Exhaled breath analysis in exercise and health

Research in the field of exhaled breath analysis is developing rapidly and is currently focussed on disease diagnosis and prognosis. The ability to identify early onset of life-threatening diseases, by a subtle change in exhaled profile that is picked up through a non-invasive measure, is of clinical interest. However, implementation of exhaled breath analysis can extend further beyond disease diagnosis and/or management. Using a non-invasive and rapid sample collection with high sensitivity, breath analysis may be seen to have potential benefit to the wider community. This research describes preliminary investigations into exhaled breath in exercise-based scenarios that aims to translate current breath analysis methodologies into a sport and exercise medicine context. An adaptive absorbent-based breath sampling methodology was used to collect a total of 220 breath samples from 54 participants over 3 studies. Breath volatiles were analysed using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Data were analysed with targeted, and multivariate metabolomics-based approaches. Potential health impacts to high performance and recreational swimmers exposed to chlorinated water was studied. Following preliminary and scoping studies, 19 participants were sampled before a 30 min swim, and a further 5 times for 10 hrs after swimming. Environmental and control samples were also collected. Concentrations of chlorine-based disinfection by-products were observed to increase by up to a median of 121-fold, and take up to 8.5 hrs to return to pre-swimming levels. Metabolomic profiling identified the monoterpene geranylacetone to be a discriminant variable in samples taken 10 hrs after swimming. Geranylacetone is associated with membranes and extracellular fluids and an upregulated trend was observed across the five sampling time points post-swimming. Further research with an appropriately stratified and powered cohort (n=38) was recommended. The effects of intense exercise on breath profiles was explored for the possible use of breath analysis for exercise science with elite performance-based medicine. Twenty-nine participants provided exhaled breath samples before undergoing a maximal oxygen uptake (fitness) test and then provided 2 additional samples over the following 1 hr period. High and low fitness groupings, deemed by oxygen uptake values, were compared for exhaled metabolites. Lower exhaled acetone and isoprene were observed in participants with greater absolute oxygen uptake leading to a hypothesis for a non-invasive breath based fitness test. Finally, an interface for breath-by-breath analysis using a transportable mass spectrometer was developed. A controlled change in exhaled profiles was achieved through the ingestion of a peppermint oil capsule. Menthone was measured on-line and monitored for up to 10 hrs post-administration. Sixteen participants enabled the system to be demonstrated as exhaled menthone was at elevated concentrations for at least 6 hrs. Validation against thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry confirmed the system to be detecting metabolites at the sub-µg L-1 range

Future Science OA 2019 early career researcher issue: foreword

Future Science OA 2019 early career researcher issue: forewor

Translation of exhaled breath volatile analyses to sport and exercise applications

Background: Exhaled breath gases are becomingly increasingly investigated for use as non-invasive measurements for clinical diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic monitoring. Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath, which make up the exhaled volatilome, offer a rich sample medium that provides both information to external exposures as well as endogenous metabolism. For these reasons, exhaled breath analyses can be extended further beyond disease-based investigations, and used for wider biomarker measurement purposes. The use of a rapid, non-invasive (and potentially non-physically demanding) test in an exercise and/or sporting situation may provide additional information for translation to performance sport, recreational exercise/fitness and clinical exercise health. Aim of review: This review intends to provide an overview into the initial exploration of exhaled VOC measurements in sport and exercise science, and understand current limitations in knowledge and instrumentation that have restricted these methodologies in becoming common practice. Key scientific concepts of review: Exhaled VOCs have been applied to sport/exercise investigations with a current emphasis on measurement of chemical exposure during and/or following exercise. This includes the measurement of disinfection by-products from chlorine-disinfected swimming pools, as well as exposure to petrochemicals from combustion engines (e.g. vehicle fumes). However, exhaled VOC measurements have been less employed in the context of performance sport. For example, the application of exhaled VOCs to map biochemical/physiological processes of intense exercise is currently under explored and warrants further study. Nevertheless, there is promise for exhaled VOC testing in the development of rapid/on-line anti-doping screens, with initial steps taken in this field

Clinical mass spectrometry in heart disease

Clinical mass spectrometry in heart diseas

Mass spectrometry in medicine: a technology for the future?

Mass spectrometry in medicine: a technology for the future

Gut microbial metabolites as mediators of renal disease: do short-chain fatty acids offer some hope?

Gut microbial metabolites as mediators of renal disease: do short-chain fatty acids offer some hope

How to transition from 'early career' to 'established'.

PhDs, postdocs, fellows and newly appointed lecturers all fall into the category of early-career researchers (ECRs). The life of researchers in early stages of their career is far from straightforward. Funding is a huge barrier for many ECRs looking to make the next step in their career, but it's not the only challenge. It is important that we recognize, support and reward their development. This feature sees ECRs at different stages discuss their experiences and tips for success