The value of vibration response imaging (VRI) technology in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was assessed. The VRI images of 62 cases of CAP patients with normal lung functions before and after treatment were observed and the changes in images before and after treatment were compared. The maximum vibration energy value of CAP patients was 1.64±0.32, patients with unsmoothed vibration energy curve accounted for 88.71%, 41 cases (66.12%) had unordered dynamic images, 56 cases (90.32%) jumping images, 54 cases (87.10%) desynchrony, 58 cases (93.55%) delay and 52 cases (83.87%) showed contrary events. The maximum vibration energy value after treatment was 1.59±0.29 and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.93). Patients with unsmoothed vibration energy curve accounted for 20.97%, 11 cases (17.74%) appeared as unordered dynamic images, 28 cases (45.16%) of jumping images, 21 cases (33.87%) desynchrony, 18 cases (29.03%) delay and 10 cases (16.13%) with contrary events. The differences of these symptoms before and after treatment were statistically significant. The image scores of CAP patients before treatment were 10.33±1.95, higher (P<0.001) than after treatment (3.49±2.29). In conclusion, the changes of VRI images of CAP patients are relatively obvious and this technology can be used for the evaluation of CAP curative effects.

BackgroundVibration response imaging (VRI) is a new technology for lung imaging. Active smokers and non-smokers show differences in VRI findings, but no data are available for passive smokers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of VRI and to assess the differences in VRI findings among non-smokers, active smokers, and passive smokers.Material/MethodsHealthy subjects (n=165: 63 non-smokers, 56 active smokers, and 46 passive smokers) with normal lung function were enrolled. Medical history, physical examination, lung function test, and VRI were performed for all subjects. Correlation between smoking index and VRI scores (VRIS) were performed.ResultsVRI images showed progressive and regressive stages representing the inspiratory and expiratory phases bilaterally in a vertical and synchronized manner in non-smokers. Vibration energy curves with low expiratory phase and plateau were present in 6.35% and 3.17%, respectively, of healthy non-smokers, 41.07% and 28.60% of smokers, and 39.13% and 30.43% of passive smokers, respectively. The massive energy peak in the non-smokers, smokers, and passive-smokers was 1.77±0.27, 1.57±0.29, and 1.66±0.33, respectively (all P<0.001). A weak but positive correlation was observed between VRIS and smoking index.ConclusionsVRI can intuitively show the differences between non-smokers and smokers. VRI revealed that passive smoking can also harm the lungs. VRI could be used to visually persuade smokers to give up smoking.

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