« Previous AbstractWound-induced changes in tomato leaves and their effects on the feeding patterns of larval lepidoptera    Next AbstractPheromonal regulation of the mouse estrous cycle by a heterogenotypic male »

Eur Respir J

Title:		Volatile organic compounds in the exhaled breath of young patients with cystic fibrosis
Author(s):		Barker M; Hengst M; Schmid J; Buers HJ; Mittermaier B; Klemp D; Koppmann R;
Address:		"Dept of Paediatrics, University of Technology (RWTH) Medical Center, Aachen, Germany. Barker@rwth-aachen.de"
Journal Title:		Eur Respir J
Year:		2006
Volume:		20060202
Issue:		5
Page Number:		929 - 936
DOI:		10.1183/09031936.06.00085105
ISSN/ISBN:		0903-1936 (Print) 0903-1936 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Inflammatory mediators in the exhaled breath are receiving growing medical interest as noninvasive disease markers. Volatile organic compounds have been investigated in this context, but clinical information and methodological standards are limited. The levels of ethane, propane, n-pentane, methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, acetone, isoprene, benzene, toluene, dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and limonene were measured in repeated breath samples from 20 cystic fibrosis patients and 20 healthy controls (aged 8-29 yrs). Three end-exhaled and one ambient air sample were collected per person and analysed on a customised gas chromatography system. Intra-subject coefficients of variation ranged between 9 and 34%, and hydrocarbon breath levels were influenced by their inspired concentrations. The alveolar gradient for pentane was higher in cystic fibrosis patients than in healthy controls (0.36 versus 0.21 ppb) and inversely proportional to forced expiratory volume in one second; highest values were observed in patients with pulmonary exacerbations (0.73 versus 0.24 ppb). Cystic fibrosis patients also exhibited a lower output of DMS (3.9 versus 7.6 ppb). Group differences were not significant for ethane and the remaining substances. It was concluded that chemical breath analysis for volatile organic compounds is feasible and may hold potential for the noninvasive diagnosis and follow-up of inflammatory processes in cystic fibrosis lung disease"
Keywords:		2-Propanol/metabolism Acetone/metabolism Adolescent Adult Benzene/metabolism Breath Tests Butadienes/metabolism Child Cyclohexenes/metabolism Cystic Fibrosis/*metabolism Ethane/metabolism Ethanol/metabolism *Exhalation Female Hemiterpenes/metabolism Human;
Notes:		"MedlineBarker, M Hengst, M Schmid, J Buers, H-J Mittermaier, B Klemp, D Koppmann, R eng England 2006/02/04 Eur Respir J. 2006 May; 27(5):929-36. doi: 10.1183/09031936.06.00085105. Epub 2006 Feb 2"