College, Hebei, People's Republic of China.

The effectiveness of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) combined with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest remains controversial. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the short-term clinical outcomes of IABP combined with VA-ECMO versus VA-ECMO alone. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for English language articles published from inception to August 18, 2018. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.

Recent developments in the field of augmented reality (AR) have enabled new use cases in surgery. Initial set-up of an appropriate infrastructure for maintaining an AR surgical workflow requires investment in appropriate hardware. We compared the usability of the Microsoft HoloLens and Meta 2 head mounted displays (HMDs). Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Nov 27. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Puborectalis-like artificial anal sphincter (PAAS) is an innovative new type of artificial anal sphincter (AAS). It overcomes many drawbacks and inadequacies of various previous AASs, and it has successfully been implanted in vivo for almost 3 weeks. During in vivo testing, PAAS shows its ability to retain continence with low risk of ischemia necrosis, and somehow truly helps to remodel rectal perception. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Nov;42(11):E349-E356

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Lanzhou City, Gansu, China.

Artificial hearts are effective devices to treat heart failure in clinical practice and can be divided into two categories: artificial hearts and ventricular assist devices. The goal of this work was to investigate the fluidity and biological changes of in vitro sheep blood using a novel alternating current (AC) magnetohydrodynamic blood pump (central magnetic intensity: 0.9 T, alternating current frequency of the electric motor: 0-80 Hz). Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Nov;42(11):1015-1016

Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.

Artif Organs 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

To date, 3D organ modeling has not reached widespread clinical use, despite showing promise in medical literature. The majority of anatomic modeling that is presented in the literature is performed with proprietary software, presenting certain barriers to use, such as price for usage rights. Open-source software not only circumvents this barrier, but also often provides greater customization offered by global communities. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 15;42(12):E406-E419. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. AIS occur while cerebral arteries become blocked by embolism or thrombosis. Aspiration thrombectomy is a promising interventional device to extract massive clots from occluded cerebral arteries. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Dec 15;42(12):1125-1131. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Cardiothoracic Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, Uxbridge, UK.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is now a routine therapy for advanced heart failure. Minimally invasive approach via thoracotomy for LVAD implantation is getting popular due to its potential advantage over the conventional sternotomy approach in terms of reduced risk at re-operation due to sternal sparing. We compared the approaches (thoracotomy and sternotomy) to determine the superiority. Read More

Artif Organs 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Miami Transplant Institute, Miami, Florida.

Extracorporeal removal of carbon dioxide in patients experiencing severe hypercapnia due to lung protective mechanical ventilation was first described over four decades ago. There have been many devices developed and described in the interim, many of which require additional training, resources, and staff. This manuscript describes a readily available and relatively simple adjunct that can provide partial lung support in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome complicated by severe hypercapnia and acute kidney injury requiring dialysis. Read More