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Christian Nemoz

Publications and source records attributed to Christian Nemoz.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Differences in the time course of proximal and distal airway response to inhaled histamine studied by synchrotron radiation CT.

We studied the kinetics of proximal and distal bronchial response to histamine aerosol in healthy anesthetized and mechanically ventilated rabbits up to 60 min after histamine administration using a novel xenon-enhanced synchrotron radiation computed tomography imaging technique. Individual proximal airway constriction was assessed by measuring the luminal cross-sectional area. Distal airway obstruction was estimated by measuring the ventilated alveolar area after inhaled xenon administration. Respiratory system conductance was assessed continuously. Proximal airway cross-sectional area decreased by 57% of the baseline value by 20 min and recovered gradually but incompletely within 60 min. The ventilated alveolar area decreased immediately after histamine inhalation by 55% of baseline value and recovered rapidly thereafter. The results indicate that the airway reaction to inhaled histamine and the subsequent recovery are significantly slower in proximal than in distal bronchi in healthy rabbit. The findings suggest that physiological reaction mechanisms to inhaled histamine in the airway walls of large and small bronchi are not similar.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Khoratpithecus piriyai, a Late Miocene hominoid of Thailand.

A Khoratpithecus piriyai lower jaw corresponds to a well-preserved Late Miocene hominoid fossil from northeastern Thailand. Its morphology and internal structure, using a microcomputed tomography scan, are described and compared to those of other known Miocene hominoids. It originated from fluviatile sand and gravel deposits of a large river, and was associated with many fossil tree trunks, wood fragments, and large vertebrate remains. A biochronological analysis by using associated mammal fauna gives an estimated geological age between 9-6 Ma. The flora indicates the occurrence of a riverine tropical forest and wide areas of grassland. K. piriyai displays many original characters, such as the great breadth of its anterior dentition, suggesting large incisors, large lower M3, a canine with a flat lingual wall, and symphysis structure. Several of its morphological derived characters are shared with the orangutan, indicating sister-group relationship with that extant ape. This relationship is additionally strongly supported by the absence of anterior digastric muscle scars. These shared derived characters are not present in Sivapithecus, Ankarapithecus, and Lufengpithecus, which are therefore considered more distant relatives to the orangutan than Khoratpithecus. The Middle Miocene K. chiangmuanensis is older, displays more primitive dental characters, and shares several dental characters with the Late Miocene form. It is therefore interpreted as its probable ancestor. But its less enlarged M3 and more wrinkled enamel may suggest an even closer phylogenetic position to orangutan ancestors, which cannot yet be supported because of the incomplete fossil record. Thus Khoratpithecus represents a new lineage of Southeast Asian hominoids, closely related to extant great ape ancestors.

Animals↗

Comparison of synchrotron radiation angiography with conventional angiography for the diagnosis of in-stent restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

AIMS: Synchrotron radiation angiography (SRA) is a novel tool for minimally invasive coronary artery imaging. The method uses subtraction of two images produced at energies bracketing the iodine K-edge after intravenous infusion of iodinated contrast agent. We investigated the accuracy of SRA for detecting in-stent restenosis (ISR). METHODS AND RESULTS: We recruited 57 men, 4-6 months after successful PTCA. We visualized the right coronary artery (RCA) in 27 patients with 36 stented segments [12 segments with ISR>50% by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA)], and the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 30 patients with 37 stented segments (10 ISR). SRA and QCA were performed within 2 days of each other. Two experienced observers unaware of QCA data evaluated the SRA results. Image quality was good or excellent in most patients. Global sensitivity was 64%, specificity was 95%, and positive and negative predictive values were approximately 85%. Inter-observer kappa concordance coefficient was 0.86. False negatives involved short eccentric lesions and superimposed segments, most frequently of the LAD. False positives occurred in intermediate stenoses slightly overestimated by SRA. CONCLUSION: In men, this minimally invasive approach, using small radiation doses, detects significant ISR in the RCA, but the LAD poses difficulties because of superimposition with others structures.

Adult↗

Quantitative analysis of synchrotron radiation intravenous angiographic images.

A medical research protocol on clinical intravenous coronary angiography has been completed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) biomedical beamline. The aim was to investigate the accuracy of intravenous coronary angiography based on the K-edge digital subtraction technique for the detection of in-stent restenosis. For each patient, diagnosis has been performed on the synchrotron radiation images and monitored with the conventional selective coronary angiography method taken as the golden standard. In this paper, the methods of image processing and the results of the quantitative analysis are described. Image processing includes beam harmonic contamination correction, spatial deconvolution and the extraction of a 'contrast' and a 'tissue' image from each couple of radiograms simultaneously acquired at energies bracketing the K-edge of iodine. Quantitative analysis includes the estimation of the vessel diameter, the calculation of the absolute iodine concentration profiles along the coronary arteries and the stenosis degree measurement.

Algorithms↗

Quantitative measurement of regional lung gas volume by synchrotron radiation computed tomography.

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a novel respiration-gated spiral synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SRCT) technique for direct quantification of absolute regional lung volumes, using stable xenon (Xe) gas as an inhaled indicator. Spiral SRCT with K-edge subtraction using two monochromatic x-ray beams was used to visualize and directly quantify inhaled Xe concentrations and airspace volumes in three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed lung images. Volume measurements were validated using a hollow Xe-filled phantom. Spiral images spanning 49 mm in lung height were acquired following 60 breaths of an 80% Xe-20% O2 gas mixture, in two anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated rabbits at baseline and after histamine aerosol inhalation. Volumetric images of 20 mm lung sections were obtained at functional residual capacity (FRC) and at end-inspiration. 3D images showed large patchy filling defects in peripheral airways and alveoli following histamine provocation. Local specific lung compliance was calculated based on FRC/end-inspiration images in normal lung. This study demonstrates spiral SRCT as a new technique for direct determination of regional lung volume, offering possibilities for non-invasive investigation of regional lung function and mechanics, with a uniquely high spatial resolution. An example of non-uniform volume distribution in rabbit lung following histamine inhalation is presented.

Animals↗

High-resolution blood-brain barrier permeability and blood volume imaging using quantitative synchrotron radiation computed tomography: study on an F98 rat brain glioma.

The authors previously provided evidence of synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SRCT) efficacy for quantitative in vivo brain perfusion measurements using monochromatic X-ray beams. However, this technique was limited for small-animal studies by partial volume effects. In this paper, high-resolution absolute cerebral blood volume and blood-brain barrier permeability coefficient measurements were obtained on a rat glioma model using SRCT and a CCD camera (47x47 microm2 pixel size). This is the first report of in vivo high-resolution brain vasculature parameter assessment. The work gives interesting perspectives to quantify brain hemodynamic changes accurately in healthy and pathological small animals.

Animals↗