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Progress in Biophysics and Molecular... Jan 2021Cardiac hypertrophy, defined as an increase in mass of the heart, is a complex process driven by simultaneous changes in hemodynamics, mechanical stimuli, and hormonal... (Review)
Review
Cardiac hypertrophy, defined as an increase in mass of the heart, is a complex process driven by simultaneous changes in hemodynamics, mechanical stimuli, and hormonal inputs. It occurs not only during pre- and post-natal development but also in adults in response to exercise, pregnancy, and a range of cardiovascular diseases. One of the most exciting recent developments in the field of cardiac biomechanics is the advent of computational models that are able to accurately predict patterns of heart growth in many of these settings, particularly in cases where changes in mechanical loading of the heart play an import role. These emerging models may soon be capable of making patient-specific growth predictions that can be used to guide clinical interventions. Here, we review the history and current state of cardiac growth models and highlight three main limitations of current approaches with regard to future clinical application: their inability to predict the regression of heart growth after removal of a mechanical overload, inability to account for evolving hemodynamics, and inability to incorporate known growth effects of drugs and hormones on heart growth. Next, we outline growth mechanics approaches used in other fields of biomechanics and highlight some potential lessons for cardiac growth modeling. Finally, we propose a multiscale modeling approach for future studies that blends tissue-level growth models with cell-level signaling models to incorporate the effects of hormones in the context of pregnancy-induced heart growth.
Topics: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cardiomegaly; Computer Simulation; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Female; Heart; Hemodynamics; Hormones; Humans; Models, Cardiovascular; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Pregnancy; Regression Analysis; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 32702352
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2020.07.001 -
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface Jun 2010
Topics: Biomechanical Phenomena; Cell Adhesion; Cytoskeleton; Ion Channels; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Protein Conformation
PubMed: 20375041
DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2010.0150.focus -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry Mar 2015Biomechanics is often defined as 'mechanics applied to biology'. Due to the variety and complexity of the behaviour of biological structures and materials, biomechanics... (Review)
Review
Biomechanics is often defined as 'mechanics applied to biology'. Due to the variety and complexity of the behaviour of biological structures and materials, biomechanics is better defined as the development, extension and application of mechanics for a better understanding of physiology and physiopathology and consequently for a better diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury. Different methods for the characterisation of corneal biomechanics are reviewed in detail, including those that are currently commercially available (Ocular Response Analyzer and CorVis ST). The clinical applicability of the parameters provided by these devices are discussed, especially in the fields of glaucoma, detection of ectatic disorders and orthokeratology. Likewise, other methods are also reviewed, such as Brillouin microscopy or dynamic optical coherence tomography and others with potential application to clinical practice but not validated for in vivo measurements, such as ultrasonic elastography. Advantages and disadvantages of all these techniques are described. Finally, the concept of biomechanical modelling is revised as well as the requirements for developing biomechanical models, with special emphasis on finite element modelling.
Topics: Biomechanical Phenomena; Cornea; Corneal Diseases; Elasticity; Humans; Intraocular Pressure
PubMed: 25470213
DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12230 -
Platelets Jul 2018The purpose of this review is to explore the relationship between platelet bioenergetics and biomechanics and how this relationship affects the clinical interpretation... (Review)
Review
The purpose of this review is to explore the relationship between platelet bioenergetics and biomechanics and how this relationship affects the clinical interpretation of platelet function devices. Recent experimental and technological advances highlight platelet bioenergetics and biomechanics as alternative avenues for collecting clinically relevant data. Platelet bioenergetics drive energy production for key biomechanical processes like adhesion, spreading, aggregation, and contraction. Platelet function devices like thromboelastography, thromboelastometry, and aggregometry measure these biomechanical processes. Platelet storage, stroke, sepsis, trauma, or the activity of antiplatelet drugs alters measures of platelet function. However, the specific mechanisms governing these alterations in platelet function and how they relate to platelet bioenergetics are still under investigation.
Topics: Biomechanical Phenomena; Blood Platelets; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Platelet Function Tests; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 29580113
DOI: 10.1080/09537104.2018.1453062 -
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences Feb 2016The study of mechanobiology is now widespread. The impact of cell and tissue mechanics on cellular responses is well appreciated. However, knowledge of the impact of... (Review)
Review
The study of mechanobiology is now widespread. The impact of cell and tissue mechanics on cellular responses is well appreciated. However, knowledge of the impact of cell and tissue mechanics on pharmacological responsiveness, and its application to drug screening and mechanistic investigations, have been very limited in scope. We emphasize the need for a heightened awareness of the important bidirectional influence of drugs and biomechanics in all living systems. We propose that the term 'mechanopharmacology' be applied to approaches that employ in vitro systems, biomechanically appropriate to the relevant (patho)physiology, to identify new drugs and drug targets. This article describes the models and techniques that are being developed to transform drug screening and evaluation, ranging from a 2D environment to the dynamic 3D environment of the target expressed in the disease of interest.
Topics: Biomechanical Phenomena; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Compressive Strength; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Humans; Pharmacology; Shear Strength; Tensile Strength
PubMed: 26651416
DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2015.10.005 -
Molecular Biology of the Cell Jan 2016Flowing blood exerts a frictional force, fluid shear stress (FSS), on the endothelial cells that line the blood and lymphatic vessels. The magnitude, pulsatility, and... (Review)
Review
Flowing blood exerts a frictional force, fluid shear stress (FSS), on the endothelial cells that line the blood and lymphatic vessels. The magnitude, pulsatility, and directional characteristics of FSS are constantly sensed by the endothelium. Sustained increases or decreases in FSS induce vessel remodeling to maintain proper perfusion of tissue. In this review, we discuss these mechanisms and their relevance to physiology and disease, and propose a model for how information from different mechanosensors might be integrated to govern remodeling.
Topics: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Endothelial Cells; Humans; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Models, Biological; Stress, Mechanical; Vascular Remodeling
PubMed: 26715421
DOI: 10.1091/mbc.E14-11-1522 -
Journal of Neural Transmission (Vienna,... Apr 2020Visceral pain is the cardinal symptom of functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the leading cause of patients' visit... (Review)
Review
Visceral pain is the cardinal symptom of functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the leading cause of patients' visit to gastroenterologists. IBS-related visceral pain usually arises from the distal colon and rectum (colorectum), an intraluminal environment that differs greatly from environment outside the body in chemical, biological, thermal, and mechanical conditions. Accordingly, visceral pain is different from cutaneous pain in several key psychophysical characteristics, which likely underlies the unsatisfactory management of visceral pain by drugs developed for other types of pain. Colorectal visceral pain is usually elicited from mechanical distension/stretch, rather than from heating, cutting, pinching, or piercing that usually evoke pain from the skin. Thus, mechanotransduction, i.e., the encoding of colorectal mechanical stimuli by sensory afferents, is crucial to the underlying mechanisms of GI-related visceral pain. This review will focus on colorectal mechanotransduction, the process of converting colorectal mechanical stimuli into trains of action potentials by the sensory afferents to inform the central nervous system (CNS). We will summarize neurophysiological studies on afferent encoding of colorectal mechanical stimuli, highlight recent advances in our understanding of colorectal biomechanics that plays critical roles in mechanotransduction, and review studies on mechano-sensitive ion channels in colorectal afferents. This review calls for focused attention on targeting colorectal mechanotransduction as a new strategy for managing visceral pain, which can also have an added benefit of limited CNS side effects, because mechanotransduction arises from peripheral organs.
Topics: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Colon; Humans; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Rectum; Visceral Pain
PubMed: 31598778
DOI: 10.1007/s00702-019-02088-8 -
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage May 2022Osteoarthritis (OA) has a complex, heterogeneous and only partly understood etiology. There is a definite role of joint cartilage pathomechanics in originating and... (Review)
Review
Osteoarthritis (OA) has a complex, heterogeneous and only partly understood etiology. There is a definite role of joint cartilage pathomechanics in originating and progressing of the disease. Although it is still not identified precisely enough to design or select targeted treatments, the progress of this year's research demonstrates that this goal became much closer. On multiple scales - tissue, joint and whole body - an increasing number of studies were done, with impressive results. (1) Technology based instrument innovations, especially when combined with machine learning models, have broadened the applicability of biomechanics. (2) Combinations with imaging make biomechanics much more precise & personalized. (3) The combination of Musculoskeletal & Finite Element Models yield valid personalized cartilage loads. (4) Mechanical outcomes are becoming increasingly meaningful to inform and evaluate treatments, including predictive power from biomechanical models. Since most recent advancements in the field of biomechanics in OA are at the level of a proof op principle, future research should not only continue on this successful path of innovation, but also aim to develop clinical workflows that would facilitate including precision biomechanics in large scale studies. Eventually this will yield clinical tools for decision making and a rationale for new therapies in OA.
Topics: Biomechanical Phenomena; Cartilage, Articular; Humans; Machine Learning; Osteoarthritis
PubMed: 35081453
DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2021.12.012 -
The Bone & Joint Journal Jun 2016The acetabular labrum is a soft-tissue structure which lines the acetabular rim of the hip joint. Its role in hip joint biomechanics and joint health has been of... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
The acetabular labrum is a soft-tissue structure which lines the acetabular rim of the hip joint. Its role in hip joint biomechanics and joint health has been of particular interest over the past decade. In normal hip joint biomechanics, the labrum is crucial in retaining a layer of pressurised intra-articular fluid for joint lubrication and load support/distribution. Its seal around the femoral head is further regarded as a contributing to hip stability through its suction effect. The labrum itself is also important in increasing contact area thereby reducing contact stress. Given the labrum's role in normal hip joint biomechanics, surgical techniques for managing labral damage are continuously evolving as our understanding of its anatomy and function continue to progress. The current paper aims to review the anatomy and biomechanical function of the labrum and how they are affected by differing surgical techniques.
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
The acetabular labrum plays a critical role in hip function and maintaining and restoring its function during surgical intervention remain an essential goal. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:730-5.
Topics: Acetabulum; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cartilage, Articular; Hip Joint; Humans
PubMed: 27235512
DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.98B6.37099 -
Current Eye Research Jan 2015Biomechanics is the study of the relationship between forces and function in living organisms and is thought to play a critical role in a significant number of... (Review)
Review
Biomechanics is the study of the relationship between forces and function in living organisms and is thought to play a critical role in a significant number of ophthalmic disorders. This is not surprising, as the eye is a pressure vessel that requires a delicate balance of forces to maintain its homeostasis. Over the past few decades, basic science research in ophthalmology mostly confirmed that ocular biomechanics could explain in part the mechanisms involved in almost all major ophthalmic disorders such as optic nerve head neuropathies, angle closure, ametropia, presbyopia, cataract, corneal pathologies, retinal detachment and macular degeneration. Translational biomechanics in ophthalmology, however, is still in its infancy. It is believed that its use could make significant advances in diagnosis and treatment. Several translational biomechanics strategies are already emerging, such as corneal stiffening for the treatment of keratoconus, and more are likely to follow. This review aims to cultivate the idea that biomechanics plays a major role in ophthalmology and that the clinical translation, lead by collaborative teams of clinicians and biomedical engineers, will benefit our patients. Specifically, recent advances and future prospects in corneal, iris, trabecular meshwork, crystalline lens, scleral and lamina cribrosa biomechanics are discussed.
Topics: Animals; Anterior Eye Segment; Biomechanical Phenomena; Glaucoma; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Optic Disk; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 24832392
DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2014.914543