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Duan X, Liu R, Xi Y, Tian Z. The mechanisms of exercise improving cardiovascular function by stimulating Piezo1 and TRP ion channels: a systemic review. Mol Cell Biochem 2024:10.1007/s11010-024-05000-5. [PMID: 38625513 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-024-05000-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Mechanosensitive ion channels are widely distributed in the heart, lung, bladder and other tissues, and plays an important role in exercise-induced cardiovascular function promotion. By reviewing the PubMed databases, the results were summarized using the terms "Exercise/Sport", "Piezo1", "Transient receptor potential (TRP)" and "Cardiovascular" as the keywords, 124-related papers screened were sorted and reviewed. The results showed that: (1) Piezo1 and TRP channels play an important role in regulating blood pressure and the development of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cardiac fibrosis; (2) Exercise promotes cardiac health, inhibits the development of pathological heart to heart failure, regulating the changes in the characterization of Piezo1 and TRP channels; (3) Piezo1 activates downstream signaling pathways with very broad pathways, such as AKT/eNOS, NF-κB, p38MAPK and HIPPO-YAP signaling pathways. Piezo1 and Irisin regulate nuclear localization of YAP and are hypothesized to act synergistically to regulate tissue mechanical properties of the cardiovascular system and (4) The cardioprotective effects of exercise through the TRP family are mostly accomplished through Ca2+ and involve many signaling pathways. TRP channels exert their important cardioprotective effects by reducing the TRPC3-Nox2 complex and mediating Irisin-induced Ca2+ influx through TRPV4. It is proposed that exercise stimulates the mechanosensitive cation channel Piezo1 and TRP channels, which exerts cardioprotective effects. The activation of Piezo1 and TRP channels and their downstream targets to exert cardioprotective function by exercise may provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and the rehabilitation of clinical patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyan Duan
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Renhan Liu
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Yue Xi
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China.
| | - Zhenjun Tian
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
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2
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Wülfers EM, Moss R, Lehrmann H, Arentz T, Westermann D, Seemann G, Odening KE, Steinfurt J. Whole-heart computational modelling provides further mechanistic insights into ST-elevation in Brugada syndrome. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY. HEART & VASCULATURE 2024; 51:101373. [PMID: 38464963 PMCID: PMC10924145 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2024.101373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Brugada syndrome (BrS) is characterized by dynamic ST-elevations in right precordial leads and increased risk of ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. As the mechanism underlying ST-elevation and malignant arrhythmias is controversial computational modeling can aid in exploring the disease mechanism. Thus we aim to test the main competing hypotheses ('delayed depolarization' vs. 'early repolarization') of BrS in a whole-heart computational model. Methods In a 3D whole-heart computational model, delayed epicardial RVOT activation with local conduction delay was simulated by reducing conductivity in the epicardial RVOT. Early repolarization was simulated by instead increasing the transient outward potassium current (Ito) in the same region. Additionally, a reduction in the fast sodium current (INa) was incorporated in both models. Results Delayed depolarization with local conduction delay in the computational model resulted in coved-type ST-elevation with negative T-waves in the precordial surface ECG leads. 'Saddleback'-shaped ST-elevation was obtained with reduced substrate extent or thickness. Increased Ito simulations showed early repolarization in the RVOT with a descending but not coved-type ST-elevation. Reduced INa did not show a significant effect on ECG morphology. Conclusions In this whole-heart BrS computational model of both major hypotheses, realistic coved-type ECG resulted only from delayed epicardial RVOT depolarization with local conduction delay but not early repolarizing ion channel modifications. These simulations provide further support for the depolarization hypothesis as electrophysiological mechanism underlying BrS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eike M Wülfers
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robin Moss
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heiko Lehrmann
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Arentz
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Westermann
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gunnar Seemann
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katja E Odening
- Translational Cardiology, Department of Cardiology and Institute of Physiology, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Steinfurt
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Forouzandehmehr M, Paci M, Hyttinen J, Koivumäki JT. In silico study of the mechanisms of hypoxia and contractile dysfunction during ischemia and reperfusion of hiPSC cardiomyocytes. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050365. [PMID: 38516812 PMCID: PMC11073514 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Interconnected mechanisms of ischemia and reperfusion (IR) has increased the interest in IR in vitro experiments using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). We developed a whole-cell computational model of hiPSC-CMs including the electromechanics, a metabolite-sensitive sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and an oxygen dynamics formulation to investigate IR mechanisms. Moreover, we simulated the effect and action mechanism of levosimendan, which recently showed promising anti-arrhythmic effects in hiPSC-CMs in hypoxia. The model was validated using hiPSC-CM and in vitro animal data. The role of SERCA in causing relaxation dysfunction in IR was anticipated to be comparable to its function in sepsis-induced heart failure. Drug simulations showed that levosimendan counteracts the relaxation dysfunction by utilizing a particular Ca2+-sensitizing mechanism involving Ca2+-bound troponin C and Ca2+ flux to the myofilament, rather than inhibiting SERCA phosphorylation. The model demonstrates extensive characterization and promise for drug development, making it suitable for evaluating IR therapy strategies based on the changing levels of cardiac metabolites, oxygen and molecular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michelangelo Paci
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering ‘Guglielmo Marconi’, University of Bologna, 47522 Cesena, Italy
| | - Jari Hyttinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jussi T. Koivumäki
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
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Abrasheva VO, Kovalenko SG, Slotvitsky M, Romanova SА, Aitova AA, Frolova S, Tsvelaya V, Syunyaev RA. Human sodium current voltage-dependence at physiological temperature measured by coupling a patch-clamp experiment to a mathematical model. J Physiol 2024; 602:633-661. [PMID: 38345560 DOI: 10.1113/jp285162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated Na+ channels are crucial to action potential propagation in excitable tissues. Because of the high amplitude and rapid activation of the Na+ current, voltage-clamp measurements are very challenging and are usually performed at room temperature. In this study, we measured Na+ current voltage-dependence in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes at physiological temperature. While the apparent activation and inactivation curves, measured as the dependence of current amplitude on voltage, fall within the range reported in previous studies, we identified a systematic error in our measurements. This error is caused by the deviation of the membrane potential from the command potential of the amplifier. We demonstrate that it is possible to account for this artifact using computer simulation of the patch-clamp experiment. We obtained surprising results through patch-clamp model optimization: a half-activation of -11.5 mV and a half-inactivation of -87 mV. Although the half-activation deviates from previous research, we demonstrate that this estimate reproduces the conduction velocity dependence on extracellular potassium concentration. KEY POINTS: Voltage-gated Na+ currents play a crucial role in excitable tissues including neurons, cardiac and skeletal muscle. Measurement of Na+ current is challenging because of its high amplitude and rapid kinetics, especially at physiological temperature. We have used the patch-clamp technique to measure human Na+ current voltage-dependence in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. The patch-clamp data were processed by optimization of the model accounting for voltage-clamp experiment artifacts, revealing a large difference between apparent parameters of Na+ current and the results of the optimization. We conclude that actual Na+ current activation is extremely depolarized in comparison to previous studies. The new Na+ current model provides a better understanding of action potential propagation; we demonstrate that it explains propagation in hyperkalaemic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandaara G Kovalenko
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- ITMO University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mihail Slotvitsky
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- ITMO University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Serafima А Romanova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleria A Aitova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- ITMO University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sheida Frolova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeria Tsvelaya
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- ITMO University, St Petersburg, Russia
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5
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Gerach T, Loewe A. Differential effects of mechano-electric feedback mechanisms on whole-heart activation, repolarization, and tension. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38185911 DOI: 10.1113/jp285022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The human heart is subject to highly variable amounts of strain during day-to-day activities and needs to adapt to a wide range of physiological demands. This adaptation is driven by an autoregulatory loop that includes both electrical and the mechanical components. In particular, mechanical forces are known to feed back into the cardiac electrophysiology system, which can result in pro- and anti-arrhythmic effects. Despite the widespread use of computational modelling and simulation for cardiac electrophysiology research, the majority of in silico experiments ignore this mechano-electric feedback entirely due to the high computational cost associated with solving cardiac mechanics. In this study, we therefore use an electromechanically coupled whole-heart model to investigate the differential and combined effects of electromechanical feedback mechanisms with a focus on their physiological relevance during sinus rhythm. In particular, we consider troponin-bound calcium, the effect of deformation on the tissue diffusion tensor, and stretch-activated channels. We found that activation of the myocardium was only significantly affected when including deformation into the diffusion term of the monodomain equation. Repolarization, on the other hand, was influenced by both troponin-bound calcium and stretch-activated channels and resulted in steeper repolarization gradients in the atria. The latter also caused afterdepolarizations in the atria. Due to its central role for tension development, calcium bound to troponin affected stroke volume and pressure. In conclusion, we found that mechano-electric feedback changes activation and repolarization patterns throughout the heart during sinus rhythm and lead to a markedly more heterogeneous electrophysiological substrate. KEY POINTS: The electrophysiological and mechanical function of the heart are tightly interrelated by excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) in the forward direction and mechano-electric feedback (MEF) in the reverse direction. While ECC is considered in many state-of-the-art computational models of cardiac electromechanics, less is known about the effect of different MEF mechanisms. Accounting for calcium bound to troponin increases stroke volume and delays repolarization. Geometry-mediated MEF leads to more heterogeneous activation and repolarization with steeper gradients. Both effects combine in an additive way. Non-selective stretch-activated channels as an additional MEF mechanism lead to heterogeneous diastolic transmembrane voltage, higher developed tension and delayed repolarization or afterdepolarizations in highly stretched parts of the atria. The differential and combined effects of these three MEF mechanisms during sinus rhythm activation in a human four-chamber heart model may have implications for arrhythmogenesis, both in terms of substrate (repolarization gradients) and triggers (ectopy).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Gerach
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Axel Loewe
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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Aguado-Sierra J, Brigham R, Baron AK, Gomez PD, Houzeaux G, Guerra JM, Carreras F, Filgueiras-Rama D, Vazquez M, Iaizzo PA, Iles TL, Butakoff C. HPC Framework for Performing in Silico Trials Using a 3D Virtual Human Cardiac Population as Means to Assess Drug-Induced Arrhythmic Risk. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2716:307-334. [PMID: 37702946 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3449-3_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Following the 3 R's principles of animal research-replacement, reduction, and refinement-a high-performance computational framework was produced to generate a platform to perform human cardiac in-silico clinical trials as means to assess the pro-arrhythmic risk after the administrations of one or combination of two potentially arrhythmic drugs. The drugs assessed in this study were hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The framework employs electrophysiology simulations on high-resolution three-dimensional, biventricular human heart anatomies including phenotypic variabilities, so as to determine if differential QT-prolongation responds to drugs as observed clinically. These simulations also reproduce sex-specific ionic channel characteristics. The derived changes in the pseudo-electrocardiograms, calcium concentrations, as well as activation patterns within 3D geometries were evaluated for signs of induced arrhythmia. The virtual subjects could be evaluated at two different cycle lengths: at a normal heart rate and at a heart rate associated with stress as means to analyze the proarrhythmic risks after the administrations of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. Additionally, a series of experiments performed on reanimated swine hearts utilizing Visible Heart® methodologies in a four-chamber working heart model were performed to verify the arrhythmic behaviors observed in the in silico trials.The obtained results indicated similar pro-arrhythmic risk assessments within the virtual population as compared to published clinical trials (21% clinical risk vs 21.8% in silico trial risk). Evidence of transmurally heterogeneous action potential prolongations after providing a large dose of hydroxychloroquine was found as the observed mechanisms for elicited arrhythmias, both in the in vitro and the in silico models. The proposed workflow for in silico clinical drug cardiotoxicity trials allows for reproducing the complex behavior of cardiac electrophysiology in a varied population, in a matter of a few days as compared to the months or years it requires for most in vivo human clinical trials. Importantly, our results provided evidence of the common phenotype variants that produce distinct drug-induced arrhythmogenic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Aguado-Sierra
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain.
- Elem Biotech S.L., Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Renee Brigham
- Visible Heart® Laboratories, Department of Surgery and the Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jose M Guerra
- Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERCV, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Carreras
- Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERCV, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Filgueiras-Rama
- Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), CIBERCV, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariano Vazquez
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain
- Elem Biotech S.L., Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paul A Iaizzo
- Visible Heart® Laboratories, Department of Surgery and the Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tinen L Iles
- Department of Surgery, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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7
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Zhu J, Li M, Liu R. Myocardial ischemia simulation based on a multi-scale heart electrophysiology model. Technol Health Care 2024; 32:27-38. [PMID: 38759037 DOI: 10.3233/thc-248003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myocardial ischemia, caused by insufficient myocardial blood supply, is a leading cause of human death worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize the prevention and treatment of this condition. Mathematical modeling is a powerful technique for studying heart diseases. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to discuss the quantitative relationship between extracellular potassium concentration and the degree of myocardial ischemia directly related to it. METHODS A human cardiac electrophysiological multiscale model was developed to calculate action potentials of all cells simultaneously, enhancing efficiency over traditional reaction-diffusion models. RESULTS Contrary to the commonly held view that myocardial ischemia is caused by an increase in extracellular potassium concentration, our simulation results indicate that level 1 ischemia is associated with a decrease in extracellular potassium concentration. CONCLUSION This unusual finding provides a new perspective on the mechanisms underlying myocardial ischemia and has the potential to lead to the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies.
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8
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Bukhari HA, Sánchez C, Laguna P, Potse M, Pueyo E. Differences in ventricular wall composition may explain inter-patient variability in the ECG response to variations in serum potassium and calcium. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1060919. [PMID: 37885805 PMCID: PMC10598848 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1060919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Chronic kidney disease patients have a decreased ability to maintain normal electrolyte concentrations in their blood, which increases the risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Non-invasive monitoring of serum potassium and calcium concentration, [K+] and [Ca2+], can help to prevent arrhythmias in these patients. Electrocardiogram (ECG) markers that significantly correlate with [K+] and [Ca2+] have been proposed, but these relations are highly variable between patients. We hypothesized that inter-individual differences in cell type distribution across the ventricular wall can help to explain this variability. Methods: A population of human heart-torso models were built with different proportions of endocardial, midmyocardial and epicardial cells. Propagation of ventricular electrical activity was described by a reaction-diffusion model, with modified Ten Tusscher-Panfilov dynamics. [K+] and [Ca2+] were varied individually and in combination. Twelve-lead ECGs were simulated and the width, amplitude and morphological variability of T waves and QRS complexes were quantified. Results were compared to measurements from 29 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Results: Both simulations and patients data showed that most of the analyzed T wave and QRS complex markers correlated strongly with [K+] (absolute median Pearson correlation coefficients, r, ranging from 0.68 to 0.98) and [Ca2+] (ranging from 0.70 to 0.98). The same sign and similar magnitude of median r was observed in the simulations and the patients. Different cell type distributions in the ventricular wall led to variability in ECG markers that was accentuated at high [K+] and low [Ca2+], in agreement with the larger variability between patients measured at the onset of HD. The simulated ECG variability explained part of the measured inter-patient variability. Conclusion: Changes in ECG markers were similarly related to [K+] and [Ca2+] variations in our models and in the ESRD patients. The high inter-patient ECG variability may be explained by variations in cell type distribution across the ventricular wall, with high sensitivity to variations in the proportion of epicardial cells. Significance: Differences in ventricular wall composition help to explain inter-patient variability in ECG response to [K+] and [Ca2+]. This finding can be used to improve serum electrolyte monitoring in ESRD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassaan A. Bukhari
- BSICoS Group, I3A Institute, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Zaragoza, Spain
- Carmen Team, Inria Bordeaux—Sud-Ouest, Talence, France
- University of Bordeaux, IMB, UMR 5251, Talence, France
| | - Carlos Sánchez
- BSICoS Group, I3A Institute, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pablo Laguna
- BSICoS Group, I3A Institute, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Mark Potse
- Carmen Team, Inria Bordeaux—Sud-Ouest, Talence, France
- University of Bordeaux, IMB, UMR 5251, Talence, France
- IHU Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Fondation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
| | - Esther Pueyo
- BSICoS Group, I3A Institute, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Zaragoza, Spain
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Liposome-Encapsulated Hemoglobin Vesicle Improves Persistent Anti-arrhythmogenesis through Improving Myocardial Electrical Remodeling and Modulating Cardiac Autonomic Activity in a Hemorrhagic Shock-Induced Rat Heart Model. Curr Med Sci 2023; 43:232-245. [PMID: 36890335 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-023-2706-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Shock heart syndrome (SHS) is associated with lethal arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, VT/VF). We investigated whether liposome-encapsulated human hemoglobin vesicles (HbVs) has comparable persistent efficacy to washed red blood cells (wRBCs) for improving arrhythmogenesis in the subacute to chronic phase of SHS. METHODS Optical mapping analysis (OMP), electrophysiological study (EPS), and pathological examinations were performed on blood samples from Sprague-Dawley rats following induction of hemorrhagic shock. After hemorrhagic shock, the rats were immediately resuscitated by transfusing 5% albumin (ALB), HbV, or wRBCs. All rats survived for 1 week. OMP and EPS were performed on Langendorff-perfused hearts. Spontaneous arrhythmias and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated using awake 24-h telemetry, cardiac function by echocardiography, and pathological examination of Connexin43. RESULTS OMP showed significantly impaired action potential duration dispersion (APDd) in the left ventricle (LV) in the ALB group whereas APDd was substantially preserved in the HbV and wRBCs groups. Sustained VT/VF was easily provoked by EPS in the ALB group. No VT/VF was induced in the HbV and wRBCs groups. HRV, spontaneous arrhythmias, and cardiac function were preserved in the HbV and wRBCs groups. Pathology showed myocardial cell damage and Connexin43 degradation in the ALB group, all of which were attenuated in the HbV and wRBCs groups. CONCLUSION LV remodeling after hemorrhagic shock caused VT/VF in the presence of impaired APDd. Similar to wRBCs, HbV persistently prevented VT/VF by inhibiting persistent electrical remodeling, preserving myocardial structures, and ameliorating arrhythmogenic modifying factors in the subacute to chronic phase of hemorrhagic shock-induced SHS.
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Soepriatna AH, Navarrete-Welton A, Kim TY, Daley MC, Bronk P, Kofron CM, Mende U, Coulombe KLK, Choi BR. Action potential metrics and automated data analysis pipeline for cardiotoxicity testing using optically mapped hiPSC-derived 3D cardiac microtissues. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280406. [PMID: 36745602 PMCID: PMC9901774 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiac microtissues provide a unique opportunity for cardiotoxic assessment of pharmaceutical and environmental compounds. Here, we developed a series of automated data processing algorithms to assess changes in action potential (AP) properties for cardiotoxicity testing in 3D engineered cardiac microtissues generated from hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Purified hiPSC-CMs were mixed with 5-25% human cardiac fibroblasts (hCFs) under scaffold-free conditions and allowed to self-assemble into 3D spherical microtissues in 35-microwell agarose gels. Optical mapping was performed to quantify electrophysiological changes. To increase throughput, AP traces from 4x4 cardiac microtissues were simultaneously acquired with a voltage sensitive dye and a CMOS camera. Individual microtissues showing APs were identified using automated thresholding after Fourier transforming traces. An asymmetric least squares method was used to correct non-uniform background and baseline drift, and the fluorescence was normalized (ΔF/F0). Bilateral filtering was applied to preserve the sharpness of the AP upstroke. AP shape changes under selective ion channel block were characterized using AP metrics including stimulation delay, rise time of AP upstroke, APD30, APD50, APD80, APDmxr (maximum rate change of repolarization), and AP triangulation (APDtri = APDmxr-APD50). We also characterized changes in AP metrics under various ion channel block conditions with multi-class logistic regression and feature extraction using principal component analysis of human AP computer simulations. Simulation results were validated experimentally with selective pharmacological ion channel blockers. In conclusion, this simple and robust automated data analysis pipeline for evaluating key AP metrics provides an excellent in vitro cardiotoxicity testing platform for a wide range of environmental and pharmaceutical compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvin H. Soepriatna
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Allison Navarrete-Welton
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Tae Yun Kim
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Mark C. Daley
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Peter Bronk
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Celinda M. Kofron
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Ulrike Mende
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Kareen L. K. Coulombe
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Bum-Rak Choi
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Gerach T, Schuler S, Wachter A, Loewe A. The Impact of Standard Ablation Strategies for Atrial Fibrillation on Cardiovascular Performance in a Four-Chamber Heart Model. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2023; 14:296-314. [PMID: 36652165 PMCID: PMC10102113 DOI: 10.1007/s13239-022-00651-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Atrial fibrillation is one of the most frequent cardiac arrhythmias in the industrialized world and ablation therapy is the method of choice for many patients. However, ablation scars alter the electrophysiological activation and the mechanical behavior of the affected atria. Different ablation strategies with the aim to terminate atrial fibrillation and prevent its recurrence exist but their impact on the performance of the heart is often neglected. METHODS In this work, we present a simulation study analyzing five commonly used ablation scar patterns and their combinations in the left atrium regarding their impact on the pumping function of the heart using an electromechanical whole-heart model. We analyzed how the altered atrial activation and increased stiffness due to the ablation scars affect atrial as well as ventricular contraction and relaxation. RESULTS We found that systolic and diastolic function of the left atrium is impaired by ablation scars and that the reduction of atrial stroke volume of up to 11.43% depends linearly on the amount of inactivated tissue. Consequently, the end-diastolic volume of the left ventricle, and thus stroke volume, was reduced by up to 1.4 and 1.8%, respectively. During ventricular systole, left atrial pressure was increased by up to 20% due to changes in the atrial activation sequence and the stiffening of scar tissue. CONCLUSION This study provides biomechanical evidence that atrial ablation has acute effects not only on atrial contraction but also on ventricular performance. Therefore, the position and extent of ablation scars is not only important for the termination of arrhythmias but is also determining long-term pumping efficiency. If confirmed in larger cohorts, these results have the potential to help tailoring ablation strategies towards minimal global cardiovascular impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Gerach
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Steffen Schuler
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Andreas Wachter
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Axel Loewe
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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12
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Gonzalez-Martin P, Sacco F, Butakoff C, Doste R, Bederian C, Gutierrez Espinosa de los Monteros LK, Houzeaux G, Iaizzo PA, Iles TL, Vazquez M, Aguado-Sierra J. Ventricular anatomical complexity and sex differences impact predictions from electrophysiological computational models. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0263639. [PMID: 36780442 PMCID: PMC9925004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to analyze the influence of sex hormones and anatomical details (trabeculations and false tendons) on the electrophysiology of healthy human hearts. Additionally, sex- and anatomy-dependent effects of ventricular tachycardia (VT) inducibility are presented. To this end, four anatomically normal, human, biventricular geometries (two male, two female), with identifiable trabeculations, were obtained from high-resolution, ex-vivo MRI and represented by detailed and smoothed geometrical models (with and without the trabeculations). Additionally one model was augmented by a scar. The electrophysiology finite element model (FEM) simulations were carried out, using O'Hara-Rudy human myocyte model with sex phenotypes of Yang and Clancy. A systematic comparison between detailed vs smooth anatomies, male vs female normal hearts was carried out. The heart with a myocardial infarction was subjected to a programmed stimulus protocol to identify the effects of sex and anatomical detail on ventricular tachycardia inducibility. All female hearts presented QT-interval prolongation however the prolongation interval in comparison to the male phenotypes was anatomy-dependent and was not correlated to the size of the heart. Detailed geometries showed QRS fractionation and increased T-wave magnitude in comparison to the corresponding smoothed geometries. A variety of sustained VTs were obtained in the detailed and smoothed male geometries at different pacing locations, which provide evidence of the geometry-dependent differences regarding the prediction of the locations of reentry channels. In the female phenotype, sustained VTs were induced in both detailed and smooth geometries with RV apex pacing, however no consistent reentry channels were identified. Anatomical and physiological cardiac features play an important role defining risk in cardiac disease. These are often excluded from cardiac electrophysiology simulations. The assumption that the cardiac endocardium is smooth may produce inaccurate predictions towards the location of reentry channels in in-silico tachycardia inducibility studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Federica Sacco
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain
- Physense, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ruben Doste
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Bederian
- Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | | | - Paul A. Iaizzo
- Visible Heart Laboratories, Department of Surgery and the Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Tinen L. Iles
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Mariano Vazquez
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain
- ELEM Biotech S.L., Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Ferrero JM, Gonzalez-Ascaso A, Matas JFR. The mechanisms of potassium loss in acute myocardial ischemia: New insights from computational simulations. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1074160. [PMID: 36923288 PMCID: PMC10009276 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1074160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myocardial ischemia induces hyperkalemia (accumulation of extracellular potassium), a major perpetrator of lethal reentrant ventricular arrhythmias. Despite considerable experimental efforts to explain this pathology in the last decades, the intimate mechanisms behind hyperkalemia remain partially unknown. In order to investigate these mechanisms, we developed a novel computational model of acute myocardial ischemia which couples a) an electrophysiologically detailed human cardiomyocyte model that incorporates modifications to account for ischemia-induced changes in transmembrane currents, with b) a model of cardiac tissue and extracellular K + transport. The resulting model is able to reproduce and explain the triphasic time course of extracellular K + concentration within the ischemic zone, with values of [ K + ] o close to 14 mmol/L in the central ischemic zone after 30 min. In addition, the formation of a [ K + ] o border zone of approximately 1.2 cm 15 min after the onset of ischemia is predicted by the model. Our results indicate that the primary rising phase of [ K + ] o is mainly due to the imbalance between K + efflux, that increases slightly, and K + influx, that follows a reduction of the NaK pump activity by more than 50%. The onset of the plateau phase is caused by the appearance of electrical alternans (a novel mechanism identified by the model), which cause an abrupt reduction in the K + efflux. After the plateau, the secondary rising phase of [ K + ] o is caused by a subsequent imbalance between the K + influx, which continues to decrease slowly, and the K + efflux, which remains almost constant. Further, the study shows that the modulation of these mechanisms by the electrotonic coupling is the main responsible for the formation of the ischemic border zone in tissue, with K + transport playing only a minor role. Finally, the results of the model indicate that the injury current established between the healthy and the altered tissue is not sufficient to depolarize non-ischemic cells within the healthy tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Ferrero
- Centro de Investigacion e Innovacion en Bioingenieria, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Gonzalez-Ascaso
- Centro de Investigacion e Innovacion en Bioingenieria, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Jose F Rodriguez Matas
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
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14
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Amsaleg A, Sánchez J, Mikut R, Loewe A. Characterization of the pace-and-drive capacity of the human sinoatrial node: A 3D in silico study. Biophys J 2022; 121:4247-4259. [PMID: 36262044 PMCID: PMC9703096 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The sinoatrial node (SAN) is a complex structure that spontaneously depolarizes rhythmically ("pacing") and excites the surrounding non-automatic cardiac cells ("drive") to initiate each heart beat. However, the mechanisms by which the SAN cells can activate the large and hyperpolarized surrounding cardiac tissue are incompletely understood. Experimental studies demonstrated the presence of an insulating border that separates the SAN from the hyperpolarizing influence of the surrounding myocardium, except at a discrete number of sinoatrial exit pathways (SEPs). We propose a highly detailed 3D model of the human SAN, including 3D SEPs to study the requirements for successful electrical activation of the primary pacemaking structure of the human heart. A total of 788 simulations investigate the ability of the SAN to pace and drive with different heterogeneous characteristics of the nodal tissue (gradient and mosaic models) and myocyte orientation. A sigmoidal distribution of the tissue conductivity combined with a mosaic model of SAN and atrial cells in the SEP was able to drive the right atrium (RA) at varying rates induced by gradual If block. Additionally, we investigated the influence of the SEPs by varying their number, length, and width. SEPs created a transition zone of transmembrane voltage and ionic currents to enable successful pace and drive. Unsuccessful simulations showed a hyperpolarized transmembrane voltage (-66 mV), which blocked the L-type channels and attenuated the sodium-calcium exchanger. The fiber direction influenced the SEPs that preferentially activated the crista terminalis (CT). The location of the leading pacemaker site (LPS) shifted toward the SEP-free areas. LPSs were located closer to the SEP-free areas (3.46 ± 1.42 mm), where the hyperpolarizing influence of the CT was reduced, compared with a larger distance from the LPS to the areas where SEPs were located (7.17± 0.98 mm). This study identified the geometrical and electrophysiological aspects of the 3D SAN-SEP-CT structure required for successful pace and drive in silico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Amsaleg
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jorge Sánchez
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ralf Mikut
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Axel Loewe
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany.
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15
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Sánchez J, Loewe A. A Review of Healthy and Fibrotic Myocardium Microstructure Modeling and Corresponding Intracardiac Electrograms. Front Physiol 2022; 13:908069. [PMID: 35620600 PMCID: PMC9127661 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.908069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational simulations of cardiac electrophysiology provide detailed information on the depolarization phenomena at different spatial and temporal scales. With the development of new hardware and software, in silico experiments have gained more importance in cardiac electrophysiology research. For plane waves in healthy tissue, in vivo and in silico electrograms at the surface of the tissue demonstrate symmetric morphology and high peak-to-peak amplitude. Simulations provided insight into the factors that alter the morphology and amplitude of the electrograms. The situation is more complex in remodeled tissue with fibrotic infiltrations. Clinically, different changes including fractionation of the signal, extended duration and reduced amplitude have been described. In silico, numerous approaches have been proposed to represent the pathological changes on different spatial and functional scales. Different modeling approaches can reproduce distinct subsets of the clinically observed electrogram phenomena. This review provides an overview of how different modeling approaches to incorporate fibrotic and structural remodeling affect the electrogram and highlights open challenges to be addressed in future research.
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16
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Liang C, Li Q, Wang K, Du Y, Wang W, Zhang H. Mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmias elicited by coexistence of multiple electrophysiological remodeling in ischemia: A simulation study. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009388. [PMID: 35476614 PMCID: PMC9045648 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Myocardial ischemia, injury and infarction (MI) are the three stages of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In the past two decades, a great number of studies focused on myocardial ischemia and MI individually, and showed that the occurrence of reentrant arrhythmias is often associated with myocardial ischemia or MI. However, arrhythmogenic mechanisms in the tissue with various degrees of remodeling in the ischemic heart have not been fully understood. In this study, biophysical detailed single-cell models of ischemia 1a, 1b, and MI were developed to mimic the electrophysiological remodeling at different stages of ACS. 2D tissue models with different distributions of ischemia and MI areas were constructed to investigate the mechanisms of the initiation of reentrant waves during the progression of ischemia. Simulation results in 2D tissues showed that the vulnerable windows (VWs) in simultaneous presence of multiple ischemic conditions were associated with the dynamics of wave propagation in the tissues with each single pathological condition. In the tissue with multiple pathological conditions, reentrant waves were mainly induced by two different mechanisms: one is the heterogeneity along the excitation wavefront, especially the abrupt variation in conduction velocity (CV) across the border of ischemia 1b and MI, and the other is the decreased safe factor (SF) for conduction at the edge of the tissue in MI region which is attributed to the increased excitation threshold of MI region. Finally, the reentrant wave was observed in a 3D model with a scar reconstructed from MRI images of a MI patient. These comprehensive findings provide novel insights for understanding the arrhythmic risk during the progression of myocardial ischemia and highlight the importance of the multiple pathological stages in designing medical therapies for arrhythmias in ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiping Liang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, China
| | - Qince Li
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, China
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Kuanquan Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, China
| | - Yimei Du
- Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, China
| | - Henggui Zhang
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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17
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Moss R, Wülfers EM, Schuler S, Loewe A, Seemann G. A Fully-Coupled Electro-Mechanical Whole-Heart Computational Model: Influence of Cardiac Contraction on the ECG. Front Physiol 2022; 12:778872. [PMID: 34975532 PMCID: PMC8716847 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.778872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The ECG is one of the most commonly used non-invasive tools to gain insights into the electrical functioning of the heart. It has been crucial as a foundation in the creation and validation of in silico models describing the underlying electrophysiological processes. However, so far, the contraction of the heart and its influences on the ECG have mainly been overlooked in in silico models. As the heart contracts and moves, so do the electrical sources within the heart responsible for the signal on the body surface, thus potentially altering the ECG. To illuminate these aspects, we developed a human 4-chamber electro-mechanically coupled whole heart in silico model and embedded it within a torso model. Our model faithfully reproduces measured 12-lead ECG traces, circulatory characteristics, as well as physiological ventricular rotation and atrioventricular valve plane displacement. We compare our dynamic model to three non-deforming ones in terms of standard clinically used ECG leads (Einthoven and Wilson) and body surface potential maps (BSPM). The non-deforming models consider the heart at its ventricular end-diastatic, end-diastolic and end-systolic states. The standard leads show negligible differences during P-Wave and QRS-Complex, yet during T-Wave the leads closest to the heart show prominent differences in amplitude. When looking at the BSPM, there are no notable differences during the P-Wave, but effects of cardiac motion can be observed already during the QRS-Complex, increasing further during the T-Wave. We conclude that for the modeling of activation (P-Wave/QRS-Complex), the associated effort of simulating a complete electro-mechanical approach is not worth the computational cost. But when looking at ventricular repolarization (T-Wave) in standard leads as well as BSPM, there are areas where the signal can be influenced by cardiac motion of the heart to an extent that should not be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Moss
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eike Moritz Wülfers
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Schuler
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Axel Loewe
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Gunnar Seemann
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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18
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Analysis of vulnerability to reentry in acute myocardial ischemia using a realistic human heart model. Comput Biol Med 2021; 141:105038. [PMID: 34836624 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.105038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Electrophysiological alterations of the myocardium caused by acute ischemia constitute a pro-arrhythmic substrate for the generation of potentially lethal arrhythmias. Experimental evidence has shown that the main components of acute ischemia that induce these electrophysiological alterations are hyperkalemia, hypoxia (or anoxia in complete artery occlusion), and acidosis. However, the influence of each ischemic component on the likelihood of reentry is not completely established. Moreover, the role of the His-Purkinje system (HPS) in the initiation and maintenance of arrhythmias is not completely understood. In the present work, we investigate how the three components of ischemia affect the vulnerable window (VW) for reentry using computational simulations. In addition, we analyze the role of the HPS on arrhythmogenesis. A 3D biventricular/torso human model that includes a realistic geometry of the central and border ischemic zones with one of the most electrophysiologically detailed model of ischemia to date, as well as a realistic cardiac conduction system, were used to assess the VW for reentry. Four scenarios of ischemic severity corresponding to different minutes after coronary artery occlusion were simulated. Our results suggest that ischemic severity plays an important role in the generation of reentries. Indeed, this is the first 3D simulation study to show that ventricular arrhythmias could be generated under moderate ischemic conditions, but not in mild and severe ischemia. Moreover, our results show that anoxia is the ischemic component with the most significant effect on the width of the VW. Thus, a change in the level of anoxia from moderate to severe leads to a greater increment in the VW (40 ms), in comparison with the increment of 20 ms and 35 ms produced by the individual change in the level of hyperkalemia and acidosis, respectively. Finally, the HPS was a necessary element for the generation of approximately 17% of reentries obtained. The retrograde conduction from the myocardium to HPS in the ischemic region, conduction blocks in discrete sections of the HPS, and the degree of ischemia affecting Purkinje cells, are suggested as mechanisms that favor the generation of ventricular arrhythmias.
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19
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Camps J, Lawson B, Drovandi C, Minchole A, Wang ZJ, Grau V, Burrage K, Rodriguez B. Inference of ventricular activation properties from non-invasive electrocardiography. Med Image Anal 2021; 73:102143. [PMID: 34271532 PMCID: PMC8505755 DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2021.102143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The realisation of precision cardiology requires novel techniques for the non-invasive characterisation of individual patients’ cardiac function to inform therapeutic and diagnostic decision-making. Both electrocardiography and imaging are used for the clinical diagnosis of cardiac disease. The integration of multi-modal datasets through advanced computational methods could enable the development of the cardiac ‘digital twin’, a comprehensive virtual tool that mechanistically reveals a patient's heart condition from clinical data and simulates treatment outcomes. The adoption of cardiac digital twins requires the non-invasive efficient personalisation of the electrophysiological properties in cardiac models. This study develops new computational techniques to estimate key ventricular activation properties for individual subjects by exploiting the synergy between non-invasive electrocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and modelling and simulation. More precisely, we present an efficient sequential Monte Carlo approximate Bayesian computation-based inference method, integrated with Eikonal simulations and torso-biventricular models constructed based on clinical CMR imaging. The method also includes a novel strategy to treat combined continuous (conduction speeds) and discrete (earliest activation sites) parameter spaces and an efficient dynamic time warping-based ECG comparison algorithm. We demonstrate results from our inference method on a cohort of twenty virtual subjects with cardiac ventricular myocardial-mass volumes ranging from 74 cm3 to 171 cm3 and considering low versus high resolution for the endocardial discretisation (which determines possible locations of the earliest activation sites). Results show that our method can successfully infer the ventricular activation properties in sinus rhythm from non-invasive epicardial activation time maps and ECG recordings, achieving higher accuracy for the endocardial speed and sheet (transmural) speed than for the fibre or sheet-normal directed speeds. Estimation of the ventricular speeds and earliest activation sites from ECG and CMR. Evaluation with twenty virtual subjects shows the effect of anatomical variability. Bayesian-inspired simultaneous estimation of continuous and discrete parameters. Efficient dynamic time warping-based comparison of electrocardiograms (ECG). Changing fibre and sheet-normal speed does not affect healthy activation sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Camps
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Brodie Lawson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia; QUT Centre for Data Science (CDS), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christopher Drovandi
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia; QUT Centre for Data Science (CDS), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ana Minchole
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Zhinuo Jenny Wang
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vicente Grau
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Burrage
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Blanca Rodriguez
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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20
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Electro-Mechanical Whole-Heart Digital Twins: A Fully Coupled Multi-Physics Approach. MATHEMATICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/math9111247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mathematical models of the human heart are evolving to become a cornerstone of precision medicine and support clinical decision making by providing a powerful tool to understand the mechanisms underlying pathophysiological conditions. In this study, we present a detailed mathematical description of a fully coupled multi-scale model of the human heart, including electrophysiology, mechanics, and a closed-loop model of circulation. State-of-the-art models based on human physiology are used to describe membrane kinetics, excitation-contraction coupling and active tension generation in the atria and the ventricles. Furthermore, we highlight ways to adapt this framework to patient specific measurements to build digital twins. The validity of the model is demonstrated through simulations on a personalized whole heart geometry based on magnetic resonance imaging data of a healthy volunteer. Additionally, the fully coupled model was employed to evaluate the effects of a typical atrial ablation scar on the cardiovascular system. With this work, we provide an adaptable multi-scale model that allows a comprehensive personalization from ion channels to the organ level enabling digital twin modeling.
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21
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Gianni C, Sanchez JE, Mohanty S, Trivedi C, Della Rocca DG, Al-Ahmad A, Burkhardt JD, Gallinghouse GJ, Hranitzky PM, Horton RP, Di Biase L, Natale A. High-Dose Dobutamine for Inducibility of Atrial Arrhythmias During Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2020; 6:1701-1710. [PMID: 33334450 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2020.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study sought to compare the effect of high-dose dobutamine (DBT) with that of high-dose isoproterenol (IPN) in eliciting triggers during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. BACKGROUND High-dose IPN is commonly used to elicit triggers during AF ablation. However, it is not available worldwide and, in the United States, its cost per dose has significantly increased. DBT is a similarly nonselective β-agonist and, as such, is a potential alternative. METHODS This was a prospective, randomized 2×2 crossover study of patients undergoing AF ablation. Patients were assigned to receive IPN (20 to 30 μg/min for 10 min) followed by DBT (40 to 50 μg/kg/min for 10 min) or vice versa in a 1:1 fashion. The type, number, and location of triggers as well as heart rate, blood pressure, and side effects were noted. RESULTS Fifty patients were included in the study. Both drugs caused a significant increase in heart rate, with a consistently lower peak for DBT. Blood pressure significantly increased with DBT, while there was a significant reduction with IPN, despite phenylephrine support. Atrial arrhythmias induced during DBT were comparable to that induced during IPN. In patients with IPN-inducible outflow tract premature ventricular contractions, a similar effect was noted with DBT. No major complications occurred during either drug challenge. CONCLUSIONS High-dose DBT is safe and comparable to high-dose IPN in respect of eliciting AF triggers, with the advantage to maintain systemic pressure without the need of additional vasopressor support. This study supports the use of high-dose DBT in electrophysiology laboratories in which IPN is not readily available and for those patients in whom hypotension is a concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Gianni
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA.
| | - Javier E Sanchez
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Sanghamitra Mohanty
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA; Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Chintan Trivedi
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA
| | | | - Amin Al-Ahmad
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - J David Burkhardt
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA
| | | | - Patrick M Hranitzky
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Rodney P Horton
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Luigi Di Biase
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA; Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Andrea Natale
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA; HCA National Medical Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Austin, Texas, USA; Interventional Electrophysiology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California, USA; MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Martinez-Navarro H, Zhou X, Bueno-Orovio A, Rodriguez B. Electrophysiological and anatomical factors determine arrhythmic risk in acute myocardial ischaemia and its modulation by sodium current availability. Interface Focus 2020; 11:20190124. [PMID: 33335705 PMCID: PMC7739909 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2019.0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myocardial ischaemia caused by coronary artery disease is one of the main causes of sudden cardiac death. Even though sodium current blockers are used as anti-arrhythmic drugs, decreased sodium current availability, also caused by mutations, has been shown to increase arrhythmic risk in ischaemic patients. The mechanisms are still unclear. Our goal is to exploit perfect control and data transparency of over 300 high-performance computing simulations to investigate arrhythmia mechanisms in acute myocardial ischaemia with variable sodium current availability. The human anatomically based torso-biventricular electrophysiological model used includes representation of realistic ventricular anatomy and fibre architecture, as well as ionic to electrocardiographic properties. Simulations show that reduced sodium current availability increased arrhythmic risk in acute regional ischaemia due to both electrophysiological (increased dispersion of refractoriness across the ischaemic border zone) and anatomical factors (conduction block from the thin right ventricle to thick left ventricle). The asymmetric ventricular anatomy caused high arrhythmic risk specifically for ectopic stimuli originating from the right ventricle and ventricular base. Increased sodium current availability was ineffective in reducing arrhythmic risk for septo-basal ectopic excitation. Human-based multiscale modelling and simulations reveal key electrophysiological and anatomical factors determining arrhythmic risk in acute ischaemia with variable sodium current availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Martinez-Navarro
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QD, UK
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QD, UK
| | - Alfonso Bueno-Orovio
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QD, UK
| | - Blanca Rodriguez
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QD, UK
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Corrado C, Avezzù A, Lee AWC, Mendoca Costa C, Roney CH, Strocchi M, Bishop M, Niederer SA. Using cardiac ionic cell models to interpret clinical data. WIREs Mech Dis 2020; 13:e1508. [PMID: 33027553 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
For over 100 years cardiac electrophysiology has been measured in the clinic. The electrical signals that can be measured span from noninvasive ECG and body surface potentials measurements through to detailed invasive measurements of local tissue electrophysiology. These electrophysiological measurements form a crucial component of patient diagnosis and monitoring; however, it remains challenging to quantitatively link changes in clinical electrophysiology measurements to biophysical cellular function. Multi-scale biophysical computational models represent one solution to this problem. These models provide a formal framework for linking cellular function through to emergent whole organ function and routine clinical diagnostic signals. In this review, we describe recent work on the use of computational models to interpret clinical electrophysiology signals. We review the simulation of human cardiac myocyte electrophysiology in the atria and the ventricles and how these models are being used to link organ scale function to patient disease mechanisms and therapy response in patients receiving implanted defibrillators, \cardiac resynchronisation therapy or suffering from atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. There is a growing use of multi-scale biophysical models to interpret clinical data. This allows cardiologists to link clinical observations with cellular mechanisms to better understand cardiopathophysiology and identify novel treatment strategies. This article is categorized under: Cardiovascular Diseases > Computational Models Cardiovascular Diseases > Biomedical Engineering Cardiovascular Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Li YCE, Lee IC. The Current Trends of Biosensors in Tissue Engineering. BIOSENSORS 2020; 10:E88. [PMID: 32756393 PMCID: PMC7459738 DOI: 10.3390/bios10080088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Biosensors constitute selective, sensitive, and rapid tools for disease diagnosis in tissue engineering applications. Compared to standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analytical technology, biosensors provide a strategy to real-time and on-site monitor micro biophysiological signals via a combination of biological, chemical, and physical technologies. This review summarizes the recent and significant advances made in various biosensor technologies for different applications of biological and biomedical interest, especially on tissue engineering applications. Different fabrication techniques utilized for tissue engineering purposes, such as computer numeric control (CNC), photolithographic, casting, and 3D printing technologies are also discussed. Key developments in the cell/tissue-based biosensors, biomolecular sensing strategies, and the expansion of several biochip approaches such as organs-on-chips, paper based-biochips, and flexible biosensors are available. Cell polarity and cell behaviors such as proliferation, differentiation, stimulation response, and metabolism detection are included. Biosensors for diagnosing tissue disease modes such as brain, heart, lung, and liver systems and for bioimaging are discussed. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced by current biosensing techniques and highlight future prospects of biosensors for tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Ethan Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan
| | - I-Chi Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan
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Myocardial Electrical Remodeling and the Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Hemorrhagic Shock-Induced Heart: Anti-Arrhythmogenic Effect of Liposome-Encapsulated Hemoglobin (HbV) on the Myocardium. Shock 2020; 52:378-386. [PMID: 30239419 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000001262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prolonged low blood pressure <40 mmHg in hemorrhagic shock (HS) causes irreversible heart dysfunction, 'Shock Heart Syndrome' (SHS), which is associated with lethal arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation [VT/VF]) leading to a poor prognosis. METHODS To investigate whether the liposome-encapsulated human hemoglobin oxygen carrier (HbV) is comparable in effectiveness to autologous washed red blood cells (wRBCs) for improving arrhythmogenic properties in SHS, optical mapping analysis (OMP), electrophysiological study (EPS), and pathological examinations were performed in Sprague-Dawley rat hearts obtained from rats subjected to acute HS by withdrawing 30% of total blood volume. After acute HS, the rats were immediately resuscitated by transfusing exactly the same amount of saline (SAL), 5% albumin (5% ALB), HbV, or wRBCs. After excising the heart, OMP and EPS were performed in Langendorff-perfused hearts. RESULTS OMP showed a tendency for abnormal conduction and significantly impaired action potential duration dispersion (APDd) in both ventricles with SAL and 5% ALB. In contrast, myocardial conduction and APDd were substantially preserved with HbV and wRBCs. Sustained VT/VF was easily provoked by a burst pacing stimulus to the left ventricle with SAL and 5% ALB. No VT/VF was induced with HbV and wRBCs. Pathology showed myocardial structural damage characterized by worse myocardial cell damage and Connexin43 with SAL and 5% ALB, whereas it was attenuated with HbV and wRBCs. CONCLUSIONS Ventricular structural remodeling after HS causes VT/VF in the presence of APDd. Transfusion of HbV prevents VT/VF, similarly to transfusion of wRBCs, by preventing electrical remodeling and preserving myocardial structures in HS-induced SHS.
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In-silico human electro-mechanical ventricular modelling and simulation for drug-induced pro-arrhythmia and inotropic risk assessment. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 159:58-74. [PMID: 32710902 PMCID: PMC7848595 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Human-based computational modelling and simulation are powerful tools to accelerate the mechanistic understanding of cardiac patho-physiology, and to develop and evaluate therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study is to calibrate and evaluate human ventricular electro-mechanical models for investigations on the effect of the electro-mechanical coupling and pharmacological action on human ventricular electrophysiology, calcium dynamics, and active contraction. The most recent models of human ventricular electrophysiology, excitation-contraction coupling, and active contraction were integrated, and the coupled models were calibrated using human experimental data. Simulations were then conducted using the coupled models to quantify the effects of electro-mechanical coupling and drug exposure on electrophysiology and force generation in virtual human ventricular cardiomyocytes and tissue. The resulting calibrated human electro-mechanical models yielded active tension, action potential, and calcium transient metrics that are in agreement with experiments for endocardial, epicardial, and mid-myocardial human samples. Simulation results correctly predicted the inotropic response of different multichannel action reference compounds and demonstrated that the electro-mechanical coupling improves the robustness of repolarisation under drug exposure compared to electrophysiology-only models. They also generated additional evidence to explain the partial mismatch between in-silico and in-vitro experiments on drug-induced electrophysiology changes. The human calibrated and evaluated modelling and simulation framework constructed in this study opens new avenues for future investigations into the complex interplay between the electrical and mechanical cardiac substrates, its modulation by pharmacological action, and its translation to tissue and organ models of cardiac patho-physiology.
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Kharche SR, Desai K, McIntyre CW. Elucidating the relationship between arrhythmia and ischemic heterogeneity: an in silico study. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:2434-2437. [PMID: 33018498 DOI: 10.1109/embc44109.2020.9176737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dialysis causes blood flow defects in the heart that may augment electrophysiological heterogeneity in the form of increased number of ischemic zones in the human left ventricle. We computationally tested whether a larger number of ischemic zones aggravate arrhythmia using a 2D electrophysiological model of the human ventricle.A human ventricle cardiomyocyte model capable of simulating ischemic action potentials was adapted in this study. The cell model was incorporated into a spatial 2D model consisting of known number of ischemic zones. Inter-cellular gap junction coupling within ischemic zones was reduced to simulate slow conduction. Arrhythmia severity was assessed by inducing a re-entry, and quantifying the ensuing breakup and tissue pacing rates.Ischemia elevated the isolated cardiomyocyte's resting potential and reduced its action potential duration. In the absence of ischemic zones, the propensity in the 2D model to induce multiple re-entrant waves was low. The inclusion of ischemic zones provided the substrate for initiation of re-entrant waves leading to fibrillation. Dominant frequency, which measured the highest rate of pacing in the tissue, increased drastically with the inclusion of multiple ischemic zones. Re-entrant wave tip maximum numbers increased from 1 tip (no ischemic zone) to 34 tips when a large number (20) of ischemic zones were included. Computational limiting factors of our platform were identified using software profiling.Clinical significance. Dialysis may promote deleterious arrhythmias by increasing tissue level action potential dispersion.
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Bartolucci C, Passini E, Hyttinen J, Paci M, Severi S. Simulation of the Effects of Extracellular Calcium Changes Leads to a Novel Computational Model of Human Ventricular Action Potential With a Revised Calcium Handling. Front Physiol 2020; 11:314. [PMID: 32351400 PMCID: PMC7174690 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of electrolyte concentrations for cardiac function is well established. Electrolyte variations can lead to arrhythmias onset, due to their important role in the action potential (AP) genesis and in maintaining cell homeostasis. However, most of the human AP computer models available in literature were developed with constant electrolyte concentrations, and fail to simulate physiological changes induced by electrolyte variations. This is especially true for Ca2+, even in the O'Hara-Rudy model (ORd), one of the most widely used models in cardiac electrophysiology. Therefore, the present work develops a new human ventricular model (BPS2020), based on ORd, able to simulate the inverse dependence of AP duration (APD) on extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o), and APD rate dependence at 4 mM extracellular K+. The main changes needed with respect to ORd are: (i) an increased sensitivity of L-type Ca2+ current inactivation to [Ca2+]o; (ii) a single compartment description of the sarcoplasmic reticulum; iii) the replacement of Ca2+ release. BPS2020 is able to simulate the physiological APD-[Ca2+]o relationship, while also retaining the well-reproduced properties of ORd (APD rate dependence, restitution, accommodation and current block effects). We also used BPS2020 to generate an experimentally-calibrated population of models to investigate: (i) the occurrence of repolarization abnormalities in response to hERG current block; (ii) the rate adaptation variability; (iii) the occurrence of alternans and delayed after-depolarizations at fast pacing. Our results indicate that we successfully developed an improved version of ORd, which can be used to investigate electrophysiological changes and pro-arrhythmic abnormalities induced by electrolyte variations and current block at multiple rates and at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bartolucci
- Computational Physiopathology Unit, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi”, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Elisa Passini
- Computational Physiopathology Unit, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi”, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jari Hyttinen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Michelangelo Paci
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Stefano Severi
- Computational Physiopathology Unit, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi”, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
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29
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Liu H, Bolonduro OA, Hu N, Ju J, Rao AA, Duffy BM, Huang Z, Black LD, Timko BP. Heart-on-a-Chip Model with Integrated Extra- and Intracellular Bioelectronics for Monitoring Cardiac Electrophysiology under Acute Hypoxia. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:2585-2593. [PMID: 32092276 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrated a bioelectronic heart-on-a-chip model for studying the effects of acute hypoxia on cardiac function. A microfluidic channel enabled rapid modulation of medium oxygenation, which mimicked the regimes induced by a temporary coronary occlusion and reversibly activated hypoxia-related transduction pathways in HL-1 cardiac model cells. Extracellular bioelectronics provided continuous readouts demonstrating that hypoxic cells experienced an initial period of tachycardia followed by a reduction in beat rate and eventually arrhythmia. Intracellular bioelectronics consisting of Pt nanopillars temporarily entered the cytosol following electroporation, yielding action potential (AP)-like readouts. We found that APs narrowed during hypoxia, consistent with proposed mechanisms by which oxygen deficits activate ATP-dependent K+ channels that promote membrane repolarization. Significantly, both extra- and intracellular devices could be multiplexed, enabling mapping capabilities unachievable by other electrophysiological tools. Our platform represents a significant advance toward understanding electrophysiological responses to hypoxia and could be applicable to disease modeling and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
- School of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, National Laboratory of Mineral Materials, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Olurotimi A Bolonduro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Ning Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Jie Ju
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Akshita A Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Breanna M Duffy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Zhaohui Huang
- School of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, National Laboratory of Mineral Materials, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Lauren D Black
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
- Department of Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology, School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States
| | - Brian P Timko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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30
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Levrero-Florencio F, Margara F, Zacur E, Bueno-Orovio A, Wang Z, Santiago A, Aguado-Sierra J, Houzeaux G, Grau V, Kay D, Vázquez M, Ruiz-Baier R, Rodriguez B. Sensitivity analysis of a strongly-coupled human-based electromechanical cardiac model: Effect of mechanical parameters on physiologically relevant biomarkers. COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING 2020; 361:112762. [PMID: 32565583 PMCID: PMC7299076 DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2019.112762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The human heart beats as a result of multiscale nonlinear dynamics coupling subcellular to whole organ processes, achieving electrophysiologically-driven mechanical contraction. Computational cardiac modelling and simulation have achieved a great degree of maturity, both in terms of mathematical models of underlying biophysical processes and the development of simulation software. In this study, we present the detailed description of a human-based physiologically-based, and fully-coupled ventricular electromechanical modelling and simulation framework, and a sensitivity analysis focused on its mechanical properties. The biophysical detail of the model, from ionic to whole-organ, is crucial to enable future simulations of disease and drug action. Key novelties include the coupling of state-of-the-art human-based electrophysiology membrane kinetics, excitation-contraction and active contraction models, and the incorporation of a pre-stress model to allow for pre-stressing and pre-loading the ventricles in a dynamical regime. Through high performance computing simulations, we demonstrate that 50% to 200% - 1000% variations in key parameters result in changes in clinically-relevant mechanical biomarkers ranging from diseased to healthy values in clinical studies. Furthermore mechanical biomarkers are primarily affected by only one or two parameters. Specifically, ejection fraction is dominated by the scaling parameter of the active tension model and its scaling parameter in the normal direction ( k ort 2 ); the end systolic pressure is dominated by the pressure at which the ejection phase is triggered ( P ej ) and the compliance of the Windkessel fluid model ( C ); and the longitudinal fractional shortening is dominated by the fibre angle ( ϕ ) and k ort 2 . The wall thickening does not seem to be clearly dominated by any of the considered input parameters. In summary, this study presents in detail the description and implementation of a human-based coupled electromechanical modelling and simulation framework, and a high performance computing study on the sensitivity of mechanical biomarkers to key model parameters. The tools and knowledge generated enable future investigations into disease and drug action on human ventricles.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Levrero-Florencio
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QD, United Kingdom
- Corresponding authors.
| | - F. Margara
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QD, United Kingdom
| | - E. Zacur
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - A. Bueno-Orovio
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QD, United Kingdom
| | - Z.J. Wang
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QD, United Kingdom
| | - A. Santiago
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - J. Aguado-Sierra
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - G. Houzeaux
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - V. Grau
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - D. Kay
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QD, United Kingdom
| | - M. Vázquez
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, Barcelona 08034, Spain
- ELEM Biotech, Spain
| | - R. Ruiz-Baier
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, United Kingdom
- Universidad Adventista de Chile, Casilla 7-D, Chillan, Chile
| | - B. Rodriguez
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QD, United Kingdom
- Corresponding authors.
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31
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Rivera-Juárez A, Hernández-Romero I, Puertas C, Zhang-Wang S, Sánchez-Álamo B, Martins R, Figuera C, Guillem MS, Climent AM, Fernández-Avilés F, Tejedor A, Jalife J, Atienza F. Clinical Characteristics and Electrophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Brugada ECG in Patients With Severe Hyperkalemia. J Am Heart Assoc 2020; 8:e010115. [PMID: 30675825 PMCID: PMC6405573 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.118.010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Several metabolic conditions can cause the Brugada ECG pattern, also called Brugada phenotype (BrPh). We aimed to define the clinical characteristics and outcome of BrPh patients and elucidate the mechanisms underlying BrPh attributed to hyperkalemia. Methods and Results We prospectively identified patients hospitalized with severe hyperkalemia and ECG diagnosis of BrPh and compared their clinical characteristics and outcome with patients with hyperkalemia but no BrPh ECG. Computer simulations investigated the roles of extracellular potassium increase, fibrosis at the right ventricular outflow tract, and epicardial/endocardial gradients in transient outward current. Over a 6‐year period, 15 patients presented severe hyperkalemia with BrPh ECG that was transient and disappeared after normalization of their serum potassium. Most patients were admitted because of various severe medical conditions causing hyperkalemia. Six (40%) patients presented malignant arrhythmias and 6 died during admission. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that higher serum potassium levels (odds ratio, 15.8; 95% CI, 3.1–79; P=0.001) and male sex (odds ratio, 17; 95% CI, 1.05–286; P=0.045) were risk factors for developing BrPh ECG in patients with severe hyperkalemia. In simulations, hyperkalemia yielded BrPh by promoting delayed and heterogeneous right ventricular outflow tract activation attributed to elevation of resting potential, reduced availability of inward sodium channel conductance, and increased right ventricular outflow tract fibrosis. An elevated transient outward current gradient contributed to, but was not essential for, the BrPh phenotype. Conclusions In patients with severe hyperkalemia, a BrPh ECG is associated with malignant arrhythmias and all‐cause mortality secondary to resting potential depolarization, reduced sodium current availability, and fibrosis at the right ventricular outflow tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Rivera-Juárez
- 1 Department of Cardiology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain.,9 CIBERCV Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares Madrid Spain
| | - Ismael Hernández-Romero
- 1 Department of Cardiology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain.,5 Department of Signal Theory and Communications Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Madrid Spain.,9 CIBERCV Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares Madrid Spain
| | - Carolina Puertas
- 3 Department of Biochemistry Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain
| | - Serena Zhang-Wang
- 1 Department of Cardiology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain
| | - Beatriz Sánchez-Álamo
- 1 Department of Cardiology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain
| | - Raphael Martins
- 4 CHU Rennes Service de Cardiologie et Maladies Vasculaires Rennes France
| | - Carlos Figuera
- 5 Department of Signal Theory and Communications Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Madrid Spain
| | | | - Andreu M Climent
- 1 Department of Cardiology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain.,6 ITACA Universitat Politécnica de Valencia Valencia Spain.,9 CIBERCV Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares Madrid Spain
| | - Francisco Fernández-Avilés
- 1 Department of Cardiology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain.,9 CIBERCV Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares Madrid Spain
| | - Alberto Tejedor
- 2 Renal Physiopathology Laboratory Department of Nephrology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain
| | - José Jalife
- 7 Center for Arrhythmia Research University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI.,8 Departamento de Arritmias Cardĺacas Fundacion Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) Madrid Spain.,9 CIBERCV Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares Madrid Spain
| | - Felipe Atienza
- 1 Department of Cardiology Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón Facultad de Medicina Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain.,9 CIBERCV Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares Madrid Spain
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Abstract
The treatment of individual patients in cardiology practice increasingly relies on advanced imaging, genetic screening and devices. As the amount of imaging and other diagnostic data increases, paralleled by the greater capacity to personalize treatment, the difficulty of using the full array of measurements of a patient to determine an optimal treatment seems also to be paradoxically increasing. Computational models are progressively addressing this issue by providing a common framework for integrating multiple data sets from individual patients. These models, which are based on physiology and physics rather than on population statistics, enable computational simulations to reveal diagnostic information that would have otherwise remained concealed and to predict treatment outcomes for individual patients. The inherent need for patient-specific models in cardiology is clear and is driving the rapid development of tools and techniques for creating personalized methods to guide pharmaceutical therapy, deployment of devices and surgical interventions.
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Trayanova NA, Doshi AN, Prakosa A. How personalized heart modeling can help treatment of lethal arrhythmias: A focus on ventricular tachycardia ablation strategies in post-infarction patients. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2020; 12:e1477. [PMID: 31917524 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Precision Cardiology is a targeted strategy for cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment that accounts for individual variability. Computational heart modeling is one of the novel approaches that have been developed under the umbrella of Precision Cardiology. Personalized computational modeling of patient hearts has made strides in the development of models that incorporate the individual geometry and structure of the heart as well as other patient-specific information. Of these developments, one of the potentially most impactful is the research aimed at noninvasively predicting the targets of ablation of lethal arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia (VT), using patient-specific models. The approach has been successfully applied to patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy in proof-of-concept studies. The goal of this paper is to review the strategies for computational VT ablation guidance in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, from model developments to the intricacies of the actual clinical application. To provide context in describing the road these computational modeling applications have undertaken, we first review the state of the art in VT ablation in the clinic, emphasizing the benefits that personalized computational prediction of ablation targets could bring to the clinical electrophysiology practice. This article is characterized under: Analytical and Computational Methods > Computational Methods Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Organ, Tissue, and Physiological Models Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Translational Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia A Trayanova
- Alliance for Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Innovation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ashish N Doshi
- Alliance for Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Innovation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Adityo Prakosa
- Alliance for Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Innovation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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Tomek J, Bueno-Orovio A, Passini E, Zhou X, Minchole A, Britton O, Bartolucci C, Severi S, Shrier A, Virag L, Varro A, Rodriguez B. Development, calibration, and validation of a novel human ventricular myocyte model in health, disease, and drug block. eLife 2019; 8:48890. [PMID: 31868580 PMCID: PMC6970534 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-based modelling and simulations are becoming ubiquitous in biomedical science due to their ability to augment experimental and clinical investigations. Cardiac electrophysiology is one of the most advanced areas, with cardiac modelling and simulation being considered for virtual testing of pharmacological therapies and medical devices. Current models present inconsistencies with experimental data, which limit further progress. In this study, we present the design, development, calibration and independent validation of a human-based ventricular model (ToR-ORd) for simulations of electrophysiology and excitation-contraction coupling, from ionic to whole-organ dynamics, including the electrocardiogram. Validation based on substantial multiscale simulations supports the credibility of the ToR-ORd model under healthy and key disease conditions, as well as drug blockade. In addition, the process uncovers new theoretical insights into the biophysical properties of the L-type calcium current, which are critical for sodium and calcium dynamics. These insights enable the reformulation of L-type calcium current, as well as replacement of the hERG current model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Tomek
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alfonso Bueno-Orovio
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Passini
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Minchole
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Britton
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Bartolucci
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Severi
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alvin Shrier
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Laszlo Virag
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Andras Varro
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Blanca Rodriguez
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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High arrhythmic risk in antero-septal acute myocardial ischemia is explained by increased transmural reentry occurrence. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16803. [PMID: 31728039 PMCID: PMC6856379 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53221-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myocardial ischemia is a precursor of sudden arrhythmic death. Variability in its manifestation hampers understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms and challenges risk stratification. Our aim is to unravel the mechanisms underlying how size, transmural extent and location of ischemia determine arrhythmia vulnerability and ECG alterations. High performance computing simulations using a human torso/biventricular biophysically-detailed model were conducted to quantify the impact of varying ischemic region properties, including location (LAD/LCX occlusion), transmural/subendocardial ischemia, size, and normal/slow myocardial propagation. ECG biomarkers and vulnerability window for reentry were computed in over 400 simulations for 18 cases evaluated. Two distinct mechanisms explained larger vulnerability to reentry in transmural versus subendocardial ischemia. Macro-reentry around the ischemic region was the primary mechanism increasing arrhythmic risk in transmural versus subendocardial ischemia, for both LAD and LCX occlusion. Transmural micro-reentry at the ischemic border zone explained arrhythmic vulnerability in subendocardial ischemia, especially in LAD occlusion, as reentries were favoured by the ischemic region intersecting the septo-apical region. ST elevation reflected ischemic extent in transmural ischemia for LCX and LAD occlusion but not in subendocardial ischemia (associated with mild ST depression). The technology and results presented can inform safety and efficacy evaluation of anti-arrhythmic therapy in acute myocardial ischemia.
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Kodirov SA, Zhuravlev VL, Brachmann J. Prevailing Effects of Ibutilide on Fast Delayed Rectifier K + Channel. J Membr Biol 2019; 252:609-616. [PMID: 31584122 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-019-00098-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Effects of ibutilide, a class III antiarrhythmic drug, on delayed rectifier potassium currents (IK) in freshly isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes were studied. Experiments were performed using the whole-cell configuration of patch-clamp technique under blockade of L-type calcium currents (Cav1). Ibutilide at concentrations ranging between 10 nM and 100 µM inhibited IKr in dose-dependent manner with a half maximal effective concentration of 2.03 ± 0.74 µM (n = 5-10). The amplitude of tail currents activated by prepulse to + 20 mV was decreased from 253 ± 52 to 130 ± 25 pA (n = 8, p < 0.01) in the presence of 1 µM ibutilide. The envelope test revealed time-dependent changes in ratio of IK-tail/ΔIK during 0.2-2 s pulse durations in the absence of drug. With ibutilide, regardless of pulse duration, a relatively constant ratio was estimated, indicative of predominant involvement of IKr component. The slow IKs persisted to greater extent even at 100 μM ibutilide revealing a distinguishable selectivity toward the IKr component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sodikdjon A Kodirov
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Department of Physiology, Saint Petersburg University, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034. .,Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteura St., 02-093, Warsaw, Poland. .,Department of Cardiology, Klinikum Coburg, Teaching Hospital of the University of Würzburg, Coburg, Germany.
| | - Vladimir L Zhuravlev
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Physiology, Saint Petersburg University, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - Johannes Brachmann
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Cardiology, Klinikum Coburg, Teaching Hospital of the University of Würzburg, Coburg, Germany
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Mincholé A, Zacur E, Ariga R, Grau V, Rodriguez B. MRI-Based Computational Torso/Biventricular Multiscale Models to Investigate the Impact of Anatomical Variability on the ECG QRS Complex. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1103. [PMID: 31507458 PMCID: PMC6718559 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Patient-to-patient anatomical differences are an important source of variability in the electrocardiogram, and they may compromise the identification of pathological electrophysiological abnormalities. This study aims at quantifying the contribution of variability in ventricular and torso anatomies to differences in QRS complexes of the 12-lead ECG using computer simulations. METHODS A computational pipeline is presented that enables computer simulations using human torso/biventricular anatomically based electrophysiological models from clinically standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The ventricular model includes membrane kinetics represented by the biophysically detailed O'Hara Rudy model modified for tissue heterogeneity and includes fiber orientation based on the Streeter rule. A population of 265 torso/biventricular models was generated by combining ventricular and torso anatomies obtained from clinically standard MRIs, augmented with a statistical shape model of the body. 12-lead ECGs were simulated on the 265 human torso/biventricular electrophysiology models, and QRS morphology, duration and amplitude were quantified in each ECG lead for each of the human torso-biventricular models. RESULTS QRS morphologies in limb leads are mainly determined by ventricular anatomy, while in the precordial leads, and especially V1 to V4, they are determined by heart position within the torso. Differences in ventricular orientation within the torso can explain morphological variability from monophasic to biphasic QRS complexes. QRS duration is mainly influenced by myocardial volume, while it is hardly affected by the torso anatomy or position. An average increase of 0.12 ± 0.05 ms in QRS duration is obtained for each cm3 of myocardial volume across all the leads while it hardly changed due to changes in torso volume. CONCLUSION Computer simulations using populations of human torso/biventricular models based on clinical MRI enable quantification of anatomical causes of variability in the QRS complex of the 12-lead ECG. The human models presented also pave the way toward their use as testbeds in silico clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Mincholé
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ernesto Zacur
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rina Ariga
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vicente Grau
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Blanca Rodriguez
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Ledezma CA, Zhou X, Rodríguez B, Tan PJ, Díaz-Zuccarini V. A modeling and machine learning approach to ECG feature engineering for the detection of ischemia using pseudo-ECG. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220294. [PMID: 31404081 PMCID: PMC6690680 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Early detection of coronary heart disease (CHD) has the potential to prevent the millions of deaths that this disease causes worldwide every year. However, there exist few automatic methods to detect CHD at an early stage. A challenge in the development of these methods is the absence of relevant datasets for their training and validation. Here, the ten Tusscher-Panfilov 2006 model and the O’Hara-Rudy model for human myocytes were used to create two populations of models that were in concordance with data obtained from healthy individuals (control populations) and included inter-subject variability. The effects of ischemia were subsequently included in the control populations to simulate the effects of mild and severe ischemic events on single cells, full ischemic cables of cells and cables of cells with various sizes of ischemic regions. Action potential and pseudo-ECG biomarkers were measured to assess how the evolution of ischemia could be quantified. Finally, two neural network classifiers were trained to identify the different degrees of ischemia using the pseudo-ECG biomarkers. The control populations showed action potential and pseudo-ECG biomarkers within the physiological ranges and the trends in the biomarkers commonly identified in ischemic patients were observed in the ischemic populations. On the one hand, inter-subject variability in the ischemic pseudo-ECGs precluded the detection and classification of early ischemic events using any single biomarker. On the other hand, the neural networks showed sensitivity and positive predictive value above 95%. Additionally, the neural networks revealed that the biomarkers that were relevant for the detection of ischemia were different from those relevant for its classification. This work showed that a computational approach could be used, when data is scarce, to validate proof-of-concept machine learning methods to detect ischemic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Ledezma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Blanca Rodríguez
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - P. J. Tan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Díaz-Zuccarini
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences (WEISS), Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, W1W 7TS, UK
- * E-mail:
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Modeling and simulation of cardiac electric activity in a human cardiac tissue with multiple ischemic zones. J Math Biol 2019; 79:1551-1586. [PMID: 31352562 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-019-01403-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In this work, a human ventricular model (ten Tusscher and Panfilov model) coupled with the tissue level monodomain model is used to analyze the influence of multiple myocardial ischemia on the human cardiac tissue. The existence and uniqueness of the ischemic model comprising the monodomain model with a discontinuous ionic model for the human cardiac tissue is discussed. The coupled system of partial differential equation and ordinary differential equations are solved numerically using [Formula: see text] finite elements in space and Backward Euler finite difference scheme in time. The apriori finite element error estimate for the numerical scheme has been shown to be of [Formula: see text]. Essentially, we evaluate the impact of the increasing size of the ischemic region and the presence of the multiple ischemic regions having equal or different intensities on the neighboring healthy part of the cardiac tissue. We examine both the individual and the combined influence of two types of ischemia, Hyperkalemia (with the variation of the extracellular potassium ion concentration, [Formula: see text]) and Hypoxia (with the variation of intracellular Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration via parameter [Formula: see text]) on the cardiac electrical activity of cardiac tissue. We observe that with the increase in the ischemic region size by a factor five times, there is an additional almost 10% drop in the action potential duration (APD) in the neighboring healthy regions. The combined effect of Hyperkalemia and Hypoxia brings an additional 12% drop in APD in the ischemic subregions and an additional 5% drop in APD in the neighboring healthy part of the cardic tissue in comparison to the only Hyperkalemic ischemia. When the Hyperkalemic and/or Hypoxic degeneracy of a ischemic zone is non-uniform then innercore degeneracy has greater influence on resting potential and APD of outercore of variable intensity ischemic zone than the other way. Also, increasing the number of ischemic subregions from 2 to 4 leads to a 4% drop in APD.
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40
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Carpio EF, Gomez JF, Sebastian R, Lopez-Perez A, Castellanos E, Almendral J, Ferrero JM, Trenor B. Optimization of Lead Placement in the Right Ventricle During Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. A Simulation Study. Front Physiol 2019; 10:74. [PMID: 30804805 PMCID: PMC6378298 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients suffering from heart failure and left bundle branch block show electrical ventricular dyssynchrony causing an abnormal blood pumping. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is recommended for these patients. Patients with positive therapy response normally present QRS shortening and an increased left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction. However, around one third do not respond favorably. Therefore, optimal location of pacing leads, timing delays between leads and/or choosing related biomarkers is crucial to achieve the best possible degree of ventricular synchrony during CRT application. In this study, computational modeling is used to predict the optimal location and delay of pacing leads to improve CRT response. We use a 3D electrophysiological computational model of the heart and torso to get insight into the changes in the activation patterns obtained when the heart is paced from different regions and for different atrioventricular and interventricular delays. The model represents a heart with left bundle branch block and heart failure, and allows a detailed and accurate analysis of the electrical changes observed simultaneously in the myocardium and in the QRS complex computed in the precordial leads. Computational simulations were performed using a modified version of the O'Hara et al. action potential model, the most recent mathematical model developed for human ventricular electrophysiology. The optimal location for the pacing leads was determined by QRS maximal reduction. Additionally, the influence of Purkinje system on CRT response was assessed and correlation analysis between several parameters of the QRS was made. Simulation results showed that the right ventricle (RV) upper septum near the outflow tract is an alternative location to the RV apical lead. Furthermore, LV endocardial pacing provided better results as compared to epicardial stimulation. Finally, the time to reach the 90% of the QRS area was a good predictor of the instant at which 90% of the ventricular tissue was activated. Thus, the time to reach the 90% of the QRS area is suggested as an additional index to assess CRT effectiveness to improve biventricular synchrony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edison F Carpio
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan F Gomez
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael Sebastian
- Computational Multiscale Simulation Lab (CoMMLab), Department of Computer Science, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alejandro Lopez-Perez
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eduardo Castellanos
- Electrophysiology Laboratory and Arrhythmia Unit, Grupo HM Hospitales, Hospital Monteprincipe, University CEU-San Pablo, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesus Almendral
- Electrophysiology Laboratory and Arrhythmia Unit, Grupo HM Hospitales, Hospital Monteprincipe, University CEU-San Pablo, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M Ferrero
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Trenor
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Bioengineering (Ci2B), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
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Christophe B, Crumb WJ. Impact of disease state on arrhythmic event detection by action potential modelling in cardiac safety pharmacology. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2018; 96:15-26. [PMID: 30580044 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of in silico cardiac action potential simulations is one of the pillars of the CiPA initiative (Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay) currently under evaluation designed to detect more accurately proarrhythmic liabilities of new drug candidate. In order to take into account the variability of clinical situations, we propose to improve this method by studying the impact of various disease states on arrhythmic events induced by 30 torsadogenic or non-torsadogenic compounds. METHOD In silico modelling was done on the human myocytes using the Dutta revised O'Hara-Rudy algorithm. Results were analysed using a new metric based on the compound IC50s against the seven cardiac ionic currents considered to be the most important by the CiPA initiative (IKr, IKs, INa, INaL, IK1, Ito, ICaL) and the minimal rate of action potential voltage decrease calculated at the early-afterdepolarization (EAD) take-off membrane voltage (Vmin). RESULTS The specific threshold at which each torsadogenic compounds induced EAD, was exacerbated by the presence of cardiac risk factors ranked as follows: congestive heart failure > hypertrophic cardiomyopathy > cardiac pause > no risk factor. Non-torsadogenic compounds induced no EAD even in the presence of cardiac risk factors. DISCUSSION The present study highlighted the impact of pre-existing cardiovascular disease on arrhythmic event detection suggesting that disease state modelling may need to be incorporated in order to fully realize the goal of the CiPA paradigm in a more accurate predictability of proarrhythmic liabilities of new drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William J Crumb
- Nova Research Laboratories LLC, 1441 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
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Ectopic beats arise from micro-reentries near infarct regions in simulations of a patient-specific heart model. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16392. [PMID: 30401912 PMCID: PMC6219578 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34304-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ectopic beats are known to be involved in the initiation of a variety of cardiac arrhythmias. Although their location may vary, ectopic excitations have been found to originate from infarct areas, regions of micro-fibrosis and other heterogeneous tissues. However, the underlying mechanisms that link ectopic foci to heterogeneous tissues have yet to be fully understood. In this work, we investigate the mechanism of micro-reentry that leads to the generation of ectopic beats near infarct areas using a patient-specific heart model. The patient-specific geometrical model of the heart, including scar and peri-infarct zones, is obtained through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The infarct region is composed of ischemic myocytes and non-conducting cells (fibrosis, for instance). Electrophysiology is captured using an established cardiac myocyte model of the human ventricle modified to describe ischemia. The simulation results clearly reveal that ectopic beats emerge from micro-reentries that are sustained by the heterogeneous structure of the infarct regions. Because microscopic information about the heterogeneous structure of the infarct regions is not available, Monte-Carlo simulations are used to identify the probabilities of an infarct region to behave as an ectopic focus for different levels of ischemia and different percentages of non-conducting cells. From the proposed model, it is observed that ectopic beats are generated when a percentage of non-conducting cells is near a topological metric known as the percolation threshold. Although the mechanism for micro-reentries was proposed half a century ago to be a source of ectopic beats or premature ventricular contractions during myocardial infarction, the present study is the first to reproduce this mechanism in-silico using patient-specific data.
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Lyon A, Bueno-Orovio A, Zacur E, Ariga R, Grau V, Neubauer S, Watkins H, Rodriguez B, Mincholé A. Electrocardiogram phenotypes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by distinct mechanisms: apico-basal repolarization gradients vs. Purkinje-myocardial coupling abnormalities. Europace 2018; 20:iii102-iii112. [PMID: 30476051 PMCID: PMC6251182 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euy226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS To identify key structural and electrophysiological features explaining distinct electrocardiogram (ECG) phenotypes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS AND RESULTS Human heart-torso anatomical models were constructed from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images of HCM patients, representative of ECG phenotypes identified previously. High performance computing simulations using bidomain models were conducted to dissect key features explaining the ECG phenotypes with increased HCM Risk-SCD scores, namely Group 1A, characterized by normal QRS but inverted T waves laterally and coexistence of apical and septal hypertrophy; and Group 3 with marked QRS abnormalities (deep and wide S waves laterally) and septal hypertrophy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy abnormalities characterized from CMR, such as hypertrophy, tissue microstructure alterations, abnormal conduction system, and ionic remodelling, were selectively included to assess their influence on ECG morphology. Electrocardiogram abnormalities could not be explained by increased wall thickness nor by local conduction abnormalities associated with fibre disarray or fibrosis. Inverted T wave with normal QRS (Group 1A) was obtained with increased apico-basal repolarization gradient caused by ionic remodelling in septum and apex. Lateral QRS abnormalities (Group 3) were only recovered with abnormal Purkinje-myocardium coupling. CONCLUSION Two ECG-based HCM phenotypes are explained by distinct mechanisms: ionic remodelling and action potential prolongation in hypertrophied apical and septal areas lead to T wave inversion with normal QRS complexes, whereas abnormal Purkinje-myocardial coupling causes abnormal QRS morphology in V4-V6. These findings have potential implications for patients' management as they point towards different arrhythmia mechanisms in different phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Lyon
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Wolfson Building, Parks Rd, Oxford, UK
| | - Alfonso Bueno-Orovio
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Wolfson Building, Parks Rd, Oxford, UK
| | - Ernesto Zacur
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME), Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rina Ariga
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vicente Grau
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME), Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stefan Neubauer
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hugh Watkins
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Blanca Rodriguez
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Wolfson Building, Parks Rd, Oxford, UK
- Corresponding author. Tel: +44 1865 610806; fax: 00441865273839. E-mail address:
| | - Ana Mincholé
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Wolfson Building, Parks Rd, Oxford, UK
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Carro J, Pueyo E, Rodríguez Matas JF. A response surface optimization approach to adjust ionic current conductances of cardiac electrophysiological models. Application to the study of potassium level changes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204411. [PMID: 30281636 PMCID: PMC6169915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac electrophysiological computational models are often developed from previously published models. The new models may incorporate additional features to adapt the model to a different species or may upgrade a specific ionic formulation based on newly available experimental data. A relevant challenge in the development of a new model is the estimation of certain ionic current conductances that cannot be reliably identified from experiments. A common strategy to estimate those conductances is by means of constrained non-linear least-squares optimization. In this work, a novel methodology is proposed for estimation of ionic current conductances of cardiac electrophysiological models by using a response surface approximation-based constrained optimization with trust region management. Polynomial response surfaces of a number of electrophysiological markers were built using statistical sampling methods. These markers included action potential duration (APD), triangulation, diastolic and systolic intracellular calcium concentration, and time constants of APD rate adaptation. The proposed methodology was applied to update the Carro et al. human ventricular action potential model after incorporation of intracellular potassium ([K+]i) dynamics. While the Carro et al. model was well suited for investigation of arrhythmogenesis, it did not allow simulation of [K+]i changes. With the methodology proposed in this study, the updated Carro et al. human ventricular model could be used to simulate [K+]i changes in response to varying extracellular potassium ([K+]o) levels. Additionally, it rendered values of evaluated electrophysiological markers within physiologically plausible ranges. The optimal values of ionic current conductances in the updated model were found in a notably shorter time than with previously proposed methodologies. As a conclusion, the response surface optimization-based approach proposed in this study allows estimating ionic current conductances of cardiac electrophysiological computational models while guaranteeing replication of key electrophysiological features and with an important reduction in computational cost with respect to previously published approaches. The updated Carro et al. model developed in this study is thus suitable for the investigation of arrhythmic risk-related conditions, including those involving large changes in potassium concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Carro
- Universidad San Jorge, Villanueva de Gállego, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragón Institute for Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Spain
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials & Nanomedicne (CIBER-BBN), Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Esther Pueyo
- Aragón Institute for Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Spain
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials & Nanomedicne (CIBER-BBN), Spain
| | - José F. Rodríguez Matas
- Aragón Institute for Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, IIS Aragón, Spain
- LaBS, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
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Loewe A, Wülfers EM, Seemann G. Cardiac ischemia-insights from computational models. Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2018; 29:48-56. [PMID: 29305703 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-017-0539-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complementary to clinical and experimental studies, computational cardiac modeling serves to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the cardiovascular system in order to analyze dysfunction, evaluate existing, and develop novel treatment strategies. OBJECTIVES We describe the basics of multiscale computational modeling of cardiac electrophysiology from the molecular ion channel to the whole body scale. By modeling cardiac ischemia, we illustrate how in silico experiments can contribute to our understanding of how the pathophysiological mechanisms translate into changes observed in diagnostic tools such as the electrocardiogram (ECG). MATERIALS AND METHODS Quantitative in silico modeling spans a wide range of scales from ion channel biophysics to ECG signals. For each of the scales, a set of mathematical equations describes electrophysiology in relation to the other scales. Integration of ischemia-induced changes is performed on the ion channel, single-cell, and tissue level. This approach allows us to study how effects simulated at molecular scales translate to changes in the ECG. RESULTS Ischemia induces action potential shortening and conduction slowing. Hence, ischemic myocardium has distinct and significant effects on propagation and repolarization of excitation, depending on the intramural extent of the ischemic region. For transmural and subendocardial ischemic regions, ST segment elevation and depression, respectively, were observed, whereas intermediate ischemic regions were found to be electrically silent (NSTEMI). CONCLUSIONS In silico modeling contributes quantitative and mechanistic insight into fundamental ischemia-related arrhythmogenic mechanisms. In addition, computational modeling can help to translate experimental findings at the (sub-)cellular level to the organ and body context (e. g., ECG), thereby providing a thorough understanding of this routinely used diagnostic tool that may translate into optimized applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Loewe
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Eike Moritz Wülfers
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg, Bad Krozingen, Medical Center, Computational Modeling Group, Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Elsässerstr. 2q, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gunnar Seemann
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg, Bad Krozingen, Medical Center, Computational Modeling Group, Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Elsässerstr. 2q, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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