Development of a patient-specific model of the human coronary system for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon catheter training and testing.

BACKGROUND: To treat stenosed coronary arteries, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) balloon catheters must combine pushability, trackability, crossability, and rewrap behavior. The existing anatomic track model (ASTM F2394) for catheter testing lacks 3D morphology, vessel tortuosity, and compliance, making evaluating performance characteristics difficult. This study aimed to develop a three-dimensional patient-specific phantom (3DPSP) for device testing and safe training for interventional cardiologists. METHODS: A range of silicone materials with different shore hardnesses (00-30-45 A) and wall thicknesses (0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm) were tested to determine compliance for creating coronary vessel phantoms. Compliance was assessed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and compared to values in the literature. Stenosis was induced using multilayer casting and brushing methods, with gypsum added for calcification. The radial tensile properties of the samples were investigated, and the relationship between Young's modulus and compliance was determined. Various methods have been introduced to approximate the friction between silicone and real coronary vessel walls. Computerized tomography (CT) scans were used to obtain patient-specific anatomy from the femoral artery to the coronary arteries. Artery lumens were segmented from the CT scans to create dissolvable 3D-printed core models. RESULTS: A 15A shore hardness silicone yielded an experimental compliance of 12.3-22.4 m m 2 mmHg · 10 3 for stenosed tubes and 14.7-57.9 m m 2 mmHg · 10 3 for uniform tubes, aligning closely with the literature data (6.28-40.88 m m 2 mmHg · 10 3 ). The Young's modulus ranged from 43.2 to 75.5 kPa and 56.6-67.9 kPa for the uniform and calcified materials, respectively. The dependency of the compliance on the wall thickness, Young's modulus, and inner diameter could be shown. Introducing a lubricant reduced the silicone friction coefficient from 0.52 to 0.13. The 3DPSP was successfully fabricated, and comparative analyses were conducted among eight commercially available catheters. CONCLUSION: This study presents a novel method for crafting 3DPSPs with realistic mechanical and frictional properties. The proposed approach enables the creation of comprehensive and anatomically precise setups spanning the right femoral artery to the coronary arteries, highlighting the importance of such realistic environments for advancing medical device development and fostering safe training conditions.

Preliminary assessment of pseudo-total and bioavailable metals in depth in the sediment of Luíz Rau stream in Novo Hamburgo (RS).

The Luíz Rau stream is one of the main streams of Novo Hamburgo. In the stream industrial effluents are released from various sectors, from paint and adhesive industries, metallurgy and leather industry, besides receiving a large amount of domestic sewage. The emissions of these pollutants contribute to decrease water and sediment quality. Within this context, this study evaluated the conditions of the Luíz Rau stream bed sediments, with the determination of the metals like cadmium, lead, chromium and nickel, in depth. To perform the evaluation three points were chosen for sampling along the stream course. The sampling sites were identified as Point A, in Roselândia district and this corresponds to one of the springs and therefore considered as reference value, Point B, in Santo Afonso district being a midpoint of the stream, and Point C also located in Santo Afonso district, near the outfall in Rio dos Sinos river. Cadmium was not detected in any point. At the A and C points chromium was the metal observed in higher concentration in the sediment, up to 45.14 mg kg(-1) concentration. In the B point, the metal that was observed in the highest amount was nickel in the concentration of 20.69 mg kg(-1).

Concentrations of PM2.5₋10 and PM2.5 and metallic elements around the Schmidt Stream area, in the Sinos River Basin, southern Brazil.

This research aimed to evaluate the air quality, by determining the concentrations of PM2.5-10, PM2.5 and the metallic elements Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg in the leaf part of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in an area close to Schmidt Stream, at the lower section of Sinos River Basin (SRB), in a research campaign of six months, from October 2013 to March 2014. The particles collected in the PM sampling were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), in order to study their morphology and chemical composition. The mean concentration of PM2.5-10 was 9.1 µg m(-3), with a range of 2.2 µg m(-3) to 15.4 µg m(-3) and the mean concentration of PM2.5 was 4.7 µg m(-3), with a range of 1.9 µg m(-3) to 8.2 µg m(-3). Concentrations of metallic elements, especially Pb, Cr and Zn, were classified as Class 4 (very high pollution levels), according to the classification proposed by Klumpp et al. (2004). Chemical and morphological analysis of PM revealed the presence of particles of biological origin, soot (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb), salts (KCl) and soil resuspension (Al and Si). The integrated study methodology, employing environmental variables, such as PM and ryegrass, can be of help in the preparation of wide-ranging environmental diagnoses, in addition providing information needed to develop precautionary measures designed to minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution that takes into consideration the environment's supportive capacity and environmental quality.

Preliminary assessment of pseudo-total and bioavailable metals in depth in the sediment of Luíz Rau stream in Novo Hamburgo (RS) / Avaliação preliminar de metais pseudo-totais e biodisponíveis em profundidade no sedimento do arroio Luíz Rau em Novo Hamburgo (RS)

The Luíz Rau stream is one of the main streams of Novo Hamburgo. In the stream industrial effluents are released from various sectors, from paint and adhesive industries, metallurgy and leather industry, besides receiving a large amount of domestic sewage. The emissions of these pollutants contribute to decrease water and sediment quality. Within this context, this study evaluated the conditions of the Luíz Rau stream bed sediments, with the determination of the metals like cadmium, lead, chromium and nickel, in depth. To perform the evaluation three points were chosen for sampling along the stream course. The sampling sites were identified as Point A, in Roselândia district and this corresponds to one of the springs and therefore considered as reference value, Point B, in Santo Afonso district being a midpoint of the stream, and Point C also located in Santo Afonso district, near the outfall in Rio dos Sinos river. Cadmium was not detected in any point. At the A and C points chromium was the metal observed in higher concentration in the sediment, up to 45.14 mg kg–1 concentration. In the B point, the metal that was observed in the highest amount was nickel in the concentration of 20.69 mg kg–1.

Resumo O arroio Luíz Rau é um dos principais arroios de Novo Hamburgo, e um importante afluente do Rio dos Sinos. Nele são lançados efluentes industriais dos mais diversos setores, desde indústrias de tintas e adesivos, metalurgia e da indústria do couro, além de receber uma grande quantidade de esgoto doméstico. As emissões destes poluentes contribuem para uma diminuição na qualidade da água e dos sedimentos. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho avaliou as condições do sedimento do arroio Luíz Rau, com a determinação dos metais cádmio, chumbo, cromo e níquel em profundidade, nas formas pseudo-total e biodisponível. Para a realização desta avaliação, foram escolhidos três pontos para coleta de amostras ao longo do percurso do arroio. Os pontos foram identificados por Ponto A, no bairro Roselândia, sendo que este corresponde a uma das nascentes e por isso considerado como ponto branco, o Ponto B, no bairro Santo Afonso, sendo um ponto intermediário do arroio, e o Ponto C, também localizado no bairro Santo Afonso, próximo à foz, junto ao Rio dos Sinos. O cádmio não foi detectado em nenhum dos pontos amostrados. Nos pontos A e C, o cromo foi o metal observado em maior concentração no sedimento, com concentração de até 45,14 mg kg–1. Já no ponto B, o metal que foi observado em maior quantidade foi o níquel na concentração de 20,69 mg kg–1.

Preliminary assessment of pseudo-total and bioavailable metals in depth in the sediment of Luíz Rau stream in Novo Hamburgo (RS)

The Luíz Rau stream is one of the main streams of Novo Hamburgo. In the stream industrial effluents are released from various sectors, from paint and adhesive industries, metallurgy and leather industry, besides receiving a large amount of domestic sewage. The emissions of these pollutants contribute to decrease water and sediment quality. Within this context, this study evaluated the conditions of the Luíz Rau stream bed sediments, with the determination of the metals like cadmium, lead, chromium and nickel, in depth. To perform the evaluation three points were chosen for sampling along the stream course. The sampling sites were identified as Point A, in Roselândia district and this corresponds to one of the springs and therefore considered as reference value, Point B, in Santo Afonso district being a midpoint of the stream, and Point C also located in Santo Afonso district, near the outfall in Rio dos Sinos river. Cadmium was not detected in any point. At the A and C points chromium was the metal observed in higher concentration in the sediment, up to 45.14 mg kg1 concentration. In the B point, the metal that was observed in the highest amount was nickel in the concentration of 20.69 mg kg1.

Resumo O arroio Luíz Rau é um dos principais arroios de Novo Hamburgo, e um importante afluente do Rio dos Sinos. Nele são lançados efluentes industriais dos mais diversos setores, desde indústrias de tintas e adesivos, metalurgia e da indústria do couro, além de receber uma grande quantidade de esgoto doméstico. As emissões destes poluentes contribuem para uma diminuição na qualidade da água e dos sedimentos. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho avaliou as condições do sedimento do arroio Luíz Rau, com a determinação dos metais cádmio, chumbo, cromo e níquel em profundidade, nas formas pseudo-total e biodisponível. Para a realização desta avaliação, foram escolhidos três pontos para coleta de amostras ao longo do percurso do arroio. Os pontos foram identificados por Ponto A, no bairro Roselândia, sendo que este corresponde a uma das nascentes e por isso considerado como ponto branco, o Ponto B, no bairro Santo Afonso, sendo um ponto intermediário do arroio, e o Ponto C, também localizado no bairro Santo Afonso, próximo à foz, junto ao Rio dos Sinos. O cádmio não foi detectado em nenhum dos pontos amostrados. Nos pontos A e C, o cromo foi o metal observado em maior concentração no sedimento, com concentração de até 45,14 mg kg1. Já no ponto B, o metal que foi observado em maior quantidade foi o níquel na concentração de 20,69 mg kg1.

Concentrations of PM2.5-10 and PM2.5 and metallic elements around the Schmidt Stream area, in the Sinos River Basin, southern Brazil / Concentrações de MP2,5-10 e MP2,5 e elementos metálicos junto à área do Arroio Schmidt, na bacia do Rio dos Sinos, sul do Brasil

This research aimed to evaluate the air quality, by determining the concentrations of PM2.5-10, PM2.5 and the metallic elements Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg in the leaf part of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in an area close to Schmidt Stream, at the lower section of Sinos River Basin (SRB), in a research campaign of six months, from October 2013 to March 2014. The particles collected in the PM sampling were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), in order to study their morphology and chemical composition. The mean concentration of PM2.5-10 was 9.1 µg m–3, with a range of 2.2 µg m–3 to 15.4 µg m–3 and the mean concentration of PM2.5was 4.7 µg m–3, with a range of 1.9 µg m–3 to 8.2 µg m–3. Concentrations of metallic elements, especially Pb, Cr and Zn, were classified as Class 4 (very high pollution levels), according to the classification proposed by Klumpp et al. (2004). Chemical and morphological analysis of PM revealed the presence of particles of biological origin, soot (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb), salts (KCl) and soil resuspension (Al and Si). The integrated study methodology, employing environmental variables, such as PM and ryegrass, can be of help in the preparation of wide-ranging environmental diagnoses, in addition providing information needed to develop precautionary measures designed to minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution that takes into consideration the environment’s supportive capacity and environmental quality.

Resumo O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a qualidade do ar, por meio da determinação das concentrações do MP2,5-10, MP2,5 e dos elementos metálicos Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn e Hg na folha do azevém (Lolium multiflorum) em uma área próxima ao Arroio Schmidt, no trecho inferior da Bacia do Rio dos Sinos (BRS), em uma campanha de seis meses de pesquisa, de outubro de 2013 a março de 2014. As partículas coletadas na amostragem do MP foram analisadas por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV), combinada com Espectrometria de Energia Dispersiva de Raios X (EDS), a fim de estudar sua morfologia e composição química. As concentrações médias de MP2,5-10 e MP2,5 foram de 9,1 µg m–3 e 4,7 µg m–3, respectivamente. As concentrações médias dos elementos metálicos Pb, Cr e Zn na parte foliar do azevém foram de 13,58 mg kg–1, 5,26 mg kg–1 e 88,80 mg kg–1, respectivamente, caracterizando a área como Classe 4 (nível muito elevado de poluição), conforme classificação proposta por Klumpp et al. (2004). A caracterização química e morfológica das partículas coletadas revelou a presença de fuligem (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg e Pb), materiais biológicos, cristais salinos (KCl) e partículas ressuspensas de poeira do solo (Al e Si). Estudos integrados empregando variáveis ambientais como o MP e o biomonitoramento com azevém podem auxiliar na elaboração de diagnósticos ambientais robustos, além de fornecer informações para o desenvolvimento de medidas de precaução que considerem a capacidade de suporte do meio ambiente e que visem à minimização dos efeitos prejudiciais da poluição atmosférica.

Concentrations of PM2.5-10 and PM2.5 and metallic elements around the Schmidt Stream area, in the Sinos River Basin, southern Brazil

This research aimed to evaluate the air quality, by determining the concentrations of PM2.5-10, PM2.5 and the metallic elements Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg in the leaf part of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in an area close to Schmidt Stream, at the lower section of Sinos River Basin (SRB), in a research campaign of six months, from October 2013 to March 2014. The particles collected in the PM sampling were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), in order to study their morphology and chemical composition. The mean concentration of PM2.5-10 was 9.1 µg m3, with a range of 2.2 µg m3 to 15.4 µg m3 and the mean concentration of PM2.5was 4.7 µg m3, with a range of 1.9 µg m3 to 8.2 µg m3. Concentrations of metallic elements, especially Pb, Cr and Zn, were classified as Class 4 (very high pollution levels), according to the classification proposed by Klumpp et al. (2004). Chemical and morphological analysis of PM revealed the presence of particles of biological origin, soot (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb), salts (KCl) and soil resuspension (Al and Si). The integrated study methodology, employing environmental variables, such as PM and ryegrass, can be of help in the preparation of wide-ranging environmental diagnoses, in addition providing information needed to develop precautionary measures designed to minimize the effects of atmospheric pollution that takes into consideration the environments supportive capacity and environmental quality.

Resumo O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a qualidade do ar, por meio da determinação das concentrações do MP2,5-10, MP2,5 e dos elementos metálicos Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn e Hg na folha do azevém (Lolium multiflorum) em uma área próxima ao Arroio Schmidt, no trecho inferior da Bacia do Rio dos Sinos (BRS), em uma campanha de seis meses de pesquisa, de outubro de 2013 a março de 2014. As partículas coletadas na amostragem do MP foram analisadas por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV), combinada com Espectrometria de Energia Dispersiva de Raios X (EDS), a fim de estudar sua morfologia e composição química. As concentrações médias de MP2,5-10 e MP2,5 foram de 9,1 µg m3 e 4,7 µg m3, respectivamente. As concentrações médias dos elementos metálicos Pb, Cr e Zn na parte foliar do azevém foram de 13,58 mg kg1, 5,26 mg kg1 e 88,80 mg kg1, respectivamente, caracterizando a área como Classe 4 (nível muito elevado de poluição), conforme classificação proposta por Klumpp et al. (2004). A caracterização química e morfológica das partículas coletadas revelou a presença de fuligem (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, Hg e Pb), materiais biológicos, cristais salinos (KCl) e partículas ressuspensas de poeira do solo (Al e Si). Estudos integrados empregando variáveis ambientais como o MP e o biomonitoramento com azevém podem auxiliar na elaboração de diagnósticos ambientais robustos, além de fornecer informações para o desenvolvimento de medidas de precaução que considerem a capacidade de suporte do meio ambiente e que visem à minimização dos efeitos prejudiciais da poluição atmosférica.