A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.

In this paper, we present a new computational framework for the simulation of airway resistance, the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and the diffusion capacity for nitric oxide in healthy and unhealthy lungs. Our approach is firstly based on a realistic representation of the geometry of healthy lu...

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Main Authors: Benoit Haut, Cyril Karamaoun, Clément Rigaut
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311667
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author Benoit Haut
Cyril Karamaoun
Clément Rigaut
author_facet Benoit Haut
Cyril Karamaoun
Clément Rigaut
author_sort Benoit Haut
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, we present a new computational framework for the simulation of airway resistance, the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and the diffusion capacity for nitric oxide in healthy and unhealthy lungs. Our approach is firstly based on a realistic representation of the geometry of healthy lungs as a function of body mass, which compares well with data from the literature, particularly in terms of lung volume and alveolar surface area. The original way in which this geometry is created, including an individual definition of the airways in the first seven generations of the lungs, makes it possible to consider the heterogeneous nature of the lungs in terms of perfusion and ventilation. In addition, a geometry can be easily modified to simulate various abnormalities, local or global (constriction, inflammation, perfusion defect). The natural variability of the lungs at constant body mass is also considered. The computational framework includes the possibility to simulate, on a given (possibly modified) geometry, a test to measure the flow resistance of the lungs (including its component due to the not fully developed flow in the first generations of lungs), a test to measure the concentration of nitric oxide in the exhaled air, and a test to measure the diffusion capacity for nitric oxide. This is implemented in the framework by solving different transport equations (momentum and convection/diffusion) describing these tests. Through numerous simulations, we demonstrate the ability of our model to reproduce results from the literature, both for healthy lungs and lungs of patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Such a computational framework, through the possibilities of numerous and rapid tests that it allows, sheds new light on experimental data by providing information on the phenomena that take place in the distal generations of the lungs, which are difficult to access with imaging.
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spelling doaj-art-753e7eb724744868bf5860b027823b182025-02-07T05:30:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031166710.1371/journal.pone.0311667A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.Benoit HautCyril KaramaounClément RigautIn this paper, we present a new computational framework for the simulation of airway resistance, the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and the diffusion capacity for nitric oxide in healthy and unhealthy lungs. Our approach is firstly based on a realistic representation of the geometry of healthy lungs as a function of body mass, which compares well with data from the literature, particularly in terms of lung volume and alveolar surface area. The original way in which this geometry is created, including an individual definition of the airways in the first seven generations of the lungs, makes it possible to consider the heterogeneous nature of the lungs in terms of perfusion and ventilation. In addition, a geometry can be easily modified to simulate various abnormalities, local or global (constriction, inflammation, perfusion defect). The natural variability of the lungs at constant body mass is also considered. The computational framework includes the possibility to simulate, on a given (possibly modified) geometry, a test to measure the flow resistance of the lungs (including its component due to the not fully developed flow in the first generations of lungs), a test to measure the concentration of nitric oxide in the exhaled air, and a test to measure the diffusion capacity for nitric oxide. This is implemented in the framework by solving different transport equations (momentum and convection/diffusion) describing these tests. Through numerous simulations, we demonstrate the ability of our model to reproduce results from the literature, both for healthy lungs and lungs of patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Such a computational framework, through the possibilities of numerous and rapid tests that it allows, sheds new light on experimental data by providing information on the phenomena that take place in the distal generations of the lungs, which are difficult to access with imaging.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311667
spellingShingle Benoit Haut
Cyril Karamaoun
Clément Rigaut
A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.
PLoS ONE
title A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.
title_full A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.
title_fullStr A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.
title_full_unstemmed A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.
title_short A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.
title_sort new computational framework for simulating airway resistance fraction of exhaled nitric oxide and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311667
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