scholarly journals Quantitative assessment of multiscale structural and functional alterations in asthmatic populations

2015 ◽  
Vol 118 (10) ◽  
pp. 1286-1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanghun Choi ◽  
Eric A. Hoffman ◽  
Sally E. Wenzel ◽  
Mario Castro ◽  
Sean B. Fain ◽  
...  

Relationships between structural and functional variables in asthmatic lungs at local and global (or lobar) levels remain to be discovered. This study aims to investigate local alterations of structural variables [bifurcation angle, circularity, airway wall thickness (WT), and hydraulic diameter ( Dh)] in asthmatic subjects, and their correlations with other imaging and pulmonary function test-based global and lobar metrics, including lung shape, air-trapping, regional volume change, and more. Sixty-one healthy subjects, and 67 nonsevere and 67 severe asthmatic subjects were studied. The structural variables were derived from computed tomography images at total lung capacity (TLC). Air-trapping was measured at functional residual capacity, and regional volume change (derived from image registration) was measured between functional residual capacity and TLC. The tracheal diameter and WT predicted by 61 healthy subjects were used to normalize the Dh and WT. New normalization schemes allowed for the dissociation of luminal narrowing and wall thickening effects. In severe asthmatic subjects, the alteration of bifurcation angle was found to be correlated with a global lung shape at TLC, and circularity was significantly decreased in the right main bronchus. While normalized WT increased especially in the upper lobes of severe asthmatic subjects, normalized Dh decreased in the lower lobes. Among local structural variables, normalized Dh was the most representative variable, because it was significantly correlated with alterations of functional variables, including pulmonary function test's data. In conclusion, understanding multiscale phenomena may help to provide guidance in the search for potential imaging-based phenotypes for the development and outcomes assessment of therapeutic intervention.

2017 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 876-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Brown ◽  
Robert J. Henderson ◽  
Elizabeth A. Sugar ◽  
Janet T. Holbrook ◽  
Robert A. Wise

Brown RH, Henderson RJ, Sugar EA, Holbrook JT, Wise RA, on behalf of the American Lung Association Airways Clinical Research Centers. Reproducibility of airway luminal size in asthma measured by HRCT. J Appl Physiol 123: 876–883, 2017. First published July 13, 2017; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00307.2017.—High-resolution CT (HRCT) is a well-established imaging technology used to measure lung and airway morphology in vivo. However, there is a surprising lack of studies examining HRCT reproducibility. The CPAP Trial was a multicenter, randomized, three-parallel-arm, sham-controlled 12-wk clinical trial to assess the use of a nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device on airway reactivity to methacholine. The lack of a treatment effect of CPAP on clinical or HRCT measures provided an opportunity for the current analysis. We assessed the reproducibility of HRCT imaging over 12 wk. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for individual airway segments, individual lung lobes, both lungs, and air trapping. The ICC [95% confidence interval (CI)] for airway luminal size at total lung capacity ranged from 0.95 (0.91, 0.97) to 0.47 (0.27, 0.69). The ICC (95% CI) for airway luminal size at functional residual capacity ranged from 0.91 (0.85, 0.95) to 0.32 (0.11, 0.65). The ICC measurements for airway distensibility index and wall thickness were lower, ranging from poor (0.08) to moderate (0.63) agreement. The ICC for air trapping at functional residual capacity was 0.89 (0.81, 0.94) and varied only modestly by lobe from 0.76 (0.61, 0.87) to 0.95 (0.92, 0.97). In stable well-controlled asthmatic subjects, it is possible to reproducibly image unstimulated airway luminal areas over time, by region, and by size at total lung capacity throughout the lungs. Therefore, any changes in luminal size on repeat CT imaging are more likely due to changes in disease state and less likely due to normal variability. NEW & NOTEWORTHY There is a surprising lack of studies examining the reproducibility of high-resolution CT in asthma. The current study examined reproducibility of airway measurements. In stable well-controlled asthmatic subjects, it is possible to reproducibly image airway luminal areas over time, by region, and by size at total lung capacity throughout the lungs. Therefore, any changes in luminal size on repeat CT imaging are more likely due to changes in disease state and less likely due to normal variability.


2014 ◽  
Vol 117 (6) ◽  
pp. 593-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanghun Choi ◽  
Eric A. Hoffman ◽  
Sally E. Wenzel ◽  
Mario Castro ◽  
Ching-Long Lin

Lung air trapping is estimated via quantitative computed tomography (CT) using density threshold-based measures on an expiration scan. However, the effects of scanner differences and imaging protocol adherence on quantitative assessment are known to be problematic. This study investigates the effects of protocol differences, such as using different CT scanners and breath-hold coaches in a multicenter asthmatic study, and proposes new methods that can adjust intersite and intersubject variations. CT images of 50 healthy subjects and 42 nonsevere and 52 severe asthmatics at total lung capacity (TLC) and functional residual capacity (FRC) were acquired using three different scanners and two different coaching methods at three institutions. A fraction threshold-based approach based on the corrected Hounsfield unit of air with tracheal density was applied to quantify air trapping at FRC. The new air-trapping method was enhanced by adding a lung-shaped metric at TLC and the lobar ratio of air-volume change between TLC and FRC. The fraction-based air-trapping method is able to collapse air-trapping data of respective populations into distinct regression lines. Relative to a constant value-based clustering scheme, the slope-based clustering scheme shows the improved performance and reduced misclassification rate of healthy subjects. Furthermore, both lung shape and air-volume change are found to be discriminant variables for differentiating among three populations of healthy subjects and nonsevere and severe asthmatics. In conjunction with the lung shape and air-volume change, the fraction-based measure of air trapping enables differentiation of severe asthmatics from nonsevere asthmatics and nonsevere asthmatics from healthy subjects, critical for the development and evaluation of new therapeutic interventions.


1998 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 451-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Beck ◽  
Christer Sinderby ◽  
Lars Lindström ◽  
Alex Grassino

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of velocity of shortening on the relationship between diaphragm activation and pressure generation in humans. This was achieved by relating the root mean square (RMS) of the diaphragm electromyogram to the transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) generated during dynamic contractions at different inspiratory flow rates. Five healthy subjects inspired from functional residual capacity to total lung capacity at different flow rates while reproducing identical Pdi and chest wall configuration profiles. To change the inspiratory flow rate, subjects performed the inspirations while breathing across two different inspiratory resistances (10 and 100 cmH2O ⋅ l−1 ⋅ s), at mouth pressure targets of −10, −20, −40, and −60 cmH2O. The diaphragm electromyogram was recorded and analyzed with control of signal contamination and electrode positioning. RMS values obtained for inspirations with identical Pdi and chest wall configuration profiles were compared at the same percentage of inspiratory duration. At inspiratory flows ranging between 0.1 and 1.4 l/s, there was no difference in the RMS for the inspirations from functional residual capacity to total lung capacity when Pdi and chest wall configuration profiles were reproduced ( n = 4). At higher inspiratory flow rates, subjects were not able to reproduce their chest wall displacements and adopted different recruitment patterns. In conclusion, there was no evidence for increased demand of diaphragm activation when healthy subjects breathe with similar chest wall configuration and Pdi profiles, at increasing flow rates up to 1.4 l/s.


1979 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 874-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Hedenstierna ◽  
J. Santesson

Airway closure was measured in awake and then anesthetized supine healthy subjects with the argon-bolus and the resident-gas (nitrogen) techniques simultaneously. The preinspiratory lung volume for the closing volume maneuver was varied from residual volume to closing capacity (CC). Comparative measurements were also performed in the upright and supine positions in awake subjects. Closing volume (CV) was consistently larger with the bolus technique in supine subjects both when awake and when anesthetized (difference between methods 0.1--0.2 l, P less than 0.01), whereas no difference between the methods was noted in upright subjects. The lower “nitrogen CV” in supine subjects may be due to a shorter vertical lung height with a smaller range of nitrogen concentrations, resulting in a less abrupt onset of phase IV (taken to indicate CV). CV was not significantly affected by the preinspiratory lung volume with either technique, and CC was unchanged when anesthesia was instituted. Functional residual capacity (FRC) was reduced with anesthesia (mean reduction: 0.6 l, P less than 0.01) and FRC-CC became negative in all subjects with either technique. This implies intermittent or continuous airway closure during anesthesia and the possibility of increased venous admixture.


1988 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 2215-2219 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Rubinstein ◽  
A. S. Slutsky ◽  
A. S. Rebuck ◽  
P. A. McClean ◽  
R. Boucher ◽  
...  

Maximal static expiratory pressure developed at the mouth (PEmax) provides a useful clinical index of expiratory muscle function; however, the range of normal values among laboratories shows considerable variation. We examined the hypothesis that the wide variability could be attributable to the differences in technique among laboratories. We measured PEmax at functional residual capacity (PEmax FRC) in 28 healthy subjects using the following five techniques: 1) using a scuba-type mouthpiece with the cheeks supported by the hands ("hands on"), 2) without supporting the cheeks ("no hands"), 3) using a rigid, circular mouthpiece (2.8 cm ID, "tube"), 4) using the scuba-type mouthpiece but with the cheeks supported by an observer ("other hands"), and 5) using a large-bore circular mouthpiece (4.1 cm ID, "new tube"). Mean PEmax FRC obtained with hands on was significantly higher than no-hands and tube methods. PEmax FRC values obtained by the other-hands and new-tube maneuvers were similar to the hands-on maneuver. We conclude that the technique used to measure PEmax FRC can significantly affect the results and suggest that it should be measured using a large-bore circular mouthpiece or a scuba-diving mouthpiece with the cheeks supported.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitake Yamada ◽  
Minoru Yamada ◽  
Shotaro Chubachi ◽  
Yoichi Yokoyama ◽  
Shiho Matsuoka ◽  
...  

Abstract Currently, no clinical studies have compared the inspiratory and expiratory volumes of unilateral lung or of each lobe among supine, standing, and sitting positions. In this prospective study, 100 asymptomatic volunteers underwent both low-radiation-dose conventional (supine position, with arms raised) and upright computed tomography (CT) (standing and sitting positions, with arms down) during inspiration and expiration breath-holds and pulmonary function test (PFT) on the same day. We compared the inspiratory/expiratory lung/lobe volumes on CT in the three positions. The inspiratory and expiratory bilateral upper and lower lobe and lung volumes were significantly higher in the standing/sitting positions than in the supine position (5.3–14.7% increases, all P < 0.001). However, the inspiratory right middle lobe volume remained similar in the three positions (all P > 0.15); the expiratory right middle lobe volume was significantly lower in the standing/sitting positions (16.3/14.1% decrease) than in the supine position (both P < 0.0001). The Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) used to compare the total lung volumes on inspiratory CT in the supine/standing/sitting positions and the total lung capacity on PFT were 0.83/0.93/0.95, respectively. The r values comparing the total lung volumes on expiratory CT in the supine/standing/sitting positions and the functional residual capacity on PFT were 0.83/0.85/0.82, respectively. The r values comparing the total lung volume changes from expiration to inspiration on CT in the supine/standing/sitting positions and the inspiratory capacity on PFT were 0.53/0.62/0.65, respectively. The study results could impact preoperative CT volumetry of the lung in lung cancer patients (before lobectomy) for the prediction of postoperative residual pulmonary function, and could be used as the basis for elucidating undetermined pathological mechanisms. Furthermore, in addition to morphological evaluation of the chest, inspiratory and expiratory upright CT may be used as an alternative tool to predict lung volumes such as total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, and inspiratory capacity in situation in which PFT cannot be performed such as during an infectious disease pandemic, with relatively more accurate predictability compared with conventional supine CT.


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