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Biomedical subjects

B C Stoel

Publications and source records attributed to B C Stoel.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Validation of computed tomographic lung densitometry for monitoring emphysema in alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Lung densitometry derived from computed tomographic images offers an opportunity to quantify emphysema non-invasively, but a pathological standard cannot be applied to validate its use in longitudinal monitoring studies. Consequently, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) remains the standard against which new methods must be judged. We related progression of densitometry (15th percentile point and voxel index, threshold -950 Hounsfield units) to disease stage and FEV1 decline in two studies of subjects with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (PiZ). METHODS: Consistency of progression, measured using densitometry and FEV1, was assessed in relation to disease stage in a 2 year study of 74 subjects grouped according to the FEV1 criteria employed in the GOLD guidelines. In the second study of a subgroup of subjects with extended data (n=34), summary statistics were applied to measurements performed annually over 3 years and the rate of progression of densitometry was related to FEV1 decline. RESULTS: The progression of percentile point was consistent across a wide spectrum of disease severity, but voxel index progression varied in association with disease stage (p=0.004). In the second study, FEV1 decline correlated with progression of lung densitometry (percentile point: rS=0.527, p=0.001; voxel index: rS=-0.398, p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: 15th percentile point is a more consistent measure of lung density loss across a wide range of physiological impairment than voxel index. However, both methods are valid for use in longitudinal and interventional studies in which emphysema is the major outcome target.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Quantitative assessment of regional emphysema distribution in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

PURPOSE: To compare objective and subjective assessment of the distribution of emphysema in unselected patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 167 patients were computed tomography (CT) scanned, and the relative area (RA-910) of emphysema in each CT slice was plotted against table position. The craniocaudal distribution was calculated as the slope of the regression line, and grouped as upper-lung-zone predominance (ULP), lower-lung-zone predominance (LLP), or mild/homogeneous distribution (MHE). CT scans were also classified as ULP, LLP, and MHE based on visual assessment of three high-resolution CT (HRCT) slices, and the leading pattern of emphysema was classified as centrilobular (CLE), paraseptal (PSE), panlobular (PLE), or no emphysema (NE). RESULTS: By objective classification, scans were divided into almost equal numbers of ULP, LLP, and MHE, whereas visual evaluation classified more scans as ULP (P<0.001) and very few as LLP (P<0.0001). In patients with CLE, 49% had ULP by objective classification, whereas LLP was the commonest leading pattern in PSE, PLE, and NE. CONCLUSION: We found significant discrepancies between the objective and subjective distributions of emphysema in various morphological patterns, which may be of clinical importance in, for instance, lung-volume-reduction surgery.

Aged↗

Subacromial space measurement: a reliable method indicating fatty infiltration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Proximal migration of the humeral head is thought to indicate fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff muscles or rotator cuff tears. We sought to evaluate the influence of these rotator cuff abnormalities on the subacromial space. Using anteroposterior radiographs, ultrasound, and computed tomography, we analyzed 54 shoulders in 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The upward migration index was defined as proximal migration of the humeral head relative to its size. The mean muscle density from computed tomography images was used to indicate fatty infiltration. Fatty infiltration of the infraspinatus muscle showed the strongest correlation with proximal migration. After correcting for age, cuff tears, and rheumatoid disease, the partial correlation coefficient between both remained strong. A subdivision in proximal migration is proposed to screen for rotator cuff abnormalities. A large amount of fatty infiltration was indicated by an upward migration index less than 1.25, a medium amount by an upward migration index between 1.25 to 1.35, and a small amount by an upward migration index greater than 1.35. Measurement of proximal migration using the upward migration index provides a reliable screening method indicating fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff.

Acromion↗

A new type of model-based Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis for solving the occluded marker problem.

Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) measures micromotion of an orthopaedic implant with respect to its surrounding bone. A problem in RSA is that the markers are sometimes overprojected by the implant itself. This study describes the so-called Marker Configuration Model-based RSA (MCM-based RSA) that is able to measure the pose of a rigid body in situations where less than three markers could be detected in both images of an RSA radiograph. MCM-based RSA is based on fitting a Marker Configuration model (MC-model) to the projection lines from the marker projection positions in the image to their corresponding Roentgen foci. An MC-model describes the positions of markers relative to each other and is obtained using conventional RSA. We used data from 15 double examinations of a clinical study of total knee prostheses and removed projections of the three tibial component markers, simulating occlusion of markers. The migration of the tibial component with respect to the bone, which should be zero, for the double examination is a measure of the accuracy of algorithm. With the new algorithm, it is possible to estimate the pose of a rigid body of which one or two markers are occluded in one of the images of the RSA radiograph with high accuracy as long as a proper MC-model of the markers in the rigid body is available. The new algorithm makes RSA more robust for occlusion of markers. This improves the results of clinical RSA studies because the number of lost RSA follow-up moments is reduced.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Evaluation of three pose estimation algorithms for model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis.

Model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) uses a three-dimensional surface model of an implant in order to estimate accurately the pose of that implant from a stereo pair of roentgen images. The technique is based on minimization of the difference between the actually projected contour of an implant and the virtually projected contour of a model of that same implant. The advantage of model-based RSA over conventional marker-based RSA is that it is not necessary to attach markers to the implant. In this paper, three pose estimation algorithms for model-based RSA are evaluated. The algorithms were assessed on the basis of their sensitivities to noise in the actual contour, to the amount of drop-outs in the actual contour, to the number of points in the actual contour and to shrinkage or expansion of the actual contour. The algorithms that were studied are the iterative inverse perspective matching (IIPM) algorithm, an algorithm based on minimization of the difference (DIF) between the actual contour and the virtual contour, and an algorithm based on minimization of the non-overlapping area (NOA) between the actual and virtual contour. The results of the simulation and phantom experiments show that the NOA algorithm does not fulfil the high accuracy that is necessary for model-based RSA. The IIPM and DIF algorithms are robust to the different distortions, making model-based RSA a possible replacement for marker-based RSA.

Algorithms↗

A new model-based RSA method validated using CAD models and models from reversed engineering.

Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) was developed to measure micromotion of an orthopaedic implant with respect to its surrounding bone. A disadvantage of conventional RSA is that it requires the implant to be marked with tantalum beads. This disadvantage can potentially be resolved with model-based RSA, whereby a 3D model of the implant is used for matching with the actual images and the assessment of position and rotation of the implant. In this study, a model-based RSA algorithm is presented and validated in phantom experiments. To investigate the influence of the accuracy of the implant models that were used for model-based RSA, we studied both computer aided design (CAD) models as well as models obtained by means of reversed engineering (RE) of the actual implant. The results demonstrate that the RE models provide more accurate results than the CAD models. If these RE models are derived from the very same implant, it is possible to achieve a maximum standard deviation of the error in the migration calculation of 0.06 mm for translations in x- and y-direction and 0.14 mm for the out of plane z-direction, respectively. For rotations about the y-axis, the standard deviation was about 0.1 degrees and for rotations about the x- and z-axis 0.05 degrees. Studies with clinical RSA-radiographs must prove that these results can also be reached in a clinical setting, making model-based RSA a possible alternative for marker-based RSA.

Algorithms↗

Correlation between annual change in health status and computer tomography derived lung density in subjects with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing recognition that questionnaires of health status and lung density measurements are more sensitive tools for assessing progression of emphysema than forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) and transfer coefficient (KCO). A study was undertaken to investigate prospectively the correlation between annual change in health status and computer tomography (CT) derived lung density in subjects with alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency. METHODS: Twenty two patients of mean (SD) age 40.7 (9.2) years with ZZ type alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency were investigated at baseline and 30 months later by FEV(1) and KCO, St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and by a spiral CT scan of the chest. CT data of chest images were analysed using software designed for automated lung contour detection and lung density measurements. The density data were corrected for changes in inspiration levels. RESULTS: Changes in lung density, expressed as 15th percentile point or relative area below -950 HU, correlated well with changes in health status (SGRQ total score): R = -0.56, p = 0.007 or R = 0.6, p = 0.003. Neither changes in health status nor changes in lung density correlated significantly with changes in FEV(1) or changes in KCO. CONCLUSIONS: The SGRQ total score (which is a global measure in COPD) and lung density (a specific measure of emphysema) are sensitive to deterioration in patients with alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency. This finding may facilitate future studies with new drugs specific for emphysema, a frequently occurring component of COPD.

Adult↗

Repeatability of lung density measurements with low-dose computed tomography in subjects with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency-associated emphysema.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) of the lungs provides a new opportunity for longitudinal assessment of lung densities because of shorter scan duration. The aim of the present study was to assess the intraindividual variation of lung densities measured by MSCT of patients with emphysema. METHODS: Ten patients with emphysema participated in a study in which MSCT was obtained on two occasions, approximately 2 weeks apart. Scanning parameters were 140 kV, 20 mAs, 4 x 2.5-mm collimation, and effective slice thickness of 2.5 mm. Lung density was measured as the 15th percentile point and the relative area below -910 Hounsfield units (HU) by using Pulmo-LKEB software. RESULTS: The mean difference of the 15th percentile point was -1.29 +/- 3.2 HU, and that for the relative area below the -910-HU parameter was -1.02% +/- 3.09%. Intraclass coefficients of variation were 0.96 (0.86-0.99) and 0.94 (0.8-0.98), respectively (95% confidence interval). CONCLUSIONS: Lung density parameters of emphysema derived by MSCT provide an opportunity for analysis of the treatment effects of new drugs on the progression of emphysema.

Disease Progression↗

Diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive heart disease is associated with altered myocardial metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an important clinical problem and is often accompanied by left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dysfunction. Whether the myocardial high-energy phosphate (HEP) metabolism is altered in human hypertensive heart disease and whether this is associated with LV dysfunction is not known. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eleven patients with hypertension and 13 age-matched healthy subjects were studied with magnetic resonance imaging at rest and with phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy at rest and during high-dose atropine-dobutamine stress. Hypertensive patients showed higher LV mass (98+/-28 g/m2) than healthy control subjects (73+/-13 g/m2, P<0.01). LV filling was impaired in patients, reflected by a decreased peak rate of wall thinning (PRWThn), E/A ratio, early peak filling rate, and early deceleration peak (all P<0. 05), whereas systolic function was still normal. The myocardial phosphocreatine (PCr)/ATP ratio determined in patients at rest (1. 20+/-0.18) and during stress (0.95+/-0.25) was lower than corresponding values obtained from healthy control subjects at rest (1.39+/-0.17, P<0.05) and during stress (1.16+/-0.18, P<0.05). The PCr/ATP ratio correlated significantly with PRWThn (r=-0.55, P<0.01), early deceleration peak (r=-0.56, P<0.01), and with the rate-pressure product (r=-0.53, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial HEP metabolism is altered in patients with hypertensive heart disease. In addition, there is an association between impaired LV diastolic function and altered myocardial HEP metabolism in humans. The level of myocardial PCr/ATP is most likely determined by the level of cardiac work load.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Sources of error in lung densitometry with CT.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To determine and analyze the most important error sources in lung CT densitometry in vivo. METHODS: The authors examined the influences of CT acquisition errors, physiologic changes, and image segmentation errors on lung densitometry. Among others, spatial dependency and long-term reproducibility of the density measurements of blood and air were examined over a period of 4 years in a group of 28 patients with pulmonary emphysema. These results were related to the measured lung densities in this group. RESULTS: The density measurement of blood and air is strongly dependent on the position in the thorax. Despite full-scanner calibrations, x-ray tube replacement can induce a significant increase in measured blood density. CONCLUSIONS: A change in a lung density parameter over time can actually be the result of tube replacement or changing blood density. A simple postprocessing technique can correct for these changes.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

MR velocity mapping of tricuspid flow: correction for through-plane motion.

We evaluated the effect of through-plane motion on tricuspid flow measurements performed with MR velocity mapping in nine normal subjects and 15 patients with possible right ventricular (RV) disease. Eight parameters of RV diastolic function were derived from the tricuspid flow measurements, both before and after a correction for through-plane motion. Measurements of E-peak, A-peak, and time-to-peak filling rate changed significantly after correction for through-plane motion (P < .05). Tricuspid flow as a marker of RV diastolic function should be corrected for the effect of through-plane motion to improve functional evaluation of the RV.

Adult↗