1
|
Chou H, Godbeer L, Allsworth M, Boyle B, Ball ML. Progress and challenges of developing volatile metabolites from exhaled breath as a biomarker platform. Metabolomics 2024; 20:72. [PMID: 38977623 PMCID: PMC11230972 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-024-02142-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The multitude of metabolites generated by physiological processes in the body can serve as valuable biomarkers for many clinical purposes. They can provide a window into relevant metabolic pathways for health and disease, as well as be candidate therapeutic targets. A subset of these metabolites generated in the human body are volatile, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be detected in exhaled breath. These can diffuse from their point of origin throughout the body into the bloodstream and exchange into the air in the lungs. For this reason, breath VOC analysis has become a focus of biomedical research hoping to translate new useful biomarkers by taking advantage of the non-invasive nature of breath sampling, as well as the rapid rate of collection over short periods of time that can occur. Despite the promise of breath analysis as an additional platform for metabolomic analysis, no VOC breath biomarkers have successfully been implemented into a clinical setting as of the time of this review. AIM OF REVIEW This review aims to summarize the progress made to address the major methodological challenges, including standardization, that have historically limited the translation of breath VOC biomarkers into the clinic. We highlight what steps can be taken to improve these issues within new and ongoing breath research to promote the successful development of the VOCs in breath as a robust source of candidate biomarkers. We also highlight key recent papers across select fields, critically reviewing the progress made in the past few years to advance breath research. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW VOCs are a set of metabolites that can be sampled in exhaled breath to act as advantageous biomarkers in a variety of clinical contexts.
Collapse
|
2
|
Wong JC, Hekimyan L, Cruz FA, Brower T. Identifying Pertinent Digital Health Topics to Incorporate into Self-Care Pharmacy Education. PHARMACY 2024; 12:96. [PMID: 38921972 PMCID: PMC11207556 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12030096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The ever-evolving landscape of digital health technology has dramatically enhanced patients' ability to manage their health through self-care effectively. These advancements have created various categories of self-care products, including medication management, health tracking, and wellness. There is no published research regarding integrating digital health into pharmacy self-care courses. This study aims to identify pertinent digital health devices and applications to incorporate into self-care course education. Digital health limitations, challenges incorporating digital health in self-care pharmacy education, and potential solutions are also reviewed. In conducting this research, many resources, including PubMed, APhA, ASHP, fda.gov, and digital.health, were reviewed in March 2024 to gather information on digital health devices and applications. To supplement this, targeted keyword searches were conducted on topics such as "digital health", "devices", "applications", "technology", and "self-care" across various online platforms. We identified digital health devices and applications suitable for self-care education across eight topics, as follows: screening, insomnia, reproductive disorders, eye disorders, home medical equipment, GI disorders, pediatrics, and respiratory disorders. Among these topics, wellness screening had the most digital health products available. For all other topics, at least three or more products were identified as relevant to self-care curriculum. By equipping students with digital health knowledge, they can effectively apply it in patient care throughout their rotations and future practice. Many digital health products, including telemedicine, electronic health records, mobile health applications, and wearable devices, are ideal for inclusion in pharmacy curriculum as future educational material. Future research is needed to develop the best strategies for incorporating relevant digital health into self-care education and defining the best student-learning strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason C. Wong
- Pharmacy Practice and Administration, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Luiza Hekimyan
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA; (L.H.); (F.A.C.); (T.B.)
| | - Francheska Anne Cruz
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA; (L.H.); (F.A.C.); (T.B.)
| | - Taylor Brower
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA; (L.H.); (F.A.C.); (T.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Maidodou L, Clarot I, Leemans M, Fromantin I, Marchioni E, Steyer D. Unraveling the potential of breath and sweat VOC capture devices for human disease detection: a systematic-like review of canine olfaction and GC-MS analysis. Front Chem 2023; 11:1282450. [PMID: 38025078 PMCID: PMC10646374 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1282450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of disease screening methods using biomedical detection dogs relies on the collection and analysis of body odors, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in body fluids. To capture and analyze odors produced by the human body, numerous protocols and materials are used in forensics or medical studies. This paper provides an overview of sampling devices used to collect VOCs from sweat and exhaled air, for medical diagnostic purposes using canine olfaction and/or Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Canine olfaction and GC-MS are regarded as complementary tools, holding immense promise for detecting cancers and infectious diseases. However, existing literature lacks guidelines for selecting materials suitable for both canine olfaction and GC-MS. Hence, this review aims to address this gap and pave the way for efficient body odor sampling materials. The first section of the paper describes the materials utilized in training sniffing dogs, while the second section delves into the details of sampling devices and extraction techniques employed for exhaled air and sweat analysis using GC-MS. Finally, the paper proposes the development of an ideal sampling device tailored for detection purposes in the field of odorology. By bridging the knowledge gap, this study seeks to advance disease detection methodologies, harnessing the unique abilities of both dogs and GC-MS analysis in biomedical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Maidodou
- Twistaroma, Illkirch Graffenstaden, France
- CITHEFOR, EA 3452, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
- DSA, IPHC UMR7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Igor Clarot
- CITHEFOR, EA 3452, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Michelle Leemans
- Clinical Epidemiology and Ageing, IMRB—Paris Est Créteil University /Inserm U955, Créteil, France
| | - Isabelle Fromantin
- Clinical Epidemiology and Ageing, IMRB—Paris Est Créteil University /Inserm U955, Créteil, France
- Wound Care and Research Unit, Curie Institute, Paris, France
| | - Eric Marchioni
- DSA, IPHC UMR7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pham YL, Wojnowski W, Beauchamp J. Volatile Compound Emissions from Stereolithography Three-Dimensional Printed Cured Resin Models for Biomedical Applications. Chem Res Toxicol 2023; 36:369-379. [PMID: 36534374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Stereolithography three-dimensional printing is used increasingly in biomedical applications to create components for use in healthcare and therapy. The exposure of patients to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from cured resins represents an element of concern in such applications. Here, we investigate the biocompatibility in relation to inhalation exposure of volatile emissions of three different cured commercial resins for use in printing a mouthpiece adapter for sampling exhaled breath. VOC emission rates were estimated based on direct analysis using a microchamber/thermal extractor coupled to a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer. Complementary analyses using comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry aided compound identification. Major VOCs emitted from the cured resins were associated with polymerization agents, additives, and postprocessing procedures and included alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons, esters, and terpenes. Total VOC emissions from cubes printed using the general-purpose resin were approximately an order of magnitude higher than those of the cubes printed using resins dedicated to biomedical applications at the respective test temperatures (40 and 25 °C). Daily inhalation exposures were estimated and compared with daily tolerable intake levels or standard thresholds of toxicological concerns. The two resins intended for biomedical applications were deemed suitable for fabricating an adapter mouthpiece for use in breath research. The general-purpose resin was unsuitable, with daily inhalation exposures for breath sampling applications at 40 °C estimated at 310 μg day-1 for propylene glycol (tolerable intake (TI) limit of 190 μg day-1) and 1254 μg day-1 for methyl acrylate (TI of 43 μg day-1).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Lan Pham
- Department of Sensory Analytics and Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Giggenhauser Straße 35, 85354Freising, Germany
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Chair of Aroma and Smell Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestraße 9, 91054Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wojciech Wojnowski
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Street, 80-233Gdańsk, Poland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033-Blindern, 0315Oslo, Norway
| | - Jonathan Beauchamp
- Department of Sensory Analytics and Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Giggenhauser Straße 35, 85354Freising, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ibrahim W, Wilde MJ, Cordell RL, Richardson M, Salman D, Free RC, Zhao B, Singapuri A, Hargadon B, Gaillard EA, Suzuki T, Ng LL, Coats T, Thomas P, Monks PS, Brightling CE, Greening NJ, Siddiqui S. Visualization of exhaled breath metabolites reveals distinct diagnostic signatures for acute cardiorespiratory breathlessness. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabl5849. [PMID: 36383685 PMCID: PMC7613858 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abl5849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Acute cardiorespiratory breathlessness accounts for one in eight of all emergency hospitalizations. Early, noninvasive diagnostic testing is a clinical priority that allows rapid triage and treatment. Here, we sought to find and replicate diagnostic breath volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers of acute cardiorespiratory disease and understand breath metabolite network enrichment in acute disease, with a view to gaining mechanistic insight of breath biochemical derangements. We collected and analyzed exhaled breath samples from 277 participants presenting acute cardiorespiratory exacerbations and aged-matched healthy volunteers. Topological data analysis phenotypes differentiated acute disease from health and acute cardiorespiratory exacerbation subtypes (acute heart failure, acute asthma, acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and community-acquired pneumonia). A multibiomarker score (101 breath biomarkers) demonstrated good diagnostic sensitivity and specificity (≥80%) in both discovery and replication sets and was associated with all-cause mortality at 2 years. In addition, VOC biomarker scores differentiated metabolic subgroups of cardiorespiratory exacerbation. Louvain clustering of VOCs coupled with metabolite enrichment and similarity assessment revealed highly specific enrichment patterns in all acute disease subgroups, for example, selective enrichment of correlated C5-7 hydrocarbons and C3-5 carbonyls in heart failure and selective depletion of correlated aldehydes in acute asthma. This study identified breath VOCs that differentiate acute cardiorespiratory exacerbations and associated subtypes and metabolic clusters of disease-associated VOCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wadah Ibrahim
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Michael J. Wilde
- School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
- joint corresponding authorship. (M.J.W.); (S.S.)
| | | | - Matthew Richardson
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Dahlia Salman
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TT UK
| | - Robert C. Free
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Bo Zhao
- Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 1JD United Kingdom
- Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 1NF United Kingdom
| | - Amisha Singapuri
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Beverley Hargadon
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Erol A. Gaillard
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Toru Suzuki
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glenfield General Hospital, Leicester, LE3 9QP UK
- Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Cardiovascular theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku 4-6-1, 108-8639 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Leong L. Ng
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glenfield General Hospital, Leicester, LE3 9QP UK
- Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Cardiovascular theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Tim Coats
- Emergency Medicine Academic Group, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Paul Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TT UK
| | - Paul S. Monks
- School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
| | - Christopher E. Brightling
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Neil J. Greening
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
| | - Salman Siddiqui
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
- Institute for Lung Health, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, SW3 6LY UK
- joint corresponding authorship. (M.J.W.); (S.S.)
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pham YL, Beauchamp J, Clement A, Wiegandt F, Holz O. 3D-printed mouthpiece adapter for sampling exhaled breath in medical applications. 3D Print Med 2022; 8:27. [PMID: 35943600 PMCID: PMC9364600 DOI: 10.1186/s41205-022-00150-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing use of 3D printing in the biomedical sciences demonstrates its utility for a wide range of research and healthcare applications, including its potential implementation in the discipline of breath analysis to overcome current limitations and substantial costs of commercial breath sampling interfaces. This technical note reports on the design and construction of a 3D-printed mouthpiece adapter for sampling exhaled breath using the commercial respiration collector for in-vitro analysis (ReCIVA) device. The paper presents the design and digital workflow transition of the adapter and its fabrication from three commercial resins (Surgical Guide, Tough v5, and BioMed Clear) using a Formlabs Form 3B stereolithography (SLA) printer. The use of the mouthpiece adapter in conjunction with a pulmonary function filter is appraised in comparison to the conventional commercial silicon facemask sampling interface. Besides its lower cost - investment cost of the printing equipment notwithstanding - the 3D-printed adapter has several benefits, including ensuring breath sampling via the mouth, reducing the likelihood of direct contact of the patient with the breath sampling tubes, and being autoclaveable to enable the repeated use of a single adapter, thereby reducing waste and associated environmental burden compared to current one-way disposable facemasks. The novel adapter for breath sampling presented in this technical note represents an additional field of application for 3D printing that further demonstrates its widespread applicability in biomedicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Lan Pham
- Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Giggenhauser Straße 35, 85354, Freising, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Chair of Aroma and Smell Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestraße 9, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jonathan Beauchamp
- Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Giggenhauser Straße 35, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Alexander Clement
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 15, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Felix Wiegandt
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 15, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Olaf Holz
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 15, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Member of the German Centre of Lung Research DZL (BREATH), Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rothbart N, Stanley V, Koczulla R, Jarosch I, Holz O, Schmalz K, Hübers HW. Millimeter-wave gas spectroscopy for breath analysis of COPD patients in comparison to GC-MS. J Breath Res 2022; 16. [PMID: 35688126 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/ac77aa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of human breath is a very active area of research, driven by the vision of a fast, easy, and non-invasive tool for medical diagnoses at the point of care. Millimeter-wave gas spectroscopy (MMWGS) is a novel, well-suited technique for this application as it provides high sensitivity, specificity and selectivity. Most of all, it offers the perspective of compact low-cost systems to be used in doctors' offices or hospitals. In this work, we demonstrate the analysis of breath samples acquired in a medical environment using MMWGS and evaluate validity, reliability, as well as limitations and perspectives of the method. To this end, we investigated 28 duplicate samples from chronic obstructive lung disease patients and compared the results to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The quantification of the data was conducted using a calibration-free fit model, which describes the data precisely and delivers absolute quantities. For ethanol, acetone, and acetonitrile, the results agree well with the GC-MS measurements and are as reliable as GC-MS. The duplicate samples deviate from the mean values by only 6% to 18%. Detection limits of MMWGS depend strongly on the molecular species. For example, acetonitrile can be traced down to 1.8 × 10-12mol by the MMWGS system, which is comparable to the GC-MS system. We observed correlations of abundances between formaldehyde and acetaldehyde as well as between acetonitrile and acetaldehyde, which demonstrates the potential of MMWGS for breath research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nick Rothbart
- Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany.,Department of Physics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victoria Stanley
- Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany.,Department of Physics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rembert Koczulla
- Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Research Institute for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schönau am Königssee, Germany.,Philipps-University of Marburg, Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany
| | - Inga Jarosch
- Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Research Institute for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schönau am Königssee, Germany.,Philipps-University of Marburg, Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany
| | - Olaf Holz
- Fraunhofer ITEM, German Center for Lung Research (BREATH, DZL), Clinical Airway Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Klaus Schmalz
- IHP-Leibniz-Institut für Innovative Mikroelektronik, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany
| | - Heinz-Wilhelm Hübers
- Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany.,Department of Physics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Haworth JJ, Pitcher CK, Ferrandino G, Hobson AR, Pappan KL, Lawson JLD. Breathing new life into clinical testing and diagnostics: perspectives on volatile biomarkers from breath. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2022; 59:353-372. [PMID: 35188863 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2022.2038075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Human breath offers several benefits for diagnostic applications, including simple, noninvasive collection. Breath is a rich source of clinically-relevant biological information; this includes a volatile fraction, where greater than 1,000 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been described so far, and breath aerosols that carry nucleic acids, proteins, signaling molecules, and pathogens. Many of these factors, especially VOCs, are delivered to the lung by the systemic circulation, and diffusion of candidate biomarkers from blood into breath allows systematic profiling of organismal health. Biomarkers on breath offer the capability to advance early detection and precision medicine in areas of global clinical need. Breath tests are noninvasive and can be performed at home or in a primary care setting, which makes them well-suited for the kind of public screening program that could dramatically improve the early detection of conditions such as lung cancer. Since measurements of VOCs on breath largely report on metabolic changes, this too aids in the early detection of a broader range of illnesses and can be used to detect metabolic shifts that could be targeted through precision medicine. Furthermore, the ability to perform frequent sampling has envisioned applications in monitoring treatment responses. Breath has been investigated in respiratory, liver, gut, and neurological diseases and in contexts as diverse as infectious diseases and cancer. Preclinical research studies using breath have been ongoing for some time, yet only a few breath-based diagnostics tests are currently available and in widespread clinical use. Most recently, tests assessing the gut microbiome using hydrogen and methane on breath, in addition to tests using urea to detect Helicobacter pylori infections have been released, yet there are many more applications of breath tests still to be realized. Here, we discuss the strengths of breath as a clinical sampling matrix and the technical challenges to be addressed in developing it for clinical use. Historically, a lack of standardized methodologies has delayed the discovery and validation of biomarker candidates, resulting in a proliferation of early-stage pilot studies. We will explore how advancements in breath collection and analysis are in the process of driving renewed progress in the field, particularly in the context of gastrointestinal and chronic liver disease. Finally, we will provide a forward-looking outlook for developing the next generation of clinically relevant breath tests and how they may emerge into clinical practice.
Collapse
|
9
|
Bhavra K, Wilde M, Richardson M, Cordell R, Thomas CLP, Zhao B, Bryant L, Brightling CE, Ibrahim W, Salman D, Siddiqui S, Monks P, Gaillard E. The utility of a standardised breath sampler in school age children within a real-world prospective study. J Breath Res 2022; 16. [PMID: 35168217 DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/ac5526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Clinical assessment of paediatric asthmatics is problematic, and non-invasive biomarkers are needed urgently. Monitoring exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is an attractive alternative to invasive tests (blood and sputum), and may be used as frequently as required. Standardised reproducible breath-sampling is essential for exhaled-VOC analysis, and although the ReCIVA (Owlstone Medical Limited) breath-sampler was designed to satisfy this requirement, paediatric use was not in the original design brief. The efficacy of the ReCIVA for sampling paediatric-breath has been studied, and 90 breath-samples from 64 children (5-15 years) with, and without asthma (controls), were collected with two different ReCIVA units. Seventy samples (77.8%) contained the specified 1L of sampled-breath. Median sampling times were longer in children with acute asthma (770.2 s, range: 532.2-900.1 s) compared to stable asthma (690.6 s, range: 477.5-900.1 s; p=0.01). The ReCIVA successfully detected operational faults, in 21 samples. A leak, caused by a poor fit of the face mask seal was the most common (15); the others were USB communication-faults (5); and, a single instance of a file-creation error. Paediatric breath-profiles were reliably monitored, however synchronisation of sampling to breathing-phases was sometimes lost, causing some breaths not to be sampled, and some to be sampled continuously. This occurred in 60 (66.7%) of the samples and was a source of variability. Three samples were lost from a combination of factors, however, and importantly, multi-variate modelling of untargeted VOC analysis indicated the absence of significant batch effects for 8 operational variables. The ReCIVA appears suitable for paediatric breath-sampling. Post-processing of breath-sample meta-data is recommended to assess the quality of sample-acquisition. Further, future studies should explore the effect of pump-synchronisation faults on recovered VOC profiles, and mask sizes to fit all ages will reduce the potential for leaks and importantly, provide higher levels of comfort to children with asthma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirandeep Bhavra
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, Leicester Royal Infirmary, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), PO Box 65, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Michael Wilde
- University of Leicester, Department of Chemistry, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 7RH, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Matthew Richardson
- Loughborough University School of Science, Department of Chemistry, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Rebecca Cordell
- University of Leicester Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - C L Paul Thomas
- University of Leicester Department of Respiratory Sciences, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, East Midlands, LE3 9QP, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Bo Zhao
- University of Leicester College of Life Sciences, Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, Leicester, LE3 9QP, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Luke Bryant
- University of Leicester Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Christopher E Brightling
- Loughborough University School of Science, Department of Chemistry, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Wadah Ibrahim
- Loughborough University School of Science, Department of Chemistry, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Dahlia Salman
- University of Leicester Department of Respiratory Sciences, NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory theme),, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, East Midlands, LE3 9QP, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Salman Siddiqui
- Loughborough University School of Science, Department of Chemistry, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Paul Monks
- University of Leicester, Department of Chemistry, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 7RH, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Erol Gaillard
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, College of Life Sciences, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 7RH, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ibrahim W, Natarajan S, Wilde M, Cordell R, Monks PS, Greening N, Brightling CE, Evans R, Siddiqui S. A systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of volatile organic compounds in airway diseases and their relation to markers of type-2 inflammation. ERJ Open Res 2021; 7:00030-2021. [PMID: 34476250 PMCID: PMC8405872 DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00030-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma and COPD continue to cause considerable diagnostic and treatment stratification challenges. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been proposed as feasible diagnostic and monitoring biomarkers in airway diseases. AIMS To 1) conduct a systematic review evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of VOCs in diagnosing airway diseases; 2) understand the relationship between reported VOCs and biomarkers of type-2 inflammation; 3) assess the standardisation of reporting according to STARD and TRIPOD criteria; 4) review current methods of breath sampling and analysis. METHODS A PRISMA-oriented systematic search was conducted (January 1997 to December 2020). Search terms included: "asthma", "volatile organic compound(s)", "VOC" and "COPD". Two independent reviewers examined the extracted titles against review objectives. RESULTS 44 full-text papers were included; 40/44 studies were cross-sectional and four studies were interventional in design; 17/44 studies used sensor-array technologies (e.g. eNose). Cross-study comparison was not possible across identified studies due to the heterogeneity in design. The commonest airway diseases differentiating VOCs belonged to carbonyl-containing classes (i.e. aldehydes, esters and ketones) and hydrocarbons (i.e. alkanes and alkenes). Although individual markers that are associated with clinical biomarkers of type-2 inflammation were recognised (i.e. ethane and 3,7-dimethylnonane for asthma and α-methylstyrene and decane for COPD), these were not consistently identified across studies. Only 3/44 reported following STARD or TRIPOD criteria for diagnostic accuracy and multivariate reporting, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Breath VOCs show promise as diagnostic biomarkers of airway diseases and for type-2 inflammation profiling. However, future studies should focus on transparent reporting of diagnostic accuracy and multivariate models and continue to focus on chemical identification of volatile metabolites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wadah Ibrahim
- Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory Theme), Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
- Dept of Respiratory Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Sushiladevi Natarajan
- Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory Theme), Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
- Dept of Respiratory Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Michael Wilde
- Dept of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Paul S. Monks
- Dept of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Neil Greening
- Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory Theme), Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
- Dept of Respiratory Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Christopher E. Brightling
- Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory Theme), Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
- Dept of Respiratory Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Rachael Evans
- Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory Theme), Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
- Dept of Respiratory Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Salman Siddiqui
- Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Respiratory Theme), Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
- Dept of Respiratory Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- See Acknowledgements for contributors
| |
Collapse
|