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Structure of the distal lung studied with inhaled nanoparticles

Petersson Sjögren, Madeleine LU (2023)
Abstract
Techniques able to detect impairments in the distal human lung are lacking. Since inhaled nanoparticles are predominantly deposited in the acini, their deposition can be used to derive structural properties of the region. In
theory, structural enlargements in the distal lung imply that less inhaled nanoparticles deposit there. This rationale is the basis of the airspace dimension assessment (AiDA) method.
The research presented in this thesis aimed to evaluate and characterize this new method for the measurement of distal lung structure. The objective was to do so by comparing the AiDA method with other lung structure and lung function measuring techniques as well as with background variables. AiDA measurements were carried out... (More)
Techniques able to detect impairments in the distal human lung are lacking. Since inhaled nanoparticles are predominantly deposited in the acini, their deposition can be used to derive structural properties of the region. In
theory, structural enlargements in the distal lung imply that less inhaled nanoparticles deposit there. This rationale is the basis of the airspace dimension assessment (AiDA) method.
The research presented in this thesis aimed to evaluate and characterize this new method for the measurement of distal lung structure. The objective was to do so by comparing the AiDA method with other lung structure and lung function measuring techniques as well as with background variables. AiDA measurements were carried out with nearly 800 individuals in four different studies. From these, distal airspace radii (rAiDA) were calculated, along with a second index: zero seconds recovery R0.The AiDA method was benchmarked against magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with hyperpolarized gas, with 23 healthy individuals and compared to computed tomography (CT) variables and standard pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in a population-based cohort with 695 subjects. The method was also evaluated as a tool to detect lung changes in an occupational group exposed to high loads of air pollution (with 28 welders and 17 controls), and AiDA indices were evaluated as parameters that can explain observed discrepancies between modeled and measured respiratory tract particle deposition in a group of 17 healthy participants.

The measured rAiDA were correlated with lung microstructure measurements obtained with MRI with hyperpolarized gas and rAiDA were on average larger in subjects with emphysema detected with CT, in comparison with healthy participants. The AiDA indices explained variance that no other PFTs captured, but there was no average difference between the occupational group and controls measurable with the AiDA method. The rAiDA were correlated with the difference between measured and modeled respiratory tract particle deposition. Moreover, rAiDA increased with age, but the inter-subject variability was large in all age groups.

The results demonstrated that the AiDA method has potential to characterize distal lung structure and may serve as a new, non-invasive tool for clinical examination of human lungs. However, the R0 index needs to be further
evaluated. In the future, controlled clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the method’s sensitivity to different lung conditions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
opponent
  • Prof. Sigsgaard, Torben, Aarhus University, Denmark.
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
pages
78 pages
publisher
Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University
defense location
Lecture Hall Stora hörsalen, IKDC, Sölvegatan 26, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund.
defense date
2023-03-17 09:15:00
ISBN
978-91-8039-539-7
978-91-8039-538-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
15e5894e-18ac-4add-a442-ecaa400c47cb
date added to LUP
2023-02-21 14:02:23
date last changed
2024-05-24 14:10:18
@phdthesis{15e5894e-18ac-4add-a442-ecaa400c47cb,
  abstract     = {{Techniques able to detect impairments in the distal human lung are lacking. Since inhaled nanoparticles are predominantly deposited in the acini, their deposition can be used to derive structural properties of the region. In<br/>theory, structural enlargements in the distal lung imply that less inhaled nanoparticles deposit there. This rationale is the basis of the airspace dimension assessment (AiDA) method. <br/>The research presented in this thesis aimed to evaluate and characterize this new method for the measurement of distal lung structure. The objective was to do so by comparing the AiDA method with other lung structure and lung function measuring techniques as well as with background variables. AiDA measurements were carried out with nearly 800 individuals in four different studies. From these, distal airspace radii (rAiDA) were calculated, along with a second index: zero seconds recovery R0.The AiDA method was benchmarked against magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with hyperpolarized gas, with 23 healthy individuals and compared to computed tomography (CT) variables and standard pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in a population-based cohort with 695 subjects. The method was also evaluated as a tool to detect lung changes in an occupational group exposed to high loads of air pollution (with 28 welders and 17 controls), and AiDA indices were evaluated as parameters that can explain observed discrepancies between modeled and measured respiratory tract particle deposition in a group of 17 healthy participants.<br/><br/>The measured rAiDA were correlated with lung microstructure measurements obtained with MRI with hyperpolarized gas and rAiDA were on average larger in subjects with emphysema detected with CT, in comparison with healthy participants. The AiDA indices explained variance that no other PFTs captured, but there was no average difference between the occupational group and controls measurable with the AiDA method. The rAiDA were correlated with the difference between measured and modeled respiratory tract particle deposition. Moreover, rAiDA increased with age, but the inter-subject variability was large in all age groups. <br/><br/>The results demonstrated that the AiDA method has potential to characterize distal lung structure and may serve as a new, non-invasive tool for clinical examination of human lungs. However, the R0 index needs to be further<br/>evaluated. In the future, controlled clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the method’s sensitivity to different lung conditions.}},
  author       = {{Petersson Sjögren, Madeleine}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8039-539-7}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Structure of the distal lung studied with inhaled nanoparticles}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/138537185/Thesis_MPS_summary.pdf}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}