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International Conference on Mathematical Biology and

Annual Meeting of The Society for Mathematical Biology,

July 27-30, 2009

University of British Columbia, Vancouver

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Program

MSC4Woodward 4;   8:00 am - 10:00 am, July 28
TitleCardiovascular-Respiratory Control: investigating and modeling clinically significant interactions - Part I
OrganizersJerry Batzel
Institute for Mathematics and Scientific Computing, University of Graz
Zbigniew Topor
Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary
Mostafa Bachar
King Saud University
AbstractThis minisymposium examines interactions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems (CVRS) with special emphasis on those interactions which have implications for human health.

Recent research has focused on the role of sleep apnea and other forms of sleep disordered breathing in the etiology and progression of important cardiovascular diseases. These diseases include hypertension, chronic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Particularly striking are the observed influences of obstructive and central sleep apnea in the progression of chronic (congestive) heart failure. In addition, clear mutual links exist between respiratory disturbances during sleep, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. Hence CVRS interaction is an important topic which touches on key clinical areas of current health care delivery.

Interaction between these two systems involves many important mechanisms some of which we highlight here. Firstly, a key feedback control mechanism for respiration comprises two chemoreflex inputs, one initiated by peripheral chemoreceptors and the other initiated by central chemoreceptors, with one respiratory output, ventilation. Stimulation of these chemoreceptors, by altered levels of respiratory gases in the circulating blood, modulates not only ventilation rate but also sympathetic activation of cardiovascular control system mechanisms. Secondly, delays in the respiratory control system arise from several sources including the circulatory time from lungs to chemoreceptors. Clearly, changes in the level of blood flow will influence circulatory time and the overall delay in the system response to perturbations. Thirdly, local vascular resistance which influences blood flow and perfusion is affected by levels of respiratory gases in circulating blood and in tissue. Given these mechanisms and others, cardiovascular-respiratory interaction is clearly very complex.

A quantitative exploration of all CVRS interdependencies is possible only via modeling studies and development of realistic, computational models depends on effective exploitation of experimental data. Data collection is frequently restricted by clinical constraints. Hence techniques for model validation, sensitivity analysis, model adaptation to the individual human subjects, and parameter estimation are key elements in well designed modeling investigations. An effective interdisciplinary collaboration is required to maximize the integration of mathematical models and experimental data.

These issues will be the focus of this minisymposium which will be of interest not only to CVRS researchers but also to a wider audience since it examines from multiple perspectives central issues and techniques important for model development and application, model adaptation to a particular clinical setting, and model guided development of viable clinical interventions.
Speaker 1Zbigniew Topor
Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Calgary
Transient ventilatory intervention reverses central sleep apnea - a model study
Speaker 2Darrel Francis
Imperial College London
Dynamic therapy of periodic breathing with exogenous carbon dioxide delivered as an inspired gas or endogenously using a cardiac pacemaker: the theoretical potential and the practical challenges.
Speaker 3Franz Kappel
Institute for Mathematics and Scientific Computing, University of Graz
Parameter Estimation and Experimental Design for a Cardiovascular Model
Speaker 4James Duffin
Departments of Anaesthesia & Physiology, University of Toronto
Modeling interactions between the control of cerebral blood flow and the chemoreflex control of breathing: implications for stability

-- Minisymposium talks are scheduled for 30 min each, including time for questions.