BioengineeringPub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12050553
Ched C Chichester, Munekazu Yamakuchi, Kazunori Takenouchi, Teruto Hashiguchi, Drew N Maywar
{"title":"Analytical Basal-State Model of the Glucose, Insulin, and C-Peptide Systems for Type 2 Diabetes.","authors":"Ched C Chichester, Munekazu Yamakuchi, Kazunori Takenouchi, Teruto Hashiguchi, Drew N Maywar","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050553","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050553","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present a mechanistic mathematical model of the basal state for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an analytical form and illustrate its use for in silico basal-state and dynamic studies. At the core of the basal-state model is a quartic equation that expresses the basal plasma glucose concentration solely in terms of model parameters. This analytical model avoids a computationally intensive numerical solver and is illustrated by an investigation of how glucose-utilization parameters impact basal glucose, insulin, insulin-dependent utilization, and hepatic extraction, leveraging median parameter values of early-stage T2DM. Furthermore, the presented basal-state model ensures accurate execution of the corresponding dynamic model, which contains basal quantities within its derivative functions; erroneous, unintended dynamics in plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide are illustrated using an incorrect basal glucose value. The presented basal model enables efficient and accurate basal-state and dynamic studies, facilitating the understanding of T2DM pathophysiology and the development of T2DM diagnosis, treatment, and management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioengineeringPub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12050551
Eren Timurtas, Ahmed-Abou Sharkh, Kedar K V Mate, Helen Dawes, Nancy E Mayo
{"title":"Evidence for the Link Between Non-Motor Symptoms, Kinematic Gait Parameters, and Physical Function in People with Parkinson's Disease.","authors":"Eren Timurtas, Ahmed-Abou Sharkh, Kedar K V Mate, Helen Dawes, Nancy E Mayo","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050551","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parkinson's disease (PD) affects both motor and non-motor functions, but their interactions are understudied. This study aims to explore the relationships between non-motor and motor effects of PD, focusing on depression, fatigue, gait parameters, concentration, and physical function.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized feasibility study using a commercially available Heel2Toe™ sensor, providing auditory feedback for gait quality. The sample included PD patients with gait impairments who walked without aids. Non-motor measures were depression, fatigue, and concentration, while motor measures included gait quality (angular velocity and variability during heel strike, push-off, foot swing) and physical function (6MWT, Mini-BESTest, Neuro-QoL). Path analysis was used to assess direct and indirect effects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 27 participants, fatigue impacted heel strike, which affected Neuro-QoL. Mood influenced push-off and Neuro-QoL, with a direct link to 6MWT. Foot swing affected Mini-BESTest and Neuro-QoL directly.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Non-motor PD effects directly influenced specific gait parameters and physical function indicators, highlighting potential digital biomarkers of fatigue and mood for targeted interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advancing Tissue Engineering Through a Portable Perfusion and Incubation System.","authors":"Angie Zhu, Emmett Reid, Tilak Jain, Amatullah Mir, Usmaan Siddiqi, Olivia Dunne, Narutoshi Hibino","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050554","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050554","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Perfusion offers unique benefits to tissue-engineered systems, enhancing oxygen and nutrient transport, which improves tissue formation and growth. In this study, we present a novel and integrated portable perfusion system. Weighing < 10 lbs, the system can maintain continuous flow in a standard incubation environment (37 °C, 5% CO<sub>2</sub>), effectively functioning as a portable perfusion and tissue culturing system. To characterize the perfusion system's flow parameters, we measured the volumetric flow rate across a range of pressures and found that the system could achieve flow velocities between 1.69 to 4.6 μm/s, which is similar to in vivo interstitial flow. Computational fluid dynamics revealed fully developed laminar flow within the sample-containing region of the perfusion system, helping ensure even fluid and nutrient distribution. To study the system's compatibility with live tissues, bioengineered tissue patches were created and perfused. After 24 h of perfusion, no significant difference in cell viability was observed between the perfused samples and static controls, indicating no adverse effects on cell health. Perfusion also facilitated enhanced spatial organization within tissue patches, reducing the inter-spheroids distance. Furthermore, perfusion strengthened the tissue matrix and reduced the degradation rate of the hydrogel scaffold. Complemented by its ability to provide mobile perfusion and incubation, this novel integrated portable perfusion system holds promise for promoting tissue maturation and advancing tissue bioengineering studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"WHA-Net: A Low-Complexity Hybrid Model for Accurate Pseudopapilledema Classification in Fundus Images.","authors":"Junpeng Pei, Yousong Wang, Mingliang Ge, Jun Li, Yixing Li, Wei Wang, Xiaohong Zhou","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050550","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050550","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The fundus manifestations of pseudopapilledema closely resemble those of optic disc edema, making their differentiation particularly challenging in certain clinical situations. However, rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for alleviating patient anxiety and guiding treatment strategies. This study proposes an efficient low-complexity hybrid model, WHA-Net, which innovatively integrates three core modules to achieve precise auxiliary diagnosis of pseudopapilledema. First, the wavelet convolution (WTC) block is introduced to enhance the model's characterization capability for vessel and optic disc edge details in fundus images through 2D wavelet transform and deep convolution. Additionally, the hybrid attention inverted residual (HAIR) block is incorporated to extract critical features such as vascular morphology, hemorrhages, and exudates. Finally, the Agent-MViT module effectively captures the continuity features of optic disc contours and retinal vessels in fundus images while reducing the computational complexity of traditional Transformers. The model was trained and evaluated on a dataset of 1793 rigorously curated fundus images, comprising 895 normal optic discs, 485 optic disc edema (ODE), and 413 pseudopapilledema (PPE) cases. On the test set, the model achieved outstanding performance, with 97.79% accuracy, 95.55% precision, 95.69% recall, and 98.53% specificity. Comparative experiments confirm the superiority of WHA-Net in classification tasks, while ablation studies validate the effectiveness and rationality of each module's combined design. This research provides a clinically valuable solution for the automated differential diagnosis of pseudopapilledema, with both computational efficiency and diagnostic reliability.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioengineeringPub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12050556
Giuseppe Fasolino, Maryam Lazaar, Domenico Giovanni Della Rocca, Silke Oellerich, Sorcha Ní Dhubhghaill
{"title":"Predictive Value of Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers in Patients with Persistent Diabetic Macular Edema Undergoing Cataract Surgery Combined with a Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant.","authors":"Giuseppe Fasolino, Maryam Lazaar, Domenico Giovanni Della Rocca, Silke Oellerich, Sorcha Ní Dhubhghaill","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050556","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050556","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the most common cause of vision loss among diabetic patients. The first-line treatments for DME are anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-drugs, while intravitreal steroids are generally reserved for second-line treatment. Limited data exist on the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers as predictors of success in non-responders to anti-VEGF treatment undergoing simultaneous cataract surgery and dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX-I). <b>Methods:</b> This study was designed as a retrospective analysis of patients with DME who were refractory to anti-VEGF treatment but underwent cataract surgery and received a DEX-I at the time of surgery. All procedures were performed between May 2021 and February 2024. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfoveal thickness (CST) were recorded at baseline and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. The following OCT-based biomarkers were also collected: ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity, disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL), CST, and hyperreflective foci (HRF). Correlations between the baseline biomarkers and the anatomical outcome were analyzed using linear mixed models (LMMs). <b>Results:</b> Eleven patients (eighteen eyes) met the inclusion criteria. The mean CST decreased significantly from 469.4 ± 53.8 µm at baseline, to 373.1 ± 34.7 µm at 1 week (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and 354.4 ± 24.1 µm at 1 month (<i>p</i> = 0.011). The mean BCVA improved significantly from 0.47 LogMAR to 0.33 LogMAR at 1 week (<i>p</i> = 0.001), 0.23 LogMAR at 1 month (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and 0.25 LogMAR at 3 months (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Baseline predictors significantly influencing CST included the presence of DRIL, a disrupted/absent EZ, and a higher CST. <b>Conclusions:</b> The administration of DEX-I for DME refractory to anti-VEGF treatment in patients undergoing cataract surgery promoted functional improvements persisting longer than the anatomical ones. Patients presenting with DRIL, disrupted EZ, and higher CST at baseline may be better candidates for the combination of DEX-I and cataract surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioengineeringPub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12050555
Arka Das, Ray O Prather, Anthony Damon, Michael Farias, Alain Kassab, Eduardo Divo, William DeCampli
{"title":"In Vitro and In Silico Analysis of Entrainment Characterization in Injection Jet-Assisted Fontan Circulation.","authors":"Arka Das, Ray O Prather, Anthony Damon, Michael Farias, Alain Kassab, Eduardo Divo, William DeCampli","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050555","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fontan circulation is a fragile system in which imperfections at any of multiple levels may compromise the quality of life, produce secondary pathophysiology, and shorten life span. Increased inferior vena caval pressure itself may play a role in \"Fontan failure\". This study describes a mock flow loop model (MFL) designed to quantitatively estimate pulmonary flow entrainment induced by continuous and pulsed flow injections. A patient generic 3D-printed phantom model of the total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) with average dimensions matching those of a 2-4-year-old patient was inserted in an MFL derived from a reduced lumped parameter model (LPM) representing cardiovascular circulation. The LPM comprises four 2-element Windkessel compartments (compliance and resistance), approximating the upper and lower systemic circulations and the right and left pulmonary circulations. The prescribed cardiac output is about 2.3 L/min for a body surface area of 0.675 m2. The injections originate from an external pump through a 7-9 fr catheter, following a strict protocol suggested by the clinical team, featuring a variation in injection rate (flow rate), injection volume, and injection modality (continuous or pulsed). The key measurements in this study are the flow rates sampled at the distal pulmonary arteries, as well as at the upper and lower body boundaries. These measurements were then used to calculate effective entrainment as the difference between the measured and expected flow rates, as well as jet relaxation (rise and fall time of injection). The results show that for continuous or pulsed injections, varying the total volume injected has no significant influence on the entrainment rate across all injection rates. On the other hand, for both injection modalities, increasing the injection rate results in a reduction in entrainment that is consistent across all injected volumes. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a high-speed injection jet entraining a slow co-flow while determining the potential for fluid buildup, which could ultimately cause an increase in caval pressure. To avoid the increase in caval pressure due to mass accumulation, we added a fenestration to our proposed injection jet shunt-assisted Fontan models. It was found that for a set of well-defined parameters, the jet not only can be beneficial to the local flow, but any adverse effect can be obviated by careful tuning. These results were also cross-validated with similar in silico findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioengineeringPub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12050552
Ahmed Abdulhakim Al-Absi, Rui Fu, Nadhem Ebrahim, Mohammed Abdulhakim Al-Absi, Dae-Ki Kang
{"title":"Brain Tumour Segmentation and Grading Using Local and Global Context-Aggregated Attention Network Architecture.","authors":"Ahmed Abdulhakim Al-Absi, Rui Fu, Nadhem Ebrahim, Mohammed Abdulhakim Al-Absi, Dae-Ki Kang","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050552","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brain tumours (BTs) are among the most dangerous and life-threatening cancers in humans of all ages, and the early detection of BTs can make a huge difference to their treatment. However, grade recognition is a challenging issue for radiologists involved in automated diagnosis and healthcare monitoring. Recent research has been motivated by the search for deep learning-based mechanisms for segmentation and grading to assist radiologists in diagnostic analysis. Segmentation refers to the identification and delineation of tumour regions in medical images, while classification classifies based on tumour characteristics, such as the size, location and enhancement pattern. The main aim of this research is to design and develop an intelligent model that can detect and grade tumours more effectively. This research develops an aggregated architecture called LGCNet, which combines a local context attention network and a global context attention network. LGCNet makes use of information extracted through the task, dimension and scale. Specifically, a global context attention network is developed for capturing multiple-scale features, and a local context attention network is designed for specific tasks. Thereafter, both networks are aggregated, and the learning network is designed to balance all the tasks by combining the loss functions of the classification and segmentation. The main advantage of LGCNet is its dedicated network for a specific task. The proposed model is evaluated by considering the BraTS2019 dataset with different metrics, such as the Dice score, sensitivity, specificity and Hausdorff score. Comparative analysis with the existing model shows marginal improvement and provides scope for further research into BT segmentation and classification. The scope of this study focuses on the BraTS2019 dataset, with future work aiming to extend the applicability of the model to different clinical and imaging environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144155897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioengineeringPub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12050548
Mini Han Wang
{"title":"Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Precision Therapeutics for Advancing the Diagnosis and Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.","authors":"Mini Han Wang","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050548","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050548","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial retinal disease influenced by complex molecular mechanisms, including genetic susceptibility, inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysregulation. While substantial progress has been made in understanding its pathogenesis, the full molecular underpinnings of AMD remain unclear, impeding the effectiveness of current therapeutic strategies. This study provides an in-depth exploration of the molecular interactions involved in AMD progression, particularly focusing on genetic predispositions (such as CFH, ARMS2/HTRA1, and APOE), inflammatory pathways (including complement system dysregulation and cytokine responses), lipid metabolism (e.g., cholesterol homeostasis and drusen formation), and angiogenesis (VEGF signaling). Through a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of literature published between 2015 and 2025, the study identifies emerging research trends, existing gaps, and promising future therapeutic directions. It further investigates innovative precision medicine approaches, including gene editing (CRISPR), RNA therapeutics (siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides), immunomodulatory therapies, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Additionally, the study examines the role of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and dyslipidemia in AMD progression, highlighting the influence of systemic health factors on disease onset. Finally, the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing AMD management through biomarker-based risk stratification, predictive modeling, and personalized treatment optimization is assessed. By mapping the intricate molecular networks underlying AMD and evaluating novel therapeutic strategies, this research aims to contribute to the development of more effective, individualized treatment protocols for patients with AMD.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioengineeringPub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12050545
Annchristin Andres, Kerstin Wickert, Elena Gneiting, Franziska Binmoeller, Stefan Diebels, Michael Roland
{"title":"Simulation of a Custom-Made Temporomandibular Joint-An Academic View on an Industrial Workflow.","authors":"Annchristin Andres, Kerstin Wickert, Elena Gneiting, Franziska Binmoeller, Stefan Diebels, Michael Roland","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050545","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050545","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Temporomandibular joint replacement is a critical intervention for severe temporomandibular joint disorders, enhancing pain levels, jaw function and overall quality of life. In this study, we compare two finite element method-based simulation workflows from both academic and industrial perspectives, focusing on a patient-specific case involving a custom-made temporomandibular joint prosthesis. Using computed tomography data and computer-aided design data, we generated different 3D models and performed mechanical testing, including wear and static compression tests. Our results indicate that the academic workflow, which is retrospective, purely image-based and applied post-operatively, produced peak stress values within 9-20% of those obtained from the industrial workflow. The industrial workflow is prospective, pre-operative, computer-aided design-based and guided by stringent regulatory standards and approval protocols. Observed differences between workflows were attributed primarily to distinct modelling assumptions, simplifications and constraints inherent in each method. To explicitly quantify these differences, multiple additional models were generated within the academic workflow using partial data from the industrial process, revealing specific sources of variation in stress distribution and implant performance. The findings underscore the potential of patient-specific simulations not only to refine temporomandibular joint prosthesis design and enhance patient outcomes, but also to highlight the interplay between academic research methodologies and industrial standards in the development of medical devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioengineeringPub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12050549
Primavera Sousa-Santos, Sofia Sousa-Santos, Ana Catarina Oliveira, Cíntia Queirós, Joana Mendes, Carlos Aroso, José Manuel Mendes
{"title":"Evaluation of Orthodontic Mini-Implants' Stability Based on Insertion and Removal Torques: An Experimental Study.","authors":"Primavera Sousa-Santos, Sofia Sousa-Santos, Ana Catarina Oliveira, Cíntia Queirós, Joana Mendes, Carlos Aroso, José Manuel Mendes","doi":"10.3390/bioengineering12050549","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12050549","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Orthodontic mini-implants (MIs) are excellent alternative skeletal anchorage devices. Their stability is important for their survival, requiring appropriate torque application during insertion and removal.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the influences of the diameter and brand of MIs on their stability by measuring the maximum insertion and removal torques after they had been aged in a pH 7 artificial saliva for 4 weeks at 37 °C.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty Ti6Al4V alloy MIs of two different brands and diameters were divided into four groups. They were placed in artificial bone blocks using the NSK<sup>®</sup> Surgic Pro coupled with a digital torque gauge (Centor Touch Star TH<sup>®</sup>) to measure the maximum insertion and removal torques.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After ageing, the Fatscrew (Fts) MIs were more stable when removed than the white brand (WB) MIs. The WB MIs lost stability over time, while the Fts MIs-especially the 2.0 mm ones-maintained good stability.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The significant differences between the tested groups, especially the stability observed in the 2.0 mm Fts MIs compared to the other groups, highlight the importance of brand and diameter size in the effectiveness of MIs.</p>","PeriodicalId":8874,"journal":{"name":"Bioengineering","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}