Journal Description
Bioengineering
Bioengineering
is an international, scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal on the science and technology of bioengineering, published monthly online by MDPI. The Society for Regenerative Medicine (Russian Federation) (RPO) is affiliated with Bioengineering and its members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, CAPlus / SciFinder, Inspec, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Biomedical)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 17.7 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
4.6 (2022)
Latest Articles
The Role of AI in Hospitals and Clinics: Transforming Healthcare in the 21st Century
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 337; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040337 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
As healthcare systems around the world face challenges such as escalating costs, limited access, and growing demand for personalized care, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a key force for transformation. This review is motivated by the urgent need to harness AI’s potential
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As healthcare systems around the world face challenges such as escalating costs, limited access, and growing demand for personalized care, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a key force for transformation. This review is motivated by the urgent need to harness AI’s potential to mitigate these issues and aims to critically assess AI’s integration in different healthcare domains. We explore how AI empowers clinical decision-making, optimizes hospital operation and management, refines medical image analysis, and revolutionizes patient care and monitoring through AI-powered wearables. Through several case studies, we review how AI has transformed specific healthcare domains and discuss the remaining challenges and possible solutions. Additionally, we will discuss methodologies for assessing AI healthcare solutions, ethical challenges of AI deployment, and the importance of data privacy and bias mitigation for responsible technology use. By presenting a critical assessment of AI’s transformative potential, this review equips researchers with a deeper understanding of AI’s current and future impact on healthcare. It encourages an interdisciplinary dialogue between researchers, clinicians, and technologists to navigate the complexities of AI implementation, fostering the development of AI-driven solutions that prioritize ethical standards, equity, and a patient-centered approach.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Scenes of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Research: Latest Information and Future Directions 2.0)
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A Finite Element Analysis Study of Edentulous Model with Complete Denture to Simulate Masticatory Movement
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Jeong-Hyeon Lee, Jeong-Hee Seo, Shin-Wook Park, Won-Gi Kim, Tae-Gon Jung and Sung-Jae Lee
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 336; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040336 - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The purposes of this study are to establish and validate a finite element (FE) model using finite element analysis methods and to identify optimal loading conditions to simulate masticatory movement. A three-dimensional FE model of the maxillary and mandibular cortical bone, cancellous bone,
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The purposes of this study are to establish and validate a finite element (FE) model using finite element analysis methods and to identify optimal loading conditions to simulate masticatory movement. A three-dimensional FE model of the maxillary and mandibular cortical bone, cancellous bone, and gingiva was constructed based on edentulous cone-beam-computed tomography data. Dental computer-aided design software was used to design the denture base and artificial teeth to produce a complete denture. Mesh convergence was performed to derive the optimal mesh size, and validation was conducted through comparison with mechanical test results. The mandible was rotated step-by-step to induce movements similar to actual mastication. Results showed that there was less than a 6% difference between the mechanical test and the alveolar bone-complete denture. It opened 10° as set in the first stage, confirming that the mouth closed 7° in the second stage. Occlusal contact occurred between the upper and lower artificial teeth as the mouth closed the remaining angle of 3° in the third stage while activating the masseter muscle. These results indicate that the FE model and masticatory loading conditions developed in this study can be applied to analyze biomechanical effects according to the wearing of dentures with various design elements applied.
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(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials)
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Applying Self-Supervised Learning to Image Quality Assessment in Chest CT Imaging
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Eléonore Pouget and Véronique Dedieu
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 335; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040335 - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Many new reconstruction techniques have been deployed to allow low-dose CT examinations. Such reconstruction techniques exhibit nonlinear properties, which strengthen the need for a task-based measure of image quality. The Hotelling observer (HO) is the optimal linear observer and provides a lower bound
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Many new reconstruction techniques have been deployed to allow low-dose CT examinations. Such reconstruction techniques exhibit nonlinear properties, which strengthen the need for a task-based measure of image quality. The Hotelling observer (HO) is the optimal linear observer and provides a lower bound of the Bayesian ideal observer detection performance. However, its computational complexity impedes its widespread practical usage. To address this issue, we proposed a self-supervised learning (SSL)-based model observer to provide accurate estimates of HO performance in very low-dose chest CT images. Our approach involved a two-stage model combining a convolutional denoising auto-encoder (CDAE) for feature extraction and dimensionality reduction and a support vector machine for classification. To evaluate this approach, we conducted signal detection tasks employing chest CT images with different noise structures generated by computer-based simulations. We compared this approach with two supervised learning-based methods: a single-layer neural network (SLNN) and a convolutional neural network (CNN). The results showed that the CDAE-based model was able to achieve similar detection performance to the HO. In addition, it outperformed both SLNN and CNN when a reduced number of training images was considered. The proposed approach holds promise for optimizing low-dose CT protocols across scanner platforms.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advance of Machine Learning in Biomedical Image Analysis)
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Simultaneous High-Speed Video Laryngoscopy and Acoustic Aerodynamic Recordings during Vocal Onset of Variable Sound Pressure Level: A Preliminary Study
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Peak Woo
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 334; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040334 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Voicing: requires frequent starts and stops at various sound pressure levels (SPL) and frequencies. Prior investigations using rigid laryngoscopy with oral endoscopy have shown variations in the duration of the vibration delay between normal and abnormal subjects. However, these studies were not physiological
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Voicing: requires frequent starts and stops at various sound pressure levels (SPL) and frequencies. Prior investigations using rigid laryngoscopy with oral endoscopy have shown variations in the duration of the vibration delay between normal and abnormal subjects. However, these studies were not physiological because the larynx was viewed using rigid endoscopes. We adapted a method to perform to perform simultaneous high-speed naso-endoscopic video while simultaneously acquiring the sound pressure, fundamental frequency, airflow rate, and subglottic pressure. This study aimed to investigate voice onset patterns in normophonic males and females during the onset of variable SPL and correlate them with acoustic and aerodynamic data. Materials and Methods: Three healthy males and three healthy females were studied by simultaneous high-speed video laryngoscopy and recording with the production of the gesture [pa:pa:] at soft, medium, and loud voices. The fiber optic endoscope was threaded through a pneumotachograph mask for the simultaneous recording and analysis of acoustic and aerodynamic data. Results: The average increase in the sound pressure level (SPL) for the group was 15 dB, from 70 to 85 dB. The fundamental frequency increased by an average of 10 Hz. The flow was increased in two subjects, reduced in two subjects, and remained the same in two subjects as the SPL increased. There was a steady increase in the subglottic pressure from soft to loud phonation. Compared to soft to medium phonation, a significant increase in glottal resistance was observed with medium-to-loud phonation. Videokymogram analysis showed the onset of vibration for all voiced tokens without the need for full glottis closure. In loud phonation, there is a more rapid onset of a larger amplitude and prolonged closure of the glottal cycle; however, more cycles are required to achieve the intended SPL. There was a prolonged closed phase during loud phonation. Fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis of the kymography waveform signal showed a more significant second- and third-harmonic energy above the fundamental frequency with loud phonation. There was an increase in the adjustments in the pharynx with the base of the tongue tilting, shortening of the vocal folds, and pharyngeal constriction. Conclusion: Voice onset occurs in all modalities, without the need for full glottal closure. There was a more significant increase in glottal resistance with loud phonation than that with soft or middle phonation. Vibration analysis of the voice onset showed that more time was required during loud phonation before the oscillation stabilized to a steady state. With increasing SPL, there were significant variations in vocal tract adjustments. The most apparent change was the increase in tongue tension with posterior displacement of the epiglottis. There was an increase in pre-phonation time during loud phonation. Patterns of muscle tension dysphonia with laryngeal squeezing, shortening of the vocal folds, and epiglottis tilting with increasing loudness are features of loud phonation. These observations show that flexible high-speed video laryngoscopy can reveal observations that cannot be observed with rigid video laryngoscopy. An objective analysis of the digital kymography signal can be conducted in selected cases.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biophysics of Vocal Onset)
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Multiphotonic Ablation and Electro-Capacitive Effects Exhibited by Candida albicans Biofilms
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Jose Alberto Arano-Martinez, José Alejandro Hernández-Benítez, Hilario Martines-Arano, Aída Verónica Rodríguez-Tovar, Martin Trejo-Valdez, Blanca Estela García-Pérez and Carlos Torres-Torres
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 333; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040333 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
This work reports the modification in the homogeneity of ablation effects with the assistance of nonlinear optical phenomena exhibited by C. albicans ATCC 10231, forming a biofilm. Equivalent optical energies with different levels of intensity were irradiated in comparative samples, and significant changes
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This work reports the modification in the homogeneity of ablation effects with the assistance of nonlinear optical phenomena exhibited by C. albicans ATCC 10231, forming a biofilm. Equivalent optical energies with different levels of intensity were irradiated in comparative samples, and significant changes were observed. Nanosecond pulses provided by an Nd:YAG laser system at a 532 nm wavelength in a single-beam experiment were employed to explore the photodamage and the nonlinear optical transmittance. A nonlinear optical absorption coefficient −2 × 10−6 cm/W was measured in the samples studied. It is reported that multiphotonic interactions can promote more symmetric optical damage derived by faster changes in the evolution of fractional photoenergy transference. The electrochemical response of the sample was studied to further investigate the electronic dynamics dependent on electrical frequency, and an electro-capacitive behavior in the sample was identified. Fractional differential calculations were proposed to describe the thermal transport induced by nanosecond pulses in the fungi media. These results highlight the nonlinear optical effects to be considered as a base for developing photothermally activated phototechnology and high-precision photodamage in biological systems.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Thermal Therapy)
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Three-Dimensional Microfibrous Scaffold with Aligned Topography Produced via a Combination of Melt-Extrusion Additive Manufacturing and Porogen Leaching for In Vitro Skeletal Muscle Modeling
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Mattia Spedicati, Alice Zoso, Leonardo Mortati, Valeria Chiono, Elena Marcello and Irene Carmagnola
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 332; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040332 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Skeletal muscle tissue (SMT) has a highly hierarchical and anisotropic morphology, featuring aligned and parallel structures at multiple levels. Various factors, including trauma and disease conditions, can compromise the functionality of skeletal muscle. The in vitro modeling of SMT represents a useful tool
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Skeletal muscle tissue (SMT) has a highly hierarchical and anisotropic morphology, featuring aligned and parallel structures at multiple levels. Various factors, including trauma and disease conditions, can compromise the functionality of skeletal muscle. The in vitro modeling of SMT represents a useful tool for testing novel drugs and therapies. The successful replication of SMT native morphology demands scaffolds with an aligned anisotropic 3D architecture. In this work, a 3D PCL fibrous scaffold with aligned morphology was developed through the synergistic combination of Melt-Extrusion Additive Manufacturing (MEAM) and porogen leaching, utilizing PCL as the bulk material and PEG as the porogen. PCL/PEG blends with different polymer ratios (60/40, 50/50, 40/60) were produced and characterized through a DSC analysis. The MEAM process parameters and porogen leaching in bi-distilled water allowed for the development of a micrometric anisotropic fibrous structure with fiber diameters ranging from 10 to 100 µm, depending on PCL/PEG blend ratios. The fibrous scaffolds were coated with Gelatin type A to achieve a biomimetic coating for an in vitro cell culture and mechanically characterized via AFM. The 40/60 PCL/PEG scaffolds yielded the most homogeneous and smallest fibers and the greatest physiological stiffness. In vitro cell culture studies were performed by seeding C2C12 cells onto a selected scaffold, enabling their attachment, alignment, and myotube formation along the PCL fibers during a 14-day culture period. The resultant anisotropic scaffold morphology promoted SMT-like cell conformation, establishing a versatile platform for developing in vitro models of tissues with anisotropic morphology.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Approaches in 3D in vitro Systems)
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Deciphering Metabolic Pathways in High-Seeding-Density Fed-Batch Processes for Monoclonal Antibody Production: A Computational Modeling Perspective
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Carolin Bokelmann, Alireza Ehsani, Jochen Schaub and Fabian Stiefel
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 331; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040331 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Due to their high specificity, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have garnered significant attention in recent decades, with advancements in production processes, such as high-seeding-density (HSD) strategies, contributing to improved titers. This study provides a thorough investigation of high seeding processes for mAb production in
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Due to their high specificity, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have garnered significant attention in recent decades, with advancements in production processes, such as high-seeding-density (HSD) strategies, contributing to improved titers. This study provides a thorough investigation of high seeding processes for mAb production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, focused on identifying significant metabolites and their interactions. We observed high glycolytic fluxes, the depletion of asparagine, and a shift from lactate production to consumption. Using a metabolic network and flux analysis, we compared the standard fed-batch (STD FB) with HSD cultivations, exploring supplementary lactate and cysteine, and a bolus medium enriched with amino acids. We reconstructed a metabolic network and kinetic models based on the observations and explored the effects of different feeding strategies on CHO cell metabolism. Our findings revealed that the addition of a bolus medium (BM) containing asparagine improved final titers. However, increasing the asparagine concentration in the feed further prevented the lactate shift, indicating a need to find a balance between increased asparagine to counteract limitations and lower asparagine to preserve the shift in lactate metabolism.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Modeling and Engineering)
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Investigation of Deconvolution Method with Adaptive Point Spread Function Based on Scintillator Thickness in Wavelet Domain
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Kyuseok Kim, Bo Kyung Cha, Hyun-Woo Jeong and Youngjin Lee
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 330; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040330 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
In recent years, indirect digital radiography detectors have been actively studied to improve radiographic image performance with low radiation exposure. This study aimed to achieve low-dose radiation imaging with a thick scintillation detector while simultaneously obtaining the resolution of a thin scintillation detector.
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In recent years, indirect digital radiography detectors have been actively studied to improve radiographic image performance with low radiation exposure. This study aimed to achieve low-dose radiation imaging with a thick scintillation detector while simultaneously obtaining the resolution of a thin scintillation detector. The proposed method was used to predict the optimal point spread function (PSF) between thin and thick scintillation detectors by considering image quality assessment (IQA). The process of identifying the optimal PSF was performed on each sub-band in the wavelet domain to improve restoration accuracy. In the experiments, the edge preservation index (EPI) values of the non-blind deblurred image with a blurring sigma of σ = 5.13 pixels and the image obtained with optimal parameters from the thick scintillator using the proposed method were approximately 0.62 and 0.76, respectively. The coefficient of variation (COV) values for the two images were approximately 1.02 and 0.63, respectively. The proposed method was validated through simulations and experimental results, and its viability is expected to be verified on various radiological imaging systems.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radiological Imaging and Its Applications)
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Fabrication of a Novel 3D Extrusion Bioink Containing Processed Human Articular Cartilage Matrix for Cartilage Tissue Engineering
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Alexandra Hunter Aitchison, Nicholas B. Allen, Isabel R. Shaffrey, Conor N. O’Neill, Bijan Abar, Albert T. Anastasio and Samuel B. Adams
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 329; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040329 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Cartilage damage presents a significant clinical challenge due to its intrinsic avascular nature which limits self-repair. Addressing this, our study focuses on an alginate-based bioink, integrating human articular cartilage, for cartilage tissue engineering. This novel bioink was formulated by encapsulating C20A4 human articular
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Cartilage damage presents a significant clinical challenge due to its intrinsic avascular nature which limits self-repair. Addressing this, our study focuses on an alginate-based bioink, integrating human articular cartilage, for cartilage tissue engineering. This novel bioink was formulated by encapsulating C20A4 human articular chondrocytes in sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, gum arabic, and cartilage extracellular matrix powder sourced from allograft femoral condyle shavings. Using a 3D bioprinter, constructs were biofabricated and cross-linked, followed by culture in standard medium. Evaluations were conducted on cellular viability and gene expression at various stages. Results indicated that the printed constructs maintained a porous structure conducive to cell growth. Cellular viability was 87% post printing, which decreased to 76% after seven days, and significantly recovered to 86% by day 14. There was also a notable upregulation of chondrogenic genes, COL2A1 (p = 0.008) and SOX9 (p = 0.021), suggesting an enhancement in cartilage formation. This study concludes that the innovative bioink shows promise for cartilage regeneration, demonstrating substantial viability and gene expression conducive to repair and suggesting its potential for future therapeutic applications in cartilage repair.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials in Bone and Cartilage Tissue Engineering)
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Natural Killer Cell Mechanosensing in Solid Tumors
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Suzanne Lightsey and Blanka Sharma
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 328; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040328 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, which are an exciting alternative cell source for cancer immunotherapies, must sense and respond to their physical environment to traffic to and eliminate cancer cells. Herein, we review the mechanisms by which NK cells receive mechanical signals and explore
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Natural killer (NK) cells, which are an exciting alternative cell source for cancer immunotherapies, must sense and respond to their physical environment to traffic to and eliminate cancer cells. Herein, we review the mechanisms by which NK cells receive mechanical signals and explore recent key findings regarding the impact of the physical characteristics of solid tumors on NK cell functions. Data suggest that different mechanical stresses present in solid tumors facilitate NK cell functions, especially infiltration and degranulation. Moreover, we review recent engineering advances that can be used to systemically study the role of mechanical forces on NK cell activity. Understanding the mechanisms by which NK cells interpret their environment presents potential targets to enhance NK cell immunotherapies for the treatment of solid tumors.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanobiology and Cell Mechanics in Biology and Diseases)
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Digital Templating of Hip Arthroplasty Using Microsoft PowerPoint: A Pilot Study with Technical Details
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Yonghan Cha, Jun Young Chung, Jin-Woo Kim, Jun-Il Yoo, Woohyun Lee and Jung-Taek Kim
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 327; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040327 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Templating is essential in hip arthroplasty preparation, facilitating implant size prediction and surgical rehearsal. It ensures the selection of suitable implants according to patient anatomy and disease, aiming to minimize post-operative complications. Various templating methods exist, including traditional acetate templating on both analog
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Templating is essential in hip arthroplasty preparation, facilitating implant size prediction and surgical rehearsal. It ensures the selection of suitable implants according to patient anatomy and disease, aiming to minimize post-operative complications. Various templating methods exist, including traditional acetate templating on both analog and digital images, alongside digital templating on digital images, which is categorized into 2D and 3D approaches. Despite the popularity of acetate templating on digital images, challenges such as the requirement for physical templates and result preservation persist. To address these limitations, digital templating with software like OrthoSize and Orthoview has been suggested, although not universally accessible. This technical note advocates for Microsoft PowerPoint as an effective alternative for 2D digital templating, highlighting its user-friendly features for image manipulation without needing specialized software. The described method involves scanning acetate templates, adjusting the images in PowerPoint 365 for size, position, and calibration on patient radiographs, and demonstrating reliability through preliminary assessments, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values indicating a high level of agreement for cup and stem size (ICC = 0.860, 0.841, respectively) but moderate for neck length (ICC = 0.592). We have introduced a method for performing 2D digital templating in the clinical field without the need for specialized software dedicated to digital templating. We believe this method significantly improves the accessibility to 2D digital templating, which was previously limited by the need for digital templating software. Additionally, it enables surgeons to easily establish arthroplasty plans and share them, overcoming the limitations of acetate templates.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Total Joint Arthroplasty: Technical Developments and Applications)
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Evaluation of Different Procedures for Titanium Dental Implant Surface Decontamination—In Vitro Study
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Ante Jordan, Igor Smojver, Ana Budimir, Dragana Gabrić and Marko Vuletić
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 326; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040326 - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Polymicrobial biofilm removal and decontamination of the implant surface is the most important goal in the treatment of periimplantitis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of four different decontamination methods for removing Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in
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Polymicrobial biofilm removal and decontamination of the implant surface is the most important goal in the treatment of periimplantitis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of four different decontamination methods for removing Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in vitro. Seventy-five dental implants were contaminated with a bacterial suspension and randomly divided into five groups (n = 15): the negative control group, which received no treatment; the positive control group, treated with 0.2% chlorhexidine; group 1, treated with a chitosan brush (Labrida BioCleanTM, Labrida AS, Oslo, Norway); group 2, treated with a chitosan brush and 0.2% chlorhexidine; and group 3, treated with a device based on the electrolytic cleaning method (GalvoSurge, GalvoSurge Dental AG, Widnau, Switzerland). The colony-forming unit (CFU) count was used to assess the number of viable bacteria in each sample, and statistical analyses were performed. When compared to the negative control group, all the decontamination methods reduced the CFU count. The electrolytic cleaning method decontaminated the implant surface more effectively than the other three procedures, while the chitosan brush was the least effective. Further research in more realistic settings is required to assess the efficacy of the decontamination procedures described in this study.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Titanium Implant and Its Cleaning/Decontamination Techniques)
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Endothelial Reprogramming in Atherosclerosis
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Lu Zhang, Xin Wu and Liang Hong
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 325; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040325 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a severe vascular disease that results in millions of cases of mortality each year. The development of atherosclerosis is associated with vascular structural lesions, characterized by the accumulation of immune cells, mesenchymal cells, lipids, and an extracellular matrix at the
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Atherosclerosis (AS) is a severe vascular disease that results in millions of cases of mortality each year. The development of atherosclerosis is associated with vascular structural lesions, characterized by the accumulation of immune cells, mesenchymal cells, lipids, and an extracellular matrix at the intimal resulting in the formation of an atheromatous plaque. AS involves complex interactions among various cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells (ECs), and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Endothelial dysfunction plays an essential role in the initiation and progression of AS. Endothelial dysfunction can encompass a constellation of various non-adaptive dynamic alterations of biology and function, termed “endothelial reprogramming”. This phenomenon involves transitioning from a quiescent, anti-inflammatory state to a pro-inflammatory and proatherogenic state and alterations in endothelial cell identity, such as endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and endothelial-to-immune cell-like transition (EndIT). Targeting these processes to restore endothelial balance and prevent cell identity shifts, alongside modulating epigenetic factors, can attenuate atherosclerosis progression. In the present review, we discuss the role of endothelial cells in AS and summarize studies in endothelial reprogramming associated with the pathogenesis of AS.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
Open AccessArticle
A Novel Metric for Alzheimer’s Disease Detection Based on Brain Complexity Analysis via Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy
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Andrea Cataldo, Sabatina Criscuolo, Egidio De Benedetto, Antonio Masciullo, Marisa Pesola and Raissa Schiavoni
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 324; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040324 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that affects cognitive functioning and memory. Current diagnostic tools, including neuroimaging techniques and cognitive questionnaires, present limitations such as invasiveness, high costs, and subjectivity. In recent years, interest has grown in using electroencephalography (EEG) for
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that affects cognitive functioning and memory. Current diagnostic tools, including neuroimaging techniques and cognitive questionnaires, present limitations such as invasiveness, high costs, and subjectivity. In recent years, interest has grown in using electroencephalography (EEG) for AD detection due to its non-invasiveness, low cost, and high temporal resolution. In this regard, this work introduces a novel metric for AD detection by using multiscale fuzzy entropy (MFE) to assess brain complexity, offering clinicians an objective, cost-effective diagnostic tool to aid early intervention and patient care. To this purpose, brain entropy patterns in different frequency bands for 35 healthy subjects (HS) and 35 AD patients were investigated. Then, based on the resulting MFE values, a specific detection algorithm, able to assess brain complexity abnormalities that are typical of AD, was developed and further validated on 24 EEG test recordings. This MFE-based method achieved an accuracy of 83% in differentiating between HS and AD, with a diagnostic odds ratio of 25, and a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.67, indicating its viability for AD diagnosis. Furthermore, the algorithm showed potential for identifying anomalies in brain complexity when tested on a subject with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), warranting further investigation in future research.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomedical Instrumentation: Diagnosis, Therapy, and Rehabilitation (Featuring Selected Contributions Presented at the BEI-2023 Conference))
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Qualitative Exploration of Anesthesia Providers’ Perceptions Regarding Philips Visual Patient Avatar in Clinical Practice
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Cynthia A. Hunn, Justyna Lunkiewicz, Christoph B. Noethiger, David W. Tscholl and Greta Gasciauskaite
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 323; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040323 - 27 Mar 2024
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The Philips Visual Patient Avatar, a user-centered visualization technology, offers an alternative approach to patient monitoring. Computer-based simulation studies indicate that it increases diagnostic accuracy and confidence, while reducing perceived workload. About three months after the technology’s integration into clinical practice, we conducted
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The Philips Visual Patient Avatar, a user-centered visualization technology, offers an alternative approach to patient monitoring. Computer-based simulation studies indicate that it increases diagnostic accuracy and confidence, while reducing perceived workload. About three months after the technology’s integration into clinical practice, we conducted an assessment among anesthesia providers to determine their views on its strengths, limitations, and overall perceptions. This single-center qualitative study at the University Hospital of Zurich examined anesthesia providers’ perceptions of the Philips Visual Patient Avatar after its implementation. The study included an online survey to identify medical personnel’s opinions on the technology’s strengths and areas for improvement, which were analyzed using thematic analysis. A total of 63 of the 377 invited anesthesia providers (16.7%) responded to the survey. Overall, 163 comments were collected. The most prevalent positive themes were good presentation of specific parameters (16/163; 9.8%) and quick overview/rapid identification of problems (15/163; 9.2%). The most common perceived area for improvement was the ability to adjust the visualization thresholds of Visual Patient Avatar, which represent the physiological upper and lower vital-sign limits (33/163; 20.3%). The study showed that users consider Philips Visual Patient Avatar a valuable asset in anesthesia, allowing for easier identification of underlying problems. However, the study also revealed a user desire for the ability to freely adjust the thresholds of the Visual Patient Avatar by the handling caregivers, which were fixed to the departmental standard during the study.
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AutoEpiCollect, a Novel Machine Learning-Based GUI Software for Vaccine Design: Application to Pan-Cancer Vaccine Design Targeting PIK3CA Neoantigens
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Madhav Samudrala, Sindhusri Dhaveji, Kush Savsani and Sivanesan Dakshanamurthy
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 322; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040322 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
Previous epitope-based cancer vaccines have focused on analyzing a limited number of mutated epitopes and clinical variables preliminarily to experimental trials. As a result, relatively few positive clinical outcomes have been observed in epitope-based cancer vaccines. Further efforts are required to diversify the
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Previous epitope-based cancer vaccines have focused on analyzing a limited number of mutated epitopes and clinical variables preliminarily to experimental trials. As a result, relatively few positive clinical outcomes have been observed in epitope-based cancer vaccines. Further efforts are required to diversify the selection of mutated epitopes tailored to cancers with different genetic signatures. To address this, we developed the first version of AutoEpiCollect, a user-friendly GUI software, capable of generating safe and immunogenic epitopes from missense mutations in any oncogene of interest. This software incorporates a novel, machine learning-driven epitope ranking method, leveraging a probabilistic logistic regression model that is trained on experimental T-cell assay data. Users can freely download AutoEpiCollectGUI with its user guide for installing and running the software on GitHub. We used AutoEpiCollect to design a pan-cancer vaccine targeting missense mutations found in the proto-oncogene PIK3CA, which encodes the p110ɑ catalytic subunit of the PI3K kinase protein. We selected PIK3CA as our gene target due to its widespread prevalence as an oncokinase across various cancer types and its lack of presence as a gene target in clinical trials. After entering 49 distinct point mutations into AutoEpiCollect, we acquired 361 MHC Class I epitope/HLA pairs and 219 MHC Class II epitope/HLA pairs. From the 49 input point mutations, we identified MHC Class I epitopes targeting 34 of these mutations and MHC Class II epitopes targeting 11 mutations. Furthermore, to assess the potential impact of our pan-cancer vaccine, we employed PCOptim and PCOptim-CD to streamline our epitope list and attain optimized vaccine population coverage. We achieved a world population coverage of 98.09% for MHC Class I data and 81.81% for MHC Class II data. We used three of our predicted immunogenic epitopes to further construct 3D models of peptide-HLA and peptide-HLA-TCR complexes to analyze the epitope binding potential and TCR interactions. Future studies could aim to validate AutoEpiCollect’s vaccine design in murine models affected by PIK3CA-mutated or other mutated tumor cells located in various tissue types. AutoEpiCollect streamlines the preclinical vaccine development process, saving time for thorough testing of vaccinations in experimental trials.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Machine Learning Technology in Biomedical Engineering—2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Optimized Decellularization of a Porcine Fasciocutaneaous Flap
by
Elise Lupon, Aylin Acun, Corentin B. Taveau, Ruben Oganesyan, Hyshem H. Lancia, Alec R. Andrews, Mark A. Randolph, Curtis L. Cetrulo, Jr., Alexandre G. Lellouch and Basak E. Uygun
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 321; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040321 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
Reconstructive techniques to repair severe tissue defects include the use of autologous fasciocutaneous flaps, which may be limited due to donor site availability or lead to complications such as donor site morbidity. A number of synthetic or natural dermal substitutes are in use
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Reconstructive techniques to repair severe tissue defects include the use of autologous fasciocutaneous flaps, which may be limited due to donor site availability or lead to complications such as donor site morbidity. A number of synthetic or natural dermal substitutes are in use clinically, but none have the architectural complexity needed to reconstruct deep tissue defects. The perfusion decellularization of fasciocutaneous flaps is an emerging technique that yields a scaffold with the necessary composition and vascular microarchitecture and serves as an alternative to autologous flaps. In this study, we show the perfusion decellularization of porcine fasciocutaneous flaps using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at three different concentrations, and identify that 0.2% SDS results in a decellularized flap that is efficiently cleared of its cellular material at 86%, has maintained its collagen and glycosaminoglycan content, and preserved its microvasculature architecture. We further demonstrate that the decellularized graft has the porous structure and growth factors that would facilitate repopulation with cells. Finally, we show the biocompatibility of the decellularized flap using human dermal fibroblasts, with cells migrating as deep as 150 µm into the tissue over a 7-day culture period. Overall, our results demonstrate the promise of decellularized porcine flaps as an interesting alternative for reconstructing complex soft tissue defects, circumventing the limitations of autologous skin flaps.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vascularized Composite Tissue Engineering (VCE): An Emerging Field in Regenerative Transplantation)
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Nonthermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment of Endosteal Implants for Osseointegration and Antimicrobial Efficacy: A Comprehensive Review
by
Sogand Schafer, Tina Swain, Marcelo Parra, Blaire V. Slavin, Nicholas A. Mirsky, Vasudev Vivekanand Nayak, Lukasz Witek and Paulo G. Coelho
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 320; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040320 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
The energy state of endosteal implants is dependent on the material, manufacturing technique, cleaning procedure, sterilization method, and surgical manipulation. An implant surface carrying a positive charge renders hydrophilic properties, thereby facilitating the absorption of vital plasma proteins crucial for osteogenic interactions. Techniques
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The energy state of endosteal implants is dependent on the material, manufacturing technique, cleaning procedure, sterilization method, and surgical manipulation. An implant surface carrying a positive charge renders hydrophilic properties, thereby facilitating the absorption of vital plasma proteins crucial for osteogenic interactions. Techniques to control the surface charge involve processes like oxidation, chemical and topographical adjustments as well as the application of nonthermal plasma (NTP) treatment. NTP at atmospheric pressure and at room temperature can induce chemical and/or physical reactions that enhance wettability through surface energy changes. NTP has thus been used to modify the oxide layer of endosteal implants that interface with adjacent tissue cells and proteins. Results have indicated that if applied prior to implantation, NTP strengthens the interaction with surrounding hard tissue structures during the critical phases of early healing, thereby promoting rapid bone formation. Also, during this time period, NTP has been found to result in enhanced biomechanical fixation. As such, the application of NTP may serve as a practical and reliable method to improve healing outcomes. This review aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the parameters to be considered in the application of NTP on endosteal implants. In addition, the short- and long-term effects of NTP on osseointegration are addressed, as well as recent advances in the utilization of NTP in the treatment of periodontal disease.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Titanium Implant and Its Cleaning/Decontamination Techniques)
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Open AccessArticle
Age Encoded Adversarial Learning for Pediatric CT Segmentation
by
Saba Heidari Gheshlaghi, Chi Nok Enoch Kan, Taly Gilat Schmidt and Dong Hye Ye
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 319; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040319 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
Organ segmentation from CT images is critical in the early diagnosis of diseases, progress monitoring, pre-operative planning, radiation therapy planning, and CT dose estimation. However, data limitation remains one of the main challenges in medical image segmentation tasks. This challenge is particularly huge
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Organ segmentation from CT images is critical in the early diagnosis of diseases, progress monitoring, pre-operative planning, radiation therapy planning, and CT dose estimation. However, data limitation remains one of the main challenges in medical image segmentation tasks. This challenge is particularly huge in pediatric CT segmentation due to children’s heightened sensitivity to radiation. In order to address this issue, we propose a novel segmentation framework with a built-in auxiliary classifier generative adversarial network (ACGAN) that conditions age, simultaneously generating additional features during training. The proposed conditional feature generation segmentation network (CFG-SegNet) was trained on a single loss function and used 2.5D segmentation batches. Our experiment was performed on a dataset with 359 subjects (180 male and 179 female) aged from 5 days to 16 years and a mean age of 7 years. CFG-SegNet achieved an average segmentation accuracy of 0.681 dice similarity coefficient (DSC) on the prostate, 0.619 DSC on the uterus, 0.912 DSC on the liver, and 0.832 DSC on the heart with four-fold cross-validation. We compared the segmentation accuracy of our proposed method with previously published U-Net results, and our network improved the segmentation accuracy by , , , and for the prostate, uterus, liver, and heart, respectively. The results indicate that our high-performing segmentation framework can more precisely segment organs when limited training images are available.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Biomedical Image Processing)
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A Comparative Analysis of Artificial Intelligence and Manual Methods for Three-Dimensional Anatomical Landmark Identification in Dentofacial Treatment Planning
by
Hee-Ju Ahn, Soo-Hwan Byun, Sae-Hoon Baek, Sang-Yoon Park, Sang-Min Yi, In-Young Park, Sung-Woon On, Jong-Cheol Kim and Byoung-Eun Yang
Bioengineering 2024, 11(4), 318; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bioengineering11040318 - 27 Mar 2024
Abstract
With the growing demand for orthognathic surgery and other facial treatments, the accurate identification of anatomical landmarks has become crucial. Recent advancements have shifted towards using three-dimensional radiologic analysis instead of traditional two-dimensional methods, as it allows for more precise treatment planning, primarily
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With the growing demand for orthognathic surgery and other facial treatments, the accurate identification of anatomical landmarks has become crucial. Recent advancements have shifted towards using three-dimensional radiologic analysis instead of traditional two-dimensional methods, as it allows for more precise treatment planning, primarily relying on direct identification by clinicians. However, manual tracing can be time-consuming, mainly when dealing with a large number of patients. This study compared the accuracy and reliability of identifying anatomical landmarks using artificial intelligence (AI) and manual identification. Thirty patients over 19 years old who underwent pre-orthodontic and orthognathic surgery treatment and had pre-orthodontic three-dimensional radiologic scans were selected. Thirteen anatomical indicators were identified using both AI and manual methods. The landmarks were identified by AI and four experienced clinicians, and multiple ANOVA was performed to analyze the results. The study results revealed minimal significant differences between AI and manual tracing, with a maximum deviation of less than 2.83 mm. This indicates that utilizing AI to identify anatomical landmarks can be a reliable method in planning orthognathic surgery. Our findings suggest that using AI for anatomical landmark identification can enhance treatment accuracy and reliability, ultimately benefiting clinicians and patients.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI-Powered Diagnosis and Treatment Plans in Dentistry and Orofacial Fields)
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