Within-breath analysis of respiratory mechanics in asthmatic patients by forced oscillation

INTRODUCTION: The within-breath analysis of respiratory mechanics by the monofrequency Forced Oscillation Technique (mFOT) is of great interest in both physiopathology studies and the diagnosis of respiratory diseases. However, there are limited data on the use of this technique in the analysis of asthma. This study evaluates within-breath mechanics of asthmatic individuals and the contribution of the mFOT in the asthma diagnosis. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy and twenty-two asthmatic subjects, including patients with mild (n=8), moderate (n=8), and severe (n=6) obstruction, were studied. Forced Oscillation Technique data were interpreted using the mean respiratory impedance (Zt), the impedance during inspiration (Zi), expiration (Ze), at the beginning of inspiration (Zii), and at expiration (Zie). The peakto-peak impedance (Zpp) was also calculated by the subtraction of Zii from Zie. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of m Forced Oscillation Technique parameters in identifying asthma. RESULTS: Respiratory impedance values were significantly higher in asthmatics: Zt (p<0.001), Zi (p<0.001), Ze (p<0.001), Zii (p<0.001), Zie (p<0.001), and Zpp (p<0.003). The best parameters for detecting asthma were Zi, Zii, and Zie (Se=90.9%, Sp=90.9%), followed by Zt and Ze. These results are in close agreement with recently published theories and pathophysiological fundamentals. CONCLUSIONS: mFOT permits a non-invasive and detailed analysis in different phases of the respiratory cycle, providing parameters that are adequate for the diagnosis of asthma with high accuracy. These results confirm the high clinical and scientific potential of this methodology in the evaluation of asthmatic patients.

Efficacy of a Respiratory Training System on the Regularity of Breathing / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: In order to enhance the efficiency of respiratory gated 4-dimensional radiation therapy for more regular and stable respiratory period and amplitude, a respiration training system was designed, and its efficacy was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was designed to measure the difference in respiration regularity following the use of a training system. A total of 11 subjects (9 volunteers and 2 patients) were included in the experiments. Three different breathing signals, including free breathing (free-breathing), guided breathing that followed training software (guided-breathing), and free breathing after the guided-breathing (post guided-breathing), were consecutively recorded in each subject. The peak-to-peak (PTP) period of the breathing signal, standard deviation (SD), peak-amplitude and its SD, area of the one cycle of the breathing wave form, and its root mean square (RMS) were measured and computed. RESULTS: The temporal regularity was significantly improved in guided-breathing since the SD of breathing period reduced (free-breathing 0.568 vs guided-breathing 0.344, p=0.0013). The SD of the breathing period representing the post guided-breathing was also reduced, but the difference was not statistically significant (free-breathing 0.568 vs. guided-breathing 0.512, p=ns). Also the SD of measured amplitude was reduced in guided-breathing (free-breathing 1.317 vs. guided-breathing 1.068, p=0.187), although not significant. This indicated that the tidal volume for each breath was kept more even in guided-breathing compared to free-breathing. There was no change in breathing pattern between free-breathing and guided-breathing. The average area of breathing wave form and its RMS in postguided-breathing, however, was reduced by 7% and 5.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The guided-breathing was more stable and regular than the other forms of breathing data. Therefore, the developed respiratory training system was effective in improving the temporal regularity and maintaining a more even tidal volume.

4D CT for Stereotactic Radiosurgery of Lung Cancer : A case report

For Stereotactic Radiosurgery of lung tumor, 4 dimensional CT was done during for free breathing of the patient. The movement of the treated target was measured in the CT images, and appropriate breathing cycle was selected for treatment. For patient A, the movement of the treatment target was 10.1 mm during full breathing cycle, and 5.4 mm for treated breathing cycle, 30~70%. For patient B, the movement was 13 mm, and 3.5 mm for full breathing cycle and treated breathing cycle, respectively.