No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-69).

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Justin W. Behrens, for the Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, presented on June 24, 2011 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: MODIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A MONO-VALVE ENGINE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Suri Rajan A four-stroke engine utilizing one tappet valve for both the intake and exhaust gas exchange processes has been built and evaluated. The engine operates under its own power, but has a reduced power capacity than the conventional 2-valve engine. The reduction in power is traced to higher than expected amounts of exhaust gases flowing back into the intake system. Design changes to the cylinder head will fix the back flow problems, but the future capacity of mono-valve engine technology cannot be estimated. The back flow of exhaust gases increases the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate and deteriorates combustion. Intake pressure data shows the mono-valve engine requires an advanced intake valve closing (IVC) time to prevent back flow of charge air. A single actuation camshaft with advanced IVC was tested in the mono-valve engine, and was found to improve exhaust scavenging at TDC and nearly eliminated all charge air back flow at IVC. The optimum IVC timing is shown to be approximately 30 crank angle degrees after BDC. The mono-valve cylinder head utilizes a rotary valve positioned above the tappet valve. The open spaces inside the rotary valve and between the rotary valve and tappet valve represent a common volume that needs to be reduced in order to reduce the base EGR rate. Multiple rotary valve configurations were tested, and the size of the common volume was found to have no effect on back flow but a direct effect on the EGR rate and engine performance. The position of the rotary valve with respect to crank angle has a direct effect on the scavenging process. Optimum scavenging occurs when the intake port is opened just after TDC.

The optimal timing of valve replacement surgery in chronic severe aortic regurgitation (AR) has remained a major clinical problem in the management of these patients. Although the onset of symptoms is the generally accepted indication for aortic valve replacement (AVR), the unpredictable development of pre-symptomatic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction as a result of prolonged volume overload has resulted in numerous reports attempting to formulate a risk profile for these patients. Although aortic root and LV cineangiography have been the "gold standard" for defining the severity of AR and its effect on LV performance, serial follow-up by these means is impractical. More recently numerous non-invasive measures of LV size (echocardiogram) and function both at rest and on exercise (echocardiogram and equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography., ERNA) have been serially utilised~ In these endeavours, the thinking has been clouded by a tendency to equate these two measures and failing to appreciate that apparent preoperative LV dysfunction (particularly on exercise) may be rapidly reversible by AVR and the consequent changes in LV loading conditions. This study was a prospective, sequential evaluation of left ventricular function using both non-invasive and invasive techniques in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with isolated chronic, severe (4+) AR at cardiac catheterisation. The aims of the study were to (I) Identify differences in the clinical, echocardiographic, resting and exercise haemodynamic and I radionuclide measures of left ventricular function in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with chronic severe A.R. with particular reference to the incidence of presymptomatic development of left ventricular dysfunction. (II) Critically evaluate the role of exercise stress (both isotonic and isometric) in the assessment of patients with chronic severe A.R. (III) Evaluate the influence of time (sequential studies) on the haemodynamic burden in asymptomatic patients. (IV) Study the impact of successful aortic valve replacement on the reversibility of abnormal pre-operative LV function in an attempt to predict which patients would benefit from this therapeutic intervention and whether operation for symptoms alone is the correct clinical practice.

Objectives To compare incidence of aortic regurgitation (AR), paravalvular AR and valvular performance with Doppler hemodynamic parameters following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with Edwards valve (EV) versus CoreValve (CV). Currently, there are scarce data on post-TAVR echocardiographic outcomes comparing EV and CV. Methods PubMed and the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials were searched through May 2015. Twenty studies (n = 11,244) comparing TAVR procedure that used EV (n = 6445) and CV (n = 4799) were included. End points were post-TAVR moderate to severe AR and paravalvular AR, effective orifice area (EOA), mean trans-aortic pressure gradient (MPG), peak trans-aortic pressure gradient (PPG) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The mean difference (MD) or relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed and p < 0.05 was considered as a level of significance. Results Moderate to severe AR and paravalvular AR were significantly lower in EV group (RR: 0.57, CI: 0.52–0.63, p < 0.00001 and RR: 0.40, CI: 0.25–0.63, p < 0.0001 respectively) compared to CV group. EOA and PPG were not significantly different between EV and CV groups. MPG was significantly lower among patients in CV group (MD: 1.08, CI: 0.05–2.10, p = 0.04). LVEF was significantly higher in patients in EV group (MD: 2.26, CI: 0.77–3.74, p = 0.03). Conclusions This study showed CV is associated with higher incidence of post-TAVR moderate to severe paravalvular AR. Echocardiographic valvular performance measures (MPG, LVEF) showed minimal but significant difference, which may not be clinically significant.

No description available.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is one of the most common degenerative cardiac diseases affecting humans and dogs; however, its pathogenesis is not completely understood. This study focussed on developing tissue-engineered fibrin based canine mitral valve constructs, which can be used as an in vitro platform to study the pathogenesis of MMVD. Prior to three dimensional (3D) construct fabrication, primary canine mitral valve endothelial cells (VECs) and valve interstitial cells (VICs) were isolated, cultured and characterized utilising a variety of techniques. Moreover, preliminary experiments were carried out to optimise the purity of VEC cultures. It is uncertain if canine MMVD is initiated by long term shear stress damage to the valve endothelium or from abnormalities of VICs. To investigate both hypotheses, three types of models were produced using fibrin/based 3D culture techniques: healthy VEC-VIC co-culture (Type 1); healthy VEC-diseased VIC co-culture (Type 2); healthy VEC-VIC co-culture with endothelial damage during culture (Type 3). Histological examination demonstrated partial native tissue-like morphology of the 3D constructs. Results suggest that current static cultured constructs express MMVD markers irrespective of using healthy or diseased VICs. Simple mechanical stimulation was found to regulate VIC activity in the 3D models. Endothelial damage resulting in VIC phenotypic activation (a change typically observed in MMVD), and decreased mechanical tension appeared to be a negative regulator of this effect. Moreover, there appears to be heterogeneity in the activated VIC population. Additionally, distinct advanced glycation end product (AGE) carboxymethyllysine (CML) expression was found in canine MMVD valves, which suggesting this biochemical compound (known to affect long living protein) might be a putative regulator of MMVD pathogenesis. The role of CML in MMVD can be further investigated utilizing current 3D static mitral valve construct model in future studies. Lastly a prototype dynamic tubular construct and a customised bioreactor system were developed. Preliminary data suggest the feasibility of tubular construct fabrication and endothelialisation, which provides foundation for future dynamic conditioning experiments and will allow examination of the role of endothelial shear stress in triggering MMVD. In summary, this project successfully developed fibrin based canine mitral valve constructs. It is believed they are promising models for MMVD research, allowing new insights in understanding MMVD pathogenesis.

No description available.

Plasma natriuretic peptide concentrations rise in response to either atrial or ventricular wall stretch and have been found to be useful in the diagnosis and assessment of patients with congestive cardiac failure. Although previous studies have suggested that plasma natriuretic peptides may offer some prognostic information in patients with valvular heart disease, it is unclear whether concentrations reflect disease severity and how plasma concentrations vary across different valve lesions. The aim of this research was to identify the factors that affect natriuretic peptide releases in valvular heart disease (VHD) and to investigate whether natriuretic peptides can be used in clinical practice to identify those patients who may benefit from early intervention. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations were measured in patients with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function and isolated VHD (mitral regurgitation, MR, n=33; aortic regurgitation, AR, n=39; aortic stenosis, AS, n=34; mitral stenosis, MS, n=30), and age and sex matched controls (n=39) immediately prior to exercise stress echocardiography. Peptide levels were compared against age and sex matched controls and against markers of severity for each valve lesions and across different valve lesions. Compared to controls, patients with all types of VHD had elevated plasma BNP concentrations [(MR median 35(inter quartile range 23-52), AR 34(22-45), AS 31(22-60), MS 58(34-90); controls 24(16-33) pg/mL; p < 0.01 for all]. LV end diastolic volume index varied by valve lesion; [MR (mean ± standard deviation 77±14), AR (91±28), AS (50±17), MS (43±11), controls (52±13) mL/m2; p < 0.0001]. There were no associations between LV volume and BNP. Left atrial (LA) area index varied [MR (18±4cm2/m2), AR (12±2), AS (11±3), MS (19±6), controls (11±2); p < 0.0001], but correlated with plasma BNP concentrations: MR (r=0.42,p=0.02), MS (r=0.86,p < 0.0001), AR (r=0.53,p=0.001), AS (r=0.52, p=0.002). Higher plasma BNP concentrations were associated with increased pulmonary artery pressure and reduced exercise capacity. Despite adverse cardiac remodelling, 81(60%) patients had a BNP concentration within the normal range. In patients with MS BNP was strongly associated with left atrial area index (r=0.86; p < 0.0001) and a BNP level of greater than 2 times the upper limit of normal identified patients who fulfilled guideline criteria for intervention (Area under the curve (AUC) 0.87 [0.74,0.99], p =0.006) and lower exercise capacity (AUC 0.82 [0.67,0.97]; p=0.004). In AR patients significant remodelling could occur whilst BNP remained within the normal range and in general BNP appeared less useful in assessing disease severity. However raised levels of BNP was associated with more severe AR as assessed by left ventricular outflow tract:AR Jet area ratio (r=0.43 p=0.0007). AR patients with an abnormal BNP had signs of early LV dysfunction on exercise with a lower LV longitudinal strain rate post exercise compared to AR patients with a normal BNP (0.68±0.31 vs. 1.06±0.45 1/sec; p=0.02). In MR patients, higher plasma BNP concentrations were associated with larger left atrial area index (r=0.42, p=0.02), higher pulmonary artery pressure (r=0.53, p=0.002) and a lower exercise time (r=-0.60, p=0.0002). BNP was not associated with any marker of left ventricular size or function in MR. These findings suggest that despite significant LV remodelling, plasma BNP concentrations are often normal in patients with VHD. Consequently, plasma BNP concentrations should be interpreted with caution when assessing patients with VHD. However natriuretic peptide levels offer complementary information to the standard assessment of patients with VHD and an unexplained finding of an elevated BNP in an otherwise asymptomatic patient should prompt further investigation.

Le but de cette étude est d’évaluer la faisabilité de l’analyse tomodensitométrique 3D des bioprothèses aortiques pour faciliter leur évaluation morphologique durant le suivi et d’aider la sélection de cas et améliorer la planification d’une procédure valvein-valve. Le challenge était représenté par le rehaussement des feuillets valvulaires, en raison d’images très bruitées. Un angio-scanner synchronisé était réalisé chez des patients porteurs d’une bioprotèses aortique dégénérée avant réintervention (images in-vivo). Différentes méthodes pour la réduction du bruit étaient proposées. La reconstruction tridimensionnelle des bioprothèses était réalisée en utilisant des méthodes de segmentation de régions par "sticks". Après réopération ces méthodes étaient appliquées aux images scanner des bioprothèses explantées (images ex-vivo) et utilisées comme référence. La réduction du bruit obtenue par le filtre stick modifié montrait meilleurs résultats en rapport signal/bruit en comparaison aux filtres de diffusion anisotropique. Toutes les méthodes de segmentation ont permis une reconstruction 3D des feuillets. L’analyse qualitative a montré une bonne concordance entre les images obtenues in-vivo et les altérations des bioprothèses. Les résultats des différentes méthodes étaient comparés par critères volumétriques et discutés. Les bases d'une première approche de visualisation spatio-temporelle d'images TDM 3D+T de la prothèse valvulaire ont été proposés. Elle implique des techniques de rendu volumique et de compensation de mouvement. Son application à la valve native a aussi été envisagée. Les images scanner des bioprothèses aortiques nécessitent un traitement de débruitage et de réduction des artéfacts de façon à permettre le rehaussement des feuillets prothétiques. Les méthodes basées sticks semblent constituer une approche pertinente pour caractériser morphologiquement la dégénérescence des bioprothèses. / The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of CT based 3D analysis of degenerated aortic bioprostheses to make easier their morphological assessment. This could be helpful during regular follow-up and for case selection, improved planning and mapping of valve-in-valve procedure. The challenge was represented by leaflets enhancement because of highly noised CT images. Contrast-enhanced ECG-gated CT scan was performed in patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses before reoperation (in-vivo images). Different methods for noise reduction were tested and proposed. 3D reconstruction of bioprostheses components was achieved using stick based region segmentation methods. After reoperation, segmentation methods were applied to CT images of the explanted prostheses (exvivo images). Noise reduction obtained by improved stick filter showed best results in terms of signal to noise ratio comparing to anisotropic diffusion filters. All segmentation methods applied to the best phase of in-vivo images allowed 3D bioprosthetic leaflets reconstruction. Explanted bioprostheses CT images were also processed and used as reference. Qualitative analysis revealed a good concordance between the in-vivo images and the bioprostheses alterations. Results from different methods were compared by means of volumetric criteria and discussed. A first approach for spatiotemporal visualization of 3D+T images of valve bioprosthesis has been proposed. Volume rendering and motion compensation techniques were applied to visualize different phases of CT data. Native valve was also considered. ECG-gated CT images of aortic bioprostheses need a preprocessing to reduce noise and artifacts in order to enhance prosthetic leaflets. Stick based methods seems to provide an interesting approach for the morphological characterization of degenerated bioprostheses.