ABME

Even after a successful artery-opening procedure, the healing process itself can trigger harmful changes inside the vessel. Researchers sought to improve the monitoring of arterial healing by determining whether 18F-FDG PET/CT, which uses a radioactive glucose tracer to highlight metabolically active tissue, could noninvasively detect arterial remodeling following angioplasty in a preclinical model of peripheral artery disease. Fourteen days after balloon-induced arterial injury, the technique identified significantly greater tracer uptake in treated arteries, with findings closely matching direct tissue measurements. Increased imaging signal was also associated with thicker vessel walls, greater smooth muscle cell area, and increased macrophage infiltration, suggesting the technique captures key biological features of vascular remodeling. A better way to monitor how arteries heal after intervention could help accelerate the development of safer endovascular devices and support better long-term outcomes. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: A Molecular Imaging Strategy for In Vivo Monitoring of Vascular Remodeling in a Preclinical Model of Femoral Artery Overdilation 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Mahboubeh Nabavinia, Anjana Jayaraman, Eleanor T. Rimmerman, Kumudha Narayana Musini, Corrin R. Mansfield, Katherine E. Mevis, Michael R. Go, and Mitchel R. Stacy @nationwidekids @OhioState @OhioStateMed 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Our hearts are constantly adapting from the moment we're born, but scientists are still uncovering how those changes reshape the heart itself. To investigate how the heart develops from birth to adulthood, researchers mapped how its microstructure evolves using a preclinical model, diffusion tensor MRI, and advanced microscopy techniques. They identified distinct age- and region-specific differences in the organization of heart muscle cells and collagen, including greater fiber rotation and dispersion in adult hearts and clear differences between the left and right ventricles. Overall, the analyses show that the heart's internal architecture changes systematically with both age and anatomical region. These findings provide a detailed reference dataset that can make computational models more biologically realistic across different stages of life. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Quantifying Regional and Age-Dependent Microstructural Changes in Porcine Ventricles from Neonatal to Adulthood Using DT-MRI and TPEF-SHG Microscopy 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Faizan Ahmad, James Paul Barnett, Ali Bienemann, Carol-Ann Janes, and @petertheobald @MyBCU @BCULifeScience @BristolUni @cardiffuni @EngineeringCU 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Removing wisdom teeth can be unpredictable, making it harder for dentists to anticipate surgical complexity and reduce the risk of complications. Addressing this uncertainty, researchers developed an AI-based scoring system that analyzes panoramic dental X-rays to estimate the difficulty of third molar extraction and the risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury. The framework automatically evaluated tooth inclination, impaction depth, and the proximity of the tooth to the mandibular canal, combining these factors into a four-level difficulty index. Across multiple image analysis tasks, the system performed strongly, highlighting its potential to improve treatment planning. Continued advances in AI-based assessment tools could shift preoperative evaluation from descriptive classifications toward reproducible, quantitative decision-making. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Quantitative Assessment of Third Molar Extraction Difficulty and Nerve Injury Risk Using Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Jihyeong Ko, Sasi Sooksatra, Seungmin Kim, Shaohua Tang, Jung-Eun Ha, Dong-Hun Han, Kyu Hwan Lee, Young-Jin Jung, and Min-Ji Kim @SeoulNatlUni @snuh_official 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

When surgeons rehearse a complex operation on a 3D-printed model, it needs to feel as much like real bone as possible. Researchers developed and evaluated a manufacturing framework for creating 3D-printed trabecular bone models that mimic patient-specific bone quality. By testing multiple lattice designs, printing materials, and densities, they identified combinations that orthopedic and trauma surgeons judged to provide realistic haptic feedback during drilling. They also established practical relationships between bone mineral density measured by quantitative CT and printable manufacturing parameters, enabling the models to be tailored to individual anatomies. As 3D-printed models begin to capture bone mechanics alongside anatomy, surgical preparation can better reflect the conditions encountered in the operating room. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Additively Manufactured Patient-Specific Trabecular Bone Imitations in Anatomical Bone Models for Preoperative Planning and Surgical Training: A Manufacturing Framework 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Maximilian Pestel, Gerhard Martin Hobusch, Jürgen Alphonsus, Gregor Wollner, Madeleine Willegger, Andreas Strassl, Iris-Melanie Noebauer-Huhmann, Reinhard Windhager, Maximilian Lackner, and Emir Benca @MedUni_Wien @AkademiaVied 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Cancer drugs are often effective enough to kill tumors, but not precise enough to spare healthy tissue. With this challenge in mind, researchers provided a review of how cubosomes – nanostructured lipid carriers engineered to improve drug delivery – are being optimized for cancer therapy. The review synthesizes advances in formulation strategies, surface modifications, and analytical techniques that improve drug loading, controlled release, tumor targeting, and characterization. It also examines the translational hurdles that must be overcome before these technologies can be widely adopted in clinical practice. As cubosome technologies continue to mature, they could reshape how researchers think about drug design by placing equal emphasis on the carrier and the therapeutic itself. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Cubosome-Based Nanocarriers in Cancer Therapy: Design Optimization, Analytical Characterization, and Translational Perspectives 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Urushi Rehman, Syed Parween Ali, Dr. Umme Hani, Garima Gupta, Khang Wen Goh, and Dr. Prashant Kesharwani @jamia_hamdard @kkueduEn @gehudehradun @INTI_edu @DoctorGour 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Keeping babies safe while they sleep requires a clearer understanding of how bedding can affect breathing. Researchers reviewed evidence from epidemiological, clinical, forensic, regulatory, and engineering studies to examine how bedding characteristics may contribute to respiratory impairment in infants. They identified important gaps between current bedding safety tests and the biomechanical and physiological mechanisms thought to underlie breathing compromise. To close those gaps, the authors call for advanced in vitro models that more accurately reproduce infant respiratory function and support more meaningful safety evaluations. Protecting infant sleep may depend as much on improving how bedding is evaluated as on improving the bedding itself. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Infant Breathing and Bedding Characteristics: Objective Tests for Evaluating Their Relationship 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Chiara Veneroni, Matteo Mentasti, Elena Barzanti, Ivan Tomasi, Fabio Mosca, and Raffaele Dellacà @polimi @LaStatale 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Many people with liver cancer cannot benefit from existing localized treatments because those therapies are not suitable for every tumor or every clinical situation. To support the development of new injectable liver cancer therapies, researchers created and validated a synthetic liver model that closely reproduces the mechanical and fluid transport properties of liver tissue and tumors. Key findings include: 🔹 A 3D-printed design independently tuned tissue stiffness and permeability to better mimic liver parenchyma and tumors 🔹 Injection experiments produced reproducible diffusion patterns that were confirmed through mass balance measurements and T2-weighted MRI Realistic lab models could help researchers refine injectable liver cancer therapies before they reach clinical studies, expanding treatment possibilities for people with limited options. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Development of a Synthetic Liver Phantom: Experimental Characterization of Tissue Mechanical Properties 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Federica Potere, Arianna Callera, Emma Confortola, Nada Khaled Mansour, Simone Micalizzi, Gianluca De Danieli, Pieter Janssen, Alice Crippa, Paolo Oliva, and Francesco De Gaetano @HumanitasMilano @HUNIMED @polimi @LaBS_Polimi @Fede_Pot @fra1986 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Reliable and noninvasive monitoring of uterine contractions remains an unmet need during pregnancy and labor. Researchers addressed this by investigating how electrode number and placement can be optimized to improve the accuracy of uterine electrical activity imaging. Comparing multiple optimization approaches, they found that one method consistently performed best by concentrating electrodes over the lower abdomen while maintaining broader coverage around the torso to capture electrical activity from multiple perspectives. This balanced placement strategy improved imaging accuracy while reducing the number of electrodes needed and lowering overall system complexity. A simpler, more accurate approach to imaging uterine electrical activity could help expand access to advanced monitoring when timely assessment matters most. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Optimization of the Multi-Channel Surface Electrogram Acquisition for Noninvasive Uterine Electrophysiology Imaging 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Hansong Gao, Sicheng Wang, Yiqi Lin, Meng Jiang, Yuelin Li, Qiuchang Sun, Zichao Wen, and @yongwangwashu @WashU @WashUengineers @WashUESE @washumedicine @WashU_OBGYN @WashUBME 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Small neuroscience studies often hold valuable insights, but limited data can make it difficult to draw reliable conclusions. Researchers tackled the constraints posed by small datasets by developing an analysis pipeline that combines established signal processing techniques with methods that account for non-stationary brain signals. The approach also introduces a data augmentation strategy that averages real recorded signals rather than generating synthetic data, preserving biologically meaningful patterns while expanding the available training data. Using an image naming task, the researchers found that careful channel selection, feature reduction, and averaging of recorded epochs substantially improved machine learning performance. Making better use of limited neuroscience recordings could help accelerate the development of brain-based diagnostic tools, particularly for conditions where large datasets are difficult to obtain. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: MEG Neural Decoding Pipeline: The Issues Residing Within The Data and Methods to Improve Your Decoding Accuracy 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Dmitry Patashov, Li Liu, Jion Tominaga, Kai Nakajima, Hiroki Miyanaga, Shoji Tsunematsu, Takanori Kato, Keita Tanaka, and Hiromu Sakai @waseda_univ @riken_en 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Arthritis pain often persists because inflammation in affected joints can heighten the sensitivity of the nerves that carry pain signals. To interrupt that nerve-sensitizing process, researchers used CRISPR-based epigenome editing to suppress an inflammatory receptor in nerve cells that serve the knee and jaw joints. In lab models, the approach prevented osteoarthritis cartilage from heightening nerve sensitivity in knee-innervating neurons and substantially reduced sensitization-related responses in jaw-innervating neurons, although additional biological pathways appeared to contribute in the jaw. The findings also highlight that osteoarthritis pain is not driven by identical mechanisms across different joints. Targeting the biological processes that amplify pain signals, rather than simply masking symptoms, may open the door to longer-lasting relief tailored to the affected joint. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: CRISPR Epigenome Editing of IL1R1 Expression of Neurons that Innervate the Temporomandibular Joint or Knee Causes Reduced Sensitization to Osteoarthritic Environment 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Joshua D. Stover, Robby D. Bowles, @Yenisel_CruzA, Robert M. Caudle, Kyle D. Allen, REJOIN Consortium Investigators, and Alejandro J. Almarza @PittTweet @PittDental @PittEngineering @PittBioE @Pitt_CCR @UUtah @UtahCOE @UtahBME @UF @UFWertheim @UFBME @OrthoBME @UFHealth @price_uf @UFMedicine @UFNeuroscience 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Improving outcomes after abdominal wall reconstruction depends not only on better materials, but also on understanding how the body's tissues bear and distribute force. A letter to the editor examines how newly reported biomechanical findings from the human abdominal wall could help surgeons incorporate tissue mechanics into reconstructive decision-making. The authors highlight evidence that different tissue layers exhibit distinct directional stiffness characteristics, supporting more informed choices about mesh orientation during hernia repair. The letter also suggests that the exceptional stiffness of the transversus abdominis may help explain the clinical success of certain component separation techniques used in complex abdominal wall reconstruction. The path from biomechanics to better surgery depends on translating tissue-level insights into practical decisions made in the operating room. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Letter to the Editor: Experimental Characterisation of the Anisotropic Behaviour of the Different Tissue Layers of Human Abdominal Wall 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Sanjay K. A. Jinka and @jjanismd @WrightStateNews @WSUBoonshoftSOM @OhioState @OSUWexMed @OhioStateMed 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

No two eyes respond exactly the same to laser vision correction, making surgical outcomes difficult to predict. Aiming to reduce this uncertainty, researchers developed and validated a personalized computational framework that simulates how the cornea responds to the three most common laser refractive procedures – photorefractive keratectomy, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, and small incision lenticule extraction. The approach combined imaging, intraocular pressure measurements, and AI-derived estimates of corneal mechanical properties to generate patient-specific simulations, then tested the framework in 58 eyes from 29 individuals. The simulations closely matched postoperative clinical measurements, and the small incision lenticule extraction procedure produced the greatest mechanical effect on the cornea among the three techniques. As individualized biomechanical modeling continues to improve, surgeons may be able to choose refractive procedures based on how an eye is predicted to respond, not just how it appears before surgery. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Biomechanically Informed Patient-Specific in Silico Models for Laser Refractive Surgery 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Benedetta Fantaci, @ElenaRedaelli3, @Mònica Martí, Gemma Julio, Anton Barraquer, Jose Lamarca, Jorge Grasa, and Begoña Calvo @unizar @I3Aunizar @centrobarraquer @CIBER_ISCIII 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Delivering genes into cells efficiently without damaging healthy tissue remains a major challenge for many emerging therapies. Researchers sought to identify an electrical pulse strategy that could enhance gene electrotransfer while preserving cell viability. After screening pulse patterns in cell suspensions, they evaluated the best-performing protocols in a 3D tissue model. Key observations included: 🔹 Multiple patterned waveforms matched the gene electrotransfer efficiency of a leading conventional protocol, with one surpassing it in chondrocyte cells 🔹 Comparable gene electrotransfer was achieved while using lower plasmid concentrations Reducing the amount of genetic material needed while preserving effective gene electrotransfer may support the development of more practical gene-based therapies. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Altering Charge-Balance via Patterned Bipolar Pulses for Successful Gene Electrotransfer 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Alexia K. Cash, Robert H. Williamson, Driss Elhanafi, and Michael B. Sano @UNC @NCState @jointbme 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Stroke risk can be routinely assessed in children with sickle cell disease, yet clinicians still lack comparable tools for adults. To address this gap, researchers used patient-specific MRI data to build 3D computational models of blood flow in the brain's major arteries, comparing healthy adults with adults who had sickle cell disease with and without prior stroke. They found that cerebral blood flow patterns differed across the groups, with the most pronounced alterations observed in adults with prior stroke. The models also revealed localized increases in vessel wall shear stress and pressure gradients in adults with prior stroke, highlighting hemodynamic features that differed from those of the other groups. This work suggests that stroke risk in adults with sickle cell disease may be shaped not only by vascular anatomy, but by the forces acting within the circulation itself. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Cerebrovascular Hemodynamic Differences in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Comparing Stroke and Non-Stroke Cohorts 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Lara Abdelmohsen, Anyssa Oden, Tamer S. Ibrahim, Enrico M. Novelli, @lightuptheFIRE, and @ngrandeg @CarnegieMellon @CMUEngineering @cmu_bme @CMUMeche @CMU_ECE @PittTweet @PittEngineering @PittBioE @pitt_medicine @PittDeptofMed 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Heart valve abnormalities can change blood flow through the aorta before symptoms appear. Researchers characterized blood flow differences between people with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves using 4D flow MRI and a rigorous fluid mechanics framework. People with bicuspid aortic valves exhibited weaker helical flow and a reduced tendency to form coherent spiral patterns, potentially diminishing the normal protective effects of this natural spiral motion. Combining measurements of helical flow with conventional anatomical and hemodynamic parameters produced a distinctive signature that may improve the identification and monitoring of bicuspid aortic valve disease. Quantifying how altered blood flow reflects disease progression may help clinicians identify cardiovascular risk earlier and guide more personalized care. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Aortic Valve Phenotype Shapes Helical Flow in the Ascending Aorta: Insights from 4D Flow MRI 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: @CaloKarol, @andreaguala6, Valentina Mazzi, @Lydia_DuxSantoy, @JRodriPalomares, Stefania Scarsoglio, Luca Ridolfi, David A. Steinman, Diego Gallo, and Umberto Morbiducci @PoliTOnews @DIATI_poliTO @VHIR_ @UofT @UofTEngineering @uoftmie 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Laboratory blood vessel models need to behave like real arteries if researchers are to study blood flow and evaluate new vascular technologies with confidence. With this in mind, engineers developed and experimentally validated a mathematical equation that predicts how thick-walled vascular models will respond to pressure, helping researchers design models that more faithfully reproduce the mechanical behavior of blood vessels. The equation closely matched experimental measurements across a range of wall thicknesses and materials. It also enabled the fabrication of anatomically realistic aneurysm models that closely reproduced how blood vessels expand under pressure. This framework enables the design of vascular models tailored to specific physiological conditions, providing a stronger foundation for lab research. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Static and Dynamic Compliance of Thick-Walled Vessel Models: Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Validation Using Silicone and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Hydrogel 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Ashkan Shiravand, Elisabeth Janzen, Fabian Baumer, Wasilios Hatziklitiu, and Giorgio Cattaneo @Uni_Stuttgart 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

A widely used approach for measuring walking patterns may not be optimized for the unique characteristics of gait. Researchers systematically evaluated which parameter settings for calculating sample entropy, a standard measure of movement predictability, are best suited for gait kinematics. Analyzing more than 2,100 walking trials from young, middle-aged, and older adults, they found that settings based on a biomechanically meaningful timescale distinguished age groups far more effectively than long-standing defaults developed for other physiological signals. Additional analyses showed those optimized settings remained robust across samples, reinforcing their potential for ongoing research. The future of gait analysis may depend as much on refining how movement is measured as on discovering new movement patterns. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Rethinking the Defaults: Exploring Sample Entropy Parameters for Human Movement Data 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Seung Kyeom Kim, @aboywiles, Nick Stergiou, and Aaron D. Likens @UNOmaha @UNOCEHHS @UNOBiomechanics 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Achieving a stable knee replacement with near-native movement depends not only on the implant itself, but also on how well the surrounding soft tissues are balanced during surgery. Researchers investigated which characteristics of the medial collateral ligament are most important for guiding that balancing process. Using a weight-bearing computer simulation, they found that the ligament's balanced length after surgery had a much greater effect on joint loading and movement than modest differences in its natural laxity. The findings suggest that achieving the right ligament tension during surgery may be more important than accommodating small variations in native soft-tissue properties. The path to more personalized knee replacement may depend less on accounting for every difference in soft-tissue behavior and more on identifying the ones that truly shape joint mechanics. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Balanced Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Length, Not Intrinsic Laxity, Governs Load Sharing and Kinematics in Mechanically Aligned Posterior-Stabilized TKA 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: Junseo Kim, In Jun Koh, Taejin Shin, and Dohyung Lim 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439

Back pain from a herniated spinal disc can affect far more than comfort – it can quietly change how people walk, and those changes are not always reflected on medical imaging. Exploring that disconnect, researchers compared imaging findings, clinical symptoms, and gait patterns in people with lumbar disc herniation using spinal measurements, pain and disability assessments, and walking analysis. Rather than relying on a single measure, the study examined whether these different assessments tell a consistent story about the condition. Key observations included: 🔹 X-ray generally measured greater disc height and intervertebral angles than MRI 🔹 Walking speed, cadence, stride length, and single-support time were reduced 🔹 Pain, disability, imaging findings, and gait changes often aligned, but mismatches were also observed Looking beyond imaging alone may provide a clearer picture of spinal function by considering how people move alongside what imaging reveals, supporting care that is better matched to each individual's functional limitations. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: link.springer.com/article/10.100… 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: Combined Analysis of Gait Cycle and Imaging Parameters in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: An Exploratory Study 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀: @ines_cim, Rita N. S. Fernandes, André P. G. Castro, and Nuno A. R. Cristino @IPSsetubal @ULisboa_ @NOVAunl @nova_medschool 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: link.springer.com/journal/10439