Determination of regional lung air volume distribution at mid-tidal breathing from computed tomography: A retrospective study of normal variability and reproducibility

© 2014 Fleming et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Background: Determination of regional lung air volume has several clinical applications. This study investigates the use of mid-tidal breathing CT scans to provide regional lung volume data.Methods: Low resolution CT scans of the thorax were obtained during tidal breathing in 11 healthy control male subjects, each on two separate occasions. A 3D map of air volume was derived, and total lung volume calculated. The regional distribution of air volume from centre to periphery of the lung was analysed using a radial transform and also using one dimensional profiles in three orthogonal directions.Results: The total air volumes for the right and left lungs were 1035 +/- 280 ml and 864 +/- 315 ml, respectively (mean and SD). The corresponding fractional air volume concentrations (FAVC) were 0.680 +/- 0.044 and 0.658 +/- 0.062. All differences between the right and left lung were highly significant (p < 0.0001). The coefficients of variation of repeated measurement of right and left lung air volumes and FAVC were 6.5% and 6.9% and 2.5% and 3.6%, respectively. FAVC correlated significantly with lung space volume (r = 0.78) (p < 0.005). FAVC increased from the centre towards the periphery of the lung. Central to peripheral ratios were significantly higher for the right (0.100 +/- 0.007 SD) than the left (0.089 +/- 0.013 SD) (p < 0.0001).Conclusion: A technique for measuring the distribution of air volume in the lung at mid-tidal breathing is described. Mean values and reproducibility are described for healthy male control subjects. Fractional air volume concentration is shown to increase with lung size.Air Liquid

'Rare biosphere' bacteria as key phenanthrene degraders in coastal seawaters

International audienceBy coupling DNA-SIP and pyrosequencing approaches, we identified Cycloclasticus sp. as a keystone degrader of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) despite being a member of the 'rare biosphere' in NW Mediterranean seawaters. We discovered novel PAH-degrading bacteria (Oceanibaculum sp., Sneathiella sp.) and we identified other groups already known to possess this function (Alteromonas sp., Paracoccus sp.). Together with Cycloclasticus sp., these groups contributed to potential in situ phenanthrene degradation at a rate >0.5 mg l−1 day−1, sufficient to account for a considerable part of PAH degradation. Further, we characterized the PAH-tolerant bacterial communities, which were much more diverse in the polluted site by comparison to unpolluted marine references. PAH-tolerant bacteria were also members of the rare biosphere, such as Glaciecola sp. Collectively, these data show the complex interactions between PAH-degraders and PAH-tolerant bacteria and provide new insights for the understanding of the functional ecology of marine bacteria in polluted waters

Controlled, parametric, individualized, 2-D and 3-D imaging measurements of aerosol deposition in the respiratory tract of healthy human subjects for model validation

Computer modeling is used widely to predict inhaled aerosol deposition in the human lung based on definition of the input conditions describing the aerosol characteristics, the breathing pattern and the airway anatomy of the subject. Validation of the models is limited by the lack of detailed experimental data. Three dimensional imaging data provides an opportunity to address this unmet need. Radioactive aerosol was administered to each of 11 healthy male subjects on two occasions under carefully monitored input conditions. Input parameters varied were particle size, depth of breathing, carrier gas and posture. The aerosol distribution was measured by combined single photon emission computed tomography and X-ray computer tomography (SPECT/CT). Airway anatomy was determined by high resolution CT imaging. The distribution of deposition was determined by a combination of 2D and 3D analysis and described in terms of the percentage of inhaled aerosol deposited in sections of the respiratory tract and in both spatial and anatomical sub-divisions within each lung. The percentage deposition in the conducting airways was also assessed by 24 h clearance. A set of imaging data of aerosol deposition has been produced in which the input parameters of inhalation are well described. The parameters were varied in a controlled manner to allow the sensitivity of predictive models to different factors to be tested. An initial analysis of the data is presented which will act as a guide that other centers can use to compare their own methodology. This data is considered to be of great potential value to computer modelers of aerosol deposition in validating their models