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Cross-modal Imaging in Lung Research: From µCT dosimetry to synchrotron phase contrast microtomography biomechanical insights in preclinical lung injury models

Deyhle Jr, Richard LU (2024)
Abstract
Lung diseases continue to present a large burden to public health, especially in industrialized countries. For a
better understanding of the underlying patho-mechanisms in lung related diseases as well as for testing the
efficacy of novel therapies, preclinical studies in animal models are indispensable. The significance of preclinical X-ray based micro-computed tomography (µCT) research lies in its ability to provide high-resolution, non-invasive lung imaging of small animals as the air inside the lung acts as a natural contrast and to image the lung parenchyma longitudinally to assess functional and morphological alterations and test efficacy of therapeutic interventions. This often requires requires imaging protocols that... (More)
Lung diseases continue to present a large burden to public health, especially in industrialized countries. For a
better understanding of the underlying patho-mechanisms in lung related diseases as well as for testing the
efficacy of novel therapies, preclinical studies in animal models are indispensable. The significance of preclinical X-ray based micro-computed tomography (µCT) research lies in its ability to provide high-resolution, non-invasive lung imaging of small animals as the air inside the lung acts as a natural contrast and to image the lung parenchyma longitudinally to assess functional and morphological alterations and test efficacy of therapeutic interventions. This often requires requires imaging protocols that balance between sufficient image quality and clinically relevant radiation absorbed doses. A reproducible method for evaluation of absorbed radiation absorbed doses is desirable. Absorbed radiation absorbed doses were measured in a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom using standard TLD and a novel type of OSLD made form household salt. Four imaging protocols from MILabs “xUHR-µCT” scanner were tested. A large discrepancy was observed from results compared to vendor-provided values. The results indicate a need for thorough empirical dose measurements prior to performing longitudinal studies. Four-dimensional imaging, allows for investigation of the dynamics of regional lung functional parameters simultaneously with structural deformation of the lung as a function of time. It is of significant interest to have direct visualization and quantification of interstitial lung diseases at spatial resolutions beyond the capabilities of clinical and conventional absorption-based only CT. Thus far, the high intensity of synchrotron X-ray light sources offer a tool to investigate dynamic morphological and mechanistic features, enabling dynamic in-vivo microscopy. This investigation elucidates the direct effects of interventions targeting the pathophysiology of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI) on the terminal airways and alveolar microstructure within intact lungs. In such conditions, the relationship between microscopic strain within the mechanics of the alveolar structure and the broader mechanical characteristics and viscoelastic properties of the lungs remains poorly understood. A time-resolved synchrotron phase-contrast micro-computed tomography imaging acquisition protocol based on the synchronization between the mechanical ventilation and the cardiac activity was used to resolve the lung parenchyma motion with an effective isotropic voxel size of 6 µm. Quantitative maps of microscopic local lung tissue strain within aerated lung alveolar tissue under protective mechanical ventilation in anesthetized rats were obtained. This approach was used to assess the effect of alterations in lung tissue biomechanics induced by lung injury at 7 days after single-dose, intratracheal bleomycin instillation in combination with short-term high-tidal volume (VT) mechanical ventilation. Overall, this work address the aspects of radiation exposure to in experimental imaging of small animals and lays a foundation for a more nuanced understanding of lung injury and mechanical ventilation. In the future, it may result in a more effective and less injurious respiratory support for patients with acute lung injury or chronic lung diseases.
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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • PhD Hultin, Leif, In Vivo Imaging Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Thermoluminescent Dosimetry, Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), Computed tomography (CT), 4DCT, Phantoms, Imaging, X-rays, pre-clinical models, Pre-clinical, dosimetry: physical basis, biomedical strain, lung injury, mechanical ventilation, inflammation, lung function, synchrotron, histology, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Ventilator Inudced Lung Injury (VILI), Histology, Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT), Divergence Theorem, Registration techniques
pages
68 pages
publisher
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine
defense location
Rum 2005, Avdelningen för medicinsk strålningsfysik, Carl-Bertil Laurells gata 9, hisshall C, vån 2, Skånes Universitetssjukhus i Malmö
defense date
2024-04-19 14:15:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-8021-558-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
01ec15f2-3ed2-4ab0-bec0-e9d4dd0f76bb
date added to LUP
2024-04-09 15:12:54
date last changed
2024-04-11 09:46:30
@misc{01ec15f2-3ed2-4ab0-bec0-e9d4dd0f76bb,
  abstract     = {{Lung diseases continue to present a large burden to public health, especially in industrialized countries. For a<br/>better understanding of the underlying patho-mechanisms in lung related diseases as well as for testing the<br/>efficacy of novel therapies, preclinical studies in animal models are indispensable. The significance of preclinical X-ray based micro-computed tomography (µCT) research lies in its ability to provide high-resolution, non-invasive lung imaging of small animals as the air inside the lung acts as a natural contrast and to image the lung parenchyma longitudinally to assess functional and morphological alterations and test efficacy of therapeutic interventions. This often requires requires imaging protocols that balance between sufficient image quality and clinically relevant radiation absorbed doses. A reproducible method for evaluation of absorbed radiation absorbed doses is desirable. Absorbed radiation absorbed doses were measured in a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom using standard TLD and a novel type of OSLD made form household salt. Four imaging protocols from MILabs “xUHR-µCT” scanner were tested. A large discrepancy was observed from results compared to vendor-provided values. The results indicate a need for thorough empirical dose measurements prior to performing longitudinal studies. Four-dimensional imaging, allows for investigation of the dynamics of regional lung functional parameters simultaneously with structural deformation of the lung as a function of time. It is of significant interest to have direct visualization and quantification of interstitial lung diseases at spatial resolutions beyond the capabilities of clinical and conventional absorption-based only CT. Thus far, the high intensity of synchrotron X-ray light sources offer a tool to investigate dynamic morphological and mechanistic features, enabling dynamic in-vivo microscopy. This investigation elucidates the direct effects of interventions targeting the pathophysiology of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI) on the terminal airways and alveolar microstructure within intact lungs. In such conditions, the relationship between microscopic strain within the mechanics of the alveolar structure and the broader mechanical characteristics and viscoelastic properties of the lungs remains poorly understood. A time-resolved synchrotron phase-contrast micro-computed tomography imaging acquisition protocol based on the synchronization between the mechanical ventilation and the cardiac activity was used to resolve the lung parenchyma motion with an effective isotropic voxel size of 6 µm. Quantitative maps of microscopic local lung tissue strain within aerated lung alveolar tissue under protective mechanical ventilation in anesthetized rats were obtained. This approach was used to assess the effect of alterations in lung tissue biomechanics induced by lung injury at 7 days after single-dose, intratracheal bleomycin instillation in combination with short-term high-tidal volume (VT) mechanical ventilation. Overall, this work address the aspects of radiation exposure to in experimental imaging of small animals and lays a foundation for a more nuanced understanding of lung injury and mechanical ventilation. In the future, it may result in a more effective and less injurious respiratory support for patients with acute lung injury or chronic lung diseases. <br/>}},
  author       = {{Deyhle Jr, Richard}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8021-558-9}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL); Computed tomography (CT); 4DCT; Phantoms, Imaging; X-rays; pre-clinical models; Pre-clinical; dosimetry: physical basis; biomedical strain; lung injury; mechanical ventilation; inflammation; lung function; synchrotron; histology; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); Ventilator Inudced Lung Injury (VILI); Histology; Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT); Divergence Theorem; Registration techniques}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Licentiate Thesis}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine}},
  title        = {{Cross-modal Imaging in Lung Research: From µCT dosimetry to synchrotron phase contrast microtomography biomechanical insights in preclinical lung injury models}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/179432424/combinepdf_1_.pdf}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}