title: Mucus distribution model in a lung with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease in Caucasians with a reported incidence of 1 in every 3200 live births. Most strikingly, CF is associated with early mortality. Host in flammatory responses result in airway mucus plugging, airway wall edema, and eventual destruction of airway wall support structure. Despite aggressive treatment, the median age of survival is approximately 38 years. This work is the first attempt to parameterize the distributions of mucus in a CF lung as a function of time. By default, the model makes arbitrary choices at each stage of the construction process, whereby the simplest choice is made. The model is sophisticated enough to fit the average CF patients' spirometric data over time and to identify several interesting parameters: probability of colonization, mucus volume growth rate, and scarring rate. Extensions of the model appropriate for describing the dynamics of single patient MRI data are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Computational Science Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA. szarei2008@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zarei
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirtar
authors.forename: Forest
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rohwer
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Theilmann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salamon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D018441:Biofilms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests