A capnotracking method for continuous determination of cardiac output or EPBF of a mechanically ventilated subject includes the steps of measuring expiratory CO2 of the subject and determining a first value of cardiac output or EPBF of the subject at a first point in time; controlling the mechanical ventilation of the subject to keep a level of venous CO2 of the subject substantially constant between the first point in time and a second point in time; determining from the expiratory CO2 measurements a change in alveolar CO2 of the subject between the first and second points in time; and determining a second and updated value of cardiac output or EPBF of the subject based on the first value and the change in alveolar CO2.

The volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment is reduced by sealing a distal end of the catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment. Air passes out of the lung compartment through a passage in the catheter while the patient exhales. A one-way flow element associated with the catheter prevents air from re-entering the lung compartment as the patient inhales. Over time, the pressure of regions surrounding the lung compartment cause it to collapse as the volume of air diminishes. Residual volume reduction effectively results in functional lung volume expansion. Optionally, the lung compartment may be sealed in order to permanently prevent air from re-entering the lung compartment.

A method of evaluating airway wall density and inflammation including: segmenting a bronchial tree to create an airway wall map; for each branch, taking a set of locations that form the wall of each branch from the map and sampling the value in a virtual non-contrast image of the bronchial tree and, given a set of samples of pre-contrast densities, computing a value to yield a bronchial wall density for each branch to yield density measures; for each branch, taking the set of locations that form the wall of each branch from the map and sampling the value in a contrast agent map of the bronchial tree and, given the set of samples of contrast agent intake, computing a value to yield a bronchial wall uptake for each branch to yield inflammation measures; and using the density and inflammation measures to determine treatment or predict outcome for a patient.

The volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment is reduced by sealing a distal end of the catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment. Air passes out of the lung compartment through a passage in the catheter while the patient exhales. A one-way flow element associated with the catheter prevents air from re-entering the lung compartment as the patient inhales. Over time, the pressure of regions surrounding the lung compartment cause it to collapse as the volume of air diminishes. Residual volume reduction effectively results in functional lung volume expansion. Optionally, the lung compartment may be sealed in order to permanently prevent air from re-entering the lung compartment.

In order to improve the detectability of a structure that is tube-shaped in an imaging method, a method for preparing the structure is specified. A first channel is formed inside an inner wall of an auxiliary device, and a second channel is formed between the inner wall and an outer wall. A first fluid that contains a material for contrast amplification is poured into the structure via the first channel. The first channel is then closed by a swelling element of the auxiliary device being enlarged by pouring a second fluid into the second channel.

The present invention provides new methods for inflammation and infection imaging and related medical applications thereof. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for the diagnosis of inflammation and/or infection. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for the treatment or prevention of inflammation and/or infection. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for monitoring the effect of inflammation and/or infection treatment, and/or methods for monitoring an inflammation and/or infection treatment regimen. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for selecting subjects for an inflammation and/or infection treatment. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for determining the dosage of a drug for the treatment of inflammation and/or infection.

A system includes a respirator, a sensor including a sensing element, and a reader configured to be in wireless communication with the sensor. The sensor is positioned substantially within an interior gas space of the respirator.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a method of evaluating the nutriture of a subject, comprising (1) calculating the ratio of the .sup.13CO.sub.2 amount to the unlabeled CO.sub.2 amount or total CO.sub.2 amount in an expired air sample obtained from the subject to which a .sup.13C-labeled amino acid was administered; and (2) comparing the ratio with a reference value to evaluate the nutriture. Another aspect of the disclosure provides a composition comprising a .sup.13C-labeled amino acid for evaluating the nutriture of a subject.

The present invention provides new methods for inflammation and infection imaging and related medical applications thereof. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for the diagnosis of inflammation and/or infection. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for the treatment or prevention of inflammation and/or infection. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for monitoring the effect of inflammation and/or infection treatment, and/or methods for monitoring an inflammation and/or infection treatment regimen. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for selecting subjects for an inflammation and/or infection treatment. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for determining the dosage of a drug for the treatment of inflammation and/or infection.

This invention provides a method for measuring glucose metabolism ability of a subject and a composition that is suitably used in the method. The method for measuring glucose metabolism ability of the present invention is as follows: a method for measuring glucose metabolism ability of a subject, using a composition for measuring glucose metabolism ability, the composition comprising, as an active ingredient, glucose labeled with at least one isotope of C, wherein the glucose is converted in the body into labeled carbon dioxide that is excreted in expired air, the method comprising steps (a) and (b) below: (a) administering the composition to the subject and collecting expired air; and (b) determining the ratio of labeled CO.sub.2 amount to unlabeled CO.sub.2 amount or the ratio of labeled CO.sub.2 amount to total CO.sub.2 amount.