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P D Buckingham

Publications and source records attributed to P D Buckingham.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Regional structure-function correlations in chronic obstructive lung disease measured with positron emission tomography.

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography, performed with isotopes of very short half life, can be used to relate local lung tissue density to local ventilation and to the ventilation:perfusion ratio. This method has been used in 10 patients with severe chronic airflow obstruction and differing values for carbon monoxide transfer factor (TLCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO). METHODS: Ventilation (VA) and the ventilation:perfusion ratio (V/Q), lung density, and blood volume were measured regionally in a single transaxial section at mid-heart level with the patients in a supine position. Alveolar volume, extravascular tissue lung density, and perfusion (Q) were derived. Twenty five regions with abnormalities in the ventilation images were analysed. RESULTS: Tissue density showed a negative correlation with the ratio V/Q (r = 0.55) and a positive correlation with Q (r = 0.59) and blood volume (r = 0.65). In four patients with a low carbon monoxide transfer factor (TLCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO) < 50% predicted many regions with low VA had low tissue density and normal or high V/Q. On the other hand, in four patients with TLCO and KCO > 50% predicted many regions with low VA had normal or high tissue density and low values of V/Q. The other two patients had patterns between these two extremes. Individual ratios between mean values of tissue density and V/Q had a positive correlation with KCO (% pred; r = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: These findings link structural differences with distinctive functional patterns; they reinforce the view that bronchial inflammation or oedema predominate in some patients with chronic airflow obstruction, whereas alveolar destruction is the major feature in others.

Aged↗

Quantification of regional V/Q ratios in humans by use of PET. II. Procedure and normal values.

Regional measurements of tissue isotope concentration, made using positron emission tomography (PET), allow tracer models to be used in a quantitative manner to provide topographic distributions of many structural and functional parameters, each derived for the same well-defined lung element. In this paper we describe a technique to measure regional ventilation-perfusion ratios (V/Q), in absolute units, by use of PET and the continuous intravenous infusion of an inert gas isotope, 13N, and report on measurements made in 12 normal subjects (4 smokers). Data were obtained from a single lung section (slice thickness, 1.7 cm full width at half-maximum response to a line source) at the level of the right ventricle in the supine posture during quiet breathing. For the 12 subjects, volume-weighted mean values of V/Q, averaged over individual right and left lung fields, ranged from 0.50 to 1.29. Analysis of these means showed no difference between lungs: right, 0.80 +/- 0.23 SD; left, 0.76 +/- 0.20 SD. Topographically, a systematic fall of V/Q in the ventrodorsal direction was observed in eight of the subjects (mean ventrodorsal difference 0.39, range 0.19-0.90), whereas two showed a clear increase toward dependent lung regions (range 0.16-0.26). Seven of the subjects with a falling ventrodorsal V/Q gradient also exhibited discrete regions of low V/Q at the dorsal lung border. We conclude that, in normal subjects, ventilation and perfusion are generally well matched in the supine posture, but isolated mismatching often occurs in dependent lung regions.

Humans↗

Measurement of regional cerebral pH in human subjects using continuous inhalation of 11CO2 and positron emission tomography.

The cerebral pH of four normal human subjects has been measured using continuous inhalation of 11CO2 and positron emission tomography (PET). 11CO2 was administered to each subject at a constant rate for 15 min, during which time serial arterial plasma 11C levels were determined and serial 11C cerebral uptake PET scans were performed at a fixed axial tomographic level. 11C uptake kinetics were analysed using a three-compartment model. Rate constants have been estimated for the free exchange of 11CO2 between plasma and cerebral compartments for each subject, and their cerebral pH calculated. Whole brain pH values ranged from 6.96 to 7.05, and no significant pH difference between regions containing predominantly grey or white matter was noted. Best fits to 11C uptake data were achieved by effectively neglecting the metabolic fixation of 11C by cerebral tissue. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of pH measurement using the 11CO2 continuous inhalation technique. It is concluded from the results and the error analysis that continuous 11CO2 inhalation combined with PET is potentially a simple and useful method for determining regional cerebral pH.

Brain↗

Study of regional cerebral metabolism and blood flow relationships in man using the method of continuously inhaling oxygen-15 and oxygen-15 labelled carbon dioxide.

A new technique for assessing regional oxygen use and blood flow has been applied to a wide range of neurological patients. The method couples the brain's high metabolic demand for oxygen with a shortlived radioactive form of this metabolite, namely oxygen-15 (half life: 2.1 min). This combination produces during the continuous inhalation of either molecular oxygen-15 or labelled carbon dioxide, steady state functional images of the brain which are relatively free of contribution from extracerebral tissues. These are complementary images in that they relate to regional oxygen uptake and blood flow and hence offer a direct insight to the regional demand-to-supply relationships within the brain in physiological and pathological conditions. In the clinical groups studied, metabolic and circulatory defects were observed and instances of cerebrovascular insufficiency and relative luxury perfusion were defined which hitherto have been deduced from indirect methods. The clinical acceptability of this non-invasive approach allowed us to study those categories of patients which normally do not warrant invasive examination.

Adult↗

Distribution of extravascular fluid volumes in isolated perfused lungs measured with H215O.

The distributions per unit volume of extravascular water (EVLW), blood volume, and blood flow were measured in isolated perfused vertical dog lungs. A steady-state tracer technique was employed using oxygen-15, carbon-11, and nitrogen-13 isotopes and external scintillation counting of the 511-KeV annihilation radiation common to all three radionuclides. EVLW, and blood volume and flow increased from apex to base in all preparations, but the gradient of increasing flow exceeded that for blood and EVLW volumes. The regional distributions of EVLW and blood volume were almost identical. With increasing edema, lower-zone EVLW increased slightly relative to that in the upper zone. There was no change in the distribution of blood volume or flow until gross edema (100% wt gain) occurred when lower zone values were reduced. In four lungs the distribution of EVLW was compared with wet-to-dry ratios from lung biopsies taken immediately afterwards. Whereas the isotopically measured EVLW increased from apex to base, the wet-to-dry weight ratios remained essentially uniform. We concluded that isotopic methods measure only an "exchangeable" water pool whose volume is dependent on regional blood flow and capillary recruitment. Second, the isolated perfused lung can accommodate up to 60% wt gain without much change in the regional distribution of EVLW, volume, or flow.

Animals↗