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.

• Klíčová slova
• AI (artificial intelligence), Computer simulation, computational modeling, data analysis, diagnosis, medicine, therapeutics,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• počítačové metodologie * MeSH
• počítačové zpracování obrazu MeSH
• software * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: The continuous decrease of healthcare resources requires hospitals to improve efficiency while striving to improve quality standards that deliver better patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze whether the implementation of digital support systems during orthopedic surgery positively affected clinical processes and quality ratios. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study of 297 knee joint replacement procedures was conducted between 2015 and 2020. Thirty-five patients were allocated to the treatment and control groups after they were identified with exact matching and estimation of the propensity score. Both groups were balanced regarding the selected covariates. The effect of the surgical procedure manager (SPM) on the incidence of acute haemorrhagic anaemia between the two groups was evaluated with a t-test, and the odds ratio was calculated. RESULTS: SPM-supported surgery has no significant influence on the incidence of acute haemorrhagic anaemia but leads to significantly shorter hospital stay (1.93 days), changeover (4.14 minutes) and recovery room time (20.20 minutes). In addition, it reduces the standard deviation of operation room times. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that SPM enhances surgical efficiency and maintains quality outcomes. To overcome their increasing financial pressure hospital management should commercially evaluate the implementation of digital support systems.

• Klíčová slova
• Quality improvement, digital technology, efficiency, operating rooms, surgical procedure manager, the standard of care,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice * MeSH
• ortopedické výkony * MeSH
• průběh práce MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• zlepšení kvality MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROND: One of the important areas of heart research is to analyze heart rate variability during (HRV) walking. OBJECTIVE: In this research, we investigated the correction between heart activation and the variations of walking paths. METHOD: We employed Shannon entropy to analyze how the information content of walking paths affects the information content of HRV. Eight healthy students walked on three designed walking paths with different information contents while we recorded their ECG signals. We computed and analyzed the Shannon entropy of the R-R interval time series (as an indicator of HRV) versus the Shannon entropy of different walking paths and accordingly evaluated their relation. RESULTS: According to the obtained results, walking on the path that contains more information leads to less information in the R-R time series. CONCLUSION: The analysis method employed in this research can be extended to analyze the relation between other physiological signals (such as brain or muscle reactions) and the walking path.

• Klíčová slova
• Heart Rate Variability (HRV), R-R interval time series, Shannon entropy, information content, walking path,
• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• chůze * MeSH
• elektrokardiografie * MeSH
• entropie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• srdeční frekvence fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the reactions of different organs to external stimuli is an important area of research in physiological science. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we investigated the correlation between the brain and facial muscle activities by information-based analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and electromyogram (EMG) signals using Shannon entropy. METHOD: The EEG and EMG signals of thirteen subjects were recorded during rest and auditory stimulations using relaxing, pop, and rock music. Accordingly, we calculated the Shannon entropy of these signals. RESULTS: The results showed that rock music has a greater effect on the information of EEG and EMG signals than pop music, which itself has a greater effect than relaxing music. Furthermore, a strong correlation (r= 0.9980) was found between the variations of the information of EEG and EMG signals. CONCLUSION: The activities of the facial muscle and brain are correlated in different conditions. This technique can be utilized to investigate the correlation between the activities of different organs versus brain activity in different situations.

• Klíčová slova
• EEG signals, EMG signals, Facial muscle, Shannon entropy, brain, correlation, information,
• MeSH
• akustická stimulace MeSH
• elektroencefalografie * metody   MeSH
• elektromyografie metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek fyziologie   MeSH
• obličejové svaly * fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the heart activity is one of the important areas of research in biomedical science and engineering. For this purpose, scientists analyze the activity of the heart in various conditions. Since the brain controls the heart's activity, a relationship should exist among their activities. OBJECTIVE: In this research, for the first time the coupling between heart and brain activities was analyzed by information-based analysis. METHODS: Considering Shannon entropy as the indicator of the information of a system, we recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals of 13 participants (7 M, 6 F, 18-22 years old) in different external stimulations (using pineapple, banana, vanilla, and lemon flavors as olfactory stimuli) and evaluated how the information of EEG signals and R-R time series (as heart rate variability (HRV)) are linked. RESULTS: The results indicate that the changes in the information of the R-R time series and EEG signals are strongly correlated (ρ=-0.9566). CONCLUSION: We conclude that heart and brain activities are related.

• Klíčová slova
• ECG, EEG, HRV, Heart, Shannon entropy, brain, electrocardiogram signals, electroencephalogram signals, heart rate variability, information content,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• elektroencefalografie * MeSH
• elektrokardiografie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mozek MeSH
• srdce * MeSH
• srdeční frekvence fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This paper introduces a comprehensive fetal Electrocardiogram (fECG) Signal Extraction and Analysis Virtual Instrument that integrates various methods for detecting the R-R Intervals (RRIs) as a means to determine the fetal Heart Rate (fHR) and therefore facilitates fetal Heart Rate Variability (HRV) signal analysis. Moreover, it offers the capability to perform advanced morphological fECG signal analysis called ST segment Analysis (STAN) as it seamlessly allows the determination of the T-wave to QRS complex ratio (also called T/QRS) in the fECG signal. The integration of these signal processing and analytical modules could help clinical researchers and practitioners to noninvasively monitor and detect the life threatening hypoxic conditions that may arise in different stages of pregnancy and more importantly during delivery and could therefore lead to the reduction of unnecessary C-sections. In our experiments we used real recordings from a Fetal Scalp Electrode (FSE) as well as maternal abdominal electrodes. This Virtual Instrument (Toolbox) not only serves as a desirable platform for comparing various fECG extraction signal processing methods, it also provides an effective means to perform STAN and HRV signal analysis based on proven ECG morphological as well as Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) indices to detect hypoxic conditions.

• Klíčová slova
• Fetal ECG (fECG), STAN analysis (T:QRS ratio), abdominal ECG (aECG), feature extraction, fetal Heart Rate (fHR), fetal Heart Rate Variability (HRV), maternal ECG (mECG),
• MeSH
• elektrokardiografie metody   MeSH
• hypoxie diagnóza   patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování plodu metody   MeSH
• plod fyziologie   MeSH
• počítačové zpracování signálu MeSH
• srdeční frekvence plodu fyziologie   MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

A three-dimensional finite element model of a vascular smooth muscle cell is based on models published recently; it comprehends elements representing cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus, and a complex tensegrity structure representing the cytoskeleton. In contrast to previous models of eucaryotic cells, this tensegrity structure consists of several parts. Its external and internal parts number 30 struts, 60 cables each, and their nodes are interconnected by 30 radial members; these parts represent cortical, nuclear and deep cytoskeletons, respectively. This arrangement enables us to simulate load transmission from the extracellular space to the nucleus or centrosome via membrane receptors (focal adhesions); the ability of the model was tested by simulation of some mechanical tests with isolated vascular smooth muscle cells. Although material properties of components defined on the basis of the mechanical tests are ambiguous, modelling of different types of tests has shown the ability of the model to simulate substantial global features of cell behaviour, e.g. "action at a distance effect" or the global load-deformation response of the cell under various types of loading. Based on computational simulations, the authors offer a hypothesis explaining the scatter of experimental results of indentation tests.

• MeSH
• analýza metodou konečných prvků MeSH
• biologické modely * MeSH
• buněčný převod mechanických signálů fyziologie   MeSH
• cytoskelet MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mechanický stres MeSH
• myocyty hladké svaloviny chemie   cytologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• počítačová simulace MeSH
• svaly hladké cévní chemie   cytologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Today artificial neural networks can be trained to solve problems that are difficult for conventional computers or human beings. The big advantage of an artificial neural network is results obtained without knowledge of the algorithm procedure or without full and exact information. Therefore an artificial neural network was used to predict the muscle forces. The aim of the study was to simplify prediction of muscle forces which are difficult to determine, because many muscles act cooperatively. However, orthopeadists, biomechanical engineers and physical therapists need to take muscle forces into consideration because joint contact forces, as well as muscle forces, need to be estimated in order to understand the joint and bone loading. In terms of sensitivity of the muscle parameters to the results from the proposed neural network object, the muscle force prediction was simplified.

• MeSH
• algoritmy MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• isometrická kontrakce fyziologie   MeSH
• kosterní svaly fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• neuronové sítě (počítačové) * MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• svalová kontrakce fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Elastic properties of single parts of a human skeleton are necessary to know for modelling bone tissue-implants interactions as well as for diagnostic purposes. This paper contributes to the methodology of the evaluation of elastic properties of bones by the ultrasonic wave inversion. The method was developed on composite structures such as plates and cylindrical shells. Final results are then demonstrated on the bovine cortical bone specimen. Properties are supposed to exhibit an orthotropic or a transversally isotropic symmetry. Quasi-longitudinal and quasi-transversal waves are generated from the wave diffraction on the liquid/specimen interface. Wave velocity fields obtained by the ultrasonic scanning technique are used as an input to the inversion procedure for all elastic constants determination. Experimental results are confronted with the numerical modelling of the wave propagation and the stability of resulting data is evaluated by the statistical method based on the Monte-Carlo simulation. The suggested approach has a potential for the qualify of such measurements performed on fresh bones and also for improvement in-situ ultrasonic techniques.

• MeSH
• akustika * MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• biomedicínské inženýrství * MeSH
• femur diagnostické zobrazování   fyziologie   MeSH
• kosti a kostní tkáň diagnostické zobrazování   fyziologie   MeSH
• kostní denzita fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• metoda Monte Carlo MeSH
• pevnost v tahu MeSH
• pevnost v tlaku MeSH
• ponoření * MeSH
• pružnost * MeSH
• skot MeSH
• tkáňové inženýrství * MeSH
• ultrasonografie MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Many disorders of the hip can be treated with a suitable osteotomy based on the improvement of mechanical conditions in the hip joint. These operations, such as osteotomies are very complex. The surface replacement has also been developed as an alternative to a total hip replacement for young and more active people. It is up-to-date to concern with biomechanics of pathological hips and it is necessary to supplement the existing clinical findings with the results of mechanical analyses. Several finite element (FE) models are presented in this paper. The first one offers solutions to the strain-stress analysis of the physiological hip. The second one represents dysplastic hip joint. Another two computational models of both hips of a young patient were created (FE model of physiological hip and pathological hip affected by Perthes disease with a deformed shape of the femoral head). Also a computational model is presented, which enables us to investigate strain and stress parameters in the hip joint with applied surface replacement. The strain and stress analysis was performed by means of finite element method (FEM) in ANSYS system.

• MeSH
• analýza metodou konečných prvků * MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• kyčel fyziologie   patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• kyčelní kloub fyziologie   patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mechanický stres MeSH
• náhrada kyčelního kloubu MeSH
• osteotomie MeSH
• počítačová simulace MeSH
• poranění kyčle patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• vývojové onemocnění kostí patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH