Eun Bo Shim | Searcharxiv

arXiv2018

Pro-arrhythmogenic effects of heterogeneous tissue curvature: A suggestion for role of left atrial appendage in atrial fibrillation

Background: The arrhythmogenic role of atrial complex morphology has not yet been clearly elucidated. We hypothesized that bumpy tissue geometry can induce action potential duration (APD) dispersion and wavebreak in atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and Results: We simulated 2D-bumpy atrial model by varying the degree of bumpiness, and 3D-left atrial (LA) models integrated by LA computed tomographic (CT) images taken from 14 patients with persistent AF. We also analyzed wave-dynamic parameters with bipolar electrograms during AF and compared them with LA-CT geometry in 30 patients with persistent AF. In 2D-bumpy model, APD dispersion increased (p<0.001) and wavebreak occurred spontaneously when the surface bumpiness was higher, showing phase transition-like behavior (p<0.001). Bumpiness gradient 2D-model showed that spiral wave drifted in the direction of higher bumpiness, and phase singularity (PS) points were mostly located in areas with higher bumpiness. In 3D-LA model, PS density was higher in LA appendage (LAA) compared to other LA parts (p<0.05). In 30 persistent AF patients, the surface bumpiness of LAA was 5.8-times that of other LA parts (p<0.001), and exceeded critical bumpiness to induce wavebreak. Wave dynamics complexity parameters were consistently dominant in LAA (p<0.001). Conclusion: The bumpy tissue geometry promotes APD dispersion, wavebreak, and spiral wave drift in in silico human atrial tissue, and corresponds to clinical electro-anatomical maps.

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arXiv2007

Analyzing the Dynamic Relationship between Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis in a Two Dimensional Finite Element Model

Employing a novel two-dimensional computational model we have simulated the feedback between angiogenesis and tumor growth dynamics. Analyzing vessel formation and elongation towards the concentration gradient of the tumor-derived angiogenetic basic fibroblast growth factor, bFGF, we assumed that prior to the blood vessels reaching the tumor surface, the resulting pattern of tumor growth is symmetric, circular with a common center point. However, after the vessels reach the tumor surface, we assumed that the growth rate of that particular cancer region is accelerated compared to the tumor surface section that lacks neo-vascularization. Therefore, the resulting asymmetric tumor growth pattern is biased towards the site of the nourishing vessels. The simulation results show over time an increase in vessel density, a decrease in vessel branching length, and an increase in fracticality of the vascular branching architecture. Interestingly, over time the fractal dimension displayed a sigmoidal pattern with a reduced rate increase at earlier and later tumor growth stages due to distinct characteristics in vessel length and density. The finding that, at later stages, higher vascular fracticality resulted in a marked increase of tumor slice volume provides further in silico evidence for a functional impact of vascular patterns on cancer growth.

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