The role of endplate poromechanical properties on the nutrient availability in the intervertebral disc.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relevance of the human vertebral endplate poromechanics on the fluid and metabolic transport from and to the intervertebral disc (IVD) based on educated estimations of the poromechanical parameter values of the bony endplate (BEP). METHODS: 50 micro-models of different BEP samples were generated from µCTs of lumbar vertebrae and allowed direct determination of porosity values. Permeability values were calculated by using the micro-models, through the simulation of permeation via computational fluid dynamics. These educated ranges of porosity and permeability values were used as inputs for mechano-transport simulations to assess their effect on both the distributions of metabolites within an IVD model and the poromechanical calculations within the cartilaginous part of the endplate i.e., the cartilage endplate (CEP). RESULTS: BEP effective permeability was highly correlated to local variations of porosity (R(2) ≈ 0.88). Universal patterns between bone volume fraction and permeability arose from these results and from other experimental data in the literature. These variations in BEP permeability and porosity had negligible effects on the distributions of metabolites within the disc. In the CEP, the variability of the poromechanical properties of the BEP did not affect the predicted consolidation but induced higher fluid velocities. CONCLUSIONS: The present paper provides the first sets of thoroughly identified BEP parameter values that can be further used in patient-specific poromechanical studies. Representing BEP structural changes through variations in poromechanical properties did not affect the diffusion of metabolites. However, attention might be paid to alterations in fluid velocities and cell mechano-sensing within the CEP.

Current therapeutic strategies in cardiorenal syndrome.

Cardiorenal syndromes (CRS) are disorders of the heart and kidneys in which an acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other. Primary disorders of one of these two organs often result in secondary dysfunction or injury of the other. The lack of specific trials in this field highlights the need for further studies aimed to assess titration and appropriate dosages of drugs, according to both the etiology of chronic heart failure (CHF) and also the severity of underlying renal dysfunction. Moreover, the most recent clinical trials evaluating clinical and renal outcome in acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS), failed to demonstrate an improvement in renal function and perfusion. Therefore, Current American and European Guidelines for AHFS does not provide specific recommendation for patients with renal impairment. In this scenario several questions regarding the drugs, their recommended dosage and potential adverse effects on cardiac and renal outcome need to be addressed. Subsequently, therapy inducing an improvement in the renal function, a reduction of neurohormonal activation and an improvement of renal blood flow, could lead to a reduction in mortality and hospitalization in patients with CRS.

Left atrial remodelling in competitive adolescent soccer players.

Left atrial (LA) enlargement and improved myocardial diastolic properties are a component of athlete's heart. We performed a longitudinal study involving adolescent athletes to investigate the impact of training on LA remodelling and diastolic function. 21 competitive adolescent soccer players were enrolled and engaged in an 8-month training program. Echocardiographic analysis was performed at baseline, after 4 and 8 months. We assessed diastolic function by Doppler tissue imaging and we analyzed LA adaptations by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. After 4 months, LA mean volume index significantly increased (Δ=5.47 ± 4.38 mL/m2, p ≤ 0.0001). After 8 months, a further increase occurred (Δ=8.95 ± 4.47 mL/m2, p ≤ 0.0001). A higher E velocity (p=0.001; p=0.001), a greater E/A ratio (p=0.002; p=0.0009), a higher e' peak (p= 0.005; p=0.001), and a greater e'/a' ratio (p=0.01; p=0.0006) were observed at 4 and at 8 months, respectively. E/e' ratio significantly decreased after 8 months (p ≤ 0.005). Global peak atrial longitudinal strain and global peak atrial contraction strain values significantly decreased after 8 months (p=0.0004, p=0.01, respectively). An 8-month training program is associated with LA dimensional and functional training-specific adaptations in competitive adolescent soccer players. Myocardial diastolic properties can improve after training also in subjects already presenting with features of athlete's heart.