Technology and Health Care - Volume 31, issue 4

Authors: Wang, Yong Feng | He, Rui Jing | Yuan, Xiao Juan | Wang, Xiao Min | Liang, Tao | Cui, Zhi Qiang | Liu, Jian Xia

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Standardized chemotherapy for breast cancer can improve the survival of patients, but during the process, it is accompanied by a variety of symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To explore the dynamic changes of symptoms and quality of life in breast cancer patients at different time points during chemotherapy, and to explore the correlation with quality of life. METHOD: A prospective study method was used to collect 120 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy as the research objects. The general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the M.D. Anderson Symptom inventory (MDASI-C), and the European Organization for …Cancer Research and Treatment (EORTC) Quality of Life questionnaire were used in the first week (T1), first month (T2), three month (T3) and 6 months after chemotherapy (T4) to conduct dynamic investigation. RESULTS: The symptoms of breast cancer patients at four time points during chemotherapy period were: psychological symptoms, pain-related symptoms, perimenopausal symptoms, impaired self-image, and neurological related symptoms etc. At T1, it exhibited 2 symptoms, however as moving along the chemotherapy process, the symptoms are increasing. The severity is (F = 76.32, P < 0.001), life of quality (F = 117.64, P < 0.001) vary. At T3, there were 5 symptoms, and at T4 symptom number increased to 6 with worsening quality of life. It exhibited positive correlation with scores in multiple domains of quality of life (P < 0.05), and the above symptoms showed positive correlation with multiple domains of QLQ-C30 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: After T1-T3 of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, the symptoms become more serious and the quality of life reduced. Therefore, medical staff should pay attention to the occurrence and development of patient’s symptoms, create a reasonable plan from the perspective of symptom management and carry out personalized interventions to improve patient’s quality of life. Show more

Keywords: Breast cancer patients, chemotherapy, symptom clusters, dynamic changes, quality of life

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220657

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1365-1373, 2023

Authors: Lv, Yin-Jiang | Liang, Xiu-Feng | Wu, Yi-Ping

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The ABO blood group is closely related to clinical blood transfusion, transplantation, and neonatal hemolytic disease. It is also the most clinically significant blood group system in clinical blood transfusion. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to review and analyze the clinical application of the ABO blood group. METHODS: The most common ABO blood group typing methods in clinical laboratories are hemagglutination test and microcolumn gel test, while genotype detection is mainly adopted in clinical identification of suspicious blood types. However, in some cases, the expression variation or absence of blood …type antigens or antibodies, experimental techniques, physiology, disease, and other factors affect the accurate determination of blood types, which may lead to serious transfusion reactions. RESULTS: The mistakes could be reduced or even eliminated by strengthening training, selecting reasonable identification methods, and optimizing processes, thereby improving the overall identification level of the ABO blood group. ABO blood groups are also correlated with many diseases, such as COVID-19 and malignant tumors. Rh blood groups are determined by the RHD and RHCE homologous genes on chromosome 1 and are classified as Rh negative or positive according to the D antigen., the agglutination method is often used in clinical settings, while genetic and sequencing methods are often used in scientific research. CONCLUSION: Accurate ABO blood typing is a critical requirement for the safety and effectiveness of blood transfusion in clinical practice. Most studies were designed for investigating rare Rh blood group family, and there is a lack of research on the relationship between Rh blood groups and common diseases. Show more

Keywords: ABO blood type, Rh blood type, blood group system, forward and reverse typing, influencing factors, diseases

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220659

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1375-1383, 2023

Authors: Yang, Mo | Yang, Na | Yan, Zhanqiu | Tong, Yan | Zhao, Xiumei | Gu, Chengmin | Gao, Caiyun | Yang, Qing

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Effective analgesia is required to ensure maternal and neonatal safety. OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of analgesia applied throughout labor and analgesia applied during the first stage of labor in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: In this study, 120 puerperae with PIH who gave birth in our hospital were enrolled as the study participants and were randomized into two groups (n = 60 in each group) using a coin flip. Those who received analgesia throughout labor were enrolled in the observation group, and those administered …analgesia during the first stage of labor were enrolled in the control group. The analgesic effects, changes in blood pressure during labor, and neonatal health were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Differences in visual analog scale (VAS) scores before analgesia, 10 min after analgesia, and full cervical dilation between the two groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05 in all). The VAS scores of the puerperae in the observation group during forced breathing in the second stage of labor and fetal head expulsion were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05 for both). The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, forceps delivery, and antihypertensive treatment in the observation group was slightly lower than in the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The rate of oxytocin treatment in puerperae in the observation group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). The differences in base excess, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and pH between the two groups of newborns were not statistically significant (P > 0.05 for all). Differences in changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups of puerperae were not statistically significant (P > 0.05 for both). Eclampsia did not occur during labor in either group. CONCLUSION: For patients with PIH, the application of analgesia throughout labor had a positive analgesic effect, effectively controlling the changes in blood pressure and ensuring the health of newborns. This is worthy of widespread clinical application. Show more

Keywords: Analgesia throughout labor, analgesia during the first stage of labor, pregnancy-induced hypertension, analgesic effect

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220680

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1385-1391, 2023

Authors: Li, Changzhong | Ma, Ya

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: To effectively circumvent foetal structural abnormalities and serious newborn sequelae, antenatal ultrasound evaluation can support making an early diagnosis for potential prenatal management or the termination of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: This study systematically evaluated a meta-analysis of different pregnancy outcomes in the diagnosis of isolated foetal renal parenchymal echogenicity (IHEK) by prenatal ultrasonography. METHODS: Two researchers conducted a literature search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The following databases were included in the search: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Medical Network, China Academic Journals Full-text Database, PubMed, …Web Of Science and Springer Link; additional library websites were also included, and the search reviewed different pregnancies among patients with IHEK. The outcome indicators were the live birth rate, the incidence of polycystic renal dysplasia and the incidence of pregnancy termination/neonatal death. The meta-analysis was performed using the Stata/SE 12.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis (total sample content, 1,115 cases). The combined effect size of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of pregnancy termination/neonatal mortality in patients with IHEK was 0.289 (confidence interval (CI) 95%; range, 0.102–0.397). The combined effect size of the live birth rate of pregnancy outcomes was 0.742 (CI 95%; range, 0.634–0.850. The combined effect size of the polycystic kidney dysplasia rate was 0.066 (CI 95%; range, 0.030–0.102). The heterogeneity of all three results was > 50%; accordingly, a random-effects model was used. CONCLUSION: The indications for eugenic labour should not be included in a prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of patients with IHEK. In the results of this meta-analysis, the live birth and polycystic dysplasia rates were optimistic in terms of pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, under the condition of excluding other unfavourable factors, it is necessary to A thorough technical inspection is required to make an accurate judgment. Show more

Keywords: IHEK, pregnancy outcomes, eugenic labour

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220690

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1393-1405, 2023

Authors: Li, Jiaxin | Liu, Xiaonan | Li, Jiaxin | Han, Dongwei | Li, Yu | Ge, Pengling

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely recognized and accepted worldwide to provide favorable therapeutic effects for cancer patients. As Andrographis paniculata has an anti-tumor effect, it might inhibit lung cancer. OBJECTIVE: The drug targets and related pathways involved in the action of Andrographis paniculata against lung cancer were predicted using network pharmacology, and its mechanism was further explored at the molecular level. METHODS: This work selected the effective components and targets of Andrographis paniculata against the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Targets related to lung cancer …were searched for in the GEO database (accession number GSE136043). The volcanic and thermal maps of differential expression genes were produced using the software R. Then, the target genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG analysis using the software R. This also utilized the AutoDock tool to study the molecular docking of the active component structures downloaded from the PubChem database and the key target structures downloaded from the PDB database, and the docking results were visualized using the software PyMol. RESULTS: The results of molecular docking show that wogonin, Mono-O-methylwightin, Deoxycamptothecine, andrographidine F_qt, Quercetin tetramethyl (3’,4’,5,7) ether, 14-deoxyandrographolide, andrographolide-19-β -D-glucoside_qt and 14-deoxy-11-oxo-andrographolide were potential active components, while AKT1, MAPK14, RELA and NCOA1 were key targets. CONCLUSION: This study showed the main candidate components, targets, and pathways involved in the action of Andrographis paniculata against lung cancer. Show more

Keywords: Andrographis paniculata, lung cancer, pharmacology, molecular docking, mechanism

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220698

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1407-1427, 2023

Authors: Feng, Shengchun | Yang, Chunyan | Wang, Jun | Fan, Xiaopeng | Ying, Xiaowei

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma, the existing clinical staging criterias are insufficient to accurately reflect the tumor microenvironment and predict the prognosis of HCC patients. Aggrephagy, as a type of selective autophagy, is associated with various phenotypes of malignant tumors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify and validate a prognostic model based on aggrephagy-related LncRNAs to assess the prognosis and immunotherapeutic response of HCC patients. METHODS: Based on the TCGA-LIHC cohort, aggrephagy-related LncRNAs were identified. Univariate Cox regression analysis and lasso and multivariate Cox regression were used to …construct a risk-scoring system based on eight ARLs. CIBERSORT, ssGSEA, and other algorithms were used to evaluate and present the immune landscape of tumor microenvironment. RESULTS: The high-risk group had a worse overall survival (OS) than the low-risk group. Patients in the high-risk group are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy because of their high infiltration level and high immune checkpoint expression. CONCLUSION: The ARLs signature is a powerful predictor of prognosis for HCC patients, and the nomogram based on this model can help clinicians accurately determine the prognosis of HCC patients and screen for specific subgroups of patients who are more sensitive to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Show more

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, aggrephagy, prognostic signature, tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220738

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1429-1449, 2023

Authors: Zhou, Tao-Cheng | Yin, Chuan-Gao | Wang, Chang | Shi, Zi-Feng | Tong, Guang-Lei

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in early infancy and childhood and is characterized by impaired social communication and repetitive stereotyped behaviors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the development of the corpus callosum and its relationship to neurobehavior in young children with high-risk (HR) ASD using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS: Twenty-one children with HR-ASD who visited Anhui Children’s Hospital between January 2020 and December 2021 were selected as the study group, while 19 matched children with normal …development during the same time were adopted as the control group. Cranial MRI+ DTI were performed for all of the enrolled children and fractional anisotropy (FA) measurements were taken in each region of the corpus callosum. RESULTS: The FA values in all regions of the corpus callosum were higher in the study group than in the control group (0.417 ± 0.016 vs. 0.412 ± 0.02 in the corpus callosum knee, 0.439 ± 0.018 vs. 0.431 ± 0.023 in the corpus callosum body, and 0.446 ± 0.017 vs. 0.434 ± 0.019 in the splenium of corpus callosum [SCC]), where the difference in the FA in the SCC was statistically significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the FA in the corpus callosum knee and speech scores in the neuropsychological development of the study group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a premature development tendency for corpus callosum myelination in young children with HR-ASD, and the developmental tendency was visible in the SCC. There was also a positive relationship between corpus callosum knee development and language function. Show more

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, diffusion tensor imaging, corpus callosum, fractional anisotropy, developmental quotients

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220777

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1451-1456, 2023

Authors: Begić, Edin | Aziri, Buena | Omeragić, Elma | Medjedović, Edin | Iglica, Amer | Stanetić, Bojan | Kovačević-Preradović, Tamara | Živanović, Željko | Begić, Amra | Janković, Slobodan | Mlačo, Nejra | Mladenović, Zorica | Badnjević, Almir

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Heat-not-burn (HNB) technology by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been classified as a modified risk tobacco product, which can be a better option for those populations who cannot give up the habit of smoking. The outlook on the effects of these products is quite controversial in the scientific world. OBJECTIVE: To present the effect of HNB tobacco products on the cardiovascular system, with reference to the existence of possible benefits of the technology. METHODS: The literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and …ClinicalTrials.gov databases, with reliance on a well-defined guiding research statement. Quality appraisal was performed using the CASP checklist for randomized controlled trials. RESULTS: The search of three databases identified 167 records, and after selection process, 25 randomized controlled trials were eligible for our study’s criteria. Twenty studies investigated the effects of HNB products on biomarkers of clinical relevance. Five studies evaluated other functional heart parameters rather than biomarkers. CONCLUSION: With HNB tobacco products, significant reductions were found in biomarkers of exposure and biological effect related to pathways involved in cardiovascular disease, including inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, platelet function, and endothelial dysfunction. Show more

Keywords: Tobacco products, nicotine delivery devices, cardiovascular system, risk, parameters

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220677

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1457-1491, 2023

Authors: Du, Jie | Wei, Liang

Article Type: Case Report

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The clinical manifestations of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are bradykinesia and abnormal walking postures. Patients with PD are prone to complications such as drug addiction, which may not only lead to cognitive, behavioral, and affective disorders but also have irreversible impacts on patients’ body indexes. CASE DESCRIPTION: In this study, the treatment regimen for a patient with dopamine dysregulation syndrome was adjusted to allow for the withdrawal of Trastal, gradual decrease of Madopar, and the addition of Comtan and clozapine. While the body indexes effectively improved, the patient did not experience negative side effects. …CONCLUSION: Reducing the dosage of Madopar and reasonably applying the treatment regimen can improve the clinical treatment effect and improve the quality of life of patients. Show more

Keywords: Dopamine dysregulation syndrome, Madopar, clozapine, Comtan

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220719

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1493-1496, 2023

Authors: Huttin, Christine C.

Article Type: Short Communication

Abstract: BACKGROUND: At a time when welfare contracts are in crisis, it is timely to discuss different forms of disruptive innovation and responses of medical finance and economic systems, especially adjusting with new instruments for recovery and innovative solutions for health reforms. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to propose some ways to develop a framework for policy changes affecting life science sectors and healthcare. It aims to analyze the types of relationships between health or medical systems and the economic systems. METHOD: Medical systems used to be generally closed systems, but the new forms of …delivery, especially with increase of telehealth and Mobile health (Mhealth) solutions (boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as online consultations), have open traditional boundaries and generate more interactions with economic systems. It also led to new institutional arrangements at federal, national, or local levels, with different power games according to the history of institutions and cultural differences between countries. RESULTS: Which system dynamics prevail will also depend on the political systems in place, for instance very innovative open innovation systems dominated by private players such as the USA empower individuals and favor intuitive and entrepreneurial states. On the other hand, systems historically dominated by socialized insurance or former communist countries, have investigated “attunements” or adaptation mechanisms in system intelligence. However, systemic changes are not only implemented by traditional rulers (government agencies, federal reserve banks) but also face the emergence of systemic platforms dominated by Big Tech players. The new agendas expressed for instance in the United Nation (UN) framework and the set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for climate change and sustainable growth, also require global adjustment of supply and demand, in a context where the traditional drug/vaccine split is challenged by the new technologies (e.g., mRNA technologies). Investment for drug research led to the development of COVID-19 vaccines, but also potential cancer vaccines. Finally, welfare economics is increasingly criticized among economist circles; it requires new design for global value assessment framework, facing growing inequalities and inter-generational challenges in aging populations. CONCLUSION: This paper contributes to new models of developments and different frameworks for multiple stakeholders with major technological changes. Show more

Keywords: Welfare economics, economics of innovation, value assessment, life science, medical systems

DOI: 10.3233/THC-220609

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1497-1504, 2023

Authors: Lewandowski, Natalie | Koller, Bastian

Article Type: Editorial

Abstract: The advance of high-performance computing (HPC), high-performance data analytics (HPDA) and AI and their synergetic integration into workflows has revolutionized numerous industries, amongst others the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. In this special section of Technology and Health Care , we delve into the remarkable advancements and potential of HPC, HPDA and AI (together termed HPC+ ) in driving innovation, improving patient outcomes, and accelerating drug discovery. The articles in this issue shed light onto the potential of HPC+ in addressing several critical areas, including medical imaging, personalized medicine, drug discovery, and clinical as well as political decision support.

Keywords: Computer simulation, big data, image processing, computer-assisted diagnosis, drug development, computer-assisted decision making, precision medicine

DOI: 10.3233/THC-237000

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1505-1507, 2023

Authors: Koch, Miriam | Arlandini, Claudio | Antonopoulos, Gregory | Baretta, Alessia | Beaujean, Pierre | Bex, Geert Jan | Biancolini, Marco Evangelos | Celi, Simona | Costa, Emiliano | Drescher, Lukas | Eleftheriadis, Vasileios | Fadel, Nur A. | Fink, Andreas | Galbiati, Federica | Hatzakis, Ilias | Hompis, Georgios | Lewandowski, Natalie | Memmolo, Antonio | Mensch, Carl | Obrist, Dominik | Paneta, Valentina | Papadimitroulas, Panagiotis | Petropoulos, Konstantinos | Porziani, Stefano | Savvidis, Georgios | Sethia, Khyati | Strakos, Petr | Svobodova, Petra | Vignali, Emanuele

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: To say data is revolutionising the medical sector would be a vast understatement. The amount of medical data available today is unprecedented and has the potential to enable to date unseen forms of healthcare. To process this huge amount of data, an equally huge amount of computing power is required, which cannot be provided by regular desktop computers. These areas can be (and already are) supported by High-Performance-Computing (HPC), High-Performance Data Analytics (HPDA), and AI (together “HPC+ ”). OBJECTIVE: This overview article aims to show state-of-the-art examples of studies supported by the National …Competence Centres (NCCs) in HPC+ within the EuroCC project, employing HPC, HPDA and AI for medical applications. METHOD: The included studies on different applications of HPC in the medical sector were sourced from the National Competence Centres in HPC and compiled into an overview article. Methods include the application of HPC+ for medical image processing, high-performance medical and pharmaceutical data analytics, an application for pediatric dosimetry, and a cloud-based HPC platform to support systemic pulmonary shunting procedures. RESULTS: This article showcases state-of-the-art applications and large-scale data analytics in the medical sector employing HPC+ within surgery, medical image processing in diagnostics, nutritional support of patients in hospitals, treating congenital heart diseases in children, and within basic research. CONCLUSION: HPC+ support scientific fields from research to industrial applications in the medical area, enabling researchers to run faster and more complex calculations, simulations and data analyses for the direct benefit of patients, doctors, clinicians and as an accelerator for medical research. Show more

Keywords: Computer simulation, computational modeling, data analysis, AI (artificial intelligence), medicine, therapeutics, diagnosis

DOI: 10.3233/THC-229015

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1509-1523, 2023

Authors: Zečević, Aleksandar | Filipović, Luka | Marčev, Angel

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The necessity of setting up high-resolution models is essential to timely forecast dangerous meteorological phenomena. OBJECTIVE: This study presents a verification of the numerical Weather Research and Forecasting non-hydrostatic Mesoscale Model (WRF NMM) for weather prediction using the High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster over the complex relief of Montenegro. METHODS: Verification was performed comparing WRF NMM predicted values and measured values for temperature, wind and precipitation for six Montenegrin weather stations in a five-year period using statistical parameters. The difficult task of adjusting the model over the complex Montenegrin terrain is caused by …a rapid altitude change in in the coastal area, numerous karst fields, basins, river valleys and canyons, large areas of artificial lakes on a relatively small terrain. RESULTS: Based on the obtained verification results, the results of the model vary during time of day, the season of the year, the altitude of the station for which the model results were verified, as well as the surrounding relief for them. The results show the best performance in the central region and show deviations for some metrological measures in some periods of the year. CONCLUSION: This study can give recommendations on how to adapt a numerical model to a real situation in order to produce better weather forecast for the public. Show more

Keywords: Weather forecast, Montenegro, WRF NMM model, meteorology

DOI: 10.3233/THC-229016

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1525-1539, 2023

Authors: Malisic, Bojana | Tinaj, Sandra

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Absorptive capacity is the ability to absorb new knowledge and adopt new technologies. This capacity of an economy is measured through a series of indicators, however, the most important among them are precisely those elements related to the competences required for the adoption of new technologies, as well as their structure. OBJECTIVE: This paper provides an overview of the concepts and systems needed to develop the competencies needed to implement modern technology such as High-Performance Computing (HPC) in Montenegro. METHOD: In this research paper competencies are viewed holistically. This paper will elaborate …the defined competencies related to the HPC technology environment, identified during the implementation of the EuroCC project in Montenegro, but also based on market analyses, combined with the identified indicators of absorption capacity, generally at the national level. RESULT: By identifying the innovative and business potential of representatives of the public, academic and economic sectors, with special reference to small and medium-sized companies and the IT cluster that make up the dominant segments in the structure of the market sample, as generators and accelerators of innovation, smart growth and the digital economy, we got a clear picture regarding the development of necessary competencies within the NCC team but also at the national level. CONCLUSION: There must be a systemic approach and sustainable, dynamic projects and tools for the development of human resources in the development of competences. Show more

Keywords: Competencies, absorption capacity, HPC new technology, knowledge environment

DOI: 10.3233/THC-229017

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1541-1549, 2023

Authors: Lena, Martensson

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Luxembourg’s supercomputer MeluXina is open to cooperation with companies that need to process huge quantities of data. Diem Bui, Solution Engineer at LuxProvide that manages MeluXina, explains how healthtech companies can benefit from supercomputing to develop and implement innovative health technology applications.

Keywords: Supercomputing, companies, dataprotection, healthtech, Luxembourg

DOI: 10.3233/THC-229018

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1551-1553, 2023

Authors: Schnabel, Benjamin | Gebert, Johannes | Schneider, Ralf | Helwig, Peter

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The clinical performance of medical devices is becoming increasingly important for the requirements of modern development processes and the associated regulations. However, the evidence for this performance can often only be obtained very late in the development process via clinical trials or studies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the presented work is to show that the simulation of bone-implant systems has advanced in various aspects, including cloud-based execution, Virtual Clinical Trials, and material modeling towards a point where and widespread utilization in healthcare for procedure planning and enhancing practices seems feasible. But this will only hold …true if the virtual cohort data build from clinical Computer Tomography data are collected and analysed with care. METHODS: An overview of the principal steps necessary to perform Finite Element Method based structural mechanical simulations of bone-implant systems based on clinical imaging data is presented. Since these data form the baseline for virtual cohort construction, we present an enhancement method to make them more accurate and reliable. RESULTS: The findings of our work comprise the initial step towards a virtual cohort for the evaluation of proximal femur implants. In addition, results of our proposed enhancement methodology for clinical Computer Tomography data that demonstrate the necessity for the usage of multiple image reconstructions are presented. CONCLUSION: Simulation methodologies and pipelines nowadays are mature and have turnaround times that allow for a day-to-day use. However, small changes in the imaging and the preprocessing of data can have a significant impact on the obtaind results. Consequently, first steps towards virtual clinical trials, like collecting bone samples, are done, but the reliability of the input data remains subject to further research and development. Show more

Keywords: Simulation, bone-implant systems, computed tomography, in silicio, finite element method, virtual clinical trials, high-performance computing

DOI: 10.3233/THC-237001

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 1555-1566, 2023