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Hopstock K, Perraud V, Dalton AB, Barletta B, Meinardi S, Weltman RM, Mirkhanian MA, Rakosi KJ, Blake DR, Edwards RD, Nizkorodov SA. Chemical Analysis of Exhaled Vape Emissions: Unraveling the Complexities of Humectant Fragmentation in a Human Trial Study. Chem Res Toxicol 2024; 37:1000-1010. [PMID: 38769630 PMCID: PMC11187636 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Electronic cigarette smoking (or vaping) is on the rise, presenting questions about the effects of secondhand exposure. The chemical composition of vape emissions was examined in the exhaled breath of eight human volunteers with the high chemical specificity of complementary online and offline techniques. Our study is the first to take multiple exhaled puff measurements from human participants and compare volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations between two commonly used methods, proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) and gas chromatography (GC). Five flavor profile groups were selected for this study, but flavor compounds were not observed as the main contributors to the PTR-ToF-MS signal. Instead, the PTR-ToF-MS mass spectra were overwhelmed by e-liquid thermal decomposition and fragmentation products, which masked other observations regarding flavorings and other potentially toxic species associated with secondhand vape exposure. Compared to the PTR-ToF-MS, GC measurements reported significantly different VOC concentrations, usually below those from PTR-ToF-MS. Consequently, PTR-ToF-MS mass spectra should be interpreted with caution when reporting quantitative results in vaping studies, such as doses of inhaled VOCs. Nevertheless, the online PTR-ToF-MS analysis can provide valuable qualitative information by comparing relative VOCs in back-to-back trials. For example, by comparing the mass spectra of exhaled air with those of direct puffs, we can conclude that harmful VOCs present in the vape emissions are largely absorbed by the participants, including large fractions of nicotine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine
S. Hopstock
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Véronique Perraud
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Avery B. Dalton
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Barbara Barletta
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Simone Meinardi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Robert M. Weltman
- Program
in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Megan A. Mirkhanian
- Program
in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Krisztina J. Rakosi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Donald R. Blake
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Rufus D. Edwards
- Program
in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Sergey A. Nizkorodov
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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Mustafina M, Silantyev A, Krasovskiy S, Chernyak A, Naumenko Z, Suvorov A, Gognieva D, Abdullaev M, Bektimirova A, Bykova A, Dergacheva V, Betelin V, Kopylov P. Exhaled breath analysis in adult patients with cystic fibrosis by real-time proton mass spectrometry. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 560:119733. [PMID: 38777246 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proton-transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS) is a promising tool for a rapid online determination of exhaled volatile organic compounds (eVOCs) profiles in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVE To detect VOC breath signatures specific to adult patients with CF compared with controls using PTR-TOF-MS. METHODS 102 CF patients (54 M/48, mean age 25.6 ± 7.8 yrs) and 97 healthy controls (56 M/41F, mean age 25.8 ± 6.0 yrs) were examined. Samples from normal quiet breathing and forced expiratory maneuvers were analyzed with PTR-TOF-MS (Ionicon, Austria) to obtain VOC profiles listed as ions at various mass-to-charge ratios (m/z). RESULTS PTR-TOF-MS analysis was able to detect 167 features in exhaled breath from CF patients and healthy controls. According to cluster analysis and LASSO regression, patients with CF and controls were separated. The most significant VOCs for CF were indole, phenol, dimethyl sulfide, and not indicated: m/z = 297.0720 ([C12H13N2O7 and C17H13O5]H + ), m/z = 281.0534 ([C19H7NO2, C12H11NO7 and C16H9O5]H + ) during five-fold cross-validation both in forced expiratory maneuver and in normal quiet breathing. CONCLUSION PTR-TOF-MS is a promising method for determining the molecular composition of exhaled air specific to CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malika Mustafina
- Department of Cardiology, Functional and Ultrasound Diagnostics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia; Pulmonology Research Institute Under Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, 115682 Moscow, Russia; Research Institute for Systemic Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117218 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Artemiy Silantyev
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Stanislav Krasovskiy
- Pulmonology Research Institute Under Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, 115682 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Chernyak
- Pulmonology Research Institute Under Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, 115682 Moscow, Russia
| | - Zhanna Naumenko
- Pulmonology Research Institute Under Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, 115682 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandr Suvorov
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Daria Gognieva
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia; Research Institute for Systemic Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117218 Moscow, Russia
| | - Magomed Abdullaev
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia; Research Institute for Systemic Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117218 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alina Bektimirova
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandra Bykova
- Department of Cardiology, Functional and Ultrasound Diagnostics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia; Research Institute for Systemic Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117218 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vasilisa Dergacheva
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Betelin
- Research Institute for Systemic Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117218 Moscow, Russia
| | - Philipp Kopylov
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia; Research Institute for Systemic Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117218 Moscow, Russia
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Barucha A, Mauch RM, Duckstein F, Zagoya C, Mainz JG. The potential of volatile organic compound analysis for pathogen detection and disease monitoring in patients with cystic fibrosis. Expert Rev Respir Med 2022; 16:723-735. [PMID: 35853615 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2022.2104249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Airway infection with pathogens and its associated pulmonary exacerbations (PEX) are the major causes of morbidity and premature death in cystic fibrosis (CF). Preventing or postponing chronic infections requires early diagnosis. However, limitations of conventional microbiology-based methods can hamper identification of exacerbations and specific pathogen detection. Analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath samples may be an interesting tool in this regard, as VOC-biomarkers can characterize specific airway infections in CF. AREAS COVERED We address the current achievements in VOC-analysis and discuss studies assessing VOC-biomarkers and fingerprints, i.e. a combination of multiple VOCs, in breath samples aiming at pathogen and PEX detection in people with CF (pwCF). We aim to provide bases for further research in this interesting field. EXPERT OPINION Overall, VOC-based analysis is a promising tool for diagnosis of infection and inflammation with potential to monitor disease progression in pwCF. Advantages over conventional diagnostic methods, including easy and non-invasive sampling procedures, may help to drive prompt, suitable therapeutic approaches in the future. Our review shall encourage further research, including validation of VOC-based methods. Specifically, longitudinal validation under standardized conditions is of interest in order to ensure repeatability and enable inclusion in CF diagnostic routine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Barucha
- Cystic Fibrosis Center for Children and Adults, Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) University, Klinikum Westbrandenburg, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Renan M Mauch
- Center for Investigation in Pediatrics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Franziska Duckstein
- Cystic Fibrosis Center for Children and Adults, Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) University, Klinikum Westbrandenburg, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Carlos Zagoya
- Cystic Fibrosis Center for Children and Adults, Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) University, Klinikum Westbrandenburg, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Jochen G Mainz
- Cystic Fibrosis Center for Children and Adults, Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) University, Klinikum Westbrandenburg, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany.,Faculty of Health Sciences, joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, Germany
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4
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Hegen O, Salazar Gómez JI, Schlögl R, Ruland H. The potential of NO + and O 2 +• in switchable reagent ion proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2022:e21770. [PMID: 35076949 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) and proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry with switchable reagent ion capability (PTR+SRI-MS) are analytical techniques for real-time qualification and quantification of compounds in gas samples with trace level concentrations. In the detection process, neutral compounds-mainly volatile organic compounds-are ionized via chemical ionization with ionic reagents or primary ions. The most common reagent ions are H3 O+ , NO+ and O2 +• . While ionization with H3 O+ occurs by means of proton transfer, the ionization via NO+ and O2 +• offers a larger variety on ionization pathways, as charge transfer, hydride abstraction and so on are possible. The distribution of the reactant into various reaction channels depends not only on the usage of either NO+ or O2 +• , but also on the class of analyte compounds. Furthermore, the choice of the reaction conditions as well as the choice of either SIFT-MS or PTR+SRI-MS might have a large impact on the resulting products. Therefore, an overview of both NO+ and O2 +• as reagent ions is given, showing differences between SIFT-MS and PTR+SRI-MS as used analytical methods revealing the potential how the knowledge obtained with H3 O+ for different classes of compounds can be extended with the usage of NO+ and O2 +• .
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Hegen
- Department of Heterogeneous Reactions, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Deutschland
| | - Jorge I Salazar Gómez
- Department of Heterogeneous Reactions, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Deutschland
| | - Robert Schlögl
- Department of Heterogeneous Reactions, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Deutschland
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin, Germany
| | - Holger Ruland
- Department of Heterogeneous Reactions, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Deutschland
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5
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Zhou W, Huang C, Zou X, Lu Y, Xia L, Shen C, Chu Y. Modification of an atmospheric pressure photoionization source for online analysis of exhaled breath coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 412:3663-3671. [PMID: 32333078 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02602-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Breath analysis is a promising method for metabolomics studies and clinical diagnosis, as it enables the observation of metabolites in a convenient and noninvasive way. In this work, an atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) source was modified for online analysis of exhaled breath by coupling with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOFMS). Three parameters, namely, the capillary voltage, the sampling flow and the curtain gas flow of the APPI source, were optimized. Five healthy volunteers, three males and two females, were enrolled to test the performance of modified APPI-QTOFMS by analyzing their exhaled breath. A total of 21 compounds were tentatively identified, and four metabolites, namely, dimethyl selenoxide, δ-valerolactam, hydroxymandelic acid and palmitic amide were detected in the exhaled breath for the first time. The result shows that modified APPI-QTOFMS can be used for the online study of exhaled breath. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhao Zhou
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Center of Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China.,Zhejiang Institute of Metrology, No.300 Xiasha Road, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chaoqun Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Center of Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China.
| | - Xue Zou
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Center of Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Center of Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
| | - Lei Xia
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Center of Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
| | - Chengyin Shen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Center of Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
| | - Yannan Chu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Center of Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
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6
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Trefz P, Pugliese G, Brock B, Schubert JK, Miekisch W. Effects of elevated oxygen levels on VOC analysis by means of PTR-ToF-MS. J Breath Res 2019; 13:046004. [DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/ab28ec] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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7
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Breath analysis by two-dimensional gas chromatography with dual flame ionisation and mass spectrometric detection - Method optimisation and integration within a large-scale clinical study. J Chromatogr A 2019; 1594:160-172. [PMID: 30755317 PMCID: PMC6491496 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
New method for the analysis of exhaled breath VOCs by TD-GC × GC-FID/qMS. Optimisation of flow modulation and dual detection alongside clinical requirements. Addresses key challenges of using GC × GC for large-scale breath metabolomics.
Precision medicine has spurred new innovations in molecular pathology leading to recent advances in the analysis of exhaled breath as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in exhaled breath have the potential to reveal a wealth of chemical and metabolomic information. This study describes the development of a method for the analysis of breath, based on automated thermal desorption (TD) combined with flow modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) with dual flame ionisation and quadrupole mass spectrometric detection (FID and qMS). The constrained optimisation and analytical protocol was designed to meet the practical demands of a large-scale multi-site clinical study, while maintaining analytical rigour to produce high fidelity data. The results demonstrate a comprehensive method optimisation for the collection and analysis of breath VOCs by GC×GC, integral to the standardisation and integration of breath analysis within large clinical studies.
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8
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Chappuis TH, Pham Ho BA, Ceillier M, Ricoul F, Alessio M, Beche JF, Corne C, Besson G, Vial J, Thiébaut D, Bourlon B. Miniaturization of breath sampling with silicon chip: application to volatile tobacco markers tracking. J Breath Res 2018; 12:046011. [PMID: 30008462 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/aad384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This work presents the performances of silicon micro-preconcentrators chips for breath sampling. The silicon chips were coupled to a handheld battery powered system for breath sampling and direct injection in a laboratory gas chromatography mass spectrometry system through thermal desorption (TD). Performances of micro-preconcentrators were first compared to commercial TD for benzene trapping. Similar chromatographic peaks after gas chromatographic separation were observed while the volume of sample needed was reduced by a factor of 5. Repeatability and day to day variability of the micro-preconcentrators were then studied for a 500 ppb synthetic model mixture injected three times a day four days in a row: 8% and 12% were measured respectively. Micro-preconcentrator to micro-preconcentrator variability was not significant compared to day to day variability. In addition, micro-preconcentrators were tested for breath samples collected in Tedlar® bags. Three analyses of the same breath sample displayed relative standard deviations values below 16% for eight of the ten most intense peaks. Finally, the performances of micro-preconcentrators for breath sampling on a single expiration were illustrated with the example of volatile tobacco markers tracking. The signals of three smoking markers in breath, benzene, 2,5-dimethylfuran, and toluene were studied. Concentrations of benzene and toluene were found to be 10 to 100 higher in the breath of smokers. 2,5-dimethylfuran was only found in the breath of smokers. The elimination kinetics of the markers were followed as well during 4 h: a fast decrease of the signal of the three markers in breath was observed 20 min after smoking in good agreement with what is described in the literature. Those results demonstrate the efficiency of silicon chips for breath sampling, compared to the state of the art techniques. Thanks to miniaturization and lower sample volumes needed, micro-preconcentrators could be in the future a key technology towards portable breath sampling and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hector Chappuis
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, MINATEC Campus, F-38000 Grenoble, France. UMR 8231 CBI, LSABM, ESPCI Paris-CNRS, PSL Institute, Paris, France
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Trefz P, Schubert JK, Miekisch W. Effects of humidity, CO 2 and O 2 on real-time quantitation of breath biomarkers by means of PTR-ToF-MS. J Breath Res 2018; 12:026016. [PMID: 29199640 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/aa9eea] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) represents an attractive tool for the real-time analysis of VOC profiles in human breath. Quantification of breath VOCs by means of direct MS may be affected by the matrix, as human breath not only contains several hundred VOCs at the ppbV-pptV level, but is water saturated and contains percentage levels of CO2. Investigation of breath biomarkers in clinical studies requires quantitative and comparable results. We therefore systematically assessed the effect of humidity, CO2 and O2 on the results of PTR-MS analysis. We investigated more than 20 VOCs, including aldehydes, ketones, aromatic compounds and hydrocarbons with different sample humidity, CO2 and O2 content. The influence of data processing (e.g. normalization to the H3O+ ion count) was also addressed. An increase of the H3O+ count of about 20% was observed when the humidity in the sample was increased to breath levels. Large differences regarding the measured VOC intensities were found between the dry and humid samples. Data normalization to the H3O+ or water-clusters could not fully compensate for the humidity-dependent effects. However, as the determination of most VOCs linearly depends on the humidity over the whole investigated range, factor-based correction seems possible. The effects of CO2 were more pronounced in the dry samples than in the humid samples but only had a minor influence on the results. The same was true for the influence of O2. For the reliable quantification of VOCs in clinical studies and for the standardization of VOC research, well-adapted calibration standards are required for PTR-MS analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Trefz
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
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Ahmed WM, Lawal O, Nijsen TM, Goodacre R, Fowler SJ. Exhaled Volatile Organic Compounds of Infection: A Systematic Review. ACS Infect Dis 2017; 3:695-710. [PMID: 28870074 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
With heightened global concern of microbial drug resistance, advanced methods for early and accurate diagnosis of infection are urgently needed. Analysis of exhaled breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) toward detecting microbial infection potentially allows a highly informative and noninvasive alternative to current genomics and culture-based methods. We performed a systematic review of research literature reporting human and animal exhaled breath VOCs related to microbial infections. In this Review, we find that a wide range of breath sampling and analysis methods are used by researchers, which significantly affects interstudy method comparability. Studies either perform targeted analysis of known VOCs relating to an infection, or non-targeted analysis to obtain a global profile of volatile metabolites. In general, the field of breath analysis is still relatively immature, and there is much to be understood about the metabolic production of breath VOCs, particularly in a host where both commensal microflora as well as pathogenic microorganisms may be manifested in the airways. We anticipate that measures to standardize high throughput sampling and analysis, together with an increase in large scale collaborative international trials, will bring routine breath VOC analysis to improve diagnosis of infection closer to reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqar M. Ahmed
- Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
- Philips
Research, Royal Philips B.V., High Tech Campus 34, Eindhoven, 5656 AE, The Netherlands
| | - Oluwasola Lawal
- Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
- Philips
Research, Royal Philips B.V., High Tech Campus 34, Eindhoven, 5656 AE, The Netherlands
| | - Tamara M. Nijsen
- Philips
Research, Royal Philips B.V., High Tech Campus 34, Eindhoven, 5656 AE, The Netherlands
| | - Royston Goodacre
- School of
Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J. Fowler
- Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
- Manchester
Academic Health Science Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M23 9LT, United Kingdom
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Sukul P, Oertel P, Kamysek S, Trefz P. Oral or nasal breathing? Real-time effects of switching sampling route onto exhaled VOC concentrations. J Breath Res 2017; 11:027101. [DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/aa6368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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12
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FEV manoeuvre induced changes in breath VOC compositions: an unconventional view on lung function tests. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28029. [PMID: 27311826 PMCID: PMC4911606 DOI: 10.1038/srep28029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Breath volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis can open a non-invasive window onto pathological and metabolic processes in the body. Decades of clinical breath-gas analysis have revealed that changes in exhaled VOC concentrations are important rather than disease specific biomarkers. As physiological parameters, such as respiratory rate or cardiac output, have profound effects on exhaled VOCs, here we investigated VOC exhalation under respiratory manoeuvres. Breath VOCs were monitored by means of real-time mass-spectrometry during conventional FEV manoeuvres in 50 healthy humans. Simultaneously, we measured respiratory and hemodynamic parameters noninvasively. Tidal volume and minute ventilation increased by 292 and 171% during the manoeuvre. FEV manoeuvre induced substance specific changes in VOC concentrations. pET-CO2 and alveolar isoprene increased by 6 and 21% during maximum exhalation. Then they decreased by 18 and 37% at forced expiration mirroring cardiac output. Acetone concentrations rose by 4.5% despite increasing minute ventilation. Blood-borne furan and dimethyl-sulphide mimicked isoprene profile. Exogenous acetonitrile, sulphides, and most aliphatic and aromatic VOCs changed minimally. Reliable breath tests must avoid forced breathing. As isoprene exhalations mirrored FEV performances, endogenous VOCs might assure quality of lung function tests. Analysis of exhaled VOC concentrations can provide additional information on physiology of respiration and gas exchange.
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Sukul P, Trefz P, Kamysek S, Schubert JK, Miekisch W. Instant effects of changing body positions on compositions of exhaled breath. J Breath Res 2015; 9:047105. [PMID: 26582820 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7155/9/4/047105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may depend not only on biochemical or pathologic processes but also on physiological parameters. As breath sampling may be done in different body positions, effects of the sampling position on exhaled VOC concentrations were investigated by means of real-time mass spectrometry. Breaths from 15 healthy volunteers were analyzed in real-time by PTR-ToF-MS-8000 during paced breathing (12/min) in a continuous side-stream mode. We applied two series of body positions (setup 1: sitting, standing, supine, and sitting; setup 2: supine, left lateral, right lateral, prone, and supine). Each position was held for 2 min. Breath VOCs were quantified in inspired and alveolar air by means of a custom-made algorithm. Parallel monitoring of hemodynamics and capnometry was performed noninvasively. In setup 1, when compared to the initial sitting position, normalized mean concentrations of isoprene, furan, and acetonitrile decreased by 24%, 26%, and 9%, respectively, during standing and increased by 63%, 36%, and 10% during lying mirroring time profiles of stroke volume and pET-CO2. In contrast, acetone and H2S concentrations remained almost constant. In setup 2, when compared to the initial supine position, mean alveolar concentrations of isoprene and furan increased significantly up to 29% and 16%, respectively, when position was changed from lying on the right side to the prone position. As cardiac output and stroke volume decreased at that time, the reasons for the observed concentrations changes have to be linked to the ventilation/perfusion ratio or compartmental distribution rather than to perfusion alone. During final postures, all VOC concentrations, hemodynamics, and pET-CO2 returned to baseline. Exhaled blood-borne VOC profiles changed due to body postures. Changes depended on cardiac stroke volume, origin, compartmental distribution and physico-chemical properties of the substances. Patients' positions and cardiac output have to be controlled when concentrations of breath VOCs are to be interpreted in terms of biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritam Sukul
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), University Medicine Rostock, Schillingallee 35, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
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Smith D, Španěl P. SIFT-MS and FA-MS methods for ambient gas phase analysis: developments and applications in the UK. Analyst 2015; 140:2573-91. [DOI: 10.1039/c4an02049a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The origins of SIFT created to study interstellar chemistry and SIFT-MS developed for ambient gas and exhaled breath analysis and the UK centres in which these techniques are being exploited.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Smith
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine – Keele University
- Guy Hilton Research Centre
- Stoke-on-Trent
- UK
| | - Patrik Španěl
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine – Keele University
- Guy Hilton Research Centre
- Stoke-on-Trent
- UK
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry
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15
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Sukul P, Trefz P, Schubert JK, Miekisch W. Immediate effects of breath holding maneuvers onto composition of exhaled breath. J Breath Res 2014; 8:037102. [DOI: 10.1088/1752-7155/8/3/037102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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16
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Aprea E, Cappellin L, Gasperi F, Morisco F, Lembo V, Rispo A, Tortora R, Vitaglione P, Caporaso N, Biasioli F. Application of PTR-TOF-MS to investigate metabolites in exhaled breath of patients affected by coeliac disease under gluten free diet. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2014; 966:208-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2014.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Leopold JH, van Hooijdonk RTM, Sterk PJ, Abu-Hanna A, Schultz MJ, Bos LDJ. Glucose prediction by analysis of exhaled metabolites - a systematic review. BMC Anesthesiol 2014; 14:46. [PMID: 24963286 PMCID: PMC4068184 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2253-14-46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In critically ill patients, glucose control with insulin mandates time– and blood–consuming glucose monitoring. Blood glucose level fluctuations are accompanied by metabolomic changes that alter the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are detectable in exhaled breath. This review systematically summarizes the available data on the ability of changes in VOC composition to predict blood glucose levels and changes in blood glucose levels. Methods A systematic search was performed in PubMed. Studies were included when an association between blood glucose levels and VOCs in exhaled air was investigated, using a technique that allows for separation, quantification and identification of individual VOCs. Only studies on humans were included. Results Nine studies were included out of 1041 identified in the search. Authors of seven studies observed a significant correlation between blood glucose levels and selected VOCs in exhaled air. Authors of two studies did not observe a strong correlation. Blood glucose levels were associated with the following VOCs: ketone bodies (e.g., acetone), VOCs produced by gut flora (e.g., ethanol, methanol, and propane), exogenous compounds (e.g., ethyl benzene, o–xylene, and m/p–xylene) and markers of oxidative stress (e.g., methyl nitrate, 2–pentyl nitrate, and CO). Conclusion There is a relation between blood glucose levels and VOC composition in exhaled air. These results warrant clinical validation of exhaled breath analysis to monitor blood glucose levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hendrik Leopold
- Department of Intensive Care, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands ; Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Peter J Sterk
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ameen Abu-Hanna
- Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marcus J Schultz
- Department of Intensive Care, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lieuwe D J Bos
- Department of Intensive Care, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands ; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Amann A, Mochalski P, Ruzsanyi V, Broza YY, Haick H. Assessment of the exhalation kinetics of volatile cancer biomarkers based on their physicochemical properties. J Breath Res 2014; 8:016003. [PMID: 24566039 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7155/8/1/016003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The current review provides an assessment of the exhalation kinetics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have been linked with cancer. Towards this end, we evaluate various physicochemical properties, such as 'breath:air' and 'blood:fat' partition coefficients, of 112 VOCs that have been suggested over the past decade as potential markers of cancer. With these data, we show that the cancer VOC concentrations in the blood and in the fat span over 12 and 8 orders of magnitude, respectively, in order to provide a specific counterpart concentration in the exhaled breath (e.g., 1 ppb). This finding suggests that these 112 different compounds have different storage compartments in the body and that their exhalation kinetics depends on one or a combination of the following factors: (i) the VOC concentrations in different parts of the body; (ii) the VOC synthesis and metabolism rates; (iii) the partition coefficients between tissue(s), blood and air; and (iv) the VOCs' diffusion constants. Based on this analysis, we discuss how this knowledge allows modeling and simulating the behavior of a specific VOC under different sampling protocols (with and without exertion of effort). We end this review by a brief discussion on the potential role of these scenarios in screening and therapeutic monitoring of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Amann
- Breath Research Institute, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, 6850 Dornbirn, Austria. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Trefz P, Schmidt M, Oertel P, Obermeier J, Brock B, Kamysek S, Dunkl J, Zimmermann R, Schubert JK, Miekisch W. Continuous Real Time Breath Gas Monitoring in the Clinical Environment by Proton-Transfer-Reaction-Time-of-Flight-Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2013; 85:10321-9. [DOI: 10.1021/ac402298v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Trefz
- Department of Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Markus Schmidt
- Department of Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Peter Oertel
- Department of Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Juliane Obermeier
- Department of Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Beate Brock
- Department of Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Svend Kamysek
- Department of Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Jürgen Dunkl
- Ionicon Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ralf Zimmermann
- Joint Mass Spectrometry
Centre, Chair of Analytical Chemistry, University of Rostock, Dr. Lorenz Weg
1, 18059 Rostock, Germany and Joint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Cooperation Group “Comprehensive
Molecular Analytics”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jochen K. Schubert
- Department of Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Wolfram Miekisch
- Department of Anaesthesia
and Intensive Care, University Medical Center Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Germany
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