Figure 5.
Impact of heathy versus diseased breathing on inhaled mean particle flow rate from electronic cigarette
(A) Healthy (normal) and diseased (obstructive and restrictive) breathing flow-volume loops (left panel) are plotted with normal in blue, obstructive in red, and restrictive in green. The diseased flow-volume loops were derived from clinically relevant scaling and curve changes that are observed by healthy versus obstructive or restrictive breathing profiles. A single breathing cycle for all the breathing states is also plotted (right panel) where volume is a function of time and the graphs are calculating from flow-volume loops.
(B) Distribution profiles of the mean particle flow rate counted per cm3 over each inter-puff interval for each size fraction (300 nm–1 μm, 1 μm–2.5 μm, 2.5 μm–4 μm, and 4 μm–10 μm) when mimicking healthy normal, obstructive and restrictive breathing in the absence and presence (5% v/v) of VEA in (50/50 PG/VG) are plotted (0% vitamin is just 50/50 PG/VG without any additive). Kruskal-Wallis test demonstrated statistical significance (p < 0.0001). Post-hoc analysis (Dunn’s multiple comparison test) showed statistically significant differences between all conditions except normal 0% VEA versus both obstructive and restrictive 5% VEA, and obstructive versus restrictive at both 0% and 5% VEA. Error bars indicate mean and 95% confidence intervals for each data set.